Memorial Day, May 25th, 2009

Marion and Crittenden County remembers their Fallen Heroes. This is to honor those who answered the call of their nation and gave the supreme sacrifice in the name of liberty. Mapleview cemetery was a beautiful and sad sight today, as each soldier killed in action had a US Flag honoring their cross.

• World War I - Pvt. Oscar W. Green, Pvt. John Franks, Pvt. Amplias M. Moore, Pvt. James G. Highfil, Sgt. Maj. Freda E. Baker, Pvt. Jesse Cummings, Pvt. William Curry, Luther H. Horning, Cpl. Ellis B. Ordway, Pvt. John E. Samuel, Pvt. Harry W. Threlkeld, Cpl. James C. Turner
• World War II -Thomas W. Collins, Allen Ray Teer, Robert L. Drennan, Chester Wood, Curtis Drennan, Morris R. Pace, Joseph H. Truitt, Darwin Howard, J. D. Vaughn, Hayes J. Clark, Albern Davenport, Lovell Hatcher, Charles Kemper, Harvey Paris, Johnson Sigler, Tommy Wilborn, Billie Cook, Guy Hodge, Willis G. Belt, Degarth Hall, Victor H. Orr, Harold E. Winn, James E. Ordway, Robert D. Drennan, Johnny Hillyard, James Hill, Harold Hardrick, Marvin Hughes, John McKinney, Roy Cobb, William L. Peek, Howard C. Enoch, Jr. (His body was identified and sent back to the states just last year), Sam Railey, Don Asbridge, James Miles, Carl Bozeman, Forrest E. Brantley, John W. Freeman, J. D. Hodge, Herbert A. Hoover, Denver L. Marvel, Vivian McDonald, Thomas Perkins, Carter Shoecraft, Maurice Stalion, James B. Truitt, Jack L. Woody, James C. Yandell.
• Korean War - Jerald W. Henry, Ollie J. Belt, James R. Bissell.
• Vietnam War - Charles L. Doom, Bobby J. Jennings, James K. Hughes, Billy J. Williams, Leon Beard, Johnny Lindsey.

Memorial Services May 1924

Veterans Memorial at Mapleview Cemetery

From the archives of The Crittenden Press, dated June 6, 1924, we can recall the Memorial Day service for the year 1924.

Memorial Day was observed in Marion, as well as other places in the county Friday. Beginning at 2:30 o'clock in the afternoon at the Methodist Church an appropriate program, under the auspices of Ellis B. Ordway Post No. 11 American Legion, was rendered in the presence of a large gathering of people.

A short opening address was made by Post Commander B. E. Woody in which he spoke in glowing germs of his comrades in arms who so nobly fought and lost their lives in preservation of the liberty we now enjoy.

Misses Lavine and Margaret Guess sang an appropriate song followed by an eloquent address by Rev. O. M. Capshaw who paid a tribute to our own brave American soldiers who fought our battles from Washington's day to that of Woodrow Wilson's.

Rev. O. G. Cavanah, in an interesting address, gave a review of the various wars in which our soldier boys were engaged in defending American honor and liberty.

Rev. C. G. Prather gave a history of memorial Day, telling how it originated in the south when three women went to a cemetery to decorate the graves of the boys who wore the Gray and fell in defense of a cause they thought right. When they had finished the work of love to their own soldiers boys, the speaker said, they then place a flower on the grave of each soldier boy who wore the Blue, for their mothers sake.

After standing and singing America and a benediction by the Chaplain the boys of the American Legion marched in uniform from the church to Mapleview Cemetery where the program was continued and the graves were decorated with flowers and taps were sounded.

Flanary Home

Flanary Home

This house started out as a 2-room log cabin built before the Civil War.

After the war, it was purchased by Mr. John W. Blue, Sr. A prominent young farmer and Lawyer from Union County that had come to Marion to start a new law practice.

After buying the house and property, in 1877 Mr. Blue wanted a more prominent home for his young family, so he built around the log cabin and turned them into a 15-room home, with six porches, and it was fashioned in the grand style of the old lavish steamboats that plied our rivers. The front of the house did indeed resemble that of the steamboat.

In 1905 Edwin R. Flanary and Thomas Cochran Sr. bought the house from Mrs. Martha Blue Evans, the daughter of John W. and Martha Baldwin Blue.

In 1907 Mr. Flanary bought Cochran's half of the property, and the home became known as the Flanary House. Here Edwin and Margaret Threlkeld Flanary raised their family. I'm sure many happy memories were made at the home and on the grounds of this lovely home.

The house stayed beautiful and well cared for until the death of John Orme Flanary, grandson of Edwin and Margaret, in 1985 and then his mother, Margaret, their daughter-in-law, in 1986. The home and all it's antiques were sold and there was no one left to care for the lovely old home.

In its prime this home was ranked as one of the best examples of the steamboat style of architecture in the state.

The pictures above show the home before and after. The picture on the right shows all that remained of the once beautiful home by the year 2007. All its beautiful gingerbread trim and southern style porches had been removed.

In August of 2007 the remains of this home was razed to make room for a new modern home. Marion indeed lost one of it's most historic landmarks, since in its prime this home was noted as one of a kind.

Marion's Implement Day

One of Marion's important days of the past was Cochran's Implement Days. Mr. T. H. Cochran, who owned the Cochran's Hardware Store on Main Street in Marion, started this day in the year 1911. It was to showcase new farm implement's that he would have for sale at his store. But the big day benefited the whole town by the large crowds that it drew. Here's some history of the big day in April 1921.

Last Monday was a red letter day in Marion. The day was bright and cloudless and the air cold and crisp just enough to make one walk with a quick step.

Early in the morning the people began to enter the city from every direction, in wagons, cars, buggies horseback and on trains they came, men, women and children until the town was jammed.

It was a big day for Jockey lot, quite a good number of stock changed hands but few sales reported. Trading and bartering was a big part of the day.

The candidates had a big harvest. They were all smiling and shaking hands with the dear people. All wanting their votes come election time.

A very enjoyable feature was at the lunch stand where the ladies of the School Improvement Club served lunch. The proceeds to go to improve the school building; they report a very satisfactory sale. The orchestra, composed of the musical talent of Marion gave a concert in the Court House yard.

The climax was reached by a parade given by the Marion City schools. It was an imitation of a circus street parade ponies, animals, clowns, and the band wagon. One of the clowns, William Eskew, riding a little mule, caught the attention of the crowd.

The merchants all report exceptionally fine sales, mostly for cash; the people desiring to take advantage of the discount. They reported this as of the the greatest Implements Days in the history of the town.

Tyner's Chapel Church

Tyner's Chapel Church and Cemetery

Located about 4 miles off Hwy. 60 West on S.R. 855 N. Different in appearance than most county churches, which is white, Tyner's Chapel is of brown brick-textured siding.

Tyner's Chapel Methodist Church was organized in the year 1878 on land given for the church by Thomas R. Tyner and wife Martha (Kirk), who had migrated to Ky. from Tenn. The church was affiliated with the Methodist Episcopal Church South. In 1993 it separated from the Methodist Conference and became Tyner's Chapel Church.

A cemetery bell was bought in 1910. Mr. Jim Boss, the cemetery caretaker in 1910 was the first man to ring this bell. The bell was rung to call in the neighborhood volunteers to dig a grave for the deceased person. The last to ring the bell was Jesse Hodge Tyner, for the death of Charles H. Wring in 1952.

The first person to be buried in the cemetery was a mother of a family traveling through the country. She took sick with fever and died. She was buried in an unmarked grave. The cross in the picture above marks this spot. The stone reads "First Grave in Tyner's Chapel Cemetery. Unknown Lady on Wagon Train. Cira Early 1800's.

The Tyner's Chapel Church closed its doors in August of 2004, due to lack of membership. Jesse Tyner, a descendant of land benefactor Thomas Tyner, was among the last trustees at the church. Jesse said there were a lot of members years ago and it's sad the way it is ending up like this, but that's the way it is.

Mattoon

This is an interesting article that appeared in The Crittenden Press, May 6, 1915. Mattoon was once a thriving little community located about 10 mines North from Marion.

MATTOON.

• Mattoon is a beautiful little hamlet situated in a fertile valley midway between Marion and Blackford. Although its population is small, it can boast of a preacher, merchant and doctor.
• W.E. Minner, our rural mail carrier, is on man whom everyone is always glad to see, we suppose. We all think him the right man in the right place as he daily deals out our mail with untiring patience.
• Miss Delpha McDowell who has been spending several weeks with her brother near Prospect has returned home.
• Owen Roberts left for Texas April 22, to resume his work with the Western Union Telegraph Co. He spent four months here with his wife, and hopes soon to be in a position to send for her and babies.
• J. M. Walker and daughter, Miss Gusta, of Rosebud, passed through here Thursday enroute to Marion.
• Mrs. Jennie Armstrong who spent last week with Mrs. Frank Burton, has returned to the home of her daughter Mrs. Hepsy Cowan.
• Irving Brantley and Miss Cordie Farley, Flavius Richardson and Miss Laura Summers attended church at Rosebud Sunday.
• Mrs. Kate Newcom and son, Earl, were guests of Sister Richardson Monday.
• Born to Mr. and Mrs. Finney Moore, April 14th, a boy.

Great Day at Chapel Hill Church

Chapel Hill Church as it looked at the time of the article, July 1924.

The fifth Sunday in June was a great day for Chapel Hill Church. It was "Old Folks" and "Home Coming Day" combined. The morning service was conducted as usual, but they say the old time songs. The pastor preached from the text, "He that goeth forth weeping, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him."

There was a good attendance. There were forty-five automobiles bringing people from outside the community. There were about twenty former members of the Chapel Hill community, who now live outside of the county, present. There were fully as many who live in the county but not now in the community. There were from 75 to 100 visiting friends present.

The Chapel Hill people and friends furnished a splendid dinner which all present were urged to enjoy. After the noontime repast an hour was spent in shaking hand with old friends and enjoying a happy social hour. The afternoon service was devoted to the old people. Then Bro. T. M. Hill, the oldest elder in the church led the meeting.

This day with its social and spiritual blessings was equal to a revival for the church. Everybody seemed to enjoy the day.

The old time church Homecomings with dinner on the ground are about a thing of the past. Homecomings are still held annually but not outside and not as many attend as they use to.