Dear ILFORD-L'ers: Regarding Immaculate Conception records, I believe that Dave King previously stated that Mt. Calvary Cemetery had made a copy of the death records before they went to the diocese. According to Millie at Mt. Calvary, the copy of these records are now at St. Rose (so good luck, maybe the diocese would be easier!) I cannot tell you how much a help Millie is at Mt. Calvary, they have much information in their index books for all the Catholic cemeteries in Kankakee. They also have a decent sized obituary file for those buried at Mt. Calvary. Regarding access to Immaculate Conception (St. Mary's), the church has been sold to another church (I do not know which one). The stained-glass windows are currently in storage in Evanston, IL & will be installed at the new church in St. George. Luckily, Father Yarno from St. George sent me a card that reproduces the window I was interested in; I believe the card was produced by the Kankakee Co. Historical Society. Regarding the condition of the neighborhood around St. Mary's, my mom says that there were prostitutes plying their trades there at night, so I wouldn't venture by there unless ... you don't mind having some interesting conversations! Thanks to all that sent replies to my questions, Keith At 01:39 PM 2/25/00 , you wrote: >In a message dated 2/25/00 2:39:34 PM Central Standard Time, >keith.bisaillon@stanford.edu writes: > ><< I was wondering if anyone has any experience with Immaculate Conception > (Kankakee) records? Does St. Patrick's now have them? How would I gain > access to the old church? I would like to take a photo of the window with > my gg-grandfather's name in it. I will be in Kankakee at the end of next > month & am trying to get my ducks in a row. > >> > >Keith, > I have already obtained copies of the records from Immaculate Conception >that I was interested in. They are housed at the Diocesan Chancery in >Joliet. I contacted them via e-mail at DOJChan. Sr. Judith Davies, OSF will >research the records and supply records of any you want if you supply names >and approximate dates. They do not allow anyone else to research the records >due to the fragile nature of them. As far as the church is concerned, I know >that it still stands but I do not know how to gain access. Perhaps Sr. >Davies can answer that question as well. Let me know what you learn for my >ancestors went there too and I am interested in getting pictures although it >is not absolutely necessary that I get inside. What do you know of Kankakee? > Is the area around the church safe to traverse? > >Dennis Lietz

Our Neighbor is moving. ----- Original Message ----- From: "zavada" <zavada@uti.com> To: <ILWILL-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Monday, March 27, 2000 5:36 PM Subject: [ILWILL-L] Re: Will Grundy Genealogy Library Collection > Hi All, > The Will Grundy Society (WGGS)Collection is moving from Fossil Ridge Library > in Braidwood, Illinois to the Coal City(Grundy County)Library sometime > around 1 Jun 2000. Anyone planning to visit WGGS collection around that > time,should call ahead to either Fossil Ridge Library or Coal City to make > sure WHERE it is. > Kathy >

At the age of 25 FRED DOSS immigrated to the U. S. In 1874 he married MARY MASKROD in Livingston County. In 1880 they lived in Essex Township, Kankakee Co., IL with their two children, Frank and Hannah. In 1900 census FRED is shown as living alone in Essex Township, Essex Village, Kankakee County, Illinois. I do not know where or when Fred died, but I assume it must have been in Essex. I do not live anywhere near Essex and am unable to search records there. Does anyone have any information about this family?

I am looking for this book: HISTORY OF THE EARLY SETTLEMENT OF CHEBANSE TOWNSHIP By Joseph Haigh. 60pages, paperback. Origianlly published 1884 and republished 1997. Debbie

OOOOOPs! A major goof!!! The query should have read: "Angeline (SMITH) EDWARDS, Jesse B.'s wife, was the widow of John FREEMAN when she married Jesse in Scioto Co, OH in 1850." Thanks, Joanne in Califoronia -----Original Message----- From: Joanne/erictem <erictem@earthlink.net> To: ILFORD-L@rootsweb.com <ILFORD-L@rootsweb.com> Date: Friday, March 24, 2000 8:20 AM Subject: [ILFORD-L] FREEMAN >Hello ! > >Does anyone know the identity of the Alfred J. FREEMAN who was residing with >the Jesse B. EDWARDS family in Belmont Township on the 1860 Iroquois County >census? > >On the census, he was age 15 and born in Ohio. I haven't been able to >find him in the Iroquois County cemetery books I have or in the 2 marriage >books. Who were his parents? Who did he marry, etc? > >Angeline (SMITH) EDWARDS, Jesse B.'s wife, was the widow of John CORRECTION: not EDWARDS!!) FREEMAN >when she married Jesse in Scioto Co, OH in 1850. > >Thanks, > >Joanne in California > >______________________________

One of my Hanks ancestors, Rose HANKS was married to Walker LEWIS in Paxton, IL in 1877. If this could be a relative, I have information about their descendants. Ronette from SD In a message dated 3/24/00 11:16:44 AM Central Standard Time, oh_stop_it@hotmail.com writes: > Subj: [ILFORD-L] FRANK LEWIS/PAXTON, IL > Date: 3/24/00 11:16:44 AM Central Standard Time > From: oh_stop_it@hotmail.com (Melody Carter) > To: ILFORD-L@rootsweb.com > > To the lady who was searching for Frank LEWIS in PAXTON. Please get in > touch with me. I think I may have found a relative. Was your Frank a son > of Freeman and a brother of Marvin (or Melvin)? If this is what you're > looking for, jog my memory with Betty Buck from Penfield and Lewis, north of > > Clarence when you e-mail me. > > Melody > oh_stop_it@hotmail.com > _____________________________

Hello, I'm new to the group and want to say HI! My great grandfather was born in Chebanse IL. around 1883 and then moved to Canada, don't know the reason. If anyone has any information about the Powleys in the area, please let me know. His name was Melville Edward Powley, and his father was Melville also. Waiting on birth records now for more information about his parents. Thanks, Margaret

To the lady who was searching for Frank LEWIS in PAXTON. Please get in touch with me. I think I may have found a relative. Was your Frank a son of Freeman and a brother of Marvin (or Melvin)? If this is what you're looking for, jog my memory with Betty Buck from Penfield and Lewis, north of Clarence when you e-mail me. Melody oh_stop_it@hotmail.com ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com

Hello ! Does anyone know the identity of the Alfred J. FREEMAN who was residing with the Jesse B. EDWARDS family in Belmont Township on the 1860 Iroquois County census? On the census, he was age 15 and born in Ohio. I haven't been able to find him in the Iroquois County cemetery books I have or in the 2 marriage books. Who were his parents? Who did he marry, etc? Angeline (SMITH) EDWARDS, Jesse B.'s wife, was the widow of John EDWARDS when she married Jesse in Scioto Co, OH in 1850. Thanks, Joanne in California

Iroquois Co. has has several "small" courthouse fires - mostly when the jail was in the courthouse itself and the inmates tried to burn down the jail door to escape. We DO have land records from 1835. Births and deaths begin in 1878, but are very spotty until 1916 when it became law to register such things. Marriages after 1866 are fairly complete, those before are some of the papers that burned from one jail escape or another. As a caveat - keep in mind that anytime you get West of the Appalachins, you are not going to find the recorded births and deaths like you do in the towns and churches of the East coast area. Different type of people first migrated over the mountains/different mind set. Land records are almost the only type of record to survive the centuries intact. Land was money/status and therefor important. Cheryl Wixon Gocken President, ICGS

In a message dated 3/22/2000 10:47:43 PM Central Standard Time, jmfreed@midohio.net writes: << land records from 1835 (but I'm skeptical on that early date of 1835). >> Don't forget to check Federal land records. My booklet says they purchased land from the federal land office, the IL Central RR, and school land. Debbie

In a message dated 3/22/2000 10:47:43 PM Central Standard Time, jmfreed@midohio.net writes: << Apparently there may have been several different fires >> If I remember my Watseka history, there was at least one big fire. The courthouse was in Middleport and was to be moved, and people got mad, so they burned the place down. I don't remember what year this was. I used to be really up on this stuff, but through the years . .. I know there is a book on the history of Iroquois Co as I have seen it. It's a little paperback. That may have info on the fires and would give you some dates. And in some cases, records just weren't kept prior to a certain year. Wait, I lied. Just happened to remember my Iroq Co Bi-Centennial Pageant book. Here it is right here. R.D. Moore wrote a nice article about the history of the county. Let's see what it says. (I was a teenager then and was actually interested in this stuff! Ever watch Jay Walking on Leno? Makes me CRINGE!!!!! Those people don't know ANYTHING about US or World history, politics, and geography.) The courthouse in Middleport burned in 1862. The county was formed 1833, and prior to that, you would have to check Vermilion Co. for records. I don't see anything about any other fires. The first newspaper was the Iroq. Journal, 1851. This is just a short history of the county, you may find more info elsewhere. Debbie

Sally, Since our ancestry "died out" there prior to 1855, and we know the records in which we were interested up to that time are missing, we did not write down when the records start. Apparently there may have been several different fires. I do note that the Handy Book for Genealogists (Everton Publishing) states that the County Clerk has birth and death records from 1877, marriage records from 1866 and land records from 1835 (but I'm skeptical on that early date of 1835). Clerk of Circuit Court has divorce, probate, civil ct records from 1855. Hope this helps you. Jim Freed, Delaware, OH jmfreed@midohio.net -----Original Message----- From: Kylesgramma@aol.com <Kylesgramma@aol.com> To: jmfreed@midohio.net <jmfreed@midohio.net> Date: Tuesday, March 21, 2000 9:20 AM Subject: Re: [ILFORD-L] Iroquois Journal, Watseka, 1851-1854; Everts Family >Hi > >I am new to this list. Do you know the dates of the burned records for >Iroquois County? My Hitchins family did not get there until sometime after >1868. My grandfather was born in Crescent City in 1869. > >Thanks >Sally Ford >Cedaredge CO >

My great great grand aunt and uncle emigrated to the US from Sweden in the early 1900's and settled in Paxton. Did Paxton have a large Swedish settlement? If so, I'm interested in learning more about the area and what it had to offer Swedish immigrants. Many thanks! Jill St. Louis, MO jabloomquist@core.com

Please reply to Carole: ----- Original Message ----- From: "Carole" <cmc57@aol.com> To: <ILIROQUO-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Monday, March 20, 2000 1:34 PM Subject: {not a subscriber} Benson > Surname: Benson > ------------------------- > > ISO relatives of Marie Benson, born approx. 1900. In 1924, she gave birth > to a son in Gilman Hospital, Iroquois Co., IL. She lived in Rockford, but > apparently went to Gilman to have the baby. Hoping that maybe there were > relatives in Gilman. Any help would be appreciated. >

Please reply to Steven: ----- Original Message ----- From: "Steven P. Nelson" <spnelson@usa.net> To: <ILFORD-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Tuesday, March 21, 2000 7:14 PM Subject: {not a subscriber} Great Grandparents > Surname: Nilsson, Nelson > ------------------------- > > I am trying to track a person who I think is my great grandfather. I have > a Carl J. Nilsson who left Sweden in March of 1886 for Paxton. He came > with his wife Wilhelmina Nilsson, age 27, and their children Viktoria, > age 4 and Carl, age 2. Looking find other births (and deaths) to see if > these arm my grandparents. > > Thanks > > >

So exciting!! I just got info from someone on line who saw my request re: Francois LaBolle of Loda and Augustine LaBolle of DeKalb and LaSalle County. It turns out they did come over on the ship together in 1855- the ship REPUBLIC. Hope I run into someone in Loda area who knows this family. This has been very exciting!. Aloha--Lois

anyone here reserching the name HALLOCK? We are having a family reunion next month. We have relatives in Watseka and Milford. And so far, we have located additional relatives, people of other surnames, who are related to us, in Watseka, Milford, Stockland and Wellington. Our family came from PA and some stayed in Iroquois Co. Others moved to CO, CA, IN, and Chicago. Debbie

We just found another very valuable reference to help make up for the "burned" records of Iroquois County, Illinois: The Iroquois Journal (a weekly), Watseka (then called Middleport), Illinois, is available on microfilm for the issues from Feb. 19 ,1851 through March 29, 1854, with a number of issues missing. We borrowed it through Inter Library Loan from the Illinois State Historical Society. The number on the box is A-21,008. In any case, we were able to find the death date of my wife's ancestor, Rebecca Everts, in 1852 by a death notice; also found the approximate death of her spouse, Seely Everts in 1854 on this microfilm by a probate notice. The actual notice of his death is probably in one of the missing issues. This information is of value because we have not found them listed in any cemetery records of Iroquois County, and no land records or probate records survive from that time period. Since this newspaper is from the county seat, it may contain more information of value than any other newspaper in the county during the 1851-1854 time period. It does contain very valuable records of deaths, divorces, letters left at the post office, delinquent tax payers, etc. that can be used to replace the missing information (due to fires) from the county court house. Jim Freed, Delaware, OH jmfreed@midohio.net

The Ford County ILGenWeb Project and Iroquois County IlGenWeb Project pages have been updated with the following queries and surname postings: In Iroquois County: TINCHER / CROZIER LAUTERBACH NIXON / GOLDEN McKEE In Ford County: BERTRAM / OMMEN LONG / LARSON / JEPSON Later Debi Visit my Web pages at: http://members.aol.com/LaFineD/LaFineD.html or http://www.capstonebank.com/~lafined/ Stop by the Iroquois Genealogical Society Page at: http://www.rootsweb.com/~ilicgs/index.htm