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
It should be remembered that in the early settlement days of the county when the area was inhabited by early pioneers that most were uneducated. It is likely that many processes of nature were misunderstood and appeared “magical”. This undoubtedly accounted for superstitions of which, I am certain, there were many. Continue reading
Donald Houston Bethel was born November 12, 1919, in Ozark, Illinois, in Johnson County, the son of Jewell Guy Bethel Sr. (1896-1970) and Elma Mae Houston (1900-1991).
Although his obituary states that he was born in Ozark, Illinois only one month after his birth he and his parents were listed in the 1920 census as living at Harrisburg in Saline County. Continue reading
Eight Marionites brought claim to the Williamson County seat with the only state championship brought back to Marion in 1921.
The eight were Owen Stotlar, John Slater, Norman Belford, Raymond Biggs, Willis Stone, William Wallace and Luke Johnson and Ray Robinson. Continue reading
James A. Felts was born March 18, 1862, in Lake Creek Township, about four miles north of Marion to David Jocham Felts and Jane Binkley, both of Tennessee.
James grew up on his father’s farm near Johnston City. In the 1880 census, James was 18 and listed as a farmer. His mother had died and his father remarried to Susan D. Herrington. Continue reading