Jerome Bonaparte Calvert, Marion lawyer and city attorney, was born on October 12, 1846 in Williamson County, Illinois, the son of Napolean “Bone” Bonaparte (1822-1882) and Sarah Reynolds (1823-xxxx ) Calvert.
His father, Napoleon B. Calvert, was the son of John N. Calvert who traveled from Alabama to Massac and later to Pope and Williamson County. In 1845 he was one of the first elders when a Presbyterian Church was organized in Marion. In 1848-1855 Napolean served as School Commissioner. In 1858 he furnished the newly built county courthouse in Marion for $305. He was also Postmaster in Marion in 1843 and 1866. Napolean was killed in 1882 by a runaway horse.
Jerome had two sisters, Jane (Mrs. Jerome Holland), Cynthia (Mrs. James C. Jackson) and two brothers, Winslow, who died young and Clark Calvert. James C Jackson was a mechanic, furniture dealer and served numerous terms as city alderman and Mayor of Marion.
In 1850, Jerome was 4 years old, living with his parents, 3 sisters and a brother. Siblings were Cynthia E., Mary J., William W. and Clarissa A. Calvert. William S. Calvert, a cabinet maker, Daniel Simpson, his apprentice, and Mary Herben, probably a domestic servant, were living with them.
Jerome’s sister, Clarissa A., is no longer listed on the 1860 census, but three new siblings have been born since 1850: Eola R., Albert C. and Edward B. Calvert. His mother had died since the last census and his father was a carpenter having real estate valued at $5000 and personal property of $300, so they were doing quite well.
On May 13, 1864, at the age of 18 years old, Jerome joined the Union forces at Carbondale and was mustered in June 9, 1864 at Camp Butler as a private. He was mustered out Sep 23, 1864 at Camp Butler as a corporal. In 1901 he attempted to draw a pension for his time in the service.
In 1870 Jerome was a lawyer and still living at home with his parents. His father, Napoleon, was still a carpenter and had remarried to a woman named Nancy whose last name is unknown.
On April 23, 1871, Jerome married Sarah Fannie Baird in Williamson County and they went on to have three children; Gracey, William J., and Mary Calvert.
During the Bloody Vendetta trials of 1875, Jerome was appointed as part of the defense team for Thomas Russell who was charged with killing George Bulliner; Russell was found not guilty. Big Jep and Black Bill Crain were charged with killing William Spence and were defended by W.W. Clemens, Jerome B. Calvert, and Linegar. The men were found guilty and sentenced to the pen for 20 years.
In 1876, Milo Erwin lauded Jerome, a lawyer and leading Democrat, as a “man whose life has been marked by the highest integrity . . . who has not reached the prominence in his party that his ability or honesty entitled him to.”
Jerome served as City Attorney for Marion in 1877.
In May of 1880, a news article in the Evening Post stated that for several months Mrs. J.B. Calvert, had been in the hospital and that she had returned home for a 30 day leave of absence. The next notice of her in the paper was that she had died in July of 1881 from consumption (tuberculosis). Jerome was left with three children under ten to raise.
During this time period his next wife to be had been making quite a name for herself in the city of Marion as reported by a July 1876 Egyptian Press newspaper article, “Monday night the city marshall arrested Mahala Vineyard, a prostitute who has been loitering for several days, she was fined $10.”
Later, in August, the Egyptian Press reported, “Mahala Vineyard was before Squire Reynolds on Monday … the prosecuting witness failed to appear and she was released.”
A year later, in early August 1877, it was reported in the Marion Monitor newspaper, “Mahala Vineyard was arrested Monday for carrying a concealed weapon and keeping a disorderly house.”
Then the Egyptian Press stated, “Mahala Vineyard, a woman of bad repute was caged at this place Monday on a charge of keeping a disorderly house. She will have a hearing today before Police Magistrate Reynolds … the wailing of Mahala Vineyard, the woman of bad repute, who is now in jail, calls very vividly to mind that old and true scriptural proverb; “the way of the transgressor is hard.”
Later in the month of August 1877, an article appeared in the Egyptian Press stating, “J.H. Duncan horsewhipped one Mahala Vineyard, a prostitute, Friday afternoon. He was prevented by citizens and officers from inflicting severe punishment as he thought the case justified. It is a rash way of handling such cases, but he felt he was fully warranted in what he did and his actions met with the sanction of most of the good citizens. He went before Squire Doty, pled guilty and was fined $5. That he was seriously aggrieved, there can be no doubt.”
An accounting in the Marion Monitor added, “J.H. Duncan buggy whipped Mahala Vineyard, a woman who inhabits this city and is recognized as a prostitute. The transaction occurred on the east side of the public square about 3 o’clock Friday evening and created quite a sensation. Duncan paid $5 for the privilege and satisfaction realized for the above account.”
On the 23rd of August, the Marion Monitor carried this, “Uncle Charley, the jailor, had another foot race last Saturday with Mahala (Vineyard). She seems to be a hard bird to tame.”
An article in the Egyptian Press the following month on the 20th of September reported, “Mahala Vineyard was locked up again last Friday because of her inability to satisfy an execution.”
Jerome served as Mahala’s attorney for some of her legal troubles and on September 19, 1881 he and Mahala J. Vineyard were married in Williamson County.
Unfortunately, things apparently didn’t work out, and on September 16, 1886, it was reported in a local paper that, “Last Saturday night our citizens were aroused by a pistol shot. Mahala Calvert had shot J.B. Calvert. They had been separated for some time and have had considerable trouble since then. She threatened that if he didn’t quit keeping company with other women that she would shoot him. He was taking home another woman when his former wife stepped up behind him and shot him with a 32 caliber revolver, the ball entering behind the left shoulder blade and lodging just above his left nipple. He is in a very precarious condition and just what the result will be is hard to tell. She is in jail in Pinckneyville.”
In October she was sentenced to two years in the penitentiary for attempting to murder Jerome and they were divorced on April 9th 1887.
In 1889, J.B. Calvert hit bottom and was charged with embezzlement. He was taken off the court docket with leave to reinstate. It appears that he left town and in May of 1990 it was noted in the paper that J.B. was supposed to be in Texas.
In 1891, Jerome and J.C. Jackson, his brother-in-law, sold to W.P. Goodall in a tax sale. In the same year, 1891, his ex-wife, Mahala, was on trial for keeping a house of ill fame, again.
In 1901, the Marion Press reported, “Jerome Calvert, who was a leading lawyer here years ago, but who has been away for a long time, has come back to Marion. He has, of course, aged and broken to a large degree but resembles his former self enough that his acquaintances had no trouble recognizing him. We have not learned whether he will re-enter the practice of law here.”
Jerome B Calvert died on March 31, 1904 and was buried in Old Rose Hill Cemetery.
Notes on the Children:
Gracey Frances Calvert was born in 1873 in Marion, Illinois. She married W.B. Buckley (1870-1932) on August 31, 1890. She died in 1955 and was buried in Tower Grove Cemetery in Murphysboro, Illinois.
William Jerome Calvert was born April 12, 1875 in Marion. He married Edny Jeter and was in the saloon business in Whiteash. His description on his WWI registration said he was short, medium build with gray eyes and dark hair. He had a bad left eye. William died on September 28, 1946 and was buried in DeSoto Cemetery in DeSoto, Illinois.
Mary Calvert was born in 1878 in Marion. There is a grave in Maplewood Cemetery in Marion with the name of a Mary A. Calvert who died in 1929, but it is uncertain if this is the same Mary Calvert.
(Extracted from the Egyptian Press; Marion Monitor; Federal Census Records; Marion City Cemetery; History of Williamson County, Milo Erwin; compiled by Colleen Norman)