The following biographical sketch was published in the book, “1905 Historical Souvenir of Williamson County. The article was likely constructed in 1904.
“The subject of this sketch is a native of Marion, where he was born June 11th, 1872. His father was engaged in the drug business here for some time, but is at present postmaster at Oluskee, Odlahoma. His mother was Amanda M. Spiller. After a common school education, Mr. Willeford entered the employ of John Cline in 1891 and took up the profession of druggist. He was two years with Cline and then spent two years in Washington, Indiana. After spending six years in Malden, Missouri he went to Muscogee, Indian Territory for one year. In July 1901, we find him once more in Marion and in partnership with his brother-in-law, Frank S. Morrison in the bottling business (Coal Belt Bottling Company). Mr. Morrison had been in the same business in Memphis and elsewhere and Mr. Willeford was an expert druggist, so that the combination was a success from the start. They engaged in the manufacture of all kinds of soft drinks and mineral waters, but make a specialty of “Iron Brew, the Ideal American Tonic,” a soft drink of exceptional value for its medicinal properties. The first year’s output was one hundred cases daily and its present capacity is three hundred cases. They are now building new works on the same street, which will greatly increase the output.
Mr. Willeford was married November 15, 1900 to Miss Minnie Lee Price, daughter of Capt. Ben Price, the present Chief of Police of Cairo, Illinois. He joined the Knights of Pythias at Malden, Mo. and is still a member of No. 234 there, also the K.L.O.M (Knights & Ladies of Marion) at Malden and No. 800 of the Elks of Marion.”
Hogan Willeford was the son of John Bell Willeford and Amanda M. Spiller. When the 1880 census was taken the Willeford family was living in Marion and Hogan’s 41-year-old father was a coal dealer. Children in the family were May 9, Hogan 7, Maud 6, Webster 4 and Sadie 1.
An article appearing the “The Leader” paper in Marion in January 1896 noted that Hogan had secured a position working in a Malden, Missouri durst store and had left. Another article in “The Leader” dated in February 1898 noted that Hogan had returned to Marion from Malden.
In the 1900 census, 27 year old Hogan was living in Cotton Hill, Dunklin County, Missouri and was working as assistant postmaster. On November 15, 1900, Hogan married Minnie Lee Price, daughter of Thomas Benton Price and Carrie Vanness.
Article in the 1905 Historical Souvenir book indicated that Hogan was serving as a Trustee for the Marion Lodge of the Elks Club in 1904 and in 1907 served on the Elks building committee which led the way to construction of the big Elks home constructed on S. Market Street in 1908.
The 1907 Marion Street directory listed Hogan and Minnie L. as living at 200 E. College Street and employed by the Coal Belt Bottling Company in addition to the company Gent & Willeford, real estte and promoter.
In the 1910 federal census, Hogan 37 and Minnie 33 were renting rooms at 204 E. College Street in Marion in the home of Effie G. Wiley, a widowed 43 year old clerk in a dry goods store along with her two children. Hogan was listed as a book keeper in the New Virginia Coal Mine.
When the booklet published by the Marion Board of Trades called “Marion, Opportunity City” came out in 1913, Hogan’s house was pictured on one its pages as well as him being mentioned as being Secretary Treasurer in an ad for the Big Muddy Fuel Company, Marion, Illinois.
By 1916 his parents had moved to Downey, California as evidenced in a Marion Daily Republican article noting that his father had returned to Marion to visit his son from that location.
Apparently, Hogan wasted no time in moving to where his father lived since the 1920 federal census found them living there. Hogan 47 and Minnie L. 43 were living in a place they owned on N. Crowford St. and Hogan did not list any occupation.
In the 1920 census, Hogan 56 and Minnie 50 were living a home they owned at 110 Lexington Rd. in Downey, California. They noted that they owned a radio and Hogan was working as a fruit farmer. Living with them was 4 year old Frances Gillem, who they noted as a niece. Francis was born on November 23, 1925 and at some point in the 1920 appears to have been adopted by Hogan and Minnie.
By the time the 1930 census was taken, Hogan 56 and Minnie 50 then listed Frances as their 14 year old daughter. They owned their own home at 442 Fairview Ave. in Monrovia, California at $8,000. They indicated that in 1935 they were living in South Pasadena. No occupations were listed. Hogan indicated that he had completed 3 out of 4 years of high school and Minnie indicated that she had completed high school.
On January 2, 1942, their adopted daughter, Alma Frances Willeford’s nude 16 year old body was found in a room at a motor inn in Arcadia, California. An older couple was wanted in connection with the room rental but were never located. Cause of death was suspected to be poison, but was undetermined as to whether it was murder or suicide. Frances had been a student at Sawyer’s Business College in Pasadena.
On March 29, 1950, Minnie Lee Willeford passed away. At the time of her death, the couple were living at 904 W. Huntington Drive in Arcadia. It was noted that she had lived in Arcadia for 10 years, was an active member of Arcadia’s Womean’s club and a member of the First Baptist Church. She was survived by her husband Hogan and a sister, Mrs. Fannie t. Bain of Arcadia. Burial was in Rose Hills Memorial Park near her adopted daughter Frances in Whittier, California.
When the 1950 census was taken, 77 year old widowed Hogan was living at 904 Huntington Drive in Arcadia. He was widowed and not working.
On January 8, 1958 Hogan Willeford died at Monterey Sanitarium. It was noted that Hogan had been a superintendent of the Peabody Coal Company for 30 years and had lived in the vicinity for 39 years. He was survived by two sisters, Mrs. Mattie Van Matre of Arcadia and Mrs. Sue Galloway of Downey. One brother, Webster Willeford of Downey. Burial was in Rose Hills Memorial Park in Whittier.
Notes on Children:
Alma Frances Willeford (Gillem?) born November 3, 1925, adopted by the Willeford’s in the 1920’s. Murdered at age 16 on January 2, 1942.
(Sources: Federal Census records, The Leader, Marion Daily Republican, Monrovia News-Post, Daily News-Post, FindaGrave.com 1905 Historical Souvenir of Williamson County, Illinois Marriage records, California Death Records, Marion Opportunity City. Compiled by Sam Lattuca 4/4/2024)