Marion's Beginning

 

    This is one of the earliest photograph of Marion that I have seen.   The tall building on the right is the old Red Food store and later Western Auto store.

Formation of the Town of Marion

Since our town of Marion will be having a birthday on Feb. 22, 2026, her one hundred eighty-second, we just naturally need to think of the early beginning. Crittenden became a county in January of 1842, but Dr. John Gilliam in 1841 already had a plan in mind for the formation of a town, which would be Marion. The stage is set.

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The Act of 1841

At the Livingston County elections of May, 1841, Dr. Gilliam was overwhelmingly elected to succeed James Watts in the Kentucky Legislature, and he immediately started composition of an Act of that body in its Fall session of 1841.

The Act, creating the new county of Crittenden, in honor of the Governor of Kentucky at the time of its creation, from the northwestern portion of Livingston County, was passed in January of the next year, and was signed into law by Governor John J. Crittenden, January 26, 1842.

The Act establishing Crittenden County quite obviously was completed with the clear formulation of the plan to establish the new county's seat of justice at its only really acceptable site – the present location of the city of Marion.

The Act directed that the first county and circuit courts were to be held at the home of Samuel Ashley, which was the former tavern and voting place of Cross Keys, at about the territorial center of the newly formed Crittenden County. (This site was either at or very near the site of the late Fred Gilbert's residence. This site now is marked by a historical marker made possible by descendant Barry Gilbert). The location was only one and one-half miles north of the Salem-Bellville crossing on the Fords Ferry Road.

The Act also named a Selection Commission, and gave them power to receive donations of land for the erection of the planned public buildings of the county, and thus the stage was set for Dr. Gilliam's final step in the formulation of Marion.

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Selection of site for county seat

The Selection Commission met at the home of James Cruce on the first Monday in April 1842 and one of the first matters brought before them was Dr. Gilliam's offer of the donation of the cross roads site. (W. Bellville, Main Street, Fords Ferry Road and very near his log cabin structure).

The Commission, was made up of Thomas J. Flanary, Frederick D. Word, Robert N. Lewis, Robert T. Leeper and James Golson.

After three sessions, they recommended to the Court that Dr. Gilliam's offer of five acres of land be accepted, and on April 12, 1842, the following deed was recorded: John S. Gilliam & Nancy, his wife, for and in consideration of one dollar and donating to the county of Crittenden certain lands for the erection of public buildings for said county as provided for by an Act of the General Assembly of the Commonwealth Of Kentucky, have this day, with the advice and consent of the Commissioners appointed by said Act to locate said county seat, conveyed to the Justices of the County Court and their successors in office forever, for public use, all that certain piece or parcel of land situated, lying and being in the County aforesaid at the crossing of the Belleville and Main Road to Fords Ferry Road. One square being on the Southwest corner of said crossroads being laid off by said commissioners for a public square. Thus began the construction of the new county's Seat of Justice.

(Dr. John S. Gilliam, the Father of Marion, and his wife, Nancy S. Gilliam, at one time, had stones in the Old Marion Cemetery. Both of their stones are now on the list of the earlier stones that are missing or destroyed.)

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Town of Marion was born

The Act of the legislature incorporating the town of Marion was passed and signed by the governor on February 22, 1844. The town was named after Gen. Francis Marion. a famed guerrilla general during the Revolutionary War. John S. Gilliam, Harmon Hubands and James Duvall were appointed to lay the town off, which they did.

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The justices of the county courts in Kentucky of the 1840’s had the responsibility of total governmental administration to all parts of the counties not incorporated, thus Marion in the years of its formative stage, was under the supervision of the Crittenden County Court. The justices of the county were: Joseph Hughes, James Cruce, Robert H. Haynes, Abner Larrows(LaRue), Peter Clinton, John D. Gregory, Martin Williams, Robert Hill, Henry R.D. Coleman and Samuel L. Phillips.

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In 1851 Marion was re-incorporated with the Laws of Kentucky and an Act to incorporate the town of Marion was written, thus the town would have its own set of laws and officers. They were approved December 20, 1851.

After this Act was passed the Crittenden County Court passed the town affairs to the newly appointed Board of Trustees. The elected officials were: Trustees John W. Blue, H. L. Leigh, William Rochester, W. C. Carnahan and J. N. Woods; Treasurer J. W. Wilson; Marshall John Fowler; Jess Tyner Assessor and R. L. Bigham City Clerk.

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Original Incorporation Records

The original Articles of Incorporation for Marion, written in 1851, called for five Trustees and duties that the Trustees were given in the operation of the city. The board of trustees shall have power and authority to declare what fines shall be imposed upon all persons who shall be guilty of indecent of boisterous conduct, such as disturbs the peace and is against the dignity of the town.

They shall have power to declare fines to be imposed on persons who shall be guilty of boisterous conduct on the Sabbath, running horses, public swearing in a clamorous manner, fighting, shooting with guns or pistols, making reports by burning powder, blowing of horns, crying aloud by day or night in a disorderly manner, and all riotous conduct in said town; the fines in such cases, and for such offenses, to be ascertained by a jury, under the direction of the police judge of said town, as in cases of breeches of the peace, in any sum not exceeding twenty dollars for each and every offense, and in default of payment ten days imprisonment, or both.

Records also state that a clerk, assessor, treasurer, and marshal for the said town will be appointed. They will perform the duties of their respective offices according to law, and to the best of their abilities. (some of their duties abbreviated)

The Clerk duties shall be to attend all meetings of the board, and to preserve the books, papers, and records belonging to the office.

The Assessor, shall be be to call upon all persons in said town of Marion, who are subject to be taxed, and make out a true list of their taxable property.

The Treasurer duty shall be to receive and give receipts for all money’s paid him and keep a fair record of the fiscal concerns of the board.

The Marshal of the town of Marion shall hold the office two years, and he shall have the same powers, have the same jurisdiction, exercise the same authority, perform the same duties as a constable of the county of Crittenden, he shall be a peace officer of the town of Marion, with authority to command the power to suppress riots, fighting, or any manner of disturbance of the peace.

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Present Form of City Government Created in 1898

Crittenden Press, Jan. 1, 1898 – Marion is now a full fledged city, with her own mayor and board of council. The new board met Monday evening last, with new mayor, R. L. Moore in the chair. The following officers were elected: Marshal and Street Inspector -B. L. Wilborn; City- Clerk H. Koltinsky; Treasurer- G. G. Hammond; and City Attorney- John A Moore.

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I’m thankful for all these past leaders and citizens to have the foresight and courage to start the town of Marion all those many years ago. You are not forgotten.

History of the "First Schools"

 

Back in the 1930’s Rev. James F. Price wrote a series of articles called Facts and Reminiscences About Crittenden County. It’s a wonderful series of articles that contains facts about our schools, churches, the formation of the county, early settlers to the area and much more. This is a small section that he wrote about the first schools in the Marion area.

The schools of Crittenden County have a varied history from the most meager beginnings to their present efficiency. Some dates and facts may not be strictly correct, but this has been compiled from the best data obtainable.

The first school in Crittenden County was taught in a building opposite the Harry Perry house, one mile south of Marion.(The now empty field next to Norman Dr.) It was taught by James Hanks in 1842. The year in which the county was organized.

James Hanks’ father’s name was George Hanks; his grandmother’s name was Ann Hanks. They came from Claytonville, Anderson County, S. C. Ann Hanks had a daughter named Nancy Hanks. According to tradition she was Abraham Lincoln’s mother. At least James Hanks claimed to be a cousin of Lincoln.

The next one who taught in the building was J. O. Hadden. We have no data to enable us to determine how long any of these early teachers taught; probably from one to three years.

Hadden was followed by James Duvall, and he was followed by George W. Cone. During the time Cone taught the school was moved into the town of Marion. It has not been determined in what building the school was held after its removal. Mr. Cone taught four or five years.

The next instructors for Marion were Mr. Primer and Miss Carey, both from the State of New York. They taught in what was called The Old Seminary, where the Methodist parsonage now stands. At some of these early schools board and laundry for students cost only $1.25 per week. In music instructions were given on the accordion.

In these days they held what was called "loud school;" that is, the pupils studied out loud. The strongest voices would nearly drown out the weaker ones. If there came a lull of voices in the school room the teacher would stamp his foot and cry out, "Get to your lessons." Then such a bedlam of voices would burst forth that would almost make a thunderstorm pale into insignificance.

The next teacher at Marion was Clark Johnson. He was the first man that ever examined the writer for a certificate. He was very droll in his ways, but a fine scholar and an excellent teacher. The writer remembers that he had a box about five feet in every dimension, full of books, mosly Latin and Greek. He taught in the building called "Long Tom". (It was located were Gilbert’s Funeral Home is now.)

After this Mrs. White taught for two years; then Prof. A. Wood taught for a time. From 1869 to 1873, Prof. John L. Cade taught in a little brick building where the Graded School building now stands.(where Marion Jr. High School use to be, an empty lot now.) Mrs. Meary was his assistant. She was a very fine teacher.

The government of the school was by a system of merits. You would be given so many merits at the beginning of the week. Every failure in recitation or any act of misconduct would take away a merit. Some pupils would have few merits left at the end of the week. Bud Bigham had more money than most of the boys and he did like to talk to the girls. He would buy merits from some of the boys so he could have some at the end of the week, for every loving chat cost him one or more merits.

J. J. Nall and R. H. Adams took charge of the school in the fall of 1876. It was called the Male and Female Academy. One taught in the little brick building which stood on the present Graded School grounds; the other taught in the brick Presbyterian Church building which stood in the old cemetery. (on the corner of Moore St. and Hwy. 60 W)

Two early schools in Crittenden County made of logs.       Lilly Dale

                                                                   Sisco Chapel

The Tornado/Cyclone of 1890 through Crittenden County

 

The devastating tornado/cyclone of March 27, 1890 has a history well documented on the internet. From what little information I can gather, it must have followed the Ohio River in Illinois, crossed over to Crittenden around Carrsville, continued it’s path through mostly northern Crittenden county. I have only sketches of information, as there are no Crittenden Presses available for 1890 until September of that year. This is one reason why local newspapers are so important for our past history. Most of the history of this event are lost forever.

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The Beginning

The tornado outbreak of March 27,1890, was one of the most prolific, deadly, and damaging to ever strike the middle Mississippi and lower Ohio Valleys.

In a triangle roughly bounded by Saint Louis, Louisville, and Huntsville, no fewer than two dozen tornadoes of at least F2 strength raked across the countryside. Many more weaker tornadoes, records of which have been lost to time, may have struck as well

Early on the morning of the 27th, a deep low pressure system was spinning over central Kansas. A warm front reached to the east, splitting Kentucky in half length-wise. A cold front hung to the south into Texas.

The counter-clockwise turning of the Kansas low brought plenty of moisture northward from the Gulf of Mexico. As the moisture interacted with the low and its fronts, showers and storms broke out

The low over Kansas deepened and headed northeast into central Illinois by evening. As it did so, its cold front advanced into the Mississippi River valley. As the front encountered a very moist and unstable atmosphere that afternoon, numerous super-cell thunderstorms exploded from southeastern Missouri into Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, and Tennessee.

The first tornadoes developed south of St. Louis around 3pm. As the outbreak spread to the east, additional tornadoes struck. The final twisters occurred east of Nashville around 10pm. Louisville was near the eastern edge of the outbreak, with its tornado disaster taking place about 9pm.

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From an Illinois newspaper - Coming over the hills at Carrsville, it took up Deer Creek, and therefore allowed Hardin county to escape, although the wind blew and hail fell as large as quail eggs.

It passed on through Kentucky felling timber and demolishing houses and etc. Dutch Sullenger, living near Tolu was killed and his house blown to fragments.

John Robinson’s daughter was killed also, and many injured. (I was unable to find any more information about who Dutch Sullenger was, or about the daughter of John Robinson.)

From local information - The tornado made a path through the around Mt. Zion church and cemetery, it destroyed the church.  (From History of Mt. Zion Church)

It not only destroyed the church and the neighborhood, it picked up Dr. Moreland's wife, Susan and their daughter, Gladis, whom she had clutched tightly in her arms and carried them to a neighboring community called Tradewater in Union County about seven miles from Mt. Zion.  When they were found, Susan was still holding her little girl.  They are buried together in the old part of the cemetery.  Their monument reads, "God would not let thee cross the dark abyss alone, but on they mother's breast did waft three home."

Their tombstone with the inscription, Susan M. Moreland (Sept. 29, 1865-March 27, 1890 and Gladis Gazelle Moreland, Infant (Oct. 14, 1899-March 27,1890) "Killed in Cyclone"

We will probably never know the total amount of deaths, for without the local paper, I can find no more records.

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This entry was in Crittenden County Order Book 1889-1900, dated March 29, 1890. Ordered by the court, that fifty dollars be appropriated for the tornado suffers of the county.

A flyer was also issued: A CRY FOR HELP! To the People of Crittenden County:

At a meeting of the citizens of Crittenden County, at Marion, on March 29^th, the following resolutions were adopted:

    Whereas a destructive tornado swept across the county on the 27^th, killing a number of our fellow citizens, wounding and disabling others, destroying the homes of many, leaving men, women and children, without food or raiment and in a suffering needy condition, therefore

    Resolved that those of the county who escaped this great calamity, be appealed to for relief for the distressed and suffering in this their great time of need, by making immediate contributions of money, food, clothing, bedding or other articles of household necessity and comfort,

    Resolved that the people be requested to hold public meetings in their respective neighborhoods for the purpose of facilitating this great work of charity, as the cry for help is urgent and relief must be speedily given.

    Resolved that J. A. Moore and Geo. C. Gray be and are appointed a committee to receive, at Marion, the donations of those who may live a distance from the field of want, and to forward the same to the sufferers.

The people of every neighborhood are earnestly requested to give this important matter their immediate attention, the immediate wants of our friends and neighbors are pressing. Let us heed their cry for help with open hearts.

J. A. Moore, Chairman,

T. J. Nunn, Secretary