Williamson County Illinois Historical Society

The Herrin City Library, Herrin, Illinois, is hosting author Roger Peach at its “book talk” event on Friday, September 20 at 2 p.m. Peach will be discussing 47-year jockey veteran Lillian Jenkinson Holder who for decades competed at Southern Illinois county fairs. Lillian is the subject of his 2024 biography Jockey Queen.

Lillian Jenkinson Holder (1909-1992) was a legend in the racing saddle and was capable of competing with any jockey, female or male, throughout the majority of her career. The fact that she fought so hard for the right to compete at recognized, pari-mutuel racetracks beginning when she was a teenager ultimately resulted in “racing powers” of the day, otherwise known as “men,” banning her from their sight.

Some months ago, Sam Lattuca, president of the Williamson County Historical Society reported a story to the Marion Star newspaper about how DeYoung Street in Marion got its name. As a short recap, in 1899 a man named Teunis DeYoung came to Marion with his wife, son and daughter in law and agreed to purchase over 150 acres of Marion near the Marion Cemetery with a Bond for Deed. However, an unknown change of plans a couple of years later changed that plan and the deal never completely went through. DeYoung was a Dutch immigrant, then living in South Holland, Illinois south of Chicago.

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The Williamson County Historical Society has recently released a publication that should be of interest to Marion residents with a taste for learning local history. The booklet entitled, “Historic Downtown Marion Walking Tour” is now available for sale. The publication includes a walking tour map that starts out at the corner of N. Market and W. Jackson Streets at the corner of the old First Christian Church building which is now the Market Street Music Conservatory.