206 E Main St in 1904
Although this photo of a home from the 1905 Souvenir History looks like it belongs on a Marion side street, the 1907 directory reveals that it was located at 206 E. Main Street. This should put the home on the corner of East Main and North Mechanic Streets across the street from the Marion Post Office.
In 1904, when the Souvenir History was prepared, the home was occupied by William J. Spiller and it is noted on the photo to have previously been the home of Robert G. Ingersol, his father and family. If so, the home would have to date back to the Civil War period.
William J. Spiller, of the Spillertown Spillers, was raised in a large family of 16 counting the parents. He married Susan E. Goodall and they had eleven children of their own, nine of which were girls. Spiller was a tobacco farmer up to the civil war and later spent time in the general merchandise business with his son in law and partner J.V. Walker. He was also a charter member of the Christian Church on N. Market St. and a lifelong member of Masonic Lodge #89.
In 1907 the entire 200 block facing E. Main on both sides was residential. In 1918, the entire southern side was occupied by the new post office and the northern side had been dominated by the Marion Supply Company, a dry goods firm at 200 E. Main St. and the corner where the home stood became the location of E. Lewis Motor Sales Company owned by Elijah Lewis, mayor of Marion from 1919-1923.
(Data from 1905 Souvenir History, WCHS; Marion City Directories; compiled by Sam Lattuca on 04/04/2013)