I am looking to find the parents/siblings of Harry Thomas Baxter b: 1882 d: 1960 Buried at Oak Ridge Cemetery Farmington, Fulton, IL Married Emmeline Blanche Windsor b: February 1885 d: 1952 m: December 05, 1902 in Fulton County, Illinois Can someone tell me the best (ie; cheapest, fastest, easiest) way to obtain a death certificate and or obituary? Thanks Janine

Here Here, Kim! Right on! I joined the Fulton and Knox County lists and both genealogical societies, in hopes of finding/connecting to those having early history, names, places, family stories, what ever anyone is willing to share. Some, have shared what they have on several of my early families, some have contributed a bit of history,-to them, Thanks!!! He was giving us "Life"- the fellow was kind enough to type the McDonough info!-and post it! -It is much, much, more than many, many others are willing to do! Maybe he hit a nerve. Must say, I am beginning to find a few skeletons in my closet! Maybe everyone on the list--with the time---could post one small item a day, or once a week. Maybe we could list the surnames/areas we are researching-Maybe someone has questions about a town or county. My daughter and I made a trip to Galesburg a couple of weeks ago. We took in the Library, the Court house-must go back there!!, walked Seminary Street, hit a couple antiques stores, picked up lunch at Hardees, and left town, to travel the rural roads to 'MAQUON", in search of an adventure. We seen a young man selling sweet corn, we stopped to buy a couple dozen ears. We discovered when we arrived home, we had only one dozen ears. My daughter had been most generous with her cash, for she had given him $5.00! Expensive corn-and, it was delicious! and who knows, he might have been a member of the family. I agree with you about the ties between Fulton/Knox-at least in my case. They were from northern Fulton and Southern Knox- Back and forth they must have traveled. My Surnames of interest-TAYLOR-MILLER-THARP-DAVIS-YOUNGMAN-LUTZ-MARTIN-STEVENSON-VANDUSEN-F ITZPATRICK/FITCHPATRICK-HOOD-VICE-FREEZE-MCCUMBER-FISHER-COZAD-PALMERTON-PET TY-FINLEY/REED-HEDGES-WELKER-ARCHDALE-HARKLESS-OVERCASH< this one baffles me)-EMERY-HEEDEN-FEWKES->>>>>>> Jan

I'm very much enjoying the McDonough murder accounts. I know that many of my folks moved from the country of Fulton to the "city" of Macomb. The two counties are intricately tied to one another. Thanks for sharing these tales! Kim Rowlett

Glad to read about MAXWELLs because the other names mentioned pertain to our Fulton & McDonough Counties ancestors who lead more mundane lives. Wm Schultz ________________________________________________________________ Get FREE voicemail, fax and email at http://voicemail.excite.com Talk online at http://voicechat.excite.com

Glad to read about MAXWELLs because other names mentioned pertain to our Fulton & McDonough Counties ancestors who lead more mundane lives. Wm Schultz ________________________________________________________________ Get FREE voicemail, fax and email at http://voicemail.excite.com Talk online at http://voicechat.excite.com

I was of the opinion that this ILFULTON-L site was for postings pertaining to Fulton County. This posting by <morgans4@swbell.net> does not pertain to Fulton countyand should not have been allowed to be posted.

EXCUSE ME! If I posted it to the Fulton Co. list it was because it WAS indeed mentioned in the book. I never heard of Fulton Co. otherwise. Sorry to have bothered you, SIR. Donald R. Gates wrote: > > I was of the opinion that this ILFULTON-L site was for postings > pertaining to Fulton County. This posting by <morgans4@swbell.net> does > not pertain to Fulton countyand should not have been allowed to be > posted.

I frankly don't see a problem with getting this information. I found it pretty interesting. It just shows you that this kind of thing went on then as it still does today. It probably happened far more than we know. This is part of genealogical research-- No matter what county, state or country. Vperry

Then followed the escape from jail by Ed, the first escape in the county in which there was a fight. It occurred August 28, 1876, and while no one was injured, it was only because the Maxwell boys were unable to procure weapons. Captain Venard was Sheriff at the time, and on the night in question he went to lock up the prisoners in their cells, James Blazer standing as door guard. As the sheriff stepped inside the corridor, Ed Maxwell, who was standing back some distance from the door to deceive the sheriff as to his intentions, started to walk away, throwing him off his guard. Maxwell suddenly turned with a spring like a cat and jumped on the sheriff. Lon Maxwell at the same time sprang at him and Charles Robert jumped for Blazer. An exciting tussle followed, but Ed Maxwell and Roberts succeeded in getting away, Lon being held. The chase that followed for Maxwell is one well remembered by every old citizen. Alexander McLean was Mayor at that time, and it so happened he was just passing as Maxwell darted out the door. Instantly surmising what had occurred, he gave chase after the fleeing outlaw and the race, while it lasted, was an exciting one. However, Maxwell was the fleetest and was soon lost sight of. Instantly, almost, the town was aroused and gave chase. Captain Farwell, Marshal Karr McClintock (both now deceased) and George Kink mounted horses and rode through the country notifying the farmers to be on their guard, as Maxwell would more than likely steal a horse, one of his old tricks, and endeavor to escape. Notwithstanding the warning he succeed in stealing one of Elijah Welch's and made his escape. Lon was sent to the penitentiary and Ed was afterward recaptured at Stillwater, Minn., his dare deviltry attracting attention up there, an investigation was made as to where he was wanted, there being a reward of $350 offered for his arrest. He was decoyed into a stable and arrested, brought back to Macomb, taken from the train to the court house, pleaded guilty and was off for Joliet in less than twenty-four hours to serve a six years' sentence. After serving their time they were released and came back to this county, but except for one short trip of robbery through this part, they did not remain long, being too well known. On their last trip, they stole a horse, then a horse and buggy, and drove from here through to Fulton County and disappeared. Their description was sent all over the country by this time, and an effort was made to capture them for horse-stealing they having stolen a horse in Henderson County which they drove through here. At Durand, Wisconsin, two men named Coleman attempted to arrest them on suspicion of their being the men wanted here for horse stealing, and both were killed. This was the first murder directly traceable to them, although they were accused of killing a sheriff in another county in this state. A posse was called to arrest them for this double murder, but they whipped the posse off. The militia were ordered out to arrest them and they too were beaten back by the two outlaws. By boat, foot and stealing horses they at last eluded all their pursuers and disappeared for months. So daring were their deeds that they gained a national reputation and were the subject of stories in the dime novel trash. They were known in Wisconsin as the Williams brothers, and under this name were the heroes in the novels. The capture of Ed was affected at Grand Island, Neb., Nov. 9, 1881, and was the result of more of an accident than anything else. The boys were representing themselves as hunters and were both heavily armed. Their actions aroused suspicion and the officers being notified, visited the house where they were staying and approaching them unawares, grabbed Ed and overpowered him. Lon was alarmed and got one shot at the officers, but notwithstanding his wonderful skill, missed his man. The officers then ran for him but he turned and ran and was never afterward seen alive. Ed wad fully identified as the man wanted, although he denied his identity. Brothers of the murdered men in Wisconsin accompanied the officers and positively identified him as the man who killed their brothers. He was taken back to Wisconsin, November 19, 1881, and taken to the court house for trial. The work was short and swift, however, and justice speedily meted out. He was surrounded by a mob of men who threw a rope around his neck and started down stairs supposedly to hang him to a tree. This was done but he was dead long before he reached the tree, as he was dragged down stairs at the end of the rope. The coroner's jury viewed the body, examined the necessary witnesses and returned a verdict that he came to his death by falling down the court house stairs, with which verdict the courts were well satisfied. Lon's death was not so sensational but well did he pay for his misdeeds. He died in a box car in a western city, alone, unattended, with a black past to view and a blacker future to contemplate. Both of these boys were remarkably fine shots with gun and revolver. Lon was particularly skilled, and stories of their remarkable powers are told. Ed feared nothing, was more like a panther than a human. He was small and swarthy and as treacherous as the animals whose actions he imitated. He was an inveterate liar and naturally mean and vicious. Sometimes he expressed a claim of intended reformation on account of the love he bore some woman, but he never gave evidence that he had adopted a better life. Lon was an arrant coward when not with Ed and gave evidence of it when Ed was captured. Had it been Ed who got away instead of Lon, the officers making the capture would never have reached the jail with their prisoner, Lon was big and strong, and effeminate in his actions. Much space has been given to the notorious Maxwell boys, for the reason they were the most prominent examples of the worst element of this section of the county. There were great readers of the yellow-covered literature, and became fully possessed with the idea that they were Dick Turpins, James Boys, and all the other list of degenerates. This account is given at length to show the natural end of such violent, reckless lives.

THE MAXWELL OUTLAWS--Two of the most noted outlaws this county ever produced, and who at one time attained a national reputation by their murderous deeds, were the Maxwell brothers who were raised in this county and who here commenced their career which ended in the lynching of one, but not until after he had killed many men and defied an entire company of militia. Along in 1869 or 1870, a mover with two boys and a girl stopped near the residence of Elijah Hicks in Macomb, and wanted to occupy an unused house near their place for awhile, as he wanted to find work. The privilege was given him and he remained, not only for a time, but for years. This mover's name was Maxwell, the father of Ed and Lon. The boys as youths did not attract any particular attention unless it was the adaptability of the younger in learning scripture, he having won a prize for having committed 3,000 verses of Scripture. The teaching of the verses he committed did not seem to have much effect on him, however, as at an early age the boys would steal chickens for cooking while out on a lark and commit petty depredations. On February 10, 1874, Ed Maxwell first commenced his career of crime which ended only when he was lynched by an infuriated people, and most of his subsequent years were spent in the penitentiary. On the day mentioned the clothing store of Dines & Co., of which Charles Dines, for years County Clerk here, was one of the proprietors, was robbed. Maxwell was suspected of the robbery, just why it was not learned, and a day or two later Dines and another man went to the farm where Maxwell was employed, to investigate. Maxwell was evidently looking for them, or at least recognized them, for he disappeared as they rode up and tied their horses, both being on horseback. They entered the house and there found the missing articles. Then Maxwell gave the first evidence of that spirit of deviltry and bravado that afterward earned him a national reputation. He slipped up to the horses, while the men were in the house, mounted the best one and with a whoop and yell was off on the full run. Then followed a chase that was the talk of that section of the county for some weeks. The other rider hurried to Blandinsville and organized a posse and gave chase. Through Blandinsville, Sciota and Emmet Township went the fugitive and the pursuers, there being some twenty armed men in the hunt. At last Maxwell struck for Spring Creek and followed it to where it empties into Crooked Creek. Here he found the creek too high to ford and turned north again, but the pursuers thought he had forded. The horse was later found at Good Hope and from that place he was traced to Roseville, where he was arrested, brought back to Macomb and sent to the penitentiary for three years. Up to this time the Maxwells were unknown, so to speak, being quiet and never having done anything to particularly attract attention except the one escapade of Ed's, and as he had offered no resistance at that time, his desperate character was unknown. After he had served his time, being released in 1876, he returned to this county and then commenced the worst reign of terror as to thievery this section as ever undergone. He had for a pal, a man supposedly named Post, but who, in fact, was his brother Lon. The two would steal a couple of horses and strike out through the county robbing houses. They scoured Emmet, Sciota, Blandinsville and Hire Townships, and continued their depredations on into Henderson and Hancock Counties. They would make a trip like Santa Claus, starting in the night, visiting nearly every house on their road, steal what they could and then disappear, selling the horses or turning them loose. They visited La Crosse in daylight, defied arrest, subdued the officer with their revolvers and left at their pleasure. On one of their last trips they stole two horses from E. S. Smith, a farmer of Sciota Township, the animals being found some time later near Hamilton, Ill., badly used up. They raided the houses of a John Isom, F. Ferris, S. B. Davis, L. English, James D. Griffith, and others, receiving a considerable amount, taking money from under the pillow at one place while a man was asleep. This last raid, however, awoke the community to a state of action and a man hunt was started, a reward of $500 being offered for their capture. The hunt was unsuccessful, however, but it served to keep them away until they were brought back in irons by an officer. For some time the outlaws eluded the officers but they heard from them occasionally. The Maxwells supposed the officers did not know Lon was the big man of the two, but thought they were looking for a man named Post. At last the officers received a tip that they were going down the Illinois River in a boat, so they waited for them at Beardstown. The boys landed there and Ed went uptown to buy some supplies, Lon remaining in the boat. The officers waited until Ed entered a store and they stepped in after him. They grabbed him when he was off his guard, but at that he put up a desperate fight, kicking, biting and cursing and it required the combined strength of three officers to hold him. At last he was ironed, however, and the others went after Lon. Lon was still in the boat and seeing the men, asked them if they did not want to buy the skiff they had attached to the other boat. They said that they did and came down to look at it, that giving them the desired opportunity. They jumped on Lon when he was not looking, but he grabbed a revolver and fired one shot but was disarmed before he could do any harm. An examination showed both boys to be heavily armed with revolvers and knives and they had rifles in the boat. At Bushnell they were ironed together but quietly slipping off their boots they made a dash for liberty while chained together, and it required about a seventy-five yard sprint by the officer to bring them back. They were then landed in jail without further trouble.

Thought you might be interested in the chapter on criminal history--noted murders. In giving this history of some of the noted murders and other crimes committed in McDonough County, it is not the intention to represent its population as containing a large proportion of criminals or to prove that, as a whole, it is a blood-thirsty community; on the contrary, the county has had an unusually small percentage of violent deaths. But inasmuch as the youth have been told by their parents of murders here and there, in the early times, and the actual facts of the case have become quite mystical, this sketch is prepared from the public records and from interviews with those who actively participated in some of the stirring events narrated. The narratives cover four of the most noted murders in the history of McDonough County. It should be added that no hanging has ever occurred in the county. THE DYE MURDER AND SCANDAL.--- The most sensational murder in the history of McDonough County was, without doubt, the killing of James Dye, a wealthy farmer living on what is known as the Prentiss farm in the wet part of the county. The arrest of his wife as the murderess and Rev. D. B. Burress as an accomplice, charges of undue intimacy between them, theft, conspiracy by the sons to have their father murdered, the trial of the woman for her life, the escape of Burress from jail, went to make an event that, at the time of the deed, and for years afterward, for that matter, was the sensation of this and adjoining counties. James Dye was a well-to-do farmer living with his second wife, by whom he had three children, having had twelve children by his former wife. Trouble came up between Dye and his sons by his first wife, and they were practically disowned and, as a result, hard feelings arose between the parties. Others took a hand in the affair and there were anonymous communications and threats of various kinds passed around. Dye also had some trouble with Burress just the day before he was murdered, the difficulty arising over the planting of some corn. This was said to have been adjusted, but that wa never known. On the night of May 27, 1854, about 9 o'clock, the alarm was given that Dye had been murdered. The news was noised rapidly through the neighborhood. Suspicion at once rested on Burress and Mrs. Dye, and they were arrested the day following on the finding of the Coroner's jury, and were held in jail without bail. S. P. Ray was also held on the same charge, but was afterward released, as there was no evidence against him. When the neighbors were summoned, Dye was found in bed with his knees bent and his limbs then stiff. Burress had an alibi ready, as he attended meeting that evening. Ray was at the house and gave the alarm to the neighbors. MRS. DYE'S STORY -- When they assembled Mrs. Dye was found crying and told her story. She claimed that that evening she and another woman, Mrs. Burress, were doing the milking, they became frightened at a man but could not see close-enough to tell who it was. The man opened a gate which attracted their attention. Dye was then in the house. They retired about 8 o'clock and she was awakened by a ringing sound in her ears. She saw her husband standing by the bed and grabbed him and pulled him down again. She heard a man running and heard a horse running afterward like the man had left the house and mounted the horse. She then gave the alarm. That was in substance, her story. THE TRIAL -- The evidence against the woman was purely circumstantial, which fact alone prevented her hanging and, even as it was, at one time eight of the jury were for conviction. The circumstances showed the relations between her and Burress as being very intimate. When the neighbors arrived the body was partly stiff. Then the wounds--which consisted of a slug shot in the body, supposedly from a big revolver, and the fracture of the skull--bled freely on the bed and yet there was not a drop of blood on the carpet, which would have been the case if he was standing when she awoke and pulled him back on the bed. Again, the blood from the gun-shot would went to show that the slug was fired into the body after life had departed. The physicians also testified that the gun-shot wound was such that he could not have arisen after it was inflicted. There were three savage dogs kept at the house and it was claimed the revolver belonging at the house was empty, but showed it have been recently cleaned. Then the defense proved that Dye had received a threatening letter, and he had attributed it to his sons and had expressed fear from that source. The sons were active in the prosecution, and the defense claimed they had the old man killed to prevent his willing the property to the wife and her children--as he had had so much trouble with them, they expected that was what he would do. The prosecution claimed it wa the intention of Burress and the woman to do away with the old man and thus prevent trouble over their illicit relations, then they would get what money they could and leave the country together. There was always a question a to whether any of the old man's money disappeared on that night, both sides claiming that he always kept a large amount of money in the house and that it disappeared the night of the murder. The prisoners endeavored to obtain their release on bonds by habeas corpus proceedings, which were held in Schuyler County. In this they were unsuccessful. Mrs. Dye then got a change of venue to Fulton County where her trial was held, lasting some ten days. The counsel comprised the very best legal talent in this part of the state. Goudy, of Fulton, Wheat of Adams, and Schofield & Mack, o Carthage, prosecuted, while Manning, of Peoria, Kellogg & Ross, of Fulton, and Cyrus Walker, of McDonough, defended. The trial wa hotly contested from the start. The jury, after fifteen hours' deliberation, standing eight for conviction and four for acquittal, finally agreed on a verdict of manslaughter and the woman was sentenced to five years in the penitentiary. Mrs. Dye was taken to the penitentiary, but, on the recommendation of the Warden, she was pardoned long before her time ha expired. She returned to this city and made this her home the rest of her life. She died in 1874. In the meantime, Burress had procured a change of venue to Warren County. On the night of August 11, 1855, he escaped from the old log jail here, but, after being absent some ten days, returned and gave himself up. He became dissatisfied again, however, and on the night f November 10, 1855, again escaped. He was tracked to Indiana but eluded the officers and was never heard from again.

Email Jerry directly, not me. I'll be gone for 10 days. Sara ---------- From: Jerrycrain@aol.com To: CRAIN-L@rootsweb.com; ILROOTS-L@rootsweb.com Subject: {not a subscriber} William L Crain Fulton IL Date: Thursday, September 02, 1999 7:51 PM My name is Jerry Crain I am looking for information on William L. Crain Marred to Larala and A. William Crain Born In 1849 . In the 1850 census they were in Vermont Fulton County Illinois. Thanks for any help Jerry

Hi my name is Jerry Crain I am looking for information on my great grand father William Crain/Crane Heison Benjamin jeptha Crain/Crane was on June 07, 1868 in Fultion Co. he also had a sister name Mary born in 1869. In 1892 they were in Jackson County AR. Thanks for any help Jerry E Mail jerrycrain@aol.com

Soloman STILL b.1831 Ohio married Maria b.1837 Ohio children Rebecca b. 1855 Ohio, Melvina b.1857 Ohio, Josephine b.1858 Ill, Stephen b.1859 Ill. Listed in 1860 census yet Soloman dies in Civil War. Samuel STILL b. 1824? Ohio married Mary b. 1836 Ohio. Listed in 1860 census yet Samuel dies in Civil War. Looking for descendency. I am descendent of Robert STILL b.1833 Ohio who enlisted with brothers. Thank you Georgia

I use this site as a favorite; but not sure if the name implies a list of only veterans or if it includes also those who died while in service. http://www.sos.state.il.us/cgi-bin/civilwar Lyde

In a message dated 8/30/99 HerbBlue@aol.com writes: << My intention to recommend a good Civil Wars Rosters-Illinois web site seem to have backfired on two counts. First I mis-typed the URL. My second mistake was not checking out the URL beforehand. It doesn't seem to work even when entered correctly. I don't know why. I found the site through Cyndi's List or the Alta Vista search engine. I link to it with no problem from my Favorite Places entry. My apologies. >> This is a GREAT site. I also have it in my favorites list. Although, I always enter through the main page that has a table with all the states listed. Try this URL http://www.geocities.com/Area51/Lair/3680/cw/cw.html Evan

My intention to recommend a good Civil Wars Rosters-Illinois web site seem to have backfired on two counts. First I mis-typed the URL. My second mistake was not checking out the URL beforehand. It doesn't seem to work even when entered correctly. I don't know why. I found the site through Cyndi's List or the Alta Vista search engine. I link to it with no problem from my Favorite Places entry. My apologies.

Joan: It's a long time since I requested DAR info, but I seem to recall they have a very stylized format for their requests. Maybe tht makes a difference. I think you have to request "... the latest papers on [patriot's name] through their descendant [descendant's name]". It may be that the descendant needs to be a son or daughter of the patriot. The request doesn't include the descendant's DAR #. You might try this approach. Send them a copy of your cancelled check with your renewed request. Maureen

The US GEN WEB Project at <http://www.rootsweb.com/~ilgenweb/> is a good resource for Illinois Civil War History showing rosters and regimental histories. Don Gates

I found a site called Civil War Rosters - Illinois that is a great reference. the URL is http://www.geocities.com/Area5/Lair/3680/cw-il.html. It identifies individuals by company and township. Herb Blue