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