Washburn, James M. 1826-1910, State Legislator

James M Washburn 1826-1910The following article is an extract taken from the 1905 Souvenir History of Williamson County detailing the life of Judge James M. Washburn and is followed by collected data. Washburn was a Marion merchant, State Representative, Assistant Secretary of State, Master In Chancery, Attorney, member of the State Agriculture Board and one of the founders of the Egyptian Press newspaper. Continue reading

The Hosea Wilson Family in WWII, Lest We Forget

There are probably not many, if any, who remember the Hosea Wilson family of Marion and their contributions to the war effort during WW II.

Hosea Wilson was born in Marion in 1878, graduated from Marion High School and Southern Illinois Normal University. Hosea’s father, Allen Wilson served in the Civil War in the 31st Illinois Infantry. It should he added that O.M. Wilson of Marion was a brother of Hosea. O.M. Wilson had a son, Virgil, who later became the noted athletic coach at Marion High School. Continue reading

Woodley, Mark 1873-1958

Mark Woodley 1873-1958Mark Woodley Jr. was born December 24, 1873 at Dipton, Durham County, England, and was the son of Mark Woodley Sr. and Maria (Williams) Woodley and was partially educated in England

In early January 1886, Mark aged 12, his parents, then in their mid-40’s, and his 3 year old sister Florence boarded the steamship “Indiana” in Liverpool and arrived in the port of Philadelphia on January 29th. The family made their way to the coal fields of northern Illinois and located at Coal City southwest of Cook County. Mark completed his education in this area while his father worked the coal mines. Continue reading

Wilson, Richard G. 1931-1950, Medal of Honor Recipient

Richard G Wilson Medal of Honor RecipientRichard Gene Wilson (August 19, 1931 – October 21, 1950) was a United States Army soldier and a posthumous recipient of the U.S. military’s highest decoration, the Medal of Honor, for his actions in the Korean War. A combat medic, Wilson was awarded the medal for attempting to rescue a wounded soldier at the Battle of Yongju. Continue reading

Wright, William F. 1852-1939, 508 N. Washington St., Wright & Sons Monuments

William Francis Wright, who went by the name Francis, was born in Williamson County, Illinois, July 28, 1852, and was the son of John Wright and Mary Arnold who came to Illinois from Tennessee. The home of his youth was about five miles from Stone Fort, near Creal Springs, on a farm where he followed the occupation of farming until about 1890 when he entered the mercantile business in Creal. Continue reading