This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: NORTON, COFFEY, FLYNN, O'CONNOR, RYAN Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/localities.northam.usa.states.illinois.counties.knox/3822/mb.ashx Message Board Post: Hi all I would appreciate it.... if someone could me another site for the history of the Irish arriving in Knox County, Illinois from Columbia County, New York....below is all I have of that history. I would like the whole history. I always thought I could go back to it, but I find this web address no longer works. http://www.iltrails.org/knox/Immigrants/Irish.html In Columbia County, New York, the Shaker settlements were flourishing in the '50s. Many of the immigrants took the stage at Albany and obtain employment in and about Lebanon. The Tilden family of that place, as well as the Shakers, were large employers; and just over the line in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, Barker Brothers, manufacturers of drugs, added many other Irish to their payroll. There, at Lebanon and at Pittsfield, many a lad and lassie from opposite counties of Ireland met for the first time and either married out right or plighted their troth until they should lay up a little and meet again on the plains of Illinois, for this stop in the Mohawk Valley was merely to get their bearings and earned a prize of a railroad ticket to the state where it was rumored the Gales, Moshers, and Ferrises would pay higher wages and so open the door to larger opportunities. In Pittsfield was formed the clan of Redingtons, Hobins, Herleys, Clareys, Hewitts, Magners, Mackeys, Browns, Franeys, O'Connells, and Haleys. From Lebanon came another group made up of the Nortons, Penderghasts, Maleys, Coffeys, Minihans, Milans, Shays, Nashes, O'Connors, Ryans, Hustons, Carmodys, Flynns, Torticells, Slatterys; as Mrs. Margaret Nash Minihan puts it, "We followed each other like the ducks. " Thank you, Mary