Hi, Thanks, I checked out the Solon site. I checked an index for the 1855 State Census only found one, Thos. Solon was living in La Salle Township. ...from The Past and Present of La Salle County, published in 1877: La Salle Township, page 617 "Solon Dennis, laborer." Hope Township, page 563 "Solon Jas. P. merchant; Lostant; 6." Eagle Township, page 419 "Finn Patrick, Farmer; Sec. 24; P.O. Streator; born in Ireland, DEc. 25, 1825; came to this country in 1847, and to this Co. in 1848; Democrat; Catholic owns 280 acres land, value $14,000; held offices Road com., Road Master and School Director; his wife was Julia Prendergast; she was born in Ireland March, 1829; married June 2 1850; five children living, James P., Nellie, Anna, Julia and Mary who is now Sister Veronica at Ottawa; three dead, Patrick, Joseph and Michael." Eagle Township, page 421 "Prendergast Bridget, Sec. 19; P.O. Streator; born in Ireland, May, 1825; came to this Co. in 1850; Catholic; owns 160 acres land, value $11,000; she is the widow of Thomas Prendergast, who died Aug. 22,1852; she had four children by first husband; has seven children by second husband." "Prendergast Jas, farm laborer P.O. Streator." "Prendergast J. farmer; Sec. 14: P.O. Streator." "Prendergast M. L. farmer; Sec. 20; P.O. Streator; 2-1/2." "Prendergast M. farm; S. 30; P.O. Streator; 15." "Prendergast P. farm; S. 30; P.O. Streator; 15." "Prendergast R. farmer; P.O. Streator; 20." Peru Township, page 594 "Prendergast P. of P. & Bros., groceries." "Prendergast R. of P. & Bros., groceries." "Prendergast T. of P. & Bros., groceries." The number refers to their wealth over any indebtedness. "15" means $15,000. Joanie > Bourne Seniors wrote: > > Dear Joanie , > > I saw a letter from you on the La Salle Rootsweb Mail List concerning > La Salle history books & I wondered if I could ask you would be so > kind as to check any indexes in the books you refer to, for SOLON or > variations, & possibly PRENDERGAST's as my husband's relatives were La > Salle residents. > > I have been researching this family for over 20yrs & am currently > working in conjunction with a lady in Indianapolis, who has set up a > great SOLON website, where we can share our knowledge & help others > who have interests in the surname too. In fact she has quite a section > on the La Salle family, most of whom I can claim as being from our > line. You may be interested in having a look at the site: > http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~solon/solon.htm > > I appreciate any help you are able to give me, as it is naturally very > hard for me to research in the USA, when I live so far away. I have > managed to locate a large number of family members, meeting many of > them at a Family Reunion in Sth Dakota in 1999, & we hope to plan > another in Illinois in 2005, when we visit again. > > Kind Regards, > Merril Bourne, > Auckland, > New Zealand > >