Marion Illinois History Preservation

Cocke, Ira, 1879-1966, Carpenter & Alderman

Posted on May 4, 2024 by Sam LattucaMay 4, 2024

Ira Cocke was born in Bainbridge, Illinois west of Marion on October 18, 1879 to David B. Cocke and Mary Hannah White. This is also where the 1880 federal census located his family. His 30 year old father, David was 30 and his mother Mary was 29. The parental couple were farm workers and had 3 children in the census, John 6, Robert 3 and infant Ira at 8 months of age.

On May 16, 1898, Ira married Miriam Etta Kimmel in Franklin County at the age of 19. Her parents were Joseph Priestly Kimmel and Mary Ann Kimmel. When the 1900 census was taken, the young couple were living in Tate Township in Saline County and had no children yet. They were living in a home that they owned free of mortgage and Ira was working as a sawmill laborer.

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Kimmel, Jerome, 1873-1957, Miner & Alderman

Posted on May 3, 2024 by Sam LattucaMay 3, 2024

According to his Social Security death record, Jerome Kimmel was born near Creal Springs on November 13, 1873 to Joseph Priestly and Mary Ann Kimmel. By the time the 1880 census was taken, the farming family was living in Union County. The father Joseph was 27 and mother Mary was 24. They had 4 children living in the home, Jerome 6, Oscar 4, Jo Ann 2 and Etta at 10 months of age.

When the 1900 census was taken, 26 year old Jerome was working as a salesman and living as a solitary boarder in the home of George & Kate McMinn and their four children at 1036 N. Leonard Avenue in St. Louis, Missouri.

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Norman, Curtis M., 1878-1945, Coal Miner & Alderman

Posted on April 27, 2024 by Sam LattucaApril 27, 2024

Curtis Marion Norman was born on May 17, 1878 in Crab Orchard Township to Francis Marion Norman and Samantha Edwards. F.M. Norman was a Civil War veteran and part of the early families to settle Williamson County. The 1880 federal census located farmer F.M. 54 and Samantha 27 along with children William D. 20, James 18, Cynthia 13 and Curtis aged 2 living in Crab Orchard Township. William was working as a farm worker and James was working as a store clerk. Their father Francis, was on his second much younger wife, having originally married Martha Whitlock in 1845 and then remarrying to Samantha Edwards in 1873. Curtis’s father, F.M., died on July 31, 1897.

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Williams, James M., 1878-1954, Miner & Alderman

Posted on April 27, 2024 by Sam LattucaApril 27, 2024

James Martin Williams was born October 16, 1878 to Xerxes Marcus & Sarah F. Williams in Townmount Precinct in Franklin County. The 1880 federal census located the family in this location when his father was only 22, his mother 19 and James was just 1. By the 1900 census, his mother, Sarah was no longer in the equation and his father had remarried Lucinda Cash Buchtenkerchen on April 16, 1893. The family had relocated from Franklin County to live in Marion. At that point in time, Marcus 41 and Lucinda 40 had two children living with them, sons undoubtedly belonging to his first wife, Sarah. They were Harry H. 25 and James M. 21, both working as a coal miners just like their father. Also living in their home was Ethel aged 5, reportedly the sister of Marcus but doubtful.

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Spiller, James Ransom, 1876-1963, Deputy Marshall, Mine Operator & Alderman

Posted on April 25, 2024 by Sam LattucaApril 25, 2024

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.

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