In need of assistance. Will someone please do a look up for me at the courthouse? I will be happy to pay for your time and expenses. I need to know specific information on the following person: HENRY J REED m. Easter J Reeves 2-18-1893 Johnson County Who were his parents and what was his age? If you are able to help me, please write back to my e mail address. jadi4@juno.com Thanks very much, Jan Walker _____________________________________________________________________ You don't need to buy Internet access to use free Internet e-mail. Get completely free e-mail from Juno at http://www.juno.com Or call Juno at (800) 654-JUNO [654-5866]

Hello The Illinois General Assembly adjourned after 1 a.m. Saturday morning having passed a budget that includes funds to purchase the Old Slave House. Thank you to all of you who contacted the governor's office or various state legislators. Both the local state represetative, David Phelps, and the local state senator, Jim Rea, requested the funds as part of their district project list. Although many of you who wrote received form letters as late as Friday stating that the acquisition was not likely, the letters didn't reflect the strong bipartisan effort made in support of the house. On the Republican side, Jack Hill, the former president of Shawnee Community College and a candidate for state representative in the 118th District (where the house is located), lobbied the governor and his staff last Thursday. Gov. Edgar must have thought it was a tag team match that day, because Democratic former U.S. Senator Paul Simon visited him the same day to pitch the effort. I'm sure Simon was also trying to get Edgar to agree to come to work at his new public policy institute in Carbondale. I'm not sure what happens next. Neither do the owners. They didn't know about the appropriation when I called them around 1 p.m. Sunday. With the holiday, it will be Tuesday at the earliest before we can get any new information. I'm in the process of producing a half hour radio documentary on the house - which may have to be changed now to add the latest information. And there's a book about the house coming up sometime, probably next year at the earliest. There's is an extremely strong chance that there will be a new non-profit organization formed to work with the state to acquire and operate the site. If you would like to receive updates on what happens with the site, please email me back and I will add you to the list. I'm sending this message out to the same group I did before. If you forwarded that message to another list or person then, please do so again with this one. Jon Musgrave jonm@midamer.net jonm@midamer.net Check out Jon's Southern Illinois History Page at http://www.midamer.net/users/jonm

I am researching the Morris surname in Johnson and Pope county Illinois. My GGGGrandmother was a Rebbecca Morris born April 1, 1825 in Illinois. She had a daughter Brilley Ann Simmons who married a William S. Morris. There also other Morris who married into the Simmons line. I am interestedd in finding the earliest Morris settler who came to these counties. I wouldd like to find his children and grandchildren. Greg Simmons

An organizational meeting is being held to determine interest in forming a genealogical society in Pope County. The meeting will be at 7 p.m. on June 15th at the Pope Co. Historical Society Annex building at the corner of Main Street and Columbus in Golconda. All interested individuals are encouraged to attend. Rick Allen, C.G.R.S. Rick

Hello: The 1807 Indiana Territorial Census, for Randolph County, Illinois Territory, lists only two Davis': James and Richard, and one Bissell: Daniel. My great grandfather, Thomas M. Davis, was born in Illinois in 1799/1800. He named a son James Bissell Davis, leading me to believe Thomas may have been a son of either James or Richard Davis, and that his mother may have been a Bissell. Does anyone have any information relating to the three men, or to any Davis/Bissell family known to have been in Illinois before 1807? Thanks in advance for any related information. Tom Davis

Hello, A number of people have contacted me over the last few months wondering about the status of the Old Slave House, one of only two "reverse" Underground Railroad stations left in the country. Originally known as Hickory Hill plantation, this three-story mansion near Equality, Illinois had been opened 70 years as a museum. The current owner retired in 1996 and closed it. He is interested in selling it to the state, but the state hasn't shown much interest. The first request for state acquisition of the site occurred by the Southern Illinois Historical Society in 1944 when they drew up a list of post-war projects that needed to be completed. The state responded that they didn't have the money. Later responses added that they didn't believe the history or as one state consultant put it, it didn't have the "dignity" to be a state historic site. As I wrote the governor's office last week, "what's dignity have to do with it." Auschwitz and Andersonville don't have dignity. They are monuments to humanity's lack of respect for others' human dignity. For decades local residents talked about how Crenshaw kidnapped free blacks and runaway slaves and sold them into slavery. Missing court records and the lack of names hindered any serious research. That changed when the owner closed the site. With his assistance, myself and two other researchers began uncovering every stone, tracking down every possible lead. While we couldn't prove every story about the house, we can say this. The legends fit the facts. John Crenshaw did kidnapped free blacks and indentured servants. We now have names and we now have dates. For the first time, the state now has the facts and they also have the money, thanks to the good economy. The local state representative, David Phelps, has requested that the state acquire the site in his list of local projects he would like to see funded. It's now up to Gov. Jim Edgar. This is the week the decision will be made. If you support the state acquring the this extremely important site which details slavery in the Land of Lincoln, please contact the governor's office or the office of the Speaker of the House. Their email addresses and telephone numbers are listed below. The package we are requesting for the site is this: A $2 million line item in the Dept. of Natural Resources budget to... ....Expand Saline County Fish and Wildlife Area through the acquisition of lands and structures associated with the historic Gallatin Salines. This would cover not only the Old Slave House and large collection of antiques on display at the house, but also the following: 1) Surrounding lands atop Hickory Hill (the existing lot is just 2.7 acres) 2) Half Moon Lick (where the saltworks were first established), and 3) The old RR right-of-way linking the sites (built by Crenshaw in 1840) Saline Co. F&WA is already a part of the Illinois state park system and has a support staff on the site. The boundaries currently abut on the west the property parcel that includes Half Moon Lick. The RR ROW runs on the north side of that property and the Saline River and passes along the south side of Equality and Hickory Hill (it runs parallel with the entrance road leading up to the Old Slave House). The important email addresses and telephone numbers are as follows: Gov. Jim Edgar Speaker Michael Madigan governor@state.il.us mmadigan@housedem.state.il.us (217) 782-6830 (217) 782-5350 Phelps' email is dphelps@housedem.state.il.us For more information about the Old Slave House check out the Southern Illinois History Page at http://www.midamer.net/users/jonm Thanks for your interest, Jon Musgrave P.S. Please feel free to forward this message to any person or lists you may think appropriate. jonm@midamer.net Check out Jon's Southern Illinois History Page at http://www.midamer.net/users/jonm

May 18, 1998 A group of 7 met again tonight to discuss forming a Pope Co. Group. We were wondering if you could pass on the word to ones you might think would be interested- or post it on your page. We came up with this note. An organizational meeting is being held to determine interest in forming a Genealogical Society in Pope Co. The meeting will be held at 7:00p.m. on June 15, at Pope County Historical Annex located at the corner of Main Street and Columbus in Golconda, IL. All interested individuals are encouraged to attend. Thanks for your interest. Kathy Walters Reply-To: kgwaldo@shawneelink.com *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Southeastern Illinois Resource Books [Pope, Massac, Johnson & Hardin] http://www.angelfire.com/il/leefoss *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Just wanted to let all of you know about the Simmons, Allard & Morris Family Reunion & Book. For information check out: http://www.angelfire.com/il/leefoss/FayeReunion.html Johnson County IL Area 4th Annual Reunion Celebration with Simmons, Allard, Morris Family There are many prominent surnames included such as Scott, Ragains, Kerley, Bowman, Bass, Blackard, Stapleton, Phelps and many more. *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Southeastern Illinois Resource Books [Pope, Massac, Johnson & Hardin] http://www.angelfire.com/il/leefoss *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Dear Trish, Faye Morris Bowman sent me information on the Simmons, Allard, Morris book & reunion. For more details check out: http://www.angelfire.com/il/leefoss/FayeReunion.html I hope this is helpful. Good Luck, Judy F. Lee *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Southeastern Illinois Resource Books [Pope, Massac, Johnson & Hardin] http://www.angelfire.com/il/leefoss *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ On Fri, 15 May 1998, kentrish@heart.net wrote... >I am looking for information on ZILPHIA ALLARD. Her birthday is said to be >September 20, 1819 and she died December 18, 1897. She was said to be a >Cherokee and we have been told that her last name use to be Pigg. I am >trying to find out any birth information on her. I am trying to figure out >how she came to have the name Allard. She later married a Allen Ford >September 01, 1830 . They had a daughter by the name of Sarah Ann whom >married a William Carol Belcher and lived in Pope county. Any information >can be E-Mailed to me at kentrish@heart.net > Thanks > Trish > > > >

I am looking for information on ZILPHIA ALLARD. Her birthday is said to be September 20, 1819 and she died December 18, 1897. She was said to be a Cherokee and we have been told that her last name use to be Pigg. I am trying to find out any birth information on her. I am trying to figure out how she came to have the name Allard. She later married a Allen Ford September 01, 1830 . They had a daughter by the name of Sarah Ann whom married a William Carol Belcher and lived in Pope county. Any information can be E-Mailed to me at kentrish@heart.net Thanks Trish

Hi Everyone: Could someone please tell me if Suzanna ZINGRAF KERLEY, who is the Editor of the Genealogy Society of So. IL Newsletter, has an e-mail address? An error was made in printing my e-mail address in the latest Newsletter and people are calling me long distance to get the correct address so I want to ask if she will print the correct address in the next issue and do not have a snail mail address for her. Please reply to: cgeittmann@crainent.com and thanks much for any help. Carolyn G. Cape Girardeau, MO

Ed You mentioned that Joe Reynolds was your cousin, did you know that his daughters and sons-in-law sold the business. There was a great write up in the Vienna Times 2 0r 3 weeks ago. Don Sanders publisher of the Times, is brother to Dave Sanders that was the teacher killed in the Colorado Massacre. Just thought you would want to know this. Ron McBride Simpson ----- Original Message ----- From: Ed Mount <ed_mount@nemonet.com> To: <ILJOHNSO-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: April 29, 1999 7:25 PM Subject: Re: [ILJOHNSO-L] Simpson School picture > Mike, > Is the Joe Reynolds in this photograph the same Joe Reynolds who had the > monument business in Vienna? Are you related? He is a second or third > cousin. I would like to receive a copy of the photo, if you don't mind. > > Thanks > > Ed Mount > Hannibal, MO > -----Original Message----- > From: Mike Bozovich <mkb@ezl.com> > To: ILJOHNSO-L@rootsweb.com <ILJOHNSO-L@rootsweb.com> > Date: Thursday, April 29, 1999 5:34 PM > Subject: [ILJOHNSO-L] Simpson School picture > > > Listmembers: > > I have also scanned a photo containing about 66 people. It is a > school photo of the Simpson Grade & High School classes from 1925. > My grandfather, Loren E. REYNOLDS, tentatively identified about half > of the people, to wit: > > > >

In a message dated 5/2/98 1:31:49 PM Central Daylight Time, agency@dkd.ot.lt writes: << ILJOHNSO-L@rootsweb.com >> Is this what we are suspose to be getting on the genealogy websites?

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Anyone out there with a Williamson Co., 1850 census that will look on pg. 227 and send me the family where M. H. Davis appears? Also, is there a cemetery in or near Elvira? Thanks so much. - Sherry

Does anyone know if there is a list of burials for 'Casey Springs Cemetery'? Sarah A. Jones Hardy is buried there in 1876 and I am looking for clues for the 'Jones' family. Thanks, Vivien apayne@digital.net Vivien A. Payne 2937 Fountainhead Blvd. Melbourne, FL 32935-8730 (407) 259-0145

I am still looking for the following surnames in Johnson County in the mid to late 1880's and early 1900's COMER MOORE CULVER Thanks, Sharon Moore hairfornow@aol.com

Sorry I didn't include the names that I am researching. I was so excited when I found the site, that I just totally forgot. I am mainly researching Lowry. Jesse H. Lowry is my gg grandfather, William James Lowry my g grandfather, and Jesse Franklin Lowry, my grandfather. They came from Carroll County, Tennesse, probably after the civil war. My gg grandfather served in the 7th Tenn. Cal. (Union_) and survived Andersonville prison. I am trying to pinpoint when they came to Johnson County. Land records might be helpful. Any information will be appreciated. Many of my family are buried in West Eden Cemetery. Sandy McMunn

Cotton Meredith Fulkerson

WHITE WILLIAMS LITAKER JONES DUNSWORTH WEST HENDERSON HAWORTH CARTER BARTON WORRELL LEFLER Gayle in WA gayle@olypen.com