To the people who were discussing Kightlinger, I'll copy in after my sig what I had in my notes on Jacob. In return could I pleaae have the marriage, birth, death and all the children of Jacob Kightlinger and Maria Berfield. Their son, L. C. Kightlinger, born 1849 Knox County, married Laura Hurlbutt, born May 24, 1849 in New Hampshire, married 1873, and she died June 8, 1880 at the age of 31. Laura's parents were Asa Hurlbutt and Mary Jones. If you need more on the parents I'll copy it out and post it. Laura was one of nine children. Laura is buried in the Kightlinger Cemetery, Elba, Illinois. Do you know if L. C. Kightlinger and Laura had any children? Alice Gless >From the 1878 History of Knox County, Illinois published by Charles C. Chapman. [Submitted by Bob Miller.] "In the year 1835 or '36 John King erected a cabin on section 2 of this township. This was the first attempt known to settle this section of beautiful country. In 1836 came Darius Miller and his brother, who was familiarly known among the pioneers as King Miller. Soon followed John Thurman, Jacob Kightlinger, L. A. Jones and J. H. Nicholson. The first marriage in the township was that of Moses Smith to Miss Tabitha George, by Jacob Kightlinger. The first death occurring was that of John King, the first settler, who died in 1836, the year after his arrival. The first birth was Tabitha Smith, on section35. Jacob Kightlinger was the first Justice of the Peace. His commission was dated August, 1839. >From the 1886 Portrait and Biographical Album of Knox County, Biographical Publishing Company, Chicago. In the fall of 1837 Jacob Kightlinger, wife and 11 children - 9 boys and 2 girls - from Pennsylvania, added their force, which was by no means an insignificant one, to the settlement, locating on section 27. They came in a flatboat to Cincinnati, bringing with them timber for their house. Being unable to get it any further without great risk, they sold it. From Cincinnati they took a steamboat to Peoria, and with teams made their way to their new home. In 1838, James H. Baird, the Lamberts, Vachel Metcalf and John and Samuel Tucker were added to the settlement. The Lamberts located on section 27, and Baird on section 2 on the Peoria and Knoxville road. Mr. Lambert did not live long after his settlement here, and his sons, Isaac and Martin, carried on the farm. Of these early settlers, the heads of families are all either dead or have moved away, except the Kightlingers. Jacob Kightlinger and his aged partner, the former 86 and the latter 80 years of age, are still living, but left their old home and located in Yates City. The first couple married here were Moses Smith and Miss Tabitha George, in 1840. They were married by Squire Kightlinger. Mrs. Smith died at an early day, and her husband moved away. Mr. Kightlinger's children are all living but four, and all in the county but one, and this one is living in Peoria. Jacob Kightlinger was the first man appointed to (settled) the legal disputes of his neighbors and to preserve the peace. The first post-office was opened at Kightlinger's house, where he officiated as Postmaster. Felix Thurman put up the first saw-mill, which was located on French Creek. It was a small mill and run by water-power. Vachel Metcalf taught the first school in the township, in 1840, in a private house. The Kightlingers had a teacher come to their house to instruct their children before this. Her name was Antoinette Walker. The first school-house was built by Jacob Kightlinger in 1842, on section 27.