Dear Seekers: Thought you might find a couple news bits interesting - from Volume XVII Number III, July 2000, Hancock County Historical Society Newsletter: In 1824, Fountain Green was known as Horselick Grove. In 1827, Oquaka, Henderson Co., IL, was known as Yellow Banks. [note: Oquaka is across the river from Burlington, IA] In Hancock Twp., Big Creek (Crooked Creek), was eventually named the LaMoine River... and the area around the river was known as Lamoine Valley. Thomas GREGG, started the first newspaper in Hancock Co.,in Carthage. The newspaper soon failed, GREGG moved to Montrose, IA, but moved back to Hancock Co. where he became known for his writing of local history. One of GREGG's newspapers was apparently named, GREGG'S Dollar Monthly. If the name implies the cost, no wonder he failed in the newspaper business - $1 was a lot of money in 1873 - there is an article quoted from that publication with that date. New acquisitions at the historical society: Fecht Funeral Home record book. Packet of information on real estate in Section 2 of St. Albans Twp. (St. Albans Twp. would be the Stillwell area) A book, LIFE OF JENNY HODGES. Genealogical information on HENLEIN and HOPSON families. Book, PRIDE IN OUR PAST, a history on Memorial Hospital Auxiliary. [Believe this is Carthage Memorial Hospital.] MENSENDICK Family History by Gary BURKOFFER. Information on Orphan Train Heritage Society and some of the prphans who rode the orphan train. NOTE: The Orphan Train was a societal phenomenal of sorts - it was to move the orphans and other children from the inner-city areas of the time to the 'healthy' rural areas of the U.S. The original idea was of good intent but many of the orphans - and just plain unwanted (for various reasons) children - whom were 'taken in by rural families' or adopted - were nothing more than work horses or slave labor for some of the families - no doubt, lots of horror stories involved in some of these 'cases'. There are a couple websites that address ORPHAN TRAIN - suggest you use a search engine and you will find data/info on this subject. According to the article, Charles BRACE, a Methodist minister who decided he wasn't cut out to be a minister, started "New York City's Children's Aid Society"...he thought it a positive step in taking care of all the children...and in many cases it was...approximately 10,000 orphans came to Illinois, but many more went to Missouri. The time frame is ca. 1854 - 1885, and on to 1910...and probably beyond (I don't have the exact dates nor do I know when the Orphan Train ceased to exist. Another name for some of the orphans and unwanted children - Sunshine Girls and Boys - was used by some of the people taking the children in. No doubt it 'set better' on their tongues and showed/justified in some small way, that they were providing 'sunshine' for the children... even while the children were made to do farm laborer work/chores/tasks that the adults either needed help with - it was a form of 'free labor' in many instances. - ---------------------------------------- Items for sale by the historical society: 1. Reprint of 1874 Historical Atlas of Hancock County. Complete with index of land owners. Picked up at office - $35.00 Mailed: $40.00 2. Reprint of 1921 Scofield History of Hancock County. 20 books in stock. (new shipment) Picked up at office: $99.00 Mailed: $104.99 3. Hancock County, IL Marriage Index Vol. I - $10.00 Vol. II - $10.00 Vol. III - $10.00 Add $2.50 each for mailing. Special for all 3 volumes: Picked up - $25.00 Mailed - $27.50 4. Hancock County, Illinois Pictorial History New publication, June 2000 Picked up - $34.95 Mailed - $39.95 I suggest a money order be sent, if interested in any of the above... made out to HCHS, Box 68, Carthage, IL 62321. I believe personal checks are acceptable, also. Any questions on the above should be addressed to the HCHS - suggest a SASE for a prompt response. - ------------------------------------------------- Quotes from the Newsletter: When a man is wrapped up in himself, he is makes a small package. --------- 0 -------------------- Politicans and diapers have one thing in common. They should both be changed regularly and for the same reason. Have great days and peaceful nights! Shirley: bobert@panacom.com