Marlow Family History

Let me preface this with the fact my real interest in genealogy was a result of reading the 1962 book published by Dorothy (Marlow) Roane, then Secretary of the Marlow Family Reunion in Jefferson County, IL. My maternal grandmother shared her book with me and I still have it. There have been many updates to the book with families providing information for births, marriages and deaths at the annual Marlow Family Reunion. Rita Marlow was the last editor and publisher of the Marlow Family History book.

Here is snippet of the scan of the cover of that original little book:

Inside Dorothy wrote the following:

The patriarch of our Marlow family in Jefferson county starts with James Marlow:

JAMES MARLOW

James Marlow, born in 1783 in Virginia, was married there in 1817 to Mary Jane (Porter) May. They moved to Wilson County, Tennessee, and then came to Illinois in 1828, settling on Bullock Prairie near Mt. Vernon, where their family grew up. Their children were William (1818), Gabriel (1820), twins Abram and James A. (1822), Henry (1825), Ted, Mary, and Susan. James died during the Civil War, but Mary Jane lived several more years.

Only a record of Abram, james A. and Henry who settled east of Mt. Vernon is known, and according to a family friend, Kate (Newton) Morris, "They are their families were of the best in the community; intelligent, honest, and honorable in every way." Though some histories list Abram as Abraham, he always signed his name as Abram, and was called "Squire" by his friends.

When the railroad came through in 1889, the town of Marlow was laid out and named for Abram. Land for the town was given by Abram, John Scott and Dr. J.H. Newton, father of Kate (Newton) Morris, each giving one third.

A store, two residences, and a grain house were built by Abram. He was the first merchant, first postmaster, and a Justice of the Peace, sometimes holding trials in the office of Dr. Newton.

Eleven children were born to Abram and his wife, Elvira (Warren) Marlow, eight of them reaching maturity and growing up in a "double" log house at the southeast edge of Marlow. Abram and Elvira were charter members of the Black Oak Ridge Methodist Church, built about 1850; and when it blew down, they were instrumental in getting a church built in Marlow in 1888. A school built in 1860 was called the Scott School, but was later named the Marlow School.

Abram died August 31, 1897, and Elvira died October 7, 1898.

James A. lived northeast of Campground during the Civil War, then moved to the vicinity of Marlow. He helped Marlow in a material way by building a blacksmith shop, thought is is believe he never worked there. He was married to Priscilla Short, and they were the parents of nine children.

James A. and four or five other men used four yoke of oxen hitched to a large tree to "blaze" a trail for the road to Fairfield, fording creeks and going around obstacles. It has been a much used road, though, a very crooked one

Henry Washington Marlow, like his brother Abram, acquired quite a bit of land. He married Jane Williams and they had four children.

Though Abram served in both the Mexican and Civil Wars and James served in the Civil War, Henry never gave service because of the loss of his trigger finger. When quite young, he laid his finger on a chopping block, dared one of his sisters to chop it off, and she did!

All three brothers are buried at the Black Oak Ridge Cemetery, east of Marlow.

-- Mrs. Ellis Roane

Source: Facts and Folks - A history of Jefferson County, Illinois
Copyright 1978
Jefferson County Historical Society
Mt. Vernon, Illinois
1st Edition, Press Run 1250
Printed in U.S.A. by Taylor Publishing Company Dallas, Texas

Abraham "Abram" or "Squire" Marlow

Following from the 1883 book: History of Jefferson County, Illinois by William Henry Perrin, Part 4, Webber Twp, Page 75:

Abram Marlow, farmer, P.O. Marlow, was born in Wilson County, Tenn, September 8, 1822, and is a son of James Marlow (deceased), a native of Virginia, who brought his family to this county in 1828, and settled on Bullock's Prairie, four miles west of Mt. Vernon. Mr. Marlow attended a subscription school in a log cabin, with stick chimney, and sat on a split pole, with pins in for legs. When the Marlows settled here, there were many deer, turkeys, wolves, wild cats, and a few bears and panthers here. Our subject was married, in 1842, to Elvira, daughter of Burrel Warren (deceased). They had eleven children, seven living - Winfield S., Millard F., Sarah A., A. Lincoln, Lucretia J., Hiram P. and Cora. Mr. Marlow was Justice of the Peace fifteen years, Supervisor three years, Postmaster at Marlow one year, and is Notary Public. Member of the Methodist Episcopal Church and Masonic fraternity.

Following from the book: Portrait And Biographical Record of Clinton, Washington, Marion and Jefferson Counties, Illinois. Containing Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens of the Counties, Together with Biographies and Portraits of all the Governors of the State and the Presidents of the United States. Chicago, Chapman Publishing Co, 1894

Abraham Marlow

In giving the history of Jefferson County as told in the lives of its citizens, mention may certainly be made of the gentleman above named, who, besides being a prominent farmer of Weber Township, deserves honorable mention as an old soldier. He was born in Tennessee September 8, 1822, and was the fourth in order of birth of his parents' family, the others being: William, Gabriel, James, Henry, Ted, Mary and Susan.

James and Mary (May) Marlow, the parents of our subject, were natives of Virginia, where they married and whence they later went to Tennessee. Their advent into this county was made in 1828, at which time they located on the farm near Mt. Vernon, where their family grew to mature years. The first representatives of the Marlow family in the United States came from England in an early day.

The lady to whom our subject was married in 1842 was Miss Elvira, daughter of Burl Warren.

In 1847 he enlisted as a soldier in the Mexican War, and with his company was ordered to Santa Fe, N. Mex. On being mustered out a year later he returned to his home in Weber Township, where he removed his family prior to entering the army, and there purchased a quarter-section of timber land, which he set to work to clear and improve. He was very ambitious to acquire a good property, and as his means would allow, added to his original tract until he now owns three hundred and forty acres of as fine land as is to be found in Jefferson County.

On the outbreak of the late war, our subject in 1862 became a member of Company E, Eightieth Illinois Infantry, under Captain Stratton, and aided in defending the Stars and Stripes until the close of the war. He was present at the Grand Review at Washington, and on receiving his discharge returned home and engaged in farming pursuits, which he carried on until 1891. That year his health failing him he was obliged to abandon hard work, and renting his farm, he is now living retired from active labor.

To Mr and Mrs Marlow were born eleven children, eight of whom grew to mature years. Mary married Abraham Staley and is now deceased; Jane is the wife of Isaiah Delaney, M.D. of Wayne County; Sarah became the wife of John Scott and is living in Marlow; Winfield is an agriculturist in this county; Filmore resides in Jefferson County; Lincoln departed this life in his twenty-third year; Hiram P is living in Alabama; and Cora, Mrs Frank Richards, makes her home with her parents.

Mr Marlow has served his township as Supervisor for many years, and filled the responsible position of Justice of the Peace for some time. Since the organization of the Republican party he has been a stanch worker in its ranks, and in social matters is a prominent Mason. Mr and Mrs Marlow are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, with which they have been identified for more than forty years, and in whose present prosperity they are important factors. Burl Warren, the father of Mrs Marlow, was a native of Virginia, whence he emigrated to Tennessee, and later became a resident of Mt. Vernon Township.

Abram Marlow died at his home near Marlow station yesterday. He was 78 years of age, nearly all of which time he had lived in this county.

His father, James Marlow, came here from Tennessee at an early day and was the founder of a family the descendants of which have always been considered among the best people in the easternhalf of the county.

Abram was particularly prominent and highly esteemed, his popularity being proven by the fact that he hed the office of justice of the peace in his township for many many years. For some years past, he had been a suffered from partial paralysis, and this with his extreme age has caused him, to a certain extent, to drop out of public sight, but the remembrance of his genuine worth as a man and citizen will last for years.

He was buried this afternoon at Black Oak cemetery.

Transcription of the newpaper clipping of my ggg grandfather, Abraham "Abram" Marlow's obituary (twin brother of James A. Marlow).

Abraham was married 22 Jun 1843 in Jefferson county to Elvria (Warren) Marlow (1825-1898), daughter of Burrell Warren (1793-1843)

Mt. Vernon Register-News
Wednesday, June 11, 1969

Made By Railroad, Ruined by "Hard Road"

MARLOW - ONCE A BUSY LITTLE TOWN
By Lloyd R. DeWitt

Marlow still exists as a little hamlet on the Southern Railroad between Mt. Vernon and Bluford. It still has a Methodist and a Baptist church, a townhouse where people still vote, and a dilapidated store building, but no stores or business places. Like many other small towns, it was made by the railroad and ruined by the "hard road".

Prominent in its history are the Marlow from who it got its name. James and Mary (May) Marlow, natives of Virginia, moved to Wilson county, Tennessee, and from there to Bullock Prairie near Mt. Vernon in 1828. Their twin sons, James and Abram, and another son Henry settled in Webber township and raised their families there.

Abram, called Squire Marlow, was a veteran of the Mexican and Civil Wars, and his brother, James was in the civil War. Brother Henry might have gone too except that when he was a small boy his sister was playing with a hatchet. He put his trigger finer on the chopping block and dared her to cut it off. She did.

The old Black Oak Ridge Methodist church about a mile and a half east of Marlow was built on Squire Marlow's land about 1850, and he and his wife were charter members. School was also conducted in the old log church. Ed Staley of Bluford recalls that his father went to school there. There was no bell to call the pupils in from play, and the teacher summoned them by banging on the building with a picket.

Black Oak Ridge School Started

The old church has long been gone, but there is still a well-kept cemetery there where many of the Marlows and other pioneer settlers are buried. Later a Black Oak Ridge school house was built in the edge of the woods about a quarter of a mile from the church site. It had no bell but the teacher usually had a hand bell to call the pupils. There was no well either, but the teacher would send one of the oldler boys to a neighboring farm house for a bucket of water. Since the school was in the woods, toilets were not considered necessary, but girls were instructed to take cover in one direction and the boys in the opposite one.

Marlow got its start when the Old Air Line Railroad (now Southern) came through in 1881. Mr. Staley recalls being told that there was a great drouth that year and that employment on the road was most welcome to the farmers. The road bed was of dirt and construction rather poor. There was a steep grade between marlow and Bluford, and east bound trains with more than twenty-five cars often had trouble. Sometimes they had to uncouple some of the cars and leave them behind. Then the train would go onto the Bluford siding and the engine would go back to bring up the stranded cars.

Give Land for Town

The land for the town of Marlow was given by Abram Marlow, John Scott, and Dr. J.H. Newton. According to Kate Newton Morris, daughter of Dr. Newton, Abram Marlow built a store building, two residences, and a grain house. He was the first merchant in Marlow, the first postmaster, and a justice of the peace.

Alva Marlow, 85, of 1728 Main street, Mt. Vernon, remembers the blacksmith shop which his father, James T. Marlow operated in Marlow and the car loads of apples which he bought and packed in barrels for shopping, and the Morris brothers operated a sawmill. Farmers made some money by hewing railroad ties which sold for a dollar or more apiece. Alva Marlow remembers well Bransford Scott, the railway agent who had only one leg.

Dr. Newton Prominent

Besides the Marlow, Dr. Newton was one of the prominent men in Marlow's history. In addition to practicing medicine he had a big general store and also served as postmaster. He bought the store from Harlan Estes and moved his office a longside of it and built a porch across the two buildings. Dr. Newton was a resourceful man. Before moving his office he had to cross the street to get to it. When he got a bad knee injury and was confined to a wheel chair, he had a plank walk built across the road so that he could go back and forth to this office in his wheel chair.

His son walter and his daughter Anne did most of the work in connection with the management and operation of the store. The daughter, Mrs. Anne Newton Graves, is the only one of her family still living. She resides at Hickory Grove Manor, and though now 95 she remembers a great deal about the early days. Of the store she says, "It was a big, big, store, and we sold just about everything. It was a lot of work though. I would get to the store right after breakfast and work there all day.". Born in 1874, seven years before the railroad was built, she has some recollections of the events which she says was "the biggest thing that ever happened at Marlow, and all the men in the community could get jobs helping to build the railroad.".

Business Fades from Marlow

Although Marlow was a very busy place in the old days, it probably never had a population of more than 40 in the village proper. When the highway between Mt. Vernon and Bluford was paved, business at Marlow dropped off and train service there was discontinued; with that gone and also the postoffice, Marlow became only a little agricultural hamlet.

Among the older survivors of the Marlow family are Alva of Mt. Vernon and his brother Lloyd of Bluford, grandsons of James A. Marlow, and Rolla Marlow, grandson of Abram Marlow, and W.E. Marlow, gradson of Henry Marlow, who still lives in the Marlow community.

Alva is well known to many Mt. Vernon residents. After teaching in the rural schools for 10 years, he became a freight clerk at the L&N depot here and was employed there for 37 years, retiring in 1956.

An article, "Marlow-Once a Busy Little Town" was written in 1968 for the Sesquicentennial Celebration of Illinois, by the late Lloyd R. DeWitt, former teacher of journalism for the Mt. Vernon, Illinois High School. He used a sub-title "Made by the Railroad - Ruined by the Hard Road'. The land for Marlow got its start when the old Air-Line Railroad (now the Southern) came through in 1881. According to Anna Newton Graves, born in 1874, the railroad was “the biggest thing that ever happened to Marlow and all the men in the community could get jobs helping to build the railroad.”

Ed Staley of Bluford recalled being told there was a great drought that year and employment on the railroad was most welcome to the farmers. The road was dirt and construction was rather poor. There was a steep grade between Marlow and Bluford and East-bound trains with more than twenty-five cars often had trouble. Sometimes they had to uncouple some of the cars and leave them behind. The train would to onto a siding and the engine would go back to bring up the stranded cars.

Alva Marlow remembered not only the blacksmith shop where his grandfather, James A. Marlow, worked but the carloads of apples he bought and packed in barrels for shipping. There was a stock pen where stock was bought for shipping and the Morris Brothers operated a sawmill.

Farmers made some money by hewing railroad ties which sold for $1.00 a piece. Alva also remembered well Bransford Scott, the railway agent who had only one leg. Bransford Scott is buried in Black Oak Ridge Cemetary.

Beside the Marlow’s, Dr. J.H. Newton was one of the prominent men in Marlow’s history. He practiced medicine, served as postmaster and had a big General Store which he bought from Hairline Estes. Dr. Newton moved his office alongside his store and built a porch across the two buildings.

When Dr. Newton got a bad knee injury and was confined to a wheelchair, he had a plank walk built across the road to he could go back and forth from his home to his office in his wheel chair. His store was operated by his son, Walter, and his daughter, Anna Newton Graves, who described it as a "big, big store where we sold just about everything.”

Though Marlow was described as a very busy place in the old days, it probably never had a population of more than forty in the village proper. Mr. DeWitt concluded by saying that "when the highway (Hard Road) was paved, business at Marlow dropped off, train service was discontinued, the post office closed and Marlow became only a little agricultural hamlet."

In the above article and another by Mr. DeWitt entitled, "Black Oak Ridge Bell Brings Back Memories", he tells about the school which began in the Methodist Church but eventually got its own building. After the people of Black Oak Ridge decided to quit renting the church building, they awarded a contract to William Marlow to build a school for $274.00. It was built in the edge of the woods about a quarter of a mile from the church site.

Conditions at the new school were rather primitive with no well and no toilets. For a long time pupils were sent to the home of Frank Work about a quarter of a mile away to bring back a bucket of water. For toilet facilities, the boys "took to the woods in one direction and the girls in the opposite one.” The school had no bell so the teacher called the pupils in from play by beating on the side of the building with a picket. It is also mentioned the teacher used a "hand bell" for this purpose.

Both the church and the school were built on a ridge which runs nearly through the center of the township and forms a watershed; the water on the east side flows into the Skillet For Creek, finally reaching the Ohio River while that on the west side flow into the Big Muddy and then into the Mississippi. Raleigh Marlow, whose home is on the ridge, says on one side of his yard the water flows west and on the other side it flows east.

The school was heated by wood, which was purchased for 70 cents a cord with fuel for the whole tern’s use costing about $7.00. Teachers were usually paid $25.00 to $35.00 per month.

On September 9, 1870 the directors, R. L. Alsbrook, Philander Moyer and J.R. Bush compiled a set of twenty rules for the conduct of the school. Mr. DeWitt says, "If all these rules were obeyed, Black Oak Ridge must have been a model school." Among these rules were

• Let your shoes or boots be cleansed at the door before entering the building.
• Avoid spitting on the floor. It is a filthy habit.
• Avoid the awkward and annoying habit of making a noise with lips while studying.
• The boys and girls will be required to conduct their play separately.
• Marking on the desk, walls, or any part of the building or school premises with pencil or chalk or other articles manifests a bad taste or vicious disposition to destroy or deface property. None but thoughtless, reckless or vicious persons will do it.
• Each scholar will be required to pay for any damages he or she may do to the school house doors or windows or anything belonging to other scholars.

This first building served until 1896 when James T. Marlow took the contract to build a new schoolhouse for $280.00, which was $6.00 more than the first one built in 1871. This building, built a half-mile south and a half-mile east of the first one, was ready for the next year, 1897.

Consolidation brought about the closing of the school in 1937 and the old school bell was no longer needed to call in the pupils. It was auctioned off at a public sale and was purchased by J. O. Clemens, great grandson of Abram Marlow, who taught his first term at Black Oak Ridge.

Note from Sandy: the bell was still owned by Abraham "Abram" Marlow's descendents and on his farm last time I visited and photographed it. The farm has been designated a Centennial Farm since it has been owned by the Marlow descendants for over 100 years. Here is a photo of the bell I took in 2013. I remember this farm next to the Black Oak Ridge Cemetery belonging to Raleigh "Uncle Buck" Marlow (1881-1984), brother of my great grandmother, Anna Belle (Marlow) Williams (1880-1959). Raleigh mowed the Black Oak Ridge Cemetery until 1974 and he lived to be 102. Anna Belle and her husband J.I. Williams lived down the road, closer to Marlow and the railroad tracks. J.I. was still living when my daughter was born, giving us five generations living at that time. Sadly, Anna Belle died in 1959 from Leukemia.

Following from Bill Marlow, provided by his grandfather Alva Marlow (the first President of the annual Marlow Family Reunion association):

James A. Marlow, twin of Abram, was born in TN. He came to Jefferson Co, IL with his parents in 1828 at six years of age and grew up west of Mt. Vernon, IL on Bullock Prairie.

During the Civil War, he lived north east of Camp Ground in what was known as Mt. Vernon Twp, near the Atkinson Cemetery where his children attended Harlow School.

Earl Marlow used to tell the "Ghost story of Atkinson Cemetery". It seems several people had their horses "spooked" by a noisy white ghost while passing the cemetery. A brave man in the community doubted the story so determined to ddrive by to check it out. Sure enough, just as he got his horse stopped, here came the ghost with wings flapping and clearly visible in the moonlight. It was only a large white gander who had taken up residence in the cemetery and disliked the intrusion of passersby.

Earl Marlow also recalled his grandfather James, telling of him and four or five other men "blazing a trail" to lay out the road between Mt. Vernon and Fairfield, IL. They used four yoke of oxen hitched to a large tree, driving the distance in several days and fording the creeks and going around obstacles. It has been a much used by a very crooked road.

When Earl was small he remembers his grandmother offering him a smoke on her corn cog pipe. He later said she knew what she was doing as he was soon very sick and never had any desire to smoke after that.

Hall recalls the story of when his granmother's family came over the Cumberland Mountains to IL of the men cutting trees and tying to the back of the wagons so they would not run over the horses as they came down the mountains.

James A. Marlow served in the Civil War then after the war moved his family to the vicinity of Marlow, IL He built a blacksmith shop there and Alva Marlow (1883-1971) recalled his grandfather working in it.

After the dealth of Priscilla, James A. married a lady by the name of Marlow at Pickneyville, IL.

James died at the age of 84 years, two weeks and three days. He is buried in Black Oak Ridge Cemetery, N.E. of Marlow, IL and has a Civil War monument which reads, "James A. Marlow - Co. C, 154 Illinois Infantry".

Note from Sandy: James A. Marlow married Priscilla Short on the 6 Nov 1850 in Jefferson County. and she died in 1883. He next married Rebecca Angeline Marlow on 12 Sep 1885 in Perry County, IL

Note from Dorothy (Marlow) Roane – “So far, I have not been able to determine which William Marlow built the first Black Oak Ridge School as all the ones named William that we have listed would have been too young. All except the brother of Abram, James and Henry, who would have been 53 years old at the time. I believe he built the school before moving to Texas in the late 1870s.”

An old record book shows the contract was let May 6, 1871 to William Marlow. He purchased material to build the school on May 22, 1871 and on July 12, 1871 he was paid $20.00 case. William Marlow was also named director of the school on March 12, 1874.

On May 2, 1895 Abram Marlow was paid $5.00 for cleaning out the spring at the school. On January 16, 1887 Millard Fillmore Marlow was reimbursed for 50 cents he had spent for a broom and crayons for the school and on February 5, 1888 it looks as if Millard Fillmore Marlow was paid $3.20 as clerk of the school.

As given in the "Notes on Early Marlow Family" by Kate Newton Morris, Marlow, Illinois at one time 'had a store, a grain house, a post office, a blacksmith shop, a school, a church, and a Justice of the Peace. Today there is only a dry wall business owned by Bill Smith, a United Methodist Church, a General Baptist Church, and a small town-house where people vote.

The United Methodist Church (Black Oak Ridge Methodist originally) was built about 1850,one and a half miles east of Marlow in Section 28 on land owned by Abram "Squire" Marlow. School was also held in this building, which was where Black Oak Ridge School got its start. In the old school record book dating back to 1863, an entry dated September 26, 1870 reads “To Abram Marlow for rent of the church and for use of school $12. 00.”

On November 26, 1888 land was given in Marlow, by George W. Evans, on which to build a church. The building was completed in 1892 at a cost of $500.00 and the congregation moved from the log church at Black Oak Ridge to the present church. Another half lot was added to this site on April 6, 1898 as a gift from Joseph Newton.

In the late 1940's the building was remodeled with the removal of the old stoves, the installation of a furnace and a new foundation. There had not been Sunday School for some time but with materials and help donated by Russell Pasley, Sunday School was again started and continues to this time. Present membership totals 35 to 40.

T'he General Baptist Church was organized June 18, 1934 in a meeting at the home of John Shelton. There were 27 members, eight of whom are still active in the church. Steve Shelton was elected as moderator and selected to preach on Thursday nights for the remainder of the "associational year." Services were held in the Marlow School (west of Marlow) until the erection of a church building in 1936. The church has had several expansion programs including the addition of a basement, four new classrooms, a nursery, and rest rooms. Central heat and air-conditioning have also replaced the "pot-bellied" stove in the winter and open windows in the summer.

In 1939, Sister Prience, wife of the minister of the United Methodist Church, suggested a circle be formed with, according to the present members, fellowship in mind. The ladies met in the home of Mrs. Prience and suggested names for their group. Mrs. Prience chose the name "Marlow Sunshine Club" which was submitted by Lillie Williams. On August 25, 1979, the circle met in the Rolland W. Lewis Community Building in the Mt. Vernon, Illinois City Park for a fortieth anniversary celebration which included a dinner, program, and a memorial service. Names of these charter members were given: Kate Newton Morris, Millie Brookman, Anna Williams, Eula Pasley, Kate Scott, Alma Clifton, Doll Scott, Belle Massey and Mabel Downey. Only charter members Eula Pasley and Mabel Downey are still living and members of the club at this time. In forty-years there has been a total of 67 members of the circle with 52 now living and 15 deceased.

A 4-H Club was organized in 1951 and named "Marlow Red Birds" but in 1954 the club's name was changed to " The Marlow Cardinals.” The club presently includes several descendants of the Marlow’s and has Mark and Larry Marlow and their sister, Ella Marlow Dare, as leaders.

In 1933 a group of Jefferson County, Illinois Marlow’s met for a reunion. These reunions were held in the Mt. Vernon City Park for several years but since 1955 have been held at the Marlow Methodist Church in Marlow. We have a Secretary/Treasurers book with the minutes dating from September 1, 1936. The book was signed by Alva Marlow and presented to the reunion with the following message by Alva on the first page, "To Whom it may concern, this book is dedicated for the purpose of keeping a permanent record of the organization of the Marlow Family Reunion." Presidents have included Alva Marlow,1933-1939; Blaine Marlow, 1939-1949; Earl Marlow,1949-1965; Henry Downey, 1965-1968; and Norval Marlow,1968 and still serving. Vice Presidents have been Henry Downey, Clyde Marlow, Logan Marlow, Bernard Marlow, and Hall Marlow, who is now serving. Secretaries have included Clyde Marlow, 1933-1957 (24 years); Dorothy Roane, 1957- 1965 (8 years); Marcella Marlow, 1965-1966 (1 year); Nancy Riley, 1966-1969 (3 years); and Dorothy Roane, 1969 and still serving (19 years.) The reunion is held each year at the Methodist Church in Marlow on the Sunday preceding Labor Day. Usually, the first Sunday in September but occasionally, the last Sunday in August as this year, August 31, 1980.

-------------------

Note from Sandy:
I was the last Secretary for the Marlow Family Reunion before the annual Marlow Family Reunion ceased having annual reunions.

I still have the journal started by Alva Marlow in 1936. This is a photo of George Fillmore Marlow (1910-2006) from the last Marlow Family Reunion in 2002 at the Bluford Ruritan Building. George was the oldest Marlow to attend that day.

George is the son of Raleigh Elmer Marlow (1881-1984), son of Millard Fillmore Marlow (1855-1938), son of Abraham Marlow (1822-1897).

NOTES ON EARLY MARLOW FAMILY
Kate Newton Morris
(Presented on Sept. 4, 1955 at the Annual Marlow Reunion)

This is not a history of the Marlow family for too many names will be missing, but only some facts, about them that I thought might be interesting to the ones of the family now living. Some of my data I have obtained from a history of Jefferson and three surrounding counties, which was published in 1894. Some from the close association of the Marlow’s with my father’s family, and some from my own memory.

The first Marlow came to the United States from England at a very early date and settled in Virginia. James and Mary (May) Marlow, the first of the family to come to this state were natives of Virginia, where they were married. They later moved to Wilson County, Tennessee. From there they came to Illinois and settled on a farm on Bullock Prairie, near Mt. Vernon in 1828. There their family grew up.

They were the parents of the following children; William, Gabriel, James, Abram, Henry, Ted Mary, Martha, and Susan. Part of these children were born in Tennessee, 'out as Abram, who -was the fourth child, was only six when they came to Illinois, some of them must have been born here. I have no knowledge of the others but three of these sons, James, Abram and Henry settled in this side of Webber Township and raised their families here. They and their families were of the best in the community; intelligent, honest, and honorable in every way, Abram Marlow (now I am uncertain about this name for the history calls it Abraham) but I know that he signed his name Abram and was called Squire Marlow, served his country in two wars, the Mexican and Civil Wars. In the Mexican War the soldiers walked a large part of the way to Santa Fe, New Mexico, and drove their cattle for meat before them.

When the railroad was put through here in 1889, the town of Marlow was laid out and named for him. The land for it was donated by Mr. Marlow, my father, and John Scott, each giving one third. It was then deeded to a banker, Col. Evans, in Mt. Vernon, who laid it out in lots and sold them for small amounts. Mr. Marlow built a store building, two residences and a grain house. He was the first merchant here, the first post master and a Justice of the Peace. He attended to his legal affairs in my father’s office, Dr & J. H. Newton, and sometimes held trials. The School house which was built here in 1860 and was first called the “Scott School" was changed to the "Marlow School.”

His brother James was also a well respected citizen. He helped with Marlow in a very material way. He built a blacksmith shop and in that day when the family tools were simpler and most of the repairs were made by hand, the village blacksmith was a very important help to any community, I can't remember that Uncle Jim, as-most everyone called him, ever worked in the shop, but it was a very busy place.

His son James, raised his family at the home where Henry Downey now lives and he was one of the leaders in the church, especially of the young folks. He kept them interested in the singing and even had us singing at Sunday School Conventions, If we could not sing, he at least made us think we could, and had us lustily trying.

One of the first churches built in this township was a Methodist church, built of logs which stood at the south side of the Black Oak Ridge Cemetery. It was built about 1850 and Abram Marlow and his wife Elvira Warren Marlow, were Charter members. When that building was blown down, they were instrumental in getting the church moved to Marlow, where the present church was dedicated in 1888. Henry Marlow, like his brother Abram, accumulated quite a lot of land and was highly respected, and like his brothers, he and his family were leaders in the social and church life of the community.

Most of the family has left this vicinity but they played a good and honorable part in the building up of this place where they chose to settle. I have often told Logan Marlow (son of Earl and Cora) that he came from a fine family and I think all of you have a name of which you may well be proud.

Written by
Kate Newton Morris

MORE ABOUT OUR MARLOW FAMILY
(From the 1965 and 1980 Editions of the MARLOW FAMILY HISTORY)

Relatives remember Henry Marlow as being the tallest of the three brothers, with James also tall and Abram of average height. Abram lived with his family in a "double" log house on his farm just North East of the house where J. I. Williams now lives. James lived Northeast of Camp Ground during the Civil War and after the Civil War lived in the Vicinity Of Marlow. After the death of his wife, Pricilla, he married a lady named Marlow and moved to Pickneyville. Henry raised his family just South East of Marlow where "Aunt Millie Brookman" lived the last few years. Henry met his last wife, Kate Ferguson, while visiting his brother James in Pickneyville, Illinois.

All three brothers and several other relatives are buried in Black Oak Ridge Cemetery near Marlow, Illinois. Abram has both a family monument and a Mexican War monument, the latter reading "Abram Marlow; Pvt. I Illinois Infantry Mexican War." James has only a Civil War monument reading "James A. Marlow; Co. C 154 Illinois Infantry." Henry did not serve in any war because of the loss of his trigger finger when quite young. He laid his finger on a chopping block and dared one of his sisters to chop it off. She did.

Earl Marlow recalls his grandfather James telling of him and four or five other men blazing a trail to lay out the road between Mt. Vernon and Fairfield, Illinois. They used four yoke of oxen hitched to a large tree and drove the distance in several days, fording creeks and going around obstacles. It has been a much used, but very crooked road.

Grace and Cora Marlow did quite a lot of research at one time and traced our family back to within one generation of the Revolutionary War. Some of their findings include dates and ages figured with the aid of a man in the historical library. Exact ages were not given at that time.

James Marlow in the 1840 Census was between 40-50 years of age and is believed to have been born in Virginia in 1783. He died during the Civil War, but his wife lived several years more. In Virginia, in 1817, James married Mary Jane Porter May, who was between 30-40 years old in the 1840 Census.

They moved from Virginia to Wilson County Tennessee, then came to Illinois, settling on Bullock Prairie, west of Mt. Vernon, in 1828. James and his wife Mary Jane Porter May are no doubt buried in Jefferson County, Illinois, but we do not know where for certain.

Their children were William (b. 1818), Gabriel (born 1820), twins James and Abram (born Sept. 8, 1822), Henry (born 1825), Ted, Mary, and Susan. Gabriel was said to have left home age and was never heard from again. Nothing is known about William, Ted, Mary, and Susan, but the families of Abram, are as follows.

In the 1830 census records of Jefferson County, there is a James (our common ancestor) and a Carter Marlow listed as heads of households. In the 1840 census, James had one other person over 20 years (presumably his wife Mary) and four under 20 living in his home. Listed in 1850, are James (1783), Mary (1788), James (1823 - this is wrong as he was born in 1822), Henry (1829 - also wrong as he was born in 1825), Mary (1827), Abram, (1822), Elvira (his wife) and Mary E. (his daughter who was born in 1845.) The last census where James and wife May are listed is the 1860 census of Webber Township. Millard Fillmore is listed in this census as Milford but it is corrected in the 1870 census of Webber Township.

James is said to have died during the Civil War but his wife, Mary Jane Porter May, lived several years more. If she was still living in Jefferson County in 1870 the census taker failed to record this. The death records in our county go only back to 1877 but thanks to Mr. Fred Justice of Mt. Vernon, we have a compilation of both marked and unmarked graves in the county. After searching both books and several cemeteries this spring and finding no leads, I feel James and Mary must have been buried in unmarked graves, perhaps on their farm, as was often the practice.

I have found in county records that in 1847 a William Marlow wed Amelia J. Summers in 1853, a Mary Marlow wed Thomas W. Garrison in 1845, a Martha S. Marlow wed John W. Gaddis, and in 1868 a Mary F. Marlow wed Robert J. Stockton. In none of these cases are the parents of these Marlow’s listed so it is hard to say if they are the children of James and Mary. There is a large group of Marlow’s in Tamaroa, Illinois, who are believed to be close relatives because their immediate ancestors also came from Wilson Co, Tennessee.

The 1783 birth date of James given above would have made him 57 years old in 1840 and not 40-50 as Grace and Cora thought. This birth-date seems to be true, for in the information given to me by Mrs. Lorraine Updike Jackson of Front Royal, Virginia, James’ wife, Mary, was 62 and was also born in Virginia. This is in Pittslyvania County, Virginia records which also show that on November 26, 1823 James and Mary (daughter of John May of Pittslyvania County, Virginia) were in Sumner County, Tennessee and gave power of attorney to John Fulton of Rutherford County, Tennessee to collect money due from the estate of John May.

She also found a Hezekiah Marlow who married Annie May on December 22, 1807. In 1850 Hezekiah was 75 and Annie was 73, both born in Virginia, with Patrick,26, born in Stewart County, Tennessee. This would have made Hezekiah born in 1775 and Annie in 1777. On August 4, 1826, Hezekiah and Annie, of Davidson County, Tennessee, gave power of attorney to ? Coats of Rutherford County, Tennessee to collect money due them from the estate of John May. This makes us wonder if James and Hezekiah Marlow were brothers who wed sisters, Mary Jane and Annie May. Mrs. Jackson has also found the line of a George Marlow who died in Wilson County, Tennessee in 1811, father Barksdale (Basdal) who wed Nancy Lynch. This is the line of ancestors of Max Marlow of Energy, Illinois who has attended our reunion twice. When Max first visited us in 1972 he immediately said we were related because I (Dorothy Roane) have the "Marlow eyes.”

This Mrs. Jackson, whose mother was a Marlow, plans to publish a national book on the Marlow’s in a year or so. Her family line is from Smallwood Marlow who is listed in the history written by a Charles Marlow and found in this book. Quite a lot of her research has been done in the archive in Washington, D.C. I have sent her a copy of this book for her records and to use as she sees fit in her book.

From the book entitled Portrait and Biographical Record of Clinton, Washington, Marion and Jefferson Counties, Illinois Chapman Publishing Company, Chicago, Illinois, June 1894 we find Abraham Marlow mentioned as "a prominent farmer of Webber Township and deserving honorable mention as an old soldier." Born in Tennessee on September 8, 1822, he was the fourth in order of birth of his parents children. In 1842 he was married to Elvira Warren, daughter of Burl Warren. Five years later in 1847, he enlisted as a soldier in the Mexican War and with his company was ordered to Santa Fe, New Mexico.

On being mustered out a year later he returned to his home and family in Webber Township and there purchased a quarter section of timber land which he set about to clear and improve. He was very ambitious to acquire good property and as his means would allow, added to his original tract until now (1894) he owns 340 acres of as fine land as is to be found in Jefferson County.

In 1862, Abraham became a member of Company E, 80th Illinois Infantry under Captain Stratton and aided in defending the stars and stripes until the close of the war. He was present at the Grand Review in Washington and on receiving his discharge returned home and engaged in farming until 1891 when his health failed and he retired and rented out his farm.

Mr. Marlow served his township as supervisor for many years, filled the responsibility position of Justice of the Peace (1877 to 1880), was a staunch supporter of the Republican Party since its organization, was a prominent Mason, and he and his wife were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church for more than forty years and are now important factors in its present prosperity.

In the History of Jefferson County - 1883, edited by William Henry Perrin, he is listed as Abram Marlow. In addition to the listing of his birth and family it states his parents settled four miles west of Mt. Vernon on Bullock Prairie. Also, it says, "Mr. Marlow attended a ‘Subscription School’ in a log cabin with stick chimney and sat on a split pole with sticks in for legs. (A ‘Subscription School’ was when those in charge took the names of those wanting to attend and when they had enough to hold school they would begin the term.) Perrin's history continues, "When the Marlow’s settled here there were many deer, turkeys, wolves, wild cats and a few bears and panthers. Our subject was a Justice of the Peace 15 years, Supervisor three years and Postmaster one year. In 1889, Abram founded the settlement of Marlow, Illinois which bears his name.

William Marlow and his wife Amelia J. Summers moved with their eight children from Jefferson County, Illinois to Corsicanna, Navarro Co, Texas in the 1870s. Amelia's father John Summers, and his family moved to this same area in the late 1860s so it is my belief that the William Marlow’s were encouraged to come to Texas by the Summers family. I have been unable to discover what year William died. It was not the law in Texas until 1903 to record deaths. William is listed in the 1880 Census of Navarro Co, Texas. There were no 1890 records available and in the 1900 Texas census, Amelia is living with her daughter, Martha Rosella in Hodd Co, Texas. She died in 1903 in the home of her son, John A, in Eureka, Navarro Co, Texas.

William Marlow, born 1819 in Tennessee and died in Texas, is listed in the Census as a brick mason. He was wed August 19, 1847 by J. D. Baugh in Jefferson County, Illinois to Amelia J. Summers, born 1830 in Illinois and died in 1903 in Texas. She was the daughter of John and Virginia Watson Summers.

Eight children: Mary Frances, Sarah V, John A, Martha Rosella, William T, Ann Georgette, Cloia Jane, Margaret Iola (pronounced “eye-oh-lah”.)

UPDATES REGARDING OUR MARLOW FAMILY
Rita Marlow – Spring, 2000

Since the previous printing of the MARLOW FAMILY HISTORY in 1996 some more information about our early family has been discovered. First, there is verification that Martha Marlow, born 1823, was indeed a child of James Marlow and Mary Jane Porter May. However, she is listed in the census records at the Family History Library as being married to a John W. Maddox rather than to John W. Gaddis, as previously noted. It could be that this surname, having been hand-written, was difficult to decipher and was then recorded at “Maddox” in one record and “Gaddis” in another. It has also been verified that our Mary Marlow was born in January, 1827 and that she is probably the Mary Marlow who was wed to Thomas W. Garrison. It has been verified that Susan was born in 1829 and that Ted was born in 1826. I have also found that all of James and Mary Jane’s children were born in either Wilson County or Sumner County, Tennessee. In addition, James Allen Marlow (born 1882 - twin to Abram and son of James and Mary Jane) married Rebecca Angeline Marlow of Perry Co, Illinois in 1890 after the death of his first wife, Priscilla Short. Rebecca Angeline Marlow had been married two other times; first to William R. Marlow and then to Benjamin Abernathy, prior to marrying James Allen Marlow. It is interesting to note that William R. Marlow, son of Carter Marlow, and Rebecca Angeline Marlow, daughter of Barksdale Marlow, were cousins and that later in her life she chose to marry our James Allen Marlow. (Gee, with three marriages she only had to change her last name once!) To me this gives just a little more credence to the possibility that the Jefferson County and the Perry County, Illinois Marlow’s were relatives prior to the marriage of Rebecca and James Allen Marlow.

Our major stumbling block has been to discover who our common ancestor, James Marlow’s (b. 1783), parents were. I do believe that it is very likely that Hezekiah Marlow was James’ brother, but again, this is based on the circumstantial evidence that they married sisters and that they are both from the Pittsylvania Co, Virginia area. In addition, I have come across some very sketchy information that our line of Marlow’s is very likely descended from James Marlow (b. 1756) and Mary Marlow of Charles Co, Maryland. Although this has yet to be proven to be fact, the following information I received from Carole M. Goggin, a MARLAR family researcher, certainly supports this theory. Carole states that a census record she reviewed at a Family History Library in Missouri names “HENRY MARLOW, born 1825”, to be residing with “his grandparents, JAMES and MARY MARLOW.” Since our Henry Washington Marlow was born in 1825, a somewhat tenuous connection can be derived from this information. Unfortunately, Carol had hand-copied this information from microfiche records and we don’t have an actual copy of the document from which she obtained it. But just for the record, if it is true that our JAMES MARLOW (b. 1783 in Virginia) was the son of JAMES (b. 1756 in Charles Co, MD.) and MARY MARLOW then he was the grandson of JAMES (b. 1728) and MARY MARLOW and the great-grandson of WILLIAM MARLOW (b. 1680-1700.)