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.
22 year old James married 21 year old Gertrude Boyd of Lake Creek Township on March 31, 1898. Gertrude was born October 17, 1877 to Lawrence Boyd and Ellen Duncan. When the 1900 census was taken, James and Gertrude were living in Marion and had only one child, Clyde aged 1. James listed himself as a farmer and they indicated that they owned their home free of mortgage.
When the Duncan-Baker Hardware Company incorporated on October 14, 1903, John H. Duncan was President, James R. Spiller Vice President and Martin L. Baker was Secretary-Treasurer. The business occupied a slot at 304 Public Square for decades in the NW corner of the square.
A 1907 Marion Street directory indicated that James and Gertrude were living at 501 E. Jefferson and James was a manager at Duncan-Baker Hardware. When the 1910 federal census was taken the couple were still living on Jefferson Street which they owned mortgage free and James was still listed as a hardware merchant. In that census, the couple had three children at home Clyde 11, Violet 8 and Raymond 3. The couple indicated that they had birthed 3 children and all 3 were living.
In 1915 and 1916, James was elected as city alderman under Mayor Dausa D. Hartwell. When James filled out his WWI draft card in 1917, he was listed as living at 520 E. Thorn St. He was 42 years old and still listing himself as a merchant at Duncan-Baker Hardware. He was described as medium height, medium build with brown eyes and dark hair.
When the 1920 census was taken, James 43 and Gertie 42 were living at 520 E. Thorn St. in which they owned mortgage free. James listed himself as a mine operator. Living with them in the home were their children, Clyde 21 working as a hardware salesman, Violet 18, Raymond 3 and James’s 86 year old father William J. Spiller.
An article in the Marion Daily Republican noted that in April 1923 James had gone along with several other business people in Marion to post bond for S. Glenn Young, the KKK enforcer who had been charged with damage to property and theft that occurred during his many raids into people’s homes during prohibition.
A 1922 Marion street directory indicated that James had switched occupations to operating coal mines. This is reinforced by ads in the local papers advertising his coal for sale through 1926.
An article appearing in the paper in January 1925 reported that fire had destroyed the roof and badly damaged the second floor of his recently remodeled home at 520 E. Thorn St.
One recurring ad in 1926 stated that he had just purchased Duff Roberts strip mine 2 miles north of Marion on Marion Court Street road (now Rt. 37) and had coal for sale.
On October 26, 1926, W.O. Potter, a local attorney and James’ brother in law murdered his entire family and then killed himself. Potter’s wife was Susan Myrtle Spiller, sister of James. James and his brother John became administrators of the estate and quickly put the murder home at 807 N. Market St. up for sale the following year.
James took an active part in local politics and attended the Republican National Convention in 1928 held in Kansas City, Missouri. He is mentioned a few times in Oldham Paisley’s scrapbooks, a collection of articles put in print by Paisley while editor/reporter of the Marion Daily Republican during the 1920’s. James is mentioned in 1928 and 1929, while serving as a U.S. Deputy Marshall when he gave evidence against Art Newman, Fred Wooten and Leslie Simpson for the murders of Lory and Ethel Price. He also was involved in the prosecution during the Election Day murders that took place in Herrin. He also served as a guard escort when gangster Carl Shelton was moved from jail in E. St. Louis to Franklin County for prosecution in regard to prohibition violations, car theft and a truck hijacking.
In the 1930 federal census, James 53 and Gertie 52 were still at 520 E. Thorn St. James was listed as working as a Deputy Marshall. One child was still at home, Clyde aged 30 and working as a hardware clerk. The couple noted their home’s value at $6,500 and they had a radio in their home.
The 1940 census found the couple at the same address, J.R. was 63 and Gertie 62, there were no children living in the home which was now valued at $3,000 but was still owned free of mortgage. Ten years later in the 1950 census, only their ages had changed.
A couple of articles in 1954 were found in the Marion Daily Republican indicating that James was taking an active role in the local Williamson County Civil Air Patrol and held the rank of Warrant Officer.
On May 30, 1963, James R. Spiller passed away at Marion Memorial Hospital, the last of nine children born to William J. Spiller. His obit stated that James was a businessman in Marion for over 30 years before his retirement in 1927. He was member of Modern Woodmen No. 64 and the First Christian Church in Marion. He engaged in real estate and the coal business for many years with his brother John Spiller and served as U.S. Deputy Marshall and part owner of the Duncan-Spiller-McCarthy Hardware store. He was then survived by his wife Gertrude, sons Clyde of Marion and Raymond of Summit, N.J., daughter Mrs. Violet Lederman of Palembang, Sumatra, Indonesia, 7 grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren. Burial was in Rose Hill Cemetery in Marion.
After her son, Clyde’s death in 1966, Gertrude eventually ended up living in Florida where two of her children had settled down at. She died September 24, 1972 in Bradenton Hospital, Sun City Center, Florida near daughter Violet. She was preceded in death by James and her son Clyde. She was survived by daughter Violet Lederman and son James Raymond Spiller, both of Sun City, Florida. She then had 7 grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren.
Notes on Children:
Clyde Ransom Spiller, born November 12, 1898, married Edna Pauline Waters, died April 26, 1966 in Marion.
Betsy Violet Spiller Lederman, born July 18, 1901, married E.T. Lederman October 1, 1925, she taught school in Centralia where she lived for several years, died September 13, 1976 in Sun City, Florida
James Raymond Spiller, born November 30, 1906, married Margaret Lucille Farris, died May 28, 2004 in Sun City, Florida
(Sources: Federal Census records, Marion Street Directories, Williamson County Marriage records, WWI Draft Card records, Williamson County in WWI book, Marion Evening Post, Marion Daily Republican, Southern Illinoisan papers, Oldham Paisley’s scrapbooks. Compiled by Sam Lattuca on May 25, 2024)