Dunaway, Thomas T. 1846-1921, City Alderman and Businessman

Thomas Taylor Dunaway, prominent Marion businessman and three term city alderman,  was the son of Samuel McNight Dunaway (1809 – 1876) and Julia Tarpley (1817 – 1893).  Samuel was an early pioneer in Williamson County and helped settle the village of Bainbridge. He was a merchant, railroad president and he bought and sold much land in Williamson County’s early period.  Thomas was the brother of Samuel Washington Dunaway and 12 other siblings, Thomas being the last born. Continue reading

Adams, James L. 1836-1917, Multi-term Marion Alderman and Civil War Veteran

James L. Adams was born in Dickson County, Tennessee on February 8, 1836 and came with his parents to Randolph County, Illinois, when but three years old. His parents were John Adams (1811 – 1855) and Martha Kennedy (1812 – 1900), who were natives of Caswell County, North Carolina but came to Tennessee while young and married there. Continue reading

Hendrickson, Hartwell 1848-1899, Civil War Vet, Circuit Clerk, Alderman

Hartwell Hendrickson, Civil War veteran, clerk of the circuit court, alderman, postmaster and native of the county was born December 2, 1848, the son of Jesse Hendrickson (1822-1898) and Martha Ann Lewis (1823-1895), both natives of Tennessee.  Jesse and Martha came to Franklin County, Illinois about 1830 where he served for many years as a Methodist preacher. Continue reading

Wiley, Oliver H. “Harp” 1807-1877, Trustee, Alderman & Black Hawk War Veteran

Oliver Harper “Harp” Wiley was born in Cabarrus County, North Carolina November 30, 1807. 

“Harp” Wiley married Matilda Krantz (1808 – 1891), daughter of Thomas Krantz and Elizabeth Kent. Matilda was a teen-aged orphan when she and her sister, Sarah, came from Cheatham County, Tenn. to Franklin County, Illinois with a Sanders family in an oxcart.  Her sister, Sarah married Wiley Berry Chamness (1811-1882), founder of the Chamness settlement, now in the Wildlife Refuge. 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