Little Egypt Heritage Articles Stories of Southern Illinois (c) Bill Oliver 15 January 2004 Vol 3 Issue: Special Edition #01 ISBN: pending Good Evening Ladies and Gentlemen of Little Egypt, I never pulled much that my parents didn't know about. It is not that I informed them, but years later when certain tales came out, they knew a lot more than I ever wanted them to know [at least at that time]. Well, there were stories about them that when they were told in family gatherings we children, grandchildren and cousins would giggle with glee and our eyes would sparkle. My Dad was born and raised [pre-teen] in "Little Egypt". His Dad in Sulphur Springs [Creal Springs, today] and his Mom in West Vienna [Boles]. One thing about that is that he never forgot his early childhood and had very strong feelings about the area and the people. Oh, he would say that they always called Williamson county "Bloody Williamson", however he'd add, "... not the folks I knew!" Since our daughter passed from this life between Christmas and New Year's just past, I was reminded of the above each time one of the family and/or friends mentions the wonderful things they remember about Sarah. Along with this, I found, in my readings this week, the following words which I quote sections of from, Milo Erwin's "The History of Williamson County, Illinois, From the Earliest Times, Down to the Present", Marion, Illinois, 1876, pages 87-88. "I was born a farmer, and am therefore independent." "I have known this people [Williamson County, IL folks] from childhood. I believe, sublimated by education, they are capable of attaining nobler hights than have usually been ascribed to the people of ‘Egypt.' I not only glory in my birth-place, but pass encomiums on the county, and say to the world that from my knowledge of the public spirit of our people, I can expect protection, honest dealing and liberty ...". "Linked to her by historic associations and proudly treasuring the memories of my fathers, ...",,, "... and invite an unsophisticated world to look with joy and pride upon a county redeemed from crime, and sparkling with brilliant gems of innocence and virtue. ...." "... and prove to the world that our community is not composed of outlaws and cut-throats, but of a highly intellectual, honorable and moral people." This was not said to hide or white wash what history has recorded. Our people were [and are] human and products of their times. Prejudices have changed and as have attitudes. The peoples who represent our enemies change with times and circumstances. The historian, like the Mr Milo Erwins, looks at the daily relationships of people and strips away some of the truly repugnant deeds done by the person/s who committed them. That which is left is the love for those who we call "kin" and "neighbor". This is good so long as we can remain aware of all of the facts. Williamson County must record the "Vendetta" in all its horrors, but remember that is was conceived by some leaders and carried out by fiendish emissaries, not the people themselves. My cousins and I must face some acts by kin who in today's judgments didn't act in ways we would, but they are kin and their everyday behavior had many good qualities just the same. Probably they weren't as "wicked" as volumes have been written about them, nor as "good" as my interpretations. e-la-di-e-das-di ha-wi nv-wa-do-hi-ya nv-wa-to-hi-ya-da. (May you walk in peace and harmony) Wado, Bill -=- PostScript: Other sites worth visiting: 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