205 S. Market St., Marion, Illinois

This house appears to have been first occupied at the turn of the century by Samuel S. Vick. It is listed under Vick’s name as early as the 1907 Marion Street Directory, contrary to the comment in the pamphlet, “Historic Architecture of Marion” that is was built and occupied by Dr. Walter Moore. Moore in those days, according to the street directories, actually lived in the house next door at 207 S. Market St.

S.S. Vick was an active Marion citizen with a lot of involvements, but may be remembered most as the druggist who operated a drug store in the 600 block of the square. John Cline, son of Sarilda Cline, who lived at 206 S. Market just across the street, was where the Marion Carnegie Library is now located. John married Samuel Vick’s daughter Mary Alice and they came to live at 208 S. Market Street.  

Decades later, their descendants, would eventually create the Cline-Vick drug store chain. John Cline also operated a drug store in those days in the southeast corner of the square, a trade he learned from his father in law, Samuel S. Vick.

Samuel Vick lost his first wife Martha in the home in 1906 but remarried again in 1908 at the age of 81. He lived in the home till his death in 1916.

After Samuel Vick’s death, the house ownership shifted to Dr. Walter P. Moore. Dr. Moore was a dentist in the partnership business of Moore and Ferguson with offices in Room 46 at the Marion State and Savings Bank Building (Hotel State).

Dr. Moore at the time of Vick’s death was living in a boarding house with his wife Mannie L. Moore next door at 207 S. Market St.

The Moore’s had two adult children, Walter P. Moore, born in 1860, and Fanny Moore, born in 1872.

Mrs. Mannie L. Moore passed away in 1936 leaving Dr. Moore a widower. He died the following year on August 8, 1937 at 77.

The house was purchased by Samuel L. Dunaway after Dr. Moore’s death and the house was rented out for a brief time around the arrival of 1940 after which it was occupied by Mr. Dunaway who dealt in insurance and real estate.

Sam used the house as his home and office for Dunaway Insurance Agency up to the death of his wife in 1965 after which he retired and continued living in the house until his death in 1976.

The house then passed to Bob Bradley who used half of it as an office for his insurance agency and the other half was occupied by James K. Richey, a dentist. Later, Dr. Richey moved on and the half was occupied for a period of time by the Trans America Charter Coaches Inc. Travel Agency in the mid 1980’s. The insurance firm takes on the name of the Insurance House.

Bob Bradley’s son, Clay Bradley, entered into the business under his father and eventually due to his father’s age and health conditions, is now running the business as of this writing in March 2013 in the house at 205 N. Market Street.

Note: This building is referenced in Historical Architecture of Marion

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(Compiled with Marion Street Directories, Federal Census Records, Marion City Cemetery Records, by Sam Lattuca on 03/29/2013)

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