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