Johns, Harold Gene 1927-1984, State Senator 1971-1984

Harold Gene Johns, State Senator of the 57th and 59th District from 1971 to 1984, was born October 6, 1927 in Carrier Mills to Christopher Columbus Johns and Mabel Stricklin.

When the 1930 Federal Census was taken, the Johns family was living in the city of Harrisburg at 620 S. Main Street, which they rented for $15 a month. His father, Columbus, was 32 years old and a native of Alabama, who worked as a room boss for the Sahara Coal Company in the Sahara No. 7 mine. Gene’s mother, Mabel, was only 26 and was born in Illinois. There were three sons in the home, Bronzel Johns, the oldest was 7, Tommy Johns was 5 and Harold Gene Johns was 3 ½ years of age. Continue reading

Corder, Anderson P. 1811-1891, State Senator, Veteran of Two Wars

Of the many notable characters who have lived in Marion, Anderson P. Corder, could certainly be claimed as one of them.  Notes taken from the Nannie Gray Parks files at the Williamson County Historical Society says of him, “Many stories are told about Anderson P. Corder; John Gray and Carey E. Wiley knew him well. They said he was a very tall man and dressed well. He wore a “Stove Pipe” hat, a Prince Albert coat with a fancy vest draped with a large gold watch chain. He was considered a wit and smart in a way. Continue reading