Rev. John Travis

Rev. John Travis, whose family settled in what is now Crittenden County in the early 1800s, was distinguished by being the first Methodist preacher circuit rider sent west of the Mississippi River to lead men to God.

Rev. Travis after traveling eight years relocated back in Crittenden County and married Miss Cynthia Traylor.  They married in Caldwell County on Sept. 23, 1815.

They settled on a farm not far from his brother, Arthur Travis, Revolutionary War veteran.  This land was in the Piney Fork area, located on the Travis-Alexander Road.  

There are two family cemeteries located near by.  John's wife, Cynthia, has a stone in the little Travis Cemetery, but John does not have one, or it has been lost over time.

The other cemetery is the Wilson-Travis cemetery, it was located near Arthur's home place, but he or his wife, Patsy Ramsey Travis have a stone.

So much history lost in these little cemeteries through the years, by either not ever having a tombstone or the tombstone being lost or destroyed over the years.

School News from 1937

Always fun and interesting to remember are the school days from yesteryear.  With items from the old Crittenden Presses we can enjoy once again the simpler days of our local community schools, the good times they shared and he memories that were made.  Here are some 1937 school items.

Mattoon School March 1937 - The Senior class gave an interesting chapel program recently.  The program was opened by the school singing "America."  The class then gave a brief history of the flag and showed how it should be displayed.

The 7th and 8th grades have been practicing on the filed day events for the fair that will be coming up shortly.

Those on the honor roll are: First Grade, Everett Ray Marvell and Jackie Riley; Second Grade, Douglas Brantley, Leon Cook, LaRene McMurrey, Willie Jewell Walker, Georgia Tudor,Georgia McDowell, Kathleen Walker and Alberta Marvell; Third grade, Grace Arflack, Irene Brantley, Charles Conyer, Dorothy Kappler, Anna Katherine Railey and Helen Joe Stone; Fifth grade, Harold Stone, Glenn Newcom, Burnie Perry Howerton; Sixth Grade, Evelyn Lowery and J. C. Howerton; Eighth Grade Geneva Gahagen, Glenna Nunn, Jane Truitt, J. C. Little, Robbie McDowell and Henry Vanhooser.

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Sept. 1937 - The regular monthly meeting of the Crayne P. T. A. was held Friday afternoon.  Mrs Cozette Scott is president.  The ladies were entertained with singing by some of the girls and the children enjoyed a fish pond very much.

The ladies are patching an apron at the present time to raise funds for the school.  A small sum of money is placed under each patch.  

We are having a fine school with Mrs. Opal Wicker Scott a teacher.

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October 1937 - Frances School - The basketball boys have  been doing unusually well under their new instructor, Mr. Gardner.  They are expected to play some good games in the near future.

The junior class are working on the play "Wild Ginger" which will be given some time during the month of November.

Miss Virginia Wallace from Symsonia, Ky., has taken John Yandell's place as teacher of the intermediate grades here.  She is a graduate of Murray State Teachers College.

At an official class meeting Monday the seniors decided to wear caps and gowns at their commencement exercises.

Marion's Two Oldest Businesses

HENRY AND HENRY MONUMENTS


Prior to 1881, J. S. Henry was engaged in the monument business in Madisonville, Ky.

At that time he moved his family to Marion and Established Henry and Henry Monuments.

After being located at his home on South Bellville Street for several years, he purchase the Concrete Building on East Carlisle St. in 1906 (Where Wheeler Antiques are today).

After his death his sons, Albert M. and Howard managed the business until their death, at which time their sons, J. Albert Henry and Searcy Henry became owners.

In 1947 J. Albert, son of Albert M. having bought out Searcy, built the above building at their present site on Sturgis Road.

The business is still family owned today, with grandson, Billy Fox handling most of the everyday business.

                        THE CRITTENDEN PRESS

The newspaper was founded in 1879 by R. C. Walker.  It changed hands five times from then until Evers Mick purchased the newspaper in 1960.  

Since that time his descendants have owned and operated The Crittenden Press.

Evers Mikc, a Marion native, had been working in Madisonville in the printing and radio industries before he bought tne newspaper in 1960 from Charles Pepper.  

Mick owned Modern Printers, a commerical letterpress and offset printing shop in Madisonville.

Evers graduated from Marion High School in 1932 and worked on electronics equipment for the U.S.Government during WWII.

Mick and his wife Lucille, along with sons, Charles and Paul, returned in 1960 to Marion where he had grown up while his father, W. E. Mick was active in the fluorspar mining industry.

Paul and wife Nancy ran the paper after Paul's parents passed away.

And today Paul's daughter, Allison and husband Chris Evans own and operate the paper.