Category Archives: M thru S

Marion’s Organizations M thru S

Holland, Caleb T. (1845-1924) Veteran, JP, Alderman and Lumber Dealer

Posted on by September 20, 2023

” order_by=”sortorder” order_direction=”ASC” returns=”included” maximum_entity_count=”500″]Caleb Tarleton Holland was born July 28, 1845 in White Day, Virginia (which became West Virginia after the 1860’s) to Jacob Holland (1816-1875) and Emily Tarleton (1819-1857). Jake was born in Morgantown, West Virginia and died … Continue reading →

Miller, John K. 1918-1993

Posted on by September 18, 2023

John K. Miller 1918-1993
Venita N. Miller 1919-2014

John K. Miller, active Marion Lion, Shriner, Fair Board and Marion Park District member, was born on March 3, 1918, in Marion on S. Court Street to Ray Miller and Ruth Kilbreth. Miller received his education in Marion schools and also attended Southern Illinois University at Carbondale. Continue reading →

Miller, Ray 1891-1977, Miller Abstract & Title Insurance

Posted on by September 18, 2023

Ray Miller 1891-1977Ray Miller, teacher, principal, county officer, and a second generation Fair Board member, was born on April 26, 1891 in Williamson County to John Goodall Miller and Mary Ellen Krantz on a farm in Southern Township.

Nine years after Ray was born, according to the 1900 federal census, the family was living in Southern Precinct on the Miller family farm which they owned free of mortgage. Southern Township/Precinct starts just north of the Marion City Lake and included the villages of Hudgens and Chamness, extending south to Pulley’s Mill where Johnson County starts. Ray’s parents were farmers and were both in their mid-30’s. Children present in the home at the time were Ray aged 9 and daughter, Jessie M. aged 6. Ray’s mother indicated that she had birthed three children with two surviving indicating the loss of one child already in their marriage. Continue reading →

1976, Downtown Marion Revitalized

Posted on by January 6, 2014

Tower SquareNo Buildings Empty on the Square as City, Businesses Invest Millions in Downtown Redevelopment

No vacancies.

That’s the way it is for business buildings on the public square in Marion.

And that’s the way it is despite the opening of a new shopping center in Marion.

Merchants have spent more than $1 million for improvements in the downtown area, according to Milt Witt, Executive Vice President of the Chamber of Commerce. Continue reading →

Cox, Eugene L. “Gene” 1919-2009

Posted on by December 27, 2013

Gene CoxEugene L. “Gene” Cox was born and raised in Marion, the son of Harry L. and Mabel Cox.  The family home at his birth on March 26, 1919, was at 108 W. Goodall Street. Gene’s father, Harry, was a partner in the Cox Hardware family business on the Public Square with his father, Thomas A. Cox, who founded the business.

When the 1920 census was taken the family was still living at the W. Goodall address and Gene was only 9 months old. According to city directories, the family was still in place in 1922 but by 1927 had purchased a home at 306 E. College Street. Continue reading →