In "History of Stephenson County," I found listings of several wagon trains that came west by the National Road, in 1837, 1839, to Stephenson County, IL, and then the one I care about: "Sometimes people came to Stephenson County in large groups. In 1843, a party of about sixty started from Union County, Pa. In this party were Samuel Barber's family of five; John Barber's family of ten; James W Barber's family of ten; John Van Dyke and sons family of eleven; Samuel Wright's family of five; Jacob Gables family of six; Robert Badger's family of seven, William and John Wright. They drove through Mercer County, Pa., crossed the Allegheny River at Franklin, through Warren and Cleveland, Ohio, through Adrian and Janesville, Michigan, through South Ben, Indiana, Chicago and Rockford to Freeport, arriving here after an arduous journey of five and a half weeks. The party divided at Rockford, one division coming on to Free- port, July 4, 1843. They stopped at the Main Hotel which then stood on the site of the old Pop Factory..." The book "Waddam's Grove Church of the Brethren" mentions that the Yellow Creek church began in 1843, but doesn't mention these folks. "As far as known no Brethren were here permanently, at least, until about 1843, when Brethren William Miller of Ohio and Joseph Rush of Pennsylvania came and located in the county. Aside from my Robert Badger, are any of the names of the Union County group of 60 known to have Brethren connections? I think this Robert Badger is probably the one we call Robert Jr (1797-1886) and was on the list of folks helping to organize the Presbyterian church in Stephenson County. In the 1850 census, he is living in Lancaster twp, Stephenson County, and is 52, a carpenter born in PA. His wife is Margaret, 50. Children living with them in 1850 are Samuel, 20; Catherine 17; John 15. In the 1860 census, he is living in Erin twp, and is transcribed as "Robert Bodger." The fellow who became Brethren elder Robert Badger (Robert III in our records) is 31,a carpenter still living in Union County, Pa, married to Susannah Shively, 31, and living with children John 6, Samuel 5, Susannah 3, and Catherine 1. This Robert was chosen minister in the Buffalo Valley church in 1856, and was received into the Waddams Grove COB from Buffalo Valley in 1858. The Waddams Grove book says: "In the year 1855 Brother Enoch Eby and fifteen or more members came from the Aughwick Church, Huntingdon County, Pa... Other ministers and deacons moving into the church from time to time were David Barklow (date unknown) and Robert Badger, 1858, ministers.... Do we have anywhere a list of who migrated with Enoch Eby? Jan T **************Wondering what's for Dinner Tonight? Get new twists on family favorites at AOL Food. (http://food.aol.com/dinner-tonight?NCID=aolfod00030000000001)