Mark Tully b. 1 Aug 1791 Berkley Co. Va, d. 17 Oct 1869 Tonti, Marion Co.
IL.Buried at East Lawn Cemetery, Salem, Marion Co. IL Mark married three
times. First to Susannah "Suky" Ruddeford 28 Dec 1811, 2nd to Ann Nicholls
on 30 May 1858, and 3rd to Loucis Edington on 3 March 1865
Mark Tully
a son of an Irish immigrant, was born in Berkley Co. VA., near Harper's
Ferry. He left Virginia and migrated to Tennessee as a young man. He then
left for Indiana, finally moving to Marion County IL between 1819 and 1821,
settling about 3 miles outside of Salem.
Writings describe Mark as a
man "of fine character and was endowed with the clear brain and kind heart
of his Irish forefathers....man of most excellent character. Highly esteemed
by his fellow citizens....he was the first Sheriff of the county (Marion
Co.) and for many years was one of the guiding spirits of the destinies of
the new county."
In June of 1826 Mark and his wife "Suky" made a gift
of land conveying 30 acres of land to the county to establish the county
seat of Salem. It is beleived that Mark named the county seat, Salem, after
a place he lived in Indiana.
A historical marker in Marion Co. IL now
marks the spot where the Tully Tavern and Stagecoach Inn was built, owned,
and operated by Mark Tully.
"Here on the Vincennes-St Louis Trail, now U.S 50, was Tully's Stagecoach Inn. The second building in Salem, built 1821-1822, stood on this location, being the only hostelry between Vincennes and St. Louis during the early years of the Prairie States. Mark Tully, Esq., the landlord, (and Rufus Ricker, Esq.) deeded the original 30 acres to the town of Salem, surveyed by Arba Andrews, on June 26, 1823, to the county commissioners of Marion County for a county seat, Sept. 5, 1826. Tully was born 1791, Harper's Ferry VA., died 1869 and is buried in Salem's East Lawn cemetery. He lived to hold every county office except judge and was the second president (mayor) of the town board of the town of Salem, in 1856. His death was not until after Salem became a city April 17, 1865. From his life's endeavors now stands the city of Salem."
Mark Tully's headstone says:
Mark Tully
Oct'r..17..1869
Died
aged
78 Ys.2 Mo.17 Ds.
I have fought a good fight,
I have finished my course,
I have kept
the faith.
Henceforth there is laid up for me
a crown of
righteousness,
which the Lord, the righteous
judge, shall give me at
that day,
and not to me only, but unto all them
also that love his
appearing
Contributed by: Diane Payne