Before there was an Illinois Territory the region of southern current day Illinois was being settled. When IL Territory was established from Indiana Territory in 1809 my SMOCK family was already settled in the area of Cave in Rock, Randolph Co. From before 1810 to well into the 1900s the SMOCK name was present in the succession of counties that were subsequently created--Gallatin Co. (1812), Pope Co. (1816), and Hardin Co. (1839). Each of which contained the community of Cave in Rock. By the USC 1810 the only SMOCK family in Randolph Co. was that of C. SMOCK (himself, wife and 11 others). In 1818 and 1820 the only SMOCK family was that of Widow SMOCK and by 1830 the Sarah SMOCK family was the only of that name in the region. The evidence supports a conclusion that this was the same SMOCK family It is the USC 1840 Hardin Co., IL that sees an expansion with Hiram, Barney and Alfred SMOCK establishing households. In Hiram's household is a female which most probably is Sarah as she lived to age 78, dying in Hardin Co. in 1850. Analysis of the three families shows that they are brothers and children of Sarah SMOCK. Further it can be determined that Hiram was born in 1800 in KY while Barney and Alfred were born in IL (1808 and 1810 respectively). This means that the family came to the southern IL region from KY after 1800 and before 1808 while the area was still part of the Indiana Territory. C. SMOCK did not live long as his wife Sally (Sarah) was a widow by 1816 when she applied for probate. Unfortunately, the probate record itself has not been located. Sarah is carried as "Widow" SMOCK in 1818 IL State Census and in USC 1820 IL. The SMOCK family changed from 1810 (7 males and 6 females) to 1820 (10 males and 3 females). We know that C. SMOCK died (c1816) thus the increase in males was a net of 4 while the females decreased by 3. The decrease of female came be explained by marriage or death, but the male increase requires some examination. Two of the males were born in the 10 year interval. The o ther two were new unidentified adult males introduced into the family household. Most likely these two were not SMOCKs by name, but husbands or hired hands. So far I have been able to identify three of the original six males in the 1810 family. They are Hiram (1800 KY), Barney (1808 IL) and Alfred (1810 IL). There is a fourth name, Casper, who in 1830 is found in AR with Barney and Alfred. Casper is a candidate, but not a proven member of this SMOCK clan although his age category in 1830 AR (20-30) is consistent with the SMOCK's1820 census enumeration in IL. In USC 1850 Hiram and Alfred are still in Hardin Co., KY while Barney is in Pulaski Co., IL. A new SMOCK is introduced-Thomas SMOCK 28 (b. 1822) with no wife, but three minor children. In the 1850 Mortuary Schedule of Hardin CO., IL is listed a Polly SMOCK, married, 21, who died in Jan 1850. This is presumed to be Thomas' wife. In USC 1860 Thomas has in his household an Alfred SMOCK, 17, who is the son of Hiram who died in 1857. This seems to establish a family relationship between Thomas (1821) and Hiram (1800). Is Thomas a son of Hiram or a cousin? In 1852 Madison SMOCK, b. 1836 AR, m. Lavina HOLLOMAN. Investigation identifies Madison as Martin Madison (Matt) SMOCK. Madison seems to have been born while Barney and Casper were in AR, Alfred having returned to IL by 1832. In USC 1880 Hardin Co., IL, Madison is shown to have parents born in IL. Since the bulk of Madison's adult life was spent in Hardin Co., IL, it is most likely that his parents were from the same IL area. The question is who were they? Are there researchers who specialize in Cave In Rock and immediate area? Best regards, Hugh