Roscoe Charles Launius was born near Stonefort, Illinois to John Logan Launius and Nancy Ann Absher on December 8, 1882. No obit was found for him but the 1880 federal census reflects the family living in what was then called Saline Township, later renamed Stonefort Township in the SE corner of the county. Roscoe’s parents, John 38 and Nancy 39 were farmers and at the time only had two sons in the home Roscoe 16 and William 9. The owned their land but it was mortgaged.
Roscoe married Ella McDaniel in Cairo, Alexander County Illinois on December 24, 1905. By the 1910 census, Roscoe was 26 and Ella was 25 and they were living in Ward 2 of Marion at 1008 S. Duncan Street in a home they owned mortgage free. Roscoe was working as a lumberman in sales and they had two children, Mildred 2 and Lowell 7 months old. Ella indicated that they had birthed two children and both were living.
In 1912, Roscoe served the city of Marion as alderman under Mayor J.H. Burnett and again in 1913 under Mayor George B. Calhoun.
When WWI draft cards were filled out in 1917 Roscoe was 35 living at 1008 W. Chestnut St. and working as a lumberman. He was described as short with a stout build, brown hair and brown eyes.
In the 1920 census, Roscoe 36 and Ella 34 were still living at 1008 W. Chestnut St. in a home free of mortgage. Roscoe was listed as a lumber salesman and the children in the home were Mildred W. 12, Lowell W. 10 Carl W. 7 and Helen Marie aged 4.
From 1919 through 1921, Roscoe was elected city commissioner under Mayor Elijah Lewis and re-elected again for the period 1921 through 1923 again under Mayor Lewis. Apparently a flap that occurred in April 1921 was resolved when an article in the news stated that Mayor Lewis and Commissioners R.C. Launius and Otley Monroe were allowing gambling within the city limits. Petitions were circulated calling for a recall election.
The 1922 Marion city directory confirmed their address on W. Chestnut Street with Roscoe still working the lumber business and also serving as city commissioner handling accounts & finance for the city.
An article appearing in the Marion Daily Republican in April of 1923 stated that William Gallagher Lumber Yard would reopen under new ownership after the death of the owner, William Gallagher. The new owners would be Dr. W.P. Moore, Dr. J.W. Ferguson, Roscoe C. Launius and Charles A. Gent. It also mentioned that Launius was the previous manager of the lumber yard under Gallagher. The Gallagher Lumber Yard at that time was located at 201 S. Market St. and 405 N. Market St.
Roscoe was called up for jury duty in 1923 when Bert Grace was being tried for murder in connection with the Herrin Massacre, but was excused from duty after being questioned.
A 1927 city directory confirmed that the couple were still living on Chestnut Street but apparently they weren’t there for long after that year because they had moved to Arkansas by the 1930 census.
When the 1930 census was taken, Roscoe 46 and Ella 45 were living in a rental home at 1005 W. 2nd St. in Corning, Clay County Arkansas. Roscoe was a manager at a retail lumber establishment. There were three children in the home, Lowell 20 and recently married, Carl 18 and Helen 14.
In the 1940 census, Roscoe was 55 and Ella 54. The only child left in the home was 20-year-old Carl. They were reported to be living in Kilgore, Clay County, Arkansas the same place as in 1935. Roscoe indicated that he had completed 8th grade and was working 60 hour weeks in retail lumber as a manager.
When Roscoe filled out his WWII draft card in 1942 he was living in Corning, Arkansas and working for J.W. Block Lumber Company in the same town. He was described as 5’ 4”, 160 lbs., with brown hair, brown eyes and a ruddy complexion.
In 1950, the census located them in the same location with 67-year-old Roscoe working as a clerk in a lumberyard. Living with the couple was their 14-year-old granddaughter Sharon A. Benish, the daughter of Helen Marie Launius Benish.
On January 28, 1970, Roscoe passed away in Corning, Arkansas. Later that year, his wife, Ella, born in 1886 died in Corning on June 12, 1970.
Notes on Children:
Mildred Launius Stephens, born July 16, 1907, married Harry C. Stephens. She died December 2, 1972 in Forest City, Arkansas
Lowell Alden Launius, born September 27, 1909, married Louise Crabtree in January 1930, He died in W. Helena, Arkansas on October 25, 1998
Carl Judson Launius, born February 24, 1912, married Elizabeth Jane Belford in August 1946. He died in Poplar Bluff, Missouri on June 24, 1998
Helen Marie Launius Benish Ewing, born June 12, 1915, married Louis Stephen Benish in June 1931, re-married to Henry Wallis Ewing in Texas on November 1956. She died February 4, 1993
(Sources: Federal census records, WWI and WWII Draft cards, Marion Daily Republican, Alexander County marriage records, Marion Street Directories, Social Security Death records. Compiled by Sam Lattuca on 3/29/2024)