Capron, William B. 1842-1909, Civil War Vet & Alderman

Posted on by November 29, 2023

William Bender Capron was born in Albany, New York to Charles Capron and Charlotte Dodge on July 26, 1842, a family descended from early settlers of New York. He was baptized in a Presbyterian church in Albany, New York on September 23, 1842. By the time the 1860 census was taken, William aged 16 and a brother known only in the census as C. aged 14 were living alone with a large farm family in Sangamon County Illinois.

On August 14th, 1862, William B. went to Springfield, Illinois and enlisted in Company B of the 114th Illinois Infantry. William’s enlistment record listed him as 5′ 10″ tall, fair complexion, light hair and blue eyes. He was mustered into the union army on September 17, 1862 at Camp Butler in Springfield. William was captured by confederates at Brice’s Crossroads, near Guntown, Mississippi on June 10, 1864 and was imprisoned at Andersonville prison in Georgia for eleven grueling months. He was mustered out of the service at Springfield, Illinois on May 30, 1865.

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1915, Old Landmark Moved Off the Library Site

Posted on by September 8, 2023

The last section of the Grandma Cline house on South Market Street was removed today leaving a lot vacant that has not been so in 60 years or more. Isaac Campbell, grandfather of City Clerk George C. Campbell erected this dwelling in the summer of 1854 at a time when the number of houses all told in Marion did not exceed 50.

At this time only three houses can now be recalled besides this one that still stand in Marion, one at 310 W. White Street occupied by W.E. Jordon, the house mover who is now taking the Cline house from its old site. William Calvert built the house about the same time the Cline house was built. It stood on the site occupied now by the Duty Drug store and was one and a half story frame. It was moved to its present location some 15 or 20 years ago.

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Holland, Romulus D. 1847-1919, Merchant & Alderman

Posted on by September 1, 2023

Romulus D. Holland was born in Marion County, West Virginia on October 2, 1847, the son of Jacob Holland and Emily Tarlton, both natives of W. Virginia as well. The mother died in 1856 and the next year the father moved to Jackson County, Illinois. In 1859, he moved to Williamson County and followed brick making to supply the bricks for the early buildings in the county built in the early 1860’s. About 1870, he moved to Harrisburg where he died on July 5, 1875.

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Blankenship, Thomas G. 1852-1917, Merchant & Alderman

Posted on by November 29, 2023

Thomas Gilbert Blankenship was born April 7, 1852 in Robertson County, Tennessee, the son of William Harvey Blankenship and Elizabeth Susan Hudgens. The 1860 federal census found the 8-year-old Thomas living with his parents and 5 siblings in District 1 of Cheatham County, Tennessee, his father was listed as a carpenter by trade.

By the time the 1870 census was taken the family had moved to Williamson County and were living in Township 10, Range 2 or what is now Southern Township near Pulley’s Mill. Thomas was 18 and had 7 siblings. His father was listed as a farmer and claimed a real estate value of $280 with a personal estate of $200.

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Casey, Levi B., Dr. 1863-1923 Physician & Alderman

Posted on by August 30, 2023
Dr. Levi B. Casey
1904 Marion Doctors/Physicians

Dr. Levi Burnside Casey was born in Johnson County on March 22, 1863, just over the Williamson County line south of Creal Springs to Capt. Levi B. Casey who entered the Civil War as a 2nd Lt. in Company D, 31st Illinois infantry. After the death of his Company Captain at the battle of Fort Donelson, he was promoted to Captain but was unfortunately killed in action at the Battle of Vicksburg.

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