If your family was LUTHERAN and lived in Chester, Evansville, or anywhere in Randolph County, the church records for them may be available from RCGS. June James has been working hard to make books of the records of these churches. Go to our webpage (address under my signature) and you can see what books are for SALE. These books are NEW. If you want to see first if your family is listed in one of these two books (Chester & Evansville), email me and I will look it up for you. Be KIND. I am very busy and cannot do everything at once. Please visit our webpage. We are constantly updating it. Velda Wittenbrink Moore Randolph County Genealogical Society visit: http://www.rootsweb.com/~ilrcgs/

Tom, Ann is the second wife of William Henry Riseling. Mary Tom Shawcross writes: > Mary, > Who did Ann ELizabeth HENSON marry? The Jul 1870 census for Killion Twp., > Jackson, IL family 166 includes a nine-year-old Eliza in the family of James > HENSON and Julia Anna BOWERS. > By Jun 1880, both James and Julia Anna had remarried, and Eliza is not > listed with James and his second wife Mary or with Julia Anna and her second > husband Berry LEDBETTER. > Tom Shawcross > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Mary Riseling" <[email protected]> > To: <[email protected]> > Sent: Sunday, March 23, 2003 9:40 PM > Subject: [ILJACKSON] Ann Elizabeth HENSON > > >> I am looking for help on the ancestry of Ann Elizabeth HENSON. She was > born >> About 1860 (I think in Jackson County). I believe her mother's name was >> Julia GOWER. I have checked the marriage index but didn't find anything. >> In the 1860 census I have found a James F. and Julia Henson. If this is > the >> right family, Ann wasn't yet born because she isnt listed. >> >> Because me mother's side of the family that contains the name HENSON. In >> this chart, I found a James HENSON (1832-1891) married to Julianna Bowers > in >> 1856. One of the children listed is named Eliza, born 1861. >> >> Does anyone have any information that would help me determine whether > Eliza >> and Ann Elizabeth are the same person? If I make the connection, I can >> distantly hook my mother's and father's families together. >> >> Thanks. >> >> >> Mary Riseling >> Springfield, IL >> [email protected] >> >> >> >> >> ==== ILJACKSO Mailing List ==== >> How long has it been since you posted to the list? A "quiet" list will > never help anyone! >> >> ============================== >> To join Ancestry.com and access our 1.2 billion online genealogy records, > go to: >> http://www.ancestry.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=571&sourceid=1237 >> > > > ==== ILJACKSO Mailing List ==== > Do you have a resource you could share with the list members? Would you be willing to do some "lookups" for a limited time period? If you would, please let the members know. Thank you! > > ============================== > To join Ancestry.com and access our 1.2 billion online genealogy records, go to: > http://www.ancestry.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=571&sourceid=1237 > >

I have a Henson question of my own, does anyone out there know who the parents of Louisa Henson b. 28 November 1861, d. 9 February 1915. She first married Samuel Jefferson Crain 10 December 1879 in Jackson Co., after his death she married a cousin of Samuel's Ashby Crain, 25 January 1900 in Jackson Co. I have seen more than one set of parents listed for her, does anyone have the correct information. An older family member seems to recall they may have come from Mississippi. Any information on this lady would be much appreciated! Peg Crain Luthy

Mary, According to James Henson's probate file, his heirs were: wife Mary E., Ellen Callahan, Ann Riseling, Frank Henson, Ollie Will, John Henson, Ettie Henson, Cynthia Henson and Willis Henson. According to Jack Callahan, James Henson had two wives: (1) Julianna Bower and (2) Mary E. Flood. All children were by Julianna Bower, except Willis. James married Mary E. Flood in 1872. Ann Henson married William Riseling 28 Dec 1879. She signed a receipt in James' probate file as Elizabeth A. Riseling. Her death cert is filed Anne E. Riseling 16 Sep 1926. Julia Ann Bower Henson Ledbetter died 22 July 1926 with Cynthia Whisler as informant. Trying to sort out the Hensons of Jackson County. Alice

Mary, Who did Ann ELizabeth HENSON marry? The Jul 1870 census for Killion Twp., Jackson, IL family 166 includes a nine-year-old Eliza in the family of James HENSON and Julia Anna BOWERS. By Jun 1880, both James and Julia Anna had remarried, and Eliza is not listed with James and his second wife Mary or with Julia Anna and her second husband Berry LEDBETTER. Tom Shawcross ----- Original Message ----- From: "Mary Riseling" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Sunday, March 23, 2003 9:40 PM Subject: [ILJACKSON] Ann Elizabeth HENSON > I am looking for help on the ancestry of Ann Elizabeth HENSON. She was born > About 1860 (I think in Jackson County). I believe her mother's name was > Julia GOWER. I have checked the marriage index but didn't find anything. > In the 1860 census I have found a James F. and Julia Henson. If this is the > right family, Ann wasn't yet born because she isnt listed. > > Because me mother's side of the family that contains the name HENSON. In > this chart, I found a James HENSON (1832-1891) married to Julianna Bowers in > 1856. One of the children listed is named Eliza, born 1861. > > Does anyone have any information that would help me determine whether Eliza > and Ann Elizabeth are the same person? If I make the connection, I can > distantly hook my mother's and father's families together. > > Thanks. > > > Mary Riseling > Springfield, IL > [email protected] > > > > > ==== ILJACKSO Mailing List ==== > How long has it been since you posted to the list? A "quiet" list will never help anyone! > > ============================== > To join Ancestry.com and access our 1.2 billion online genealogy records, go to: > http://www.ancestry.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=571&sourceid=1237 >

Little Egypt Heritage Articles Stories of Southern Illinois (c) Bill Oliver 23 March 2003 Vol 2 Issue: #12 ISBN: pending Good Evening Ladies and Gentlemen of Little Egypt, As usual, a lister on one of the e-mail lists that I subscribe to mentioned something that grabbed my thinking and off I went. You've read it before if you have read my articles, that many of my ancestors came from Scotland and Ireland. Another characteristic of that happens to be common in those ancestors is the Ministry ... so many of them were "circuit" preachers. Yes, they were farmers, but they were also preachers. Grandma never said that she was raised in a religious home, but she was a zealously devout Christian. She often recounted her "saving" in detail. And, many a session with her would tell of all the things that the "Lord" did for her and her family. Back in Grandma's day many folks were Methodists and she would talk about the Northern Methodists and the Southern Methodists. At first I believed she was talking about north and south of the Mason - Dixon Line. I think that it did come from the Civil War era and thus close to the truth. Even today, I am not positive about what difference there was or is. Great Great Grandpa Richy, I was told, didn't make a difference between churches ... give him a pulpit and he just preached. And, listening to Grandma, I got the further impression that he'd preach even if there wasn't a pulpit to hang onto. There also were regular Methodists and Congregational Methodists. Their doctrines were the same, but the Congregational Methodists selected their own ministers while the regular ones got their ministers from the conference. Many homes were under the influence of the family, and family prayer, at least twice a day, was very common. The Sabbath Day was strictly and rigidly observed. Sunday school was a family activity and church could be an all day affair with morning services and evening services. This also made Sunday a social celebration as well. Revival, or "protracted", meetings were very popular. They often were held in tents, so they were also called "Tent" or "Camp Meetings". These might run two — three weeks. As time progressed at these meetings, some folks would want to join the church and they would need baptizin'. Some would want immersion and some would want to just be sprinkled. Usually there would be a pool or a creek, or a creek with a pool, nearby where they could be baptized. The Minister would put on clothes that he didn't mind gettin' wet. Usually the minister would be in the water and a church elder or possibly another "preacher" would lead those to be baptized into the water and out of the water after immersion. I know there were some differences between revivals and meetings, but I really am not clear on the distinctions. Grams would say that both would go on all day and night. Preaching at noon and "meeting" of a night. I have always compared the night meeting as more of a singing meeting, like our Sunday Night and Wednesday night services. Sometimes traveling evangelists would attend these revivals. Often they were called "Holiness" preachers. Grandma used to say that they were all pretty good singers and prayers, so they would often be set to those jobs. Grandma said folks would "move there" and take their "rations" with them. Folks didn't go and buy rations, they raised them in the fields, and gathered them up and shared them with folks at the campground. The people would spread their tablecloths down on the ground and put the food on the tablecloth. Food was shared with others, as well as, other camp followers ... ants, yellow jackets, and such. These meetings were often in August in the hottest of weather. I've heard of them referred to as "roast ‘n ear religion". Gramma recalled some meetings lasting as long as six weeks. She would say that "those meetings were the best meetings in the world". She would further say that "today the Church does not adhere to the King James Version as strict as they used to." When the dearly departed were talked about, folks would say "Church ‘em." They meant bury them. We were told that when you got religion you kept it. People lived right ... they wouldn't even grind coffee or churn on Sunday. Nor would they bake bread. Saturday they would bake several loaves of bread to last until Monday. "Times ain't like they used to be." was oft heard. And, "... the end of time ain't far away." Folks once shouted up and down the aisles. I remember that as a boy, when Grandma would take me to church. You don't see that any more, though folks still holler "amen". Grandma would characterize the Spirit as leaving the church, and would quote, saying "... without a falling away, He will not come back." She firmly believed she would see the Second Coming. Old Time Religion meant a lot to Grandma. People used to take care of each other like it says in the Good Book, she would say. Before the Spirit left the Church, if anyone needed something done it was done by their neighbors. If there was sickness in a family, the church would take care of them and their animals and their crops. If the corn crop was in grass, the Church would take care of it. They called that "brotherly love". That Spirit is not in many churches today. They talk about it but that is all ... talk about it. There is something else that Grandma used to talk about once in awhile, and that was feet washing. Seems that it didn't happen often and certainly not regular. She said that when it did happen that it was, oh, so great. That everyone would just feel the Spirit. Grandma didn't hold with Doctors. She believed in Divine Healing. Her written "testimony" is dotted throughout with Healings by God and other wonder works. Grandma had other beliefs that made her a Pentecostal believer and during my life she seemed to favor that denomination. She certainly did strive to be filled with the Holy Spirit. She believed in the gifts of healing, speaking in tongues, and prophesy. In her own words, she was a strong witness for God. At the age of one hundred two and eight months we "Churched her" next to Grandpa. Wado, Bill -=- http://archiver.rootsweb.com/th/index/SOIL http://archiver.rootsweb.com/th/index/ILMASSAC http://www.usgennet.org/usa/ne/state/BillsArticles/LittleEgypt/intro.html

I am looking for help on the ancestry of Ann Elizabeth HENSON. She was born About 1860 (I think in Jackson County). I believe her mother's name was Julia GOWER. I have checked the marriage index but didn't find anything. In the 1860 census I have found a James F. and Julia Henson. If this is the right family, Ann wasn't yet born because she isnt listed. Because me mother's side of the family that contains the name HENSON. In this chart, I found a James HENSON (1832-1891) married to Julianna Bowers in 1856. One of the children listed is named Eliza, born 1861. Does anyone have any information that would help me determine whether Eliza and Ann Elizabeth are the same person? If I make the connection, I can distantly hook my mother's and father's families together. Thanks. Mary Riseling Springfield, IL [email protected]

Dear List Members: This message is of HIGH IMPORTANCE, but is NOT to be further discussed on this list. Any comments you have must be directed to me at [email protected] . The following message was sent to all Rootsweb List administrators, and we were directed to pass it along to list members: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ >From Rootsweb Staff: "This is a period of intense political times when emotions and opinions will run high in many directions. "The simple issue is that RootsWeb is for genealogical research and not for political discussions. Equivalent political situations have been known to cause significant disturbances and needed intervention by admins and occasionally by Rootsweb staff." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ We list administrators have been directed by RootsWeb to reinforce where necessary to our subscribers the basis of the mailing lists and their provision by RootsWeb to users, and, where necessary, take actions to maintain the focus of mailing lists. Therefore, any references to the present political situation will result in being unsubscribed from the list. This will also extend to any "political or religious" messages included in signature blocks. Your anticipated cooperation is appreciated. Let's keep these lists as a "haven" - a place where we can go to do our research, and where we can leave the outside world "outside", at least for the time we spend here. Karima List Administrator --- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.463 / Virus Database: 262 - Release Date: 3/17/2003

John Spence and Robert Spence were administrators for John Henson who died in 1846 or so in Jackson County. I note that in 1850 Robert is 24 and lives with Ann Spence, age 64. John is 49 born TN. Both Spences live very close to Polly Henson. Was Polly Spence John Henson's widow? In the 1850 census Polly Ann Henson age 35 born TN is listed with John G. age 3, Isabella age 10, and Mary A. age 7/12. Are all three of these children hers? Family # 209, Jackson County, IL

Little Egypt Heritage Articles Stories of Southern Illinois Bill Oliver 16 March 2003 Vol 2 Issue: #11 ISBN: pending Good Evening Ladies and Gentlemen of Little Egypt, For some time I have heard flute music in my mind. Last week we watched the movie "WindTalkers". I've known since the middle ‘40s who the WindTalkers were [maybe closer to the ‘50s]. I only mention this because the music played on the flute in the movie resonates in my head even yet. This music in my head has reminded me that twenty years or so ago a Hohner Chromatic Harmonica I had bought while in the Navy, disappeared never to be heard again. [Which may have been a message, for I know no note from another.] However, all notes sounded wonderful when playing to the ocean wide and deep where the wind blows away the sounds. Hanging on my study wall is a cow horn which was used by my Grandmother to call my Grandfather in from the fields. Using this as a trumpet, I tried to create some of the sounds I was hearing. I got to laughing at myself for this but it reminded me of trying to use a Conch as a horn in Greece a half century ago. Conch Shell trumpets are known in almost every coastal region of the world and in many island cultures also. They are one of the oldest [musical ?] instruments in the world. The smaller ones giving the higher notes and as they get larger, lower notes are produced. They are made by cutting off the top spiral of a conch shell and they are played by blowing into the new opening. Conch [said "konk"] is a common name for certain large marine snails. There are gastropod mollusks. The pink-lipped conch is the queen. The shells have overlapping whorls with a bright colored pink lip and they can reach a length of a foot or more. In scouting campouts we used to send young scouts out for some foolish things, such as "left handed smoke shifters". We would send them to specific persons at specific locations. This was, of course, fun for the older scouts, but it taught the young one where certain places around the reservation were as well as introduced them to seasoned scouters. Well, while in Greece, I learned that there were left handed and right handed conches — dextral and sinistral. A few rare shells would open to the left and were thus very highly prized. I've seen paintings of Seafarers wearing a conch on their belts high in the masts. Sailors would encounter these shells in warm waters the world over. And, they could see their uses in gaining attention of those in other parts of the ships they were on. There are other uses for conches, after all they are edible snails. This was known to the Arawak Indians before the time of Christopher Columbus. The Arawak also carved the shells into tools, horns and ceremonial objects. The Euros used parts of the shell for cameo carvings. The word conch comes from the Greek language meaning shell. But, it also is the name of a people living in the Bahamas. It is said that they were British sympathizers during the American Revolution. The name implies a saying attributed to these people, that they would rather eat conch than go to war. It was a custom to place a conch on a stick in front of a home to signal a new born. Conches in Key West claim dual citizenship ... as Conches and as Americans. The North American Indians treated the conch horn with great reverence believing that it had special powers. The Canadian Ojibwa nation's Grand Medicine Society held the shell as a sacred emblem. The Conch shell was used as a scrapper, scoop or dipper, hammer, gouge, chisel and eating dish, as well as a trumpet. Indians of many nations used it to communicate from village to village; to initiate actions such as battles; to signal the beginning and ending of a work day; and to welcome visitors. Conch shells also were used as ceremonial instruments or as signal horns. To make a horn all that is necessary is to saw off up to an inch of the tip of the spire. With the tip gone a spiral shaped center [called the columella] is exposed. You can chip out about a half inch of the columella and smooth the cut edges to fashion a comfortable mouthpiece to the trumpet. You blow into the horn as you would any trumpet. Your vibrating lips will create the horn sound. Well, the horn is far different than the harmonica or the flute, but the conch was an honored instrument in our native culture. Wado, Bill -=- http://archiver.rootsweb.com/th/index/SOIL http://archiver.rootsweb.com/th/index/ILMASSAC http://www.usgennet.org/usa/ne/state/BillsArticles/LittleEgypt/intro.html

Hi; I thought I'd pass on to the list a request from one of the organizers of the Irish and Celtic Festival that will take place in Carbondale soon---I think it is in April. A request for info from those whose Irish or Scot ancestors settled in or around Jackson Co., IL: "Primarily we're looking for people whose folks settled in the region. However, I thought it might be cool to have a large "Celtic Family Tree" of people who had those roots, period, and just list names of the current residents, and a little something about their ancestors. Wouldn't it be great to create a 20' "tree" full of names? At any rate, please do pass on the info to others, and if you have any other ideas or would like to help, let me know. I'd like to have a "family stories" session at this year's Celtic Fair... Thanks. Connie Shanahan You can call me at 549-3090 in the evenings. Contact Connie directly if you would like to participate. Juli Claussen

Looking for a Thomas EVANS and Phyllis Evans. They arrived in Jackson County probably around 1861/1862. Both were born and married in England. They had three children. One of the children is Charles who I suspect is named after her older brother. Phyllis' name may also show up as Phillis. Her maiden name is Phyllis Baseden/Basden. She had a child in England whose name is Henry Basden. Henry is my great grandfather. Primarily I am looking for the grave of Thomas and Phyllis. Thanks. BASDEN, BASEDEN, HANSON, ETHERTON, CARRICO/CARICO, WILCOX, DAVIS, GRAY, CLINTON, BOEHNING/BENNING, HUGHES George E. Basden Basden Photography [email protected] http://www.basden.com

Sorry these were not in the last letter I sent on MAPS. Northern Maps http://www.negenealogy.com/ngo03.htm Southern Maps http://www.segenealogy.com/sgo03.htm Velda Wittenbrink Moore Randolph County Genealogical Society visit: http://www.rootsweb.com/~ilrcgs/

These maps are wonderful. They can tell you a lot about where your ancestors were born if you study them a little. Virginia in 1790 took in all of Kentucky. The maps change every few seconds, so be patient and enjoy. Velda Wittenbrink Moore Randolph County Genealogical Society visit: http://www.rootsweb.com/~ilrcgs/

Good Morning Listens, \\ Since I started this thread, I feel I owe it to all readers. I received word this morning from a favorite cousin that: "Shawnee came home today. They said he came home on his own - just showed up -- probably because he was hungry. Who knows where he has been this past week! What a BEAR!!!!" My sentiments exactly. Thank you all for your indulgence with this thread. Bill Oliver Little Egypt Heritage Articles -=-

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/an/Gg.2ADI/218.1 Message Board Post: Lynn, I have information on your LeRoy Ragsdale. He is not buried in Carbondale; he is buried in Pleasant Grove Memorial Cemetery in Murphysboro Township. He is buried near his father and mother, William Calvin and Adah Catherine Ragsdale. I have his birthdate as 1 May 1918 and deathdate as 31 Aug 1959. LeRoy is my great-grandfather's nephew. Do you know if he and your aunt had any children? His family is the only Ragsdale family that could continue the Ragsdale name for this particular group of Ragsdales. Please get in touch with me; I have information to share. I noticed your e-mail address is Wimberley, Texas. I live in northwest Austin.

Greetings: Wanted you to know the following: RootsWeb has scheduled maintenance on some of its servers in the early morning hours (US Mountain Time) of Wednesday, March 12, 2003. It does *NOT* appear that e-mail servers are included. Affected servers include: freepages, www, news, archivers, cgi, and listsearches. Please **DO NOT** post "test" messages to the list because you do not see your original in the archives. Just send your mail as you would ordinarily. It will show up eventually. Thank you in advance for your cooperation. Karima List Administrator --- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.461 / Virus Database: 260 - Release Date: 3/10/2003

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Vowell/Vowiell Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/an/Gg.2ADI/219 Message Board Post: Does any one have any information about an ARCH VOWELL b. 1863 in Illinois and is listed on the 1880 Fed. Census for Jackson County, Makanda Township. The head of the household at that time was Louise Glassford. Thanks - Rose-ann

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/an/Gg.2ADI/218 Message Board Post: Looking for any information on Lee Roy or Leroy Ragsdale. Lee was born about 1918 and died about 1959. April 10, 1948 he married Alta Mae Dearth. Although Alta was from Wisconsin they were married in Carbondale. I was about 10 years old when Uncle Lee died. Alta remarried about two years after Lee's death and I never asked questions for fear of hurting my new uncle's feelings. I know Uncle Lee is buried in Carbondale but have no idea where. I would greatly appreciate any information on Lee or his family. Thanks.

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/Gg.2ADI/216.2 Message Board Post: yes this is logan school in murphysboro, il. it was built in 1885 and served as high school until 1901. was also refered to as westside school. it was destroyed by a tornado in 1925 and rebuilt. it served as junior high and grade school untill 1956. i went to grade school there in the 60's. it is now vacant.