Alphonso J. Jennings (a.k.a. Al) was born November 25, 1863 in Virginia. Al, wrote a book in 1913 called “Beating Back” and gave some early family history. He had a penchant for spinning yarns, so we have no way of knowing how much of his book is true. He said his father, John D.F. Jennings, was a schoolmaster, doctor, Methodist minister, lawyer and editor. Continue reading
According to Milo Erwin’s history of Williamson County, “The cholera made its first appearance in July 1849, but caused only a few deaths. It re-appeared in 1866, and lasted for six weeks, during which over twenty five persons were taken away, and the city of Marion vacated. Among the deceased were the three beautiful Ferguson girls, ladies without parallel in all the arena of beauty and refinement.” Continue reading
If you ever wondered what happened to those local men who in the early days of the civil war had southern sympathies strong enough to go off and join the Confederate Army, then this article by Bernie Paul from the August 2008 edition of Marion Living Magazine will help. Bernie entitled the article “What Became of Marion’s Orphans”. Continue reading
Richmond Roe Fowler, a.k.a. Rich, was born about five miles northeast of Marion on November 28, 1860. He was the son of Joseph W. Fowler and Elizabeth Davis.
After taking advantage of the schooling offered by the district schools, Judge Fowler attended Ewing College for two years, and then for two years engaged in teaching. Continue reading
Clara Strautz Boatright was born August 28, 1895 in Cairo, Illinois, to Fredrick and Catherine Casper Strautz. She attended Cairo public schools and St. Joseph’s Academy, continuing her education at Jacksonville, Normal, and LaSalle University.
She came to Marion from E. St. Louis to teach at Brown’s Business College from 1914 to 1933 (with six years out to become mother and homemaker). Clara then became principal from 1933 to 1936 when she resigned to become a private tutor. Continue reading