Category Archives: S to U

Marion’s Prominent Citizens S to U

Sanders, James W. 1923-1990, Sanders & Associates

Posted on by October 22, 2013

James W Sanders 1923-1990Marion has had its share of heroes over the years. The subject of this work is World War II and how one of our local citizens answered the call.

We had a family here in Marion that sent four of its sons to the service and only one survived. In Williamson County we had two sons from Paulton that died in prisoner of war camps. We have other families that sent four and five of their sons to the effort. The first casualty of the war from Marion was a man who died in the attack on Pearl Harbor by Japan and he is still entombed in the Battleship Arizona. Continue reading →

Spiller, Edward M. 1865-1934

Posted on by April 13, 2014

Spiller Ed 1865-1934Edward M. Spiller was born at Carbondale, September 28, 1865. Spiller lived most of his life in Williamson County where he became a leading citizen early in a brilliant career. He was the son of Elijah Spiller and Parazetta Edwards.

After attending school in Marion he studied at the Northern Indiana University and was graduated from Valparaiso University in 1888 with the degree of Bachelor of Science. After teaching one term of school at Carterville, he began the study of law in Marion under W.W. Duncan, later justice of the State Supreme Court. Continue reading →

Skaggs, Walter W. 1879-1928

Posted on by September 3, 2019

Walter W. Skaggs 1879-1928Walter W. Skaggs was born May 23, 1879, of humble parentage, on a farm three and a half miles southwest of Marion, in a log house in the midst of the virgin forest. Walter assisted in the clearing and breaking of the new ground and the development of the farm until he was seventeen years of age. His parents were William T. Skaggs and Amanda Oglesby of Williamson County who were farmers. Continue reading →

Thurmond, Ralph 1896-1959

Posted on by September 5, 2013

Thurmond Ralph 1896-1959George Ralph Thurmond was born in Ewing, Illinois on January 6, 1896, the son of Elisha M. and Ida A. Ingram Thurmond. His father, Elisha, taught school and engaged in farming and raising livestock prior to bringing his family to Marion on October 1, 1909 to engage in the monument business by buying the Marion Steam Marble Works (monument makers). Continue reading →

Thurmond, Elisha M. 1864-1943, Thurmond Monument Company

Posted on by March 9, 2017

EM Thurmond 1864-1943Elisha M. Thurmond was born in Franklin County March 6, 1864, and was the son of William H. and Sarah Elizabeth Thurmond. He attended the public schools in Franklin County and went to Ewing College.

He was married on April 8, 1886, to Miss lda Augusta Ingram in Franklin County. Ida was born in Macedonia, Illinois on August 16, 1870. Their fourth child, Clyde Thurmond died in 1894 at the age of 1. Continue reading →