Only a few persons lived in Knox Co. at the end of 1828. Daniel and Alexander Robertson with a brother in-law named Mat(t)hews were considered our first settlers by some accounts. William Palmer and family lived near what is now the village of Maquon and likely got there in 1827. A few more of the surnames of persons who either resided or were documented to have passed thru Knox Co. in 1828 were McKee, Gum, Osborn, Scott, Pennington, Coy, Frakes, Greenwell, Sheldon, Voiles, Vaughn, Reynolds, and Nance. The names in the previous sentence are associated with Henderson Twp. Likely there were others whose names were forgotten by the time the histories were collected. Azel Dorsey, Abraham Lincoln's schoolteacher and Hiram Palmer, a Methodist minister who seems to have played a role in settling Farmington in nearby Fulton Co. settled about this time in the vicinity of what became Cherry Grove near present day Abingdon but since they moved on soon after documentation is sketchy. Galesburg Twp seems to have had no inhabitants in 1828, as was the case with most of the townships. The 1830 U. S. Census gives names of heads of households and number of persons in the household, 1840 the names of heads of households and numbers of persons in age and gender categories are given, 1850 started listing children's names. Since there was no Galesburg until 1836-37, you might want to check that source for accuracy. Rex Cherrington >I am looking for the mother and father of my great, great grandfather. I don't know their given names - only the surname, "Perry". One of their children was Benjamin W. Perry, who was born December 1, 1828, reportedly near Galesburg, IL. I am hoping you will look in the 1840 census for Knox County for a Perry with an 11 or 12 year old child named Benjamin W. Perry. > >I'm sorry I don't have more information for you to go on. Thanks a million. Kaye Perry Kaberlein, Summit, MS (kaberlein@locnet.net) > > >