William M. CASEY is a retired farmer of Centralia, and one of the honored early settlers and prominent citizens of Marion County.

William M. CASEY was reared on the old homestead and was educated in a log schoolhouse with a puncheon floor, slab seats and greased paper windows. The history of pioneer life is familiar to him, not from hearsay, but from experience.

In 1852 he married Julia E. KENNEDY, and they had three children. After his marriage Mr. CASEY located in Jefferson, and 4 years later removed to Washington County, where for 10 years he owned and operated a farm of 240 acres. He then sold the property and came to Centralia, where he has since lived in retirement from active labor.

Mr. CASEY has been a member of the Methodist Church since the age of nine years, and his wife since twelve years old. He has been numbered among its officers for 38 years, and has ever been prominent in its work.

He cast his first Presidential vote for Zachary Taylor, and was a Whig until 1856, since which time he has been a stanch Republican. For ten years he served as Township Treasurer of Washington, but has never been an office seeker.

He is now (1894, almost 69 years old) practically living retired, but is still a Director of the Old National Bank, Centralia Mining and Manufacturing Company, and the Centralia Fair Association. He is a worthy representative of one of the prominent families of the state, and his honorable, upright life gives him a leading place among the best citizens of the community.

Source:1.
From "Portrait and Biographical Record of Clinton, Washington, Marion, and Jefferson Counties, Illinois: Containing Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens of the Counties", published in 1894 by Chapman Publishing Co., Chicago. Esp. pages 328-331, which include a full page engraving of William M. CASEY, with his signature, and an excellent biographical article.

William CASEY moved to Washington County, IL, in 1856 where he operated a 240-acre farm in Township 2 South, Range 1 West for about ten years. This farm was valued at $4000 when the 1860 census of that county was taken. After the death of his wife Julia he moved to Marion County, IL, where he was found living in the 1870 and 1880 censuses in the city of Centralia, Ward 2. His farm in that area was valued at $9000. William and Julia, who is buried in the Dempsey KENNEDY Cemetery in Washington County, had three children: Dempsey, born Dec 1852; Mary Harriet, born ca. 1857, who died 18 Oct 1875; and Lillie C., born ca.1859, who married the Rev. J. T. Musgrove." (page 711)

Source: 2.
From "The Maxeys of Virginia -- A genealogical History of the Descendants of Edward and Susannah MAXEY", by Edythe MAXEY CLARK,
Gateway Press, Baltimore, 1980. (Dallas Public Library)
In December 1997, her address is Mrs. Edythe Clark, 6909 Chickasaw Bayou, Brandenton, Fl 34203