Marion, Ohio
Encyclopedia
Marion is a city in the U.S. state
of Ohio
and the county seat
of Marion County
. The municipality is located in north-central Ohio, approximately 50 miles (80.5 km) north of Columbus
.
The population was 35,318 at the 2000 census. According to the US Census 2008 estimate, Marion has a population of 35,841, while Ohio's Columbus–Marion–Chillicothe
Combined Statistical Area
has 2,002,604 people. Marion is the county's largest city and the center of the Marion Micropolitan Statistical Area
(as defined by the United States Census Bureau
in 2003). President
Warren G. Harding
was a native of Marion.
when Jacob Foos, a surveyor for General Harrison's army, discovered a spring at the top of a hill and established a well there which was named "Jacob's Well". At the time it was a stopover for troops on their way from Ft. Franklin (Columbus) to Toledo. Legend has it that in the middle of the night Foos awoke with a terrible thirst. He began to dig and told his fellow travelers that he was going to dig till he found either water or hell. This well was located near what is now Marion Towers on Delaware Ave. The town of Marion was platted north of Jacob's Well in 1822 by Alexander Holmes and Eber Baker
; Marion County was established in 1824.
Marion was one of Ohio's major industrial centers until the 1970s. Products of the Marion Steam Shovel Company (later Marion Power Shovel
) built the Panama Canal
and in the 1960s, NASA
contracted with Power Shovel to construct the crawler-transporters that moved the assembled Saturn V
rockets, used by Project Apollo
, to the launch pad. In 1911, 80% of the nation's steam shovel and heavy duty earth moving equipment was manufactured in Marion, Ohio.
The city is also a rail center for CSX
, and Norfolk Southern
, linking all four points on the compass. Marion is the nation's leader in corn and popcorn produced foods. Whirlpool Corporation of Benton Harbor, Michigan
is the largest employer in the city operating the largest clothes dryer manufacturing facility in the world.
The city is located about 50 miles (80.5 km) north of Ohio's
capital city, Columbus
, due north along U.S. Highway 23. Marion occupies most of Marion Township
, which is located just outside of the city limits.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 11.4 square miles (29.5 km²), of which, 11.4 square miles (29.5 km²) of it is land and 0.04 square mile (0.1035995244 km²) of it (0.35%) is water.
of 2000, there were 35,318 people, 13,551 households, and 8,821 families residing in the city. The population density
was 3,111.6 people per square mile (1,201.4/km²). There were 14,713 housing units at an average density of 1,296.8 per square mile (500.5/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 90.40% White, 7.01% African American, 0.20% Native American, 0.54% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.64% from other races
, and 1.20% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.34% of the population.
There were 13,551 households out of which 31.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.3% were married couples
living together, 14.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.9% were non-families. 29.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.44 and the average family size was 3.00.
In the city the population was spread out with 25.2% under the age of 18, 9.3% from 18 to 24, 30.8% from 25 to 44, 21.5% from 45 to 64, and 13.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 102.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 101.5 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $33,124, and the median income for a family was $40,000. Males had a median income of $31,126 versus $22,211 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $16,247. About 10.9% of families and 13.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.2% of those under age 18 and 6.9% of those age 65 or over.
, an annual event that is held in downtown Marion in September, the weekend following Labor Day. The Marion County Fair is held every year in Marion during the first week of July. Saturday in the Park is a children's festival that is held each year in Lincoln Park. The Regional Dog and Pony Show is a regional event that is held annually in Marion. One of the fair's founding members Doug Mitchem was instrumental in the development of the programs.
. Online, the city is served by MarionOnline.com.
Among Marion's notable radio stations are WMRN
(94.3FM) country music station, WMRN
(1490AM) news/talk (clear channel), WOSB
(91.1FM) NPR News and classical music station, WYNT
(95.9FM) adult contemporary station, and WDCM (97.5FM) community radio.
The local television station is Channel 39, which is primarily Christian programing. In 2008, a new television station, TV 22 Marion (Time Warner Channel 3), was launched to cover area news, events, sports, and local programming.
, an indoor football team in the Continental Indoor Football League, that plays at Veterans Memorial Coliseum
. Marion was home to the Marion Mayhem
, also an indoor football team in the CIFL, that also played at the Veterans Memorial Coliseum from 2006 - 2010. Marion previously had a professional ice hockey
team, the Marion Barons
, who played in the International Hockey League during the 1953-54 season. Marion has been home to numerous individual and team high school state championships. In the early 1980s, Tina Kniseley was a roller figure-skating national champion and Scott Duncan was a WUSA National Champion in wrestling.
enroll 4,418 students in public primary
and secondary
schools. The district administers 8 public schools including six elementary schools, one middle school, and one high school.
In addition to the city schools, there are also 4 other public school districts including: Elgin, Pleasant, River Valley, and Ridgedale. A private school, Marion Catholic, can also be found in Marion.
Marion is home to two institutions of higher learning. The Ohio State University
has a regional campus at Marion, and Marion Technical College, a community college that shares the Marion Campus with OSU.
is located three nautical miles (4 mi, 6 km) northeast of the central business district
.
This has also been documented in Frank Edwards' book, Strange World, from an edition in the early to mid sixties.
There are several sites on the internet concerning this tombstone.
and First Lady Florence Harding. It is also the birthplace and childhood home of Norman Mattoon Thomas, four-time candidate for President of the United States
under the Socialist Party of America
ticket and co-founder of the American Civil Liberties Union
(ACLU). Elsie Janis
, the stage name for Elsie Beerbower, musical theatre star and "Sweetheart of the American Expeditionary Forces" (AEF) during World War I
was a native of Marion County. The Isaly family of Mansfield, Ohio
- inventors of the Klondike bar
- chose Marion as the second Isaly's
Dairy facility.
In 1938, local tap dance instructor Marilyn Meseke
, was crowned Miss America
1938 - the first year that talent was considered part of the annual competition. Meseke's trophy and pageant memorabilia are housed in the Marion County Historical Society
.
Mary Ellen Withrow
(née Hinamon), Treasurer of the United States
from 1994 until 2001 is a Marion County native. Withrow is the only person in the history of the United States
to have held the governmental position of Treasurer on the Local (Marion County Ohio Treasurer), State (Treasurer of the State of Ohio) and Federal levels of Government.
Other notable people from Marion include:
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
and the county seat
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
of Marion County
Marion County, Ohio
Marion County is a county located in the state of Ohio, United States. As of the 2010 census, the population was 66,501. Its county seat is the city of Marion and is named for General Francis "The Swamp Fox" Marion, an officer in the Revolutionary War....
. The municipality is located in north-central Ohio, approximately 50 miles (80.5 km) north of Columbus
Columbus, Ohio
Columbus is the capital of and the largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio. The broader metropolitan area encompasses several counties and is the third largest in Ohio behind those of Cleveland and Cincinnati. Columbus is the third largest city in the American Midwest, and the fifteenth largest city...
.
The population was 35,318 at the 2000 census. According to the US Census 2008 estimate, Marion has a population of 35,841, while Ohio's Columbus–Marion–Chillicothe
Chillicothe, Ohio
Chillicothe is a city in and the county seat of Ross County, Ohio, United States.Chillicothe was the first and third capital of Ohio and is located in southern Ohio along the Scioto River. The name comes from the Shawnee name Chalahgawtha, meaning "principal town", as it was a major settlement of...
Combined Statistical Area
Combined Statistical Area
The United States Office of Management and Budget defines micropolitan and metropolitan statistical areas. Metropolitan and micropolitan statistical areas consist of one or more counties...
has 2,002,604 people. Marion is the county's largest city and the center of the Marion Micropolitan Statistical Area
United States micropolitan area
United States Micropolitan Statistical Areas , as defined by the United States Office of Management and Budget, are urban areas in the United States based around a core city or town with a population of 10,000 to 49,999. The micropolitan area designation was created in 2003...
(as defined by the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
in 2003). President
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
Warren G. Harding
Warren G. Harding
Warren Gamaliel Harding was the 29th President of the United States . A Republican from Ohio, Harding was an influential self-made newspaper publisher. He served in the Ohio Senate , as the 28th Lieutenant Governor of Ohio and as a U.S. Senator...
was a native of Marion.
History
The origins of Marion can be traced back to the War of 1812War of 1812
The War of 1812 was a military conflict fought between the forces of the United States of America and those of the British Empire. The Americans declared war in 1812 for several reasons, including trade restrictions because of Britain's ongoing war with France, impressment of American merchant...
when Jacob Foos, a surveyor for General Harrison's army, discovered a spring at the top of a hill and established a well there which was named "Jacob's Well". At the time it was a stopover for troops on their way from Ft. Franklin (Columbus) to Toledo. Legend has it that in the middle of the night Foos awoke with a terrible thirst. He began to dig and told his fellow travelers that he was going to dig till he found either water or hell. This well was located near what is now Marion Towers on Delaware Ave. The town of Marion was platted north of Jacob's Well in 1822 by Alexander Holmes and Eber Baker
Eber Baker
Eber Baker Eber Baker Eber Baker (b. April 27, 1780 - d. October 6, 1864, Marion, Ohio is credited as being the founder of Marion, Ohio. Baker was born in either Litchfield or Bowdoin, Maine....
; Marion County was established in 1824.
Marion was one of Ohio's major industrial centers until the 1970s. Products of the Marion Steam Shovel Company (later Marion Power Shovel
Marion Power Shovel
Marion Power Shovel Company designed, manufactured and sold steam shovels, excavators and dragline excavators for use in the construction and mining industries....
) built the Panama Canal
Panama Canal
The Panama Canal is a ship canal in Panama that joins the Atlantic Ocean and the Pacific Ocean and is a key conduit for international maritime trade. Built from 1904 to 1914, the canal has seen annual traffic rise from about 1,000 ships early on to 14,702 vessels measuring a total of 309.6...
and in the 1960s, NASA
NASA
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is the agency of the United States government that is responsible for the nation's civilian space program and for aeronautics and aerospace research...
contracted with Power Shovel to construct the crawler-transporters that moved the assembled Saturn V
Saturn V
The Saturn V was an American human-rated expendable rocket used by NASA's Apollo and Skylab programs from 1967 until 1973. A multistage liquid-fueled launch vehicle, NASA launched 13 Saturn Vs from the Kennedy Space Center, Florida with no loss of crew or payload...
rockets, used by Project Apollo
Project Apollo
The Apollo program was the spaceflight effort carried out by the United States' National Aeronautics and Space Administration , that landed the first humans on Earth's Moon. Conceived during the Presidency of Dwight D. Eisenhower, Apollo began in earnest after President John F...
, to the launch pad. In 1911, 80% of the nation's steam shovel and heavy duty earth moving equipment was manufactured in Marion, Ohio.
The city is also a rail center for CSX
CSX Transportation
CSX Transportation operates a Class I railroad in the United States known as the CSX Railroad. It is the main subsidiary of the CSX Corporation. The company is headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida, and owns approximately 21,000 route miles...
, and Norfolk Southern
Norfolk Southern Railway
The Norfolk Southern Railway is a Class I railroad in the United States, owned by the Norfolk Southern Corporation. With headquarters in Norfolk, Virginia, the company operates 21,500 route miles in 22 eastern states, the District of Columbia and the province of Ontario, Canada...
, linking all four points on the compass. Marion is the nation's leader in corn and popcorn produced foods. Whirlpool Corporation of Benton Harbor, Michigan
Benton Harbor, Michigan
Benton Harbor is a city in Berrien County in the U.S. state of Michigan which is located west of Kalamazoo. The population was 10,038 at the 2010 census. It is the lesser populated of the two principal cities included in the Niles-Benton Harbor, Michigan Metropolitan Statistical Area, which has a...
is the largest employer in the city operating the largest clothes dryer manufacturing facility in the world.
Geography
Marion is located at 40°35′12"N 83°7′35"W (40.586579, -83.126404).The city is located about 50 miles (80.5 km) north of Ohio's
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
capital city, Columbus
Columbus, Ohio
Columbus is the capital of and the largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio. The broader metropolitan area encompasses several counties and is the third largest in Ohio behind those of Cleveland and Cincinnati. Columbus is the third largest city in the American Midwest, and the fifteenth largest city...
, due north along U.S. Highway 23. Marion occupies most of Marion Township
Marion Township, Marion County, Ohio
Marion Township is one of the fifteen townships of Marion County, Ohio, United States. The 2000 census found 44,908 people in the township, 9,590 of whom lived in the unincorporated portions of the township.-Geography:...
, which is located just outside of the city limits.
According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the city has a total area of 11.4 square miles (29.5 km²), of which, 11.4 square miles (29.5 km²) of it is land and 0.04 square mile (0.1035995244 km²) of it (0.35%) is water.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 35,318 people, 13,551 households, and 8,821 families residing in the city. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 3,111.6 people per square mile (1,201.4/km²). There were 14,713 housing units at an average density of 1,296.8 per square mile (500.5/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 90.40% White, 7.01% African American, 0.20% Native American, 0.54% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.64% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 1.20% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.34% of the population.
There were 13,551 households out of which 31.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.3% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 14.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.9% were non-families. 29.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.44 and the average family size was 3.00.
In the city the population was spread out with 25.2% under the age of 18, 9.3% from 18 to 24, 30.8% from 25 to 44, 21.5% from 45 to 64, and 13.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 102.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 101.5 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $33,124, and the median income for a family was $40,000. Males had a median income of $31,126 versus $22,211 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the city was $16,247. About 10.9% of families and 13.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.2% of those under age 18 and 6.9% of those age 65 or over.
Annual events and fairs
Marion is home to the Marion Popcorn FestivalMarion Popcorn Festival
The Marion Popcorn Festival is held every year in downtown Marion, Ohio, USA. The festival was established in 1981 and is held annually during the first weekend after Labor Day in September...
, an annual event that is held in downtown Marion in September, the weekend following Labor Day. The Marion County Fair is held every year in Marion during the first week of July. Saturday in the Park is a children's festival that is held each year in Lincoln Park. The Regional Dog and Pony Show is a regional event that is held annually in Marion. One of the fair's founding members Doug Mitchem was instrumental in the development of the programs.
Media
Marion is served in print by The Marion Star, the city's only daily newspaperNewspaper
A newspaper is a scheduled publication containing news of current events, informative articles, diverse features and advertising. It usually is printed on relatively inexpensive, low-grade paper such as newsprint. By 2007, there were 6580 daily newspapers in the world selling 395 million copies a...
. Online, the city is served by MarionOnline.com.
Among Marion's notable radio stations are WMRN
WMRN-FM
WMRN-FM is a country music radio station in Marion, Ohio, currently owned by Clear Channel Communications.-Station History:WMRN-FM had served the nearby Marion, Ohio area at 106.9 MHz with a country music format under the on-air moniker "Buckeye Country 107"....
(94.3FM) country music station, WMRN
WMRN (AM)
WMRN is a radio station broadcasting a News Talk Information format. Licensed to Marion, Ohio, USA, the station serves the Mid-Ohio area. The station is currently owned by Citicasters Licenses, L.P. and features programing from Fox News Radio, Fox Sports Radio and Premiere Radio...
(1490AM) news/talk (clear channel), WOSB
WOSU-FM
WOSU-FM — branded 89.7fm NPR News — is a National Public Radio news and talk radio station licensed to Columbus, Ohio and serving the Columbus metro area. It is owned by Ohio State University. The station has multiple repeaters throughout the U.S...
(91.1FM) NPR News and classical music station, WYNT
WYNT
WYNT is a Hot AC station formerly located in Upper Sandusky, Ohio now located with its studios in Marion, Ohio and its transmitter and city of license moved to Caledonia, Ohio. It broadcasts music from the 80s through today as "Majic 95.9" and is part of the Clear Channel Marion cluster which...
(95.9FM) adult contemporary station, and WDCM (97.5FM) community radio.
The local television station is Channel 39, which is primarily Christian programing. In 2008, a new television station, TV 22 Marion (Time Warner Channel 3), was launched to cover area news, events, sports, and local programming.
Sports
Marion, Ohio is the home of the Marion Blue RacersMarion Blue Racers
The Marion Blue Racers are a professional indoor football team that begin play in the Continental Indoor Football League for 2011, before moving to the Ultimate Indoor Football League after the 2011 Continental Indoor Football League season...
, an indoor football team in the Continental Indoor Football League, that plays at Veterans Memorial Coliseum
Veterans Memorial Coliseum (Marion)
The Veterans Memorial Coliseum is a 3,500-seat multi-purpose arena, in Marion, Ohio. It was built in 1950.It is home to the Marion Blue Racers indoor football team of the Ultimate Indoor Football League...
. Marion was home to the Marion Mayhem
Marion Mayhem
Marion Mayhem was an indoor American football team. It was a charter member of the Great Lakes Indoor Football League , later renamed the Continental Indoor Football League . The team folded during the 2010 season due to financial problems. They played their home games at the Veterans Memorial...
, also an indoor football team in the CIFL, that also played at the Veterans Memorial Coliseum from 2006 - 2010. Marion previously had a professional ice hockey
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
team, the Marion Barons
Marion Barons
The Marion Barons were a minor league professional ice hockey team in the International Hockey League during the 1953–54 season. The Barons were based in Marion, Ohio, played at Veterans Memorial Coliseum, and were a farm team of the Cleveland Barons...
, who played in the International Hockey League during the 1953-54 season. Marion has been home to numerous individual and team high school state championships. In the early 1980s, Tina Kniseley was a roller figure-skating national champion and Scott Duncan was a WUSA National Champion in wrestling.
Education
Marion City SchoolsMarion City School District
Marion City School District is a public school district serving students in the city of Marion, Ohio, United States. The school district enrolls 4,418 students as of the 2008-2009 academic year.-Elementary Schools:*Garfield Elementary School...
enroll 4,418 students in public primary
Primary education
A primary school is an institution in which children receive the first stage of compulsory education known as primary or elementary education. Primary school is the preferred term in the United Kingdom and many Commonwealth Nations, and in most publications of the United Nations Educational,...
and secondary
Secondary education
Secondary education is the stage of education following primary education. Secondary education includes the final stage of compulsory education and in many countries it is entirely compulsory. The next stage of education is usually college or university...
schools. The district administers 8 public schools including six elementary schools, one middle school, and one high school.
In addition to the city schools, there are also 4 other public school districts including: Elgin, Pleasant, River Valley, and Ridgedale. A private school, Marion Catholic, can also be found in Marion.
Marion is home to two institutions of higher learning. The Ohio State University
Ohio State University, Marion Campus
The Ohio State University at Marion, often referred to as OSU Marion, is a regional campus of The Ohio State University located in Marion, Ohio. The campus was founded in 1957. Its campus is located north of Columbus. There are six buildings on the campus.OSU Marion has baccalaureate program...
has a regional campus at Marion, and Marion Technical College, a community college that shares the Marion Campus with OSU.
Transportation
The Marion Municipal AirportMarion Municipal Airport (Ohio)
Marion Municipal Airport is a city-owned public-use airport located three nautical miles northeast of the central business district of Marion, a city in Marion County, Ohio, United States...
is located three nautical miles (4 mi, 6 km) northeast of the central business district
Central business district
A central business district is the commercial and often geographic heart of a city. In North America this part of a city is commonly referred to as "downtown" or "city center"...
.
Landmarks
Marion Cemetery also has the dubious honor of being home to the Merchant family grave marker, known in paranormal circles for its unintended movements. The marker consists of a large grey granite pedestal capped by a two-ton granite sphere four feet in diameter. The sphere moves on its base several inches every year, as measured by the distance traveled by the unpolished spot from where it was mated to the pedestal. While the movement of the sphere is thought to be facilitated by freeze-thaw cycles, earth tremors, or trapped air or water under the base, there has been no conclusive explanation for patterns that the sphere seems to follow. The movements of the sphere have been documented by numerous news outlets and it has been featured in Ripley's Believe it or Not (September 29, 1927).This has also been documented in Frank Edwards' book, Strange World, from an edition in the early to mid sixties.
There are several sites on the internet concerning this tombstone.
Notable natives and residents
Marion is best known as the hometown and burial location of President Warren G. HardingWarren G. Harding
Warren Gamaliel Harding was the 29th President of the United States . A Republican from Ohio, Harding was an influential self-made newspaper publisher. He served in the Ohio Senate , as the 28th Lieutenant Governor of Ohio and as a U.S. Senator...
and First Lady Florence Harding. It is also the birthplace and childhood home of Norman Mattoon Thomas, four-time candidate for President of the United States
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
under the Socialist Party of America
Socialist Party of America
The Socialist Party of America was a multi-tendency democratic-socialist political party in the United States, formed in 1901 by a merger between the three-year-old Social Democratic Party of America and disaffected elements of the Socialist Labor Party which had split from the main organization...
ticket and co-founder of the American Civil Liberties Union
American Civil Liberties Union
The American Civil Liberties Union is a U.S. non-profit organization whose stated mission is "to defend and preserve the individual rights and liberties guaranteed to every person in this country by the Constitution and laws of the United States." It works through litigation, legislation, and...
(ACLU). Elsie Janis
Elsie Janis
Elsie Janis was an American singer, songwriter, actress, and screenwriter. Entertaining the troops during World War I immortalized her as "the sweetheart of the AEF" .-Early career:...
, the stage name for Elsie Beerbower, musical theatre star and "Sweetheart of the American Expeditionary Forces" (AEF) during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
was a native of Marion County. The Isaly family of Mansfield, Ohio
Mansfield, Ohio
Mansfield is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Richland County. The municipality is located in north-central Ohio in the western foothills of the Allegheny Plateau, approximately southwest of Cleveland and northeast of Columbus....
- inventors of the Klondike bar
Klondike bar
Klondike is a brand name for a dessert generally consisting of a vanilla ice cream square coated with a thin layer of chocolate-flavored coating. The first recorded advertisement for the Klondike was on February 5, 1922 in the Youngstown Vindicator. They are generally wrapped with a silver-colored...
- chose Marion as the second Isaly's
Isaly's
Isaly’s was a chain of family-owned dairies and restaurants started in Mansfield , Ohio with locations throughout the American Midwest from the early 20th century until the 1970s. It is best known today for its iconic chipped chopped ham The company was founded by William Isaly, son of Swiss...
Dairy facility.
In 1938, local tap dance instructor Marilyn Meseke
Marilyn Meseke
Marilyn Meseke has the distinction of being twice crowned Miss Ohio and Miss America in 1938....
, was crowned Miss America
Miss America
The Miss America pageant is a long-standing competition which awards scholarships to young women from the 50 states plus the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands...
1938 - the first year that talent was considered part of the annual competition. Meseke's trophy and pageant memorabilia are housed in the Marion County Historical Society
Marion County Historical Society
The Marion County Historical Society is located in Marion, Ohio. In addition to operating Heritage Hall, a comprehensive museum dedicated to the preservation of Marion County Ohio history, the Society also operates the Rinker-Howser Resource Center, Linn School House and Seiter Cabin...
.
Mary Ellen Withrow
Mary Ellen Withrow
Mary Ellen Hinamon Withrow was the 40th Treasurer of the United States from March 1, 1994 to January 20, 2001 under President Bill Clinton....
(née Hinamon), Treasurer of the United States
Treasurer of the United States
The Treasurer of the United States is an official in the United States Department of the Treasury that was originally charged with the receipt and custody of government funds, though many of these functions have been taken over by different bureaus of the Department of the Treasury...
from 1994 until 2001 is a Marion County native. Withrow is the only person in the history of the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
to have held the governmental position of Treasurer on the Local (Marion County Ohio Treasurer), State (Treasurer of the State of Ohio) and Federal levels of Government.
Other notable people from Marion include:
- Brian AglerBrian AglerBrian Agler is a basketball coach, currently the head coach of WNBA's Seattle Storm. He has been the head coach of two other professional women's teams, and won two professional titles as coach....
, former head coach of the Columbus QuestColumbus QuestThe Columbus Quest was a professional women's basketball franchise located in Columbus, Ohio in the now-defunct American Basketball League . They were one of the league's original eight teams that started play in 1996...
and current head coach for the Seattle StormSeattle StormThe Seattle Storm is a professional basketball team based in Seattle, Washington, playing in the Western Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was founded before the 2000 season began... - Eber BakerEber BakerEber Baker Eber Baker Eber Baker (b. April 27, 1780 - d. October 6, 1864, Marion, Ohio is credited as being the founder of Marion, Ohio. Baker was born in either Litchfield or Bowdoin, Maine....
, founder of Marion - Larry BarnettLarry BarnettLawrence Robert Barnett is a former umpire in Major League Baseball who worked in the American League from 1969 to 1999 before becoming the major leagues' supervisor of umpires in 2000-2001.-Career:...
, Longtime Umpire 1969-1999 Major League BaseballMajor League BaseballMajor League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
, Worked infamous Game 3 of 1975 World Series and 1996 Jeffrey Maier American League Championship Series. - John CourtrightJohn CourtrightJohn Charles Courtright is a former Major League Baseball pitcher who played for the Cincinnati Reds. He debuted on May 6, 1995 at the age of 25. He pitched one inning and gave up one earned run and never pitched in the big leagues again.-Career statistics:-External links:*...
, former Div. I pitcher at DukeDuke UniversityDuke University is a private research university located in Durham, North Carolina, United States. Founded by Methodists and Quakers in the present day town of Trinity in 1838, the school moved to Durham in 1892. In 1924, tobacco industrialist James B...
and first professional pitcher to face Michael Jordan in the minor leagues, pitched in one Major League game May 6, 1995 for the Cincinnati RedsCincinnati RedsThe Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
. - John DeanJohn DeanJohn Wesley Dean III is an American lawyer who served as White House Counsel to United States President Richard Nixon from July 1970 until April 1973. In this position, he became deeply involved in events leading up to the Watergate burglaries and the subsequent Watergate scandal cover-up...
, Nixon Administration official and Watergate personality - Chelsea Field (musician), Country music artist
- Warren G. HardingWarren G. HardingWarren Gamaliel Harding was the 29th President of the United States . A Republican from Ohio, Harding was an influential self-made newspaper publisher. He served in the Ohio Senate , as the 28th Lieutenant Governor of Ohio and as a U.S. Senator...
, 29th President of the United StatesPresident of the United StatesThe President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
and publisher of The Marion Star - Toby HarrahToby HarrahColbert Dale Harrah is a former professional baseball player who played with the Texas Rangers both before and after their 1971 franchise shift before later being traded to the Cleveland Indians and the New York Yankees...
, former Major League BaseballMajor League BaseballMajor League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
Player, 4-time All Star, Texas RangersTexas Rangers (baseball)The Texas Rangers are a professional baseball team in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, based in Arlington, Texas. The Rangers are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League, and are the reigning A.L. Western Division and A.L. Champions. Since , the Rangers have...
, Cleveland IndiansCleveland IndiansThe Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field. The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona...
,etc., Assistant Coach with the MLB Detroit TigersDetroit TigersThe Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
. - Steven HicksSteven HicksRobert Steven "Steve" Hicks , is an American businessman, who is mostly closely associated with the radio business, pioneering the concept of local marketing agreement and was the Vice-Chairman of AMFM, Inc., a predecessor of radio station giant Clear Channel Communications...
, Front Office, The Minnesota Vikings Football Club and Entrepreneur. - Edward HuberEdward HuberEdward Huber was an American inventor and industrialist.Huber established his role in the modernization of American agriculture when he invented a “revolving hay rake” that allowed one man to do in three hours what three men could do in a day...
, industrialist and inventor of the gasoline powered tractor. - Aubrey HuffAubrey HuffAubrey Lewis Huff III is a Major League Baseball first baseman with the San Francisco Giants. He debuted in 2000 with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, and later played for the Houston Astros, Baltimore Orioles, and Detroit Tigers. He is the starting first baseman for the San Francisco Giants who won the...
, Major League BaseballMajor League BaseballMajor League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
player for the San Francisco GiantsSan Francisco GiantsThe San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....
. - Elsie JanisElsie JanisElsie Janis was an American singer, songwriter, actress, and screenwriter. Entertaining the troops during World War I immortalized her as "the sweetheart of the AEF" .-Early career:...
(born Elsie Beerbower), comedian, broadway star, "Sweetheart of the AEF". - Florence Kling DeWolfe Harding, wife of Warren G. Harding, First Lady 1921-1923.
- Jerry LayneJerry LayneJerry Blake Layne is an umpire in Major League Baseball who has worked in the National League between 1989 and 1999, and throughout both major leagues since 2000...
, Longtime Umpire 1989-current Major League BaseballMajor League BaseballMajor League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
. - O.J. McDuffie, former NFL player for the Miami DolphinsMiami DolphinsThe Miami Dolphins are a Professional football team based in the Miami metropolitan area in Florida. The team is part of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
- Marilyn MesekeMarilyn MesekeMarilyn Meseke has the distinction of being twice crowned Miss Ohio and Miss America in 1938....
, Miss AmericaMiss AmericaThe Miss America pageant is a long-standing competition which awards scholarships to young women from the 50 states plus the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands...
1938; Miss OhioMiss OhioThe Miss Ohio Scholarship Program selects the representative for the U.S. state of Ohio to compete for the title of Miss America...
1931 and 1938. - Gerry MulliganGerry MulliganGerald Joseph "Gerry" Mulligan was an American jazz saxophonist, clarinetist, composer and arranger. Though Mulligan is primarily known as one of the leading baritone saxophonists in jazz history – playing the instrument with a light and airy tone in the era of cool jazz – he was also...
, jazz artist also known as "Jeru". - Taya ParkerTaya ParkerTaya Parker is an American model, actress, singer and reality TV show contestant best known for winning the VH1 reality television show Rock of Love Bus. She is also the 2009 Pet of the Year for Penthouse magazine.-Modeling:...
, international adult model and performer, seen on "Rock of Love with Bret Michaels". 2009 Penthouse Pet of the Year. - Carrie Phillips, mistress of Warren G. Harding, and the only woman to blackmail a major American political party successfully.
- Jim ThorpeJim ThorpeJacobus Franciscus "Jim" Thorpe * Gerasimo and Whiteley. pg. 28 * americaslibrary.gov, accessed April 23, 2007. was an American athlete of mixed ancestry...
, Olympian and Oorang IndiansOorang IndiansThe Oorang Indians were a traveling team in the National Football League from LaRue, Ohio . The team was named after the Oorang dog kennels. It was a novelty team put together by the kennels' owner, Walter Lingo, for marketing purposes. All of the players were Native American, with Jim Thorpe as...
player. Oorang played in LaRue. - Norman ThomasNorman ThomasNorman Mattoon Thomas was a leading American socialist, pacifist, and six-time presidential candidate for the Socialist Party of America.-Early years:...
, six time Socialist presidential candidate and one of the founders of the National Civil Liberties BureauNational Civil Liberties BureauThe National Civil Liberties Bureau was an American civil rights organization. In 1920, it changed its name to the American Civil Liberties Union ....
(the precursor of the American Civil Liberties UnionAmerican Civil Liberties UnionThe American Civil Liberties Union is a U.S. non-profit organization whose stated mission is "to defend and preserve the individual rights and liberties guaranteed to every person in this country by the Constitution and laws of the United States." It works through litigation, legislation, and...
). - Mary Ellen WithrowMary Ellen WithrowMary Ellen Hinamon Withrow was the 40th Treasurer of the United States from March 1, 1994 to January 20, 2001 under President Bill Clinton....
, 40th Treasurer of the United StatesTreasurer of the United StatesThe Treasurer of the United States is an official in the United States Department of the Treasury that was originally charged with the receipt and custody of government funds, though many of these functions have been taken over by different bureaus of the Department of the Treasury...
, 1994-2001. - Trevor HarrisTrevor HarrisTrevor Harris is an American football quarterback who is currently a member of the Orlando Predators of the Arena Football League. He was signed by the Jacksonville Jaguars as an undrafted free agent in 2010. He played college football at Edinboro University...
, football player with the Jacksonville Jaguars (Training Camp Invitee, 2010)
External links
- City of Marion Official Website
- Marion Area Convention & Visitors Bureau
- Marion Cemetery Association - pictures of notable monuments, including the Merchant Family Marker
- Marion County Historical Society
- Marion Online - News, Sports, Weather, & More for Marion, Ohio
- Spooky Marion - A historical site devoted to the odd, bloody, creepy and otherworldly stories from around town.