Marion, Illinois, established August 20, 1839. Town Chartered February 24, 1841 by special act of legislature. The original charter of Marion was repealed on February 15, 1847. A Regular charter was granted with amendments and extension of rights on February 16, 1865. The following is a list of Marion City Officials (City Council Members) from 1839 to the present.
1839—City established but no official town government existed yet.
1841-1847—No elections were held.
1847-1864—No legal government existed due to charter repeal in 1847, no elections held.
February 16, 1865, City Chartered
President and Trustees of Marion, Illinois
1865—Archibald T. Benson, President: W.P. Goodall, Wiley W. Hall, J.M. Edwards, Jeremiah S. Rice, Oliver H. Wiley, James H. Stewart, Trustees.
1866—Robert M. Hundley, President: Oliver H. Wiley, Jeremiah S. Rice, J. M. Edwards, A.T. Benson, William Cook, Wiley W. Hall, Trustees.
1867—Robert M. Hundley, President: Oliver H. Wiley, William Broad, Wiley W. Hall, A.T. Benson, William Cook, Samuel W. Dunaway, Trustees.
1868—Robert M. Hundley, President: A.T. Benson, Oliver H. Wiley, Samuel Cover, Samuel W. Dunaway, William Cook, Thomas Davis, Trustees.
1869–George W. Goddard, President: Napoleon B. Calvert, Oliver H. Wiley, William W. Clemens, Charles M. Edwards, James C. Jackson, Martin W. Robertson, Trustees.
1870—George W. Goddard, President: Oliver H. Wiley, Napoleon B. Calvert, Martin W. Robertson, Charles M. Edwards, W.P. Goodall, Samuel W. Dunaway, Trustees.
1871—George W. Goddard, President: Oliver H. Wiley, Napoleon B. Calvert, Samuel W. Dunaway, Martin W. Robertson, Hardin Goodall, Charles M. Edwards, Trustees.
1872—George W. Goddard, President: Samuel W. Dunaway, Oliver H. Wiley, Martin W. Robertson, Hardin Goodall, Napoleon B. Calvert, Charles M. Edwards, Trustees.
1873—William N. Mitchell, President: Oliver H. Wiley, William H. Howell, James C. Jackson, Hardin Goodall, Charles M. Edwards, Samuel W. Dunaway, Trustees.
After the adoption of a new state constitution in 1870, the Legislature passed a general act for the incorporation and government of all cities, towns and villages, and under this act, Marion became incorporated as a city under the general law of the state in April 1873. An election was held in April 1874 and the switch was made to a Mayoral government.
1874—Joseph W. Hartwell, Mayor: Martin W. Robertson, Hartwell Hendrickson, Robert M. Allen, John M. Young, Charles M. Edwards, Augustus N. Lodge, Aldermen; City Clerk, Milo Erwin
1875—William R. Hall, Mayor: James C. Jackson, Charles M. Edwards, William Hendrickson, Hartwell Hendrickson, John M. Young, Robert M. Allen, Aldermen.
1876—George W. Goddard, Mayor: Charles M. Edwards, William Hendrickson, James C. Jackson, Jas. L. Adams, William H. Howell, Oliver H. Wiley, Aldermen.
1877—James C. Jackson, Mayor: Moses W. Barham, Charles M. Edwards, Jas. L. Adams, William H. Howell, Henry T. Goddard, Francis M. Sparks, Aldermen; Jerome B. Calvert, City Attorney; John R. Little, City Clerk.
1878—James C. Jackson, Mayor: James H. Duncan, Charles M. Edwards, William H. Howell, Moses W. Barham, Shannon Holland, Jas. L. Adams, Aldermen.
1879—Leroy A. Goddard, Mayor: Charles M. Kern, Robert M. Hundley, T.J. Goodall, Moses W. Barham, Charles M. Edwards, James M. Campbell, Aldermen.
1880—Leroy A. Goddard, Mayor: Thomas Davis, Charles M. Kern, James M. Campbell, T.J. Goodall, Joseph L. Calvert, Charles M. Edwards, Aldermen.
1881—Leroy A. Goddard, Mayor: James M. Campbell, Charles M. Edwards, Joseph L. Calvert, Charles M. Kern, Thomas Davis, T. J. Goodall, Aldermen.
1882—Leroy A. Goddard, Mayor; James M. Campbell, T.J. Goodall, Thomas Dunaway, John P. Moore, Edward L. Denison, Reuben Borton, Aldermen.
1883—James C. Jackson, Mayor: Reuben Borton, T.J. Goodall, John P. Moore, Thomas Dunaway, George W. Evans, Shannon Holland, Aldermen.
1884—James C. Jackson, Mayor: James H. Duncan, J.V. Grider, John A. Ensminger, Caleb T. Holland, George W. Evans, Shannon Holland, Aldermen.
1885—James C. Jackson, Mayor: James H. Duncan, J.V. Grider, George W. Evans, Caleb T. Holland, William L. Benson, Joseph L. Calvert, Aldermen; Martin L. Baker, City Attorney.
1886—James C. Jackson, Mayor: Samuel S. Ireland, Joseph L. Calvert, William L. Benson, George W. Evans, James L. Adams, Daniel A. Davis, Aldermen.
1887—Brice Holland, Mayor: Daniel A. Davis. James L. Adams, Samuel S. Ireland, Reuben Borton, Joseph Fozard, Ed T. Gallagher, Aldermen; City Clerk, Ed J. Mitchell; City Treasurer, Shannon Holland; Lorenzo D. Hartwell, City Attorney.
1888—Brice Holland, Mayor: Reuben Borton, Joseph Fozard, Ed T. Gallagher, Charles H. Denison, Oliver S. Tippy, Allen B. Scurlock, Aldermen.
1889—William T. Davis, Mayor: Charles H. Denison, Oliver S. Tippy, Allen B. Scurlock, Thomas Dunaway, J. H. Burnett, Andrew J. Binkley, Aldermen.
1890—William T. Davis, Mayor: J.H. Burnett, Thomas Dunaway, Andrew J. Binkley, John A. Ensminger, Joseph Fozard, Oliver S. Tippy, Aldermen.
1891—Shannon Holland, Mayor: J.C. Mitchell, John A. Ensminger, Oliver S. Tippy, William H. Phillips, T.J. Binkley, Flem Gent, Aldermen.
1892—Shannon Holland, Mayor: William H. Phillips, John A. Ensminger, J.C. Mitchell, James V. Grider, Samuel W. Walker, Flem Gent, Aldermen.
1893—James W. Westbrook, Mayor: James V. Grider, John A. Ensminger, Samuel W. Walker, Levi B. Casey, Theodore L. Campbell, Charles M. Kern, Aldermen.
1894—James W. Westbrook, Mayor: James V. Grider, Samuel W. Walker, John A. Ensminger, James A. Campbell (Replaced Theodore L. Campbell, deceased) George H. Goodall, James H. Duncan, William H. Phillips, Aldermen.
1895—John H. Burnett, Mayor: George H. Goodall, James H. Duncan, William H. Phillips, Charles A. Gent, Thomas G. Blankenship, Thomas J. Binkley, Aldermen.
1896—John H. Burnett, Mayor: Charles A. Gent, Thomas G. Blankenship, Thomas J. Binkley, William B. Capron, Romulus D. Holland, Ezra N. Rice, Aldermen.
1897—Brice Holland, Mayor: William B. Capron, Romulus D. Holland, Ezra N. Rice, William B. Lee, Thomas G. Blankenship, Caleb T. Holland, Aldermen; George C. Campbell, City Clerk.
1898—Brice Holland, Mayor: William B. Lee, Thomas G. Blankenship, Caleb T. Holland, Winfield C. S. Rhea, Leon B. Denison (resigned), Samuel H. Goodall, Aldermen; George C. Campbell, City Clerk.
1899—Thomas J. Youngblood, Mayor: John H. Duncan, J.C. Jackson, John H. Burnett, Charles A. Gent, Robert L. Hudgens, Lloyd C. Campbell, Aldermen; George C. Campbell, City Clerk; Ed M. Spiller, City Atty.
1900—Thomas J. Youngblood, Mayor: John H. Duncan, J.C. Jackson, John H. Burnett, Charles A. Gent, Robert L. Hudgens, Lloyd C. Campbell, Aldermen; George C. Campbell, City Clerk.
January 14, 1901-City Council passed an ordinance dividing the city into four wards with divisions on Market and Main Streets intersecting the square. Northwest was Ward 1, Southwest Ward 2, Southeast Ward 3 and Northeast Ward 4.
1901—William H. Bundy, Mayor: John M. Dodd, Daniel A. Davis, Sandy Miller, Joseph Fozard, Charles A. Gent, Robert L. Hudgens, Lloyd C. Campbell, Ezra N. Rice, Aldermen; George C. Campbell, City Clerk.
1902—William H. Bundy, Mayor: Robert L. Hudgens, James D. Gill, Otis W. Williams, John S. Strike, John M. Dodd, Daniel A. Davis, Ezra N. Rice, Joseph Fozard, Aldermen; George C. Campbell, City Clerk.
1903—Charles H. Denison, Mayor: William J. Walker, George L. Brack, Joseph Fozard, James L. Adams, Robert L. Hudgens, James D. Gill, Otis W. Williams, John S. Strike, Aldermen; D.T. Harwell, City Attorney; George C. Campbell, City Clerk.
1904—Charles H. Denison, Mayor: Robert L. Hudgens, John W. Spiller, Otis W. Williams, William F. Wright, William J. Walker, George L. Brack, Joseph Fozard, James L. Adams, Aldermen; D. T. Hartwell, City Attorney; Geo. C. Campbell, City Clerk.
1905—Charles H. Denison, Mayor: Robert L. Hudgens, John W. Spiller, Otis W. Williams, William F. Wright, William J. Walker, George L. Brack, Joseph Fozard, James L. Adams, Aldermen; George C. Campbell, City Clerk.
1906– Charles H. Denison, Mayor: Benjamin H. Jeter, A.M. Townsend, Sandy Miller, Earnest H. Moulton, Joseph H. Moss, John S. Strike, A.B. McLaren, W.O. Potter, Aldermen; George C. Campbell, City Clerk.
1907—J.C. Mitchell, Mayor: Fabian A. Nance, Thomas R. Kelley, Brice Holland, Earnest H. Moulton, Joseph H. Moss, George B. Calhoun, Thomas Motsinger, John S. Strike, Aldermen; George C. Campbell, City Clerk; E. Hudgens, Treasurer; D.T. Harwell, City Attorney.
1908—J.C. Mitchell, Mayor: Fabian A. Nance, Brice Holland, George B. Calhoun, Hugh Hudgens, Josiah B. Crowell, Thomas Motsinger, Allen Boles, John H. Duncan, Aldermen; George C. Campbell, City Clerk
1909—J.C. Mitchell, Mayor: John Spiller, J. Milton Norman, Hugh Hudgens, Elias A. McIntosh, George B. Calhoun, Josiah B. Crowell, Allen Boles, Edward G. Sullivan, Aldermen; George C. Campbell, City Clerk
1910—J.C. Mitchell, Mayor: J. Milton Norman, David A. Tippy, C.B. Robinson, Ezra N. Rice, Elias A. McIntosh, George B. Calhoun, Louis W. Borton, Edward G. Sullivan, Aldermen; George C. Campbell, City Clerk
1911—J.H. Burnett, Mayor: Ezra N. Rice, James Carter, Thomas H. Hunt, John H. Youngkin, David A. Tippy, Owen P. Brown, C.B. Robinson, Mark Woodley, Elbert R. Scobey, Louis W. Borton, Aldermen; Eura Griggs, City Clerk
1912—J.H. Burnett, Mayor: James Carter, Ezra N. Rice, James A. Cannon, John H. Youngkin, Owen P. Brown, Roscoe C. Launius, Mark Woodley, Frank S. Morrison, William Welge, Thomas H. Hunt, Aldermen; Eura Griggs, City Clerk; Walter W. Skaggs, City Attorney
1913—George B. Calhoun, Mayor: Ezra N. Rice, Roy Hawkins, James A. Cannon, Edward G. Sullivan, William Welge, John H. Youngkin, Roscoe C. Launius, Thomas H. Fuller, Frank S. Morrison, M.L. Durham, Aldermen; Eura Griggs, City Clerk; Walter W. Skaggs, City Attorney
1914—George B. Calhoun, Mayor: Roy Hawkins, Lorin L. Fowler, Edward G. Sullivan, Melvin L. Pulley, Frank S. Morrison, John H. Youngkin, Robert W. Alsbrook, Thomas H. Fuller, Dr. M.W. Ballance, M. L. Durham, Aldermen; Eura Griggs, City Clerk
1915—D.D. Hartwell, Mayor: Lorin L. Fowler, James R. Spiller, Melvin L. Pulley, James M. Williams, Curtis M. Norman, Robert W. Alsbrook, Dr. M.W. Ballance, Frank S. Morrison, Owen A. Morgan, Jerome Kimmel, Aldermen; George Campbell, City Clerk
1916—D.D. Hartwell, Mayor: James R. Spiller, John S. Strike, James M. Williams, A.C. Corley, R.O. Thomas, Jerome Kimmell, Ira Cocke, Owen A. Morgan, Frank S. Morrison, Aldermen; George Campbell, City Clerk
1917- Change Over to Commissioner from Alderman System
1917-19—Earl B. Jackson, Mayor: Gottlieb J. Frick, W.J. Holland, John M. Spiller, Henry C. Jones, Commissioners; George Campbell, City Clerk
1919-21—Elijah Lewis, Mayor: Roy Hawkins, Henry C. Jones, Otley A. Monroe, Roscoe C. Launius, Commissioners; George Campbell, City Clerk
1921-23—Elijah Lewis, Mayor: Roy Hawkins, Roscoe C. Launius, Otley A. Monroe, C.V. Cunningham (In 1922, Cunningham was replaced with O.L. Glass), Commissioners; George Campbell, City Clerk
1923-27—James H. Clarida, Mayor: John Boswell, Thomas H. Hunt, Lee Hudgens, John Strike, Commissioners; Harry Adkins, City Clerk; S.W. Hedges, Treasurer; C.C. Davis, City Attorney
1927-31—Elisha M. Thurmond, Mayor: James H. Felts, A.M. Garrison, Roy Blackburn, Gottlieb J. Frick, Commissioners; Harry Adkins, City Clerk; William S. Burkart, City Treasurer; John Hay, City Attorney.
1931-35—C.H. Whitcomb, Mayor: William M. Below, George B. Clore, Harry L. Crisp, John H. Youngkin (In 1932, Youngkin was replaced with James S. Johnson), Commissioners; William S. Burkhart, City Treasurer in 1931, Ray C. Carroll, City Treasurer in 1934, Harry Adkins, City Clerk
1935-39—Harry L. Crisp, Mayor: Elva R. Jones, Willis Hendrickson, Edgar Meneese, V.L. Love, Commissioners; J.J. Grady, City Clerk; Ray C. Carroll, City Treasurer; Gordon Franklin, City Attorney.
1939-47—Harry L. Crisp, Mayor: Harry R. Rodd, W.R. Hodge, Elbert R. Scobey, Homer Butler (In Jan. 1943, Homer Butler resigned due to his election in Illinois General Assembly, replaced with Willis Hendrickson), Commissioners; William S. Burkhart, City Clerk; Gilbert Bratten, City Treasurer; Duane T. Leach, City Attorney.
1947-51—Harry R. Rodd, Mayor: Robert L. Pulley, Ralph Norman, Leslie Stilley, Harold Farner, Commissioners; William S. Burkhart, City Clerk; John K. Miller (1948), Gilbert Bratten, City Treasurer; George Carter, City Attorney.
1951-55—William Shannon, Mayor: Harold Farner, Adolph Fluck, E.E. Weber, Robert Cooksey, Commissioners; William S. Burkhart, City Clerk; Gilbert Bratten, City Treasurer;Robert Holbrook, City Attorney.
1955-59—Robert Cooksey, Mayor: William Armstrong, Lawrence Corder, William Dungey, Raymond McCormick; W.S. Burkhart, City Clerk to 1955 then William Leach; Gilbert Bratten, City Treasurer;Robert Holbrook, City Attorney.
1959-63—Robert Cooksey, Mayor: Robert Yearack, A.R. Douglas, Harold Farner, Oscar R. Harris, Commissioners; William Leach, City Clerk;Robert Holbrook, City Attorney.
1963-67–Robert Butler, Mayor: Adolph Fluck, William Harris, Lawrence Feurer, Everett “Doc” Jeter, Commissioners; William Novick, City Attorney.
1967-71–Robert Butler, Mayor: Adolph Fluck, Rex Presson, Robert “Dog” Connell, Everett “Doc” Jeter, Commissioners.
1971-75–Robert Butler, Mayor: Everett “Doc” Jeter, Rex Presson, James “Dubber” Durham, Paul Joyner, Commissioners.
1975-79—Robert Butler, Mayor: Everett “Doc” Jeter, Ron Joyner, Homer Askew, Robert “Dog” Connell, Commissioners.
1979-81—Robert Butler, Mayor: Everett “Doc” Jeter, Henry Burress, Ron Joyner, Robert “Dog” Connell, Commissioners.
1981-83—Robert Butler, Mayor: Everett “Doc” Jeter, Henry Burress, George Williams, Robert “Dog” Connell, Commissioners.
1983-87—Robert Butler, Mayor: Everett “Doc” Jeter, Henry Burress, David Hancock, Robert “Dog” Connell, Commissioners.
1987-91—Robert Butler, Mayor: Robert “Dog” Connell, John Bradley, Sharon Atchison, David Hancock, Commissioners.
1991-93—Robert Butler, Mayor: Robert “Dog” Connell, David Hancock, Sharon Atchison, Tom Lenz, Commissioners.
1993-95—Robert Butler, Mayor: Robert “Dog” Connell, Jimmy Stewart, Sharon Atchison, David Hancock, Commissioners.
1995-99—Robert Butler, Mayor: Robert “Dog” Connell, Jimmy Stewart, Sharon Atchison, Gary Turnbull, Commissioners.
1999-03—Robert Butler, Mayor: Robert “Dog” Connell, Jimmy Stewart, Bob Boyt, Gary Turnbull, Commissioners.
2003—Robert Butler, Mayor: Robert “Dog” Connell, Jimmy Stewart, Bob Boyt, Gary Turnbull, Commissioners; Elizabeth Strobel, City Clerk
2004— Robert Butler, Mayor: Robert “Dog” Connell, Bob Boyt, Gary Turnbull, Jimmy Stewart died, replaced by Jay Rix, Commissioners; Elizabeth Strobel, City Clerk
2005— Robert Butler, Mayor: Robert “Dog” Connell, Bob Boyt, Gary Turnbull, Lannie Gribble, Commissioners; Diane Pritchett, City Clerk
2007—Robert Butler, Mayor: Robert “Dog” Connell, Bob Boyt, Lannie Gribble, J.W. Rix, Commissioners; Diane Pritchett, City Clerk
2008– Robert Butler, Mayor: Robert Connell died, replaced by John Goss, Bob Boyt died, replaced by Robert Owens, Lannie Gribble, J.W. Rix, Commissioners; Diane Pritchett, City Clerk
2009—Robert Butler, Mayor: Robert “Bob” Owens, Lannie Gribble, J.W. Rix, Anthony Rinella, Commissioners; Diane Pritchett, City Clerk
2011– Robert Butler, Mayor: John Goss, J.W. Rix, Anthony Rinella, Doug Patton, Commissioners; Diane Pritchett, City Clerk
2015– Robert Butler, Mayor: John Goss, Anthony Rinella, Jim Webb, Angelo Hightower, Commissioners; Alice F. Rix, City Clerk
2018– Anthony Rinella became Mayor Feb. 1 after Robert Butler retired in January 2018
2019– Michael Absher, Mayor: Doug Patton, Jim Webb, John Stoecklin, John Barwick Sr., Commissioners
(Data from 1905 Souvenir History, WCHS; Marion City Council Records; compiled by Sam Lattuca 04/02/2013)