Marion in Williamson County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
The Willis Allen House
Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, July 8, 2024
1. The Willis Allen House Marker
National Park Service
This historic building
The Willis Allen House
has been listed in the
National Register of Historic Places
Erected by National Park Service.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Government & Politics • Law Enforcement. In addition, it is included in the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1854.
Location. 37° 43.623′ N, 88° 55.642′ W. Marker is in Marion, Illinois, in Williamson County. It is on South Market Street 0.1 miles south of East Warder St, on the right when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 514 S Market St, Marion IL 62959, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Southern Illinois Little Egypt. It is also in the American Midwest and in the Corn Belt. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds
this page online
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within one mile of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Williamson County Jail (approx. Ό mile away); Marion Tornado Memorial (approx. Ό mile away); I Shall Stand For This Union (approx. Ό mile away); John A. Logan Speech (approx. Ό mile away); Bob Butler Biography (approx. Ό mile away); Marion History (approx. Ό mile away); Stotlar - De Mattei House (approx. 0.7 miles away); Dedicated to All Veteran in all Wars (approx. one mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Marion.
Regarding The Willis Allen House. Excerpts from the National Register nomination:
This house was built in 1854 by the first Williamson County man to go to the U.S. House of Representatives, Congressman Willis Allen. In addition to his services in Congress, Judge Allen taught law to several famous lawyers, including Gen. John A. Logan, Candidate for Vice President of the U.S. in 1884, and Robert G. Ingersoll, the great agnostic and orator. This house is the oldest house in Marion, Illinois,and is a fine example of pre-Civil War-era architecture.Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, July 8, 20242. The Willis Allen House and MarkerThe marker is to the right of the door.
He and his wife and their six children lived in a two-room log cabin purchased from the original settlors of this site, William and Bethany Benson. While Judge Allen was serving in the Illinois General Assembly, a contemporary of Abraham Lincoln, he helped pass the enabling legislation to create Williamson County. The Bensons donated the tract of land just north of Judge Allen's property and the City of Marion was platted there on the hilltop where the present Public Square stands. In 1854 Judge Allen, then U.S. Congressman and owner of a large number of acres south of Marion, began construction of a new home to befit his status and serve as the main house on his farm.
Also see . . .
1. Willis Allen House (PDF). National Register nomination for the property, (Prepared by Bernard A. Paul; via National Archives) (Submitted on August 10, 2024, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.)
2. Willis Allen. Wikipedia entry on the lawyer and politician. (Submitted on August 10, 2024, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.)
Credits. This page was last revised on August 14, 2024. It was originally submitted on August 10, 2024, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 276 times since then and 33 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on August 10, 2024, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.
