James Ransom Spiller was born in Spillertown on September 7, 1876 to William J. Spiller and Susan Elizabeth Goodall, namesakes for the little unincorporated village. This is where the 1880 federal census located his family, William J. 46, Susan 44 and James aged 3 along with 8 other siblings. Of his siblings all were females except one, a brother John, and most all of the girls would go one to marry into prominent Marion families.
Continue readingOwen Alfred Morgan was born on a farm in Hamilton County on August 21, 1876 to Phillip W. Morgan and Harriet Jerusha Damron. He was found in the 1880 federal census at the age of 4 living with his father Phillip 40 and mother Harriet 37 and five siblings on their farm in Hamilton County.
In 1897 Owen married Addie Belle Grigg, daughter of Abner Monroe and Phebe Grigg. When the 1900 census was taken Owen 23 and Addie B. 20 were living in Dahlgren, Illinois in Hamilton County and they had one child, a son named Carlos aged 1. They were living in a home Owen declared to be free of mortgage and he was working as a dry goods salesman. The couple noted that they had birthed one child and one lived.
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Robert Wesley Alsbrook was born in Marion on October 30, 1872 to Stephen Wesley Alsbrook and Sarah Jane Blankenship, the daughter of Isham Blankenship who owned considerable property in West Marion around what would now be the Dairy Queen and the V.A. Hospital on W. Main Street. His father Stephen came to Southern Illinois in 1859 when he was 13 years old and later established himself in the drug business in which he continued until his death in 1872. Robert was not born until about six months after the death of his father and his education was secured in the schools of Marion, New Burnside and Creal Springs College.
Continue readingMelvin Lloyd Pulley was born in Crab Orchard Township on December 11, 1875. According to his obit, he was the son of Samuel Pulley and Ellen Scoby, however, his marriage records indicate his mother was Nancy Blackburn. On May 28, 1899, 24 year old farmer Melvin married 20 year old Elsie Norman, both from Crab Orchard. Elsie’s parents were Roy Norman and Nancy West.
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Dr. Mark Webster Ballance was born at New Burnside in Johnson County on April 28, 1880 to James Herndon and Jensey Whiteaker. According to his obit printed in the Southern Illinoisan paper, Dr. Ballance’s ancestors were pre-Revolutionary settlers in Virginia. The first family member, John Damron, moved to Southern Illinois in 1796. Dr. Ballance’s uncle, Captain Mark Whiteaker, organized Co. B of the 120th Illinois Volunteers in the Civil War. His father, Lt. James Herndon Balance served in the company.
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