When searching for my Scottish 2gr grandmother, I noted an influx of "foreigners" between the 1850 and 1860 censuses. Perhaps with the need of the "new courthouse" by 1867 would indicate a population growth requiring it. Having just ran the numbers via the census index at Ancestry.com, I found: 1850 census had 25 b. Scotland, 396 b. England, 126 b. Germany, 7 b. France, 3 b. Wales and 180 b. Ireland. 1860 census shows 98 b. Scotland, 962 England, 972 b. Germany, 31 b. France, 30 b. Wales and 837 b. Ireland I would like to believe the pioneers of Macoupin County arrived prior to 1850 ... but, I suppose that is because my Macoupin County families were all here/there before 1850. Being a California born & raised, anyone born in California prior to 1950 could be considered a "pioneer". I remember well when one of my teachers asked where each of us was born--I was one of only two born in California and the only one born in Southern California. Without dating myself that was in the mid 1950s. Linda R.F. Arnold Menifee, California In a message dated 6/10/2009 8:17:00 P.M. Pacific Daylight Time, dwayne55@comcast.net writes: Perhaps the end of the "Pioneer Period" for Macoupin County was 1879, when the "History of Macoupin County" with "Sketches of some of its...Pioneers" was published. However, not all of those covered in this book were "Pioneers" as some were merely labeled "Prominent Men." Alternatively, perhaps the end of the "Pioneer Period" for Macoupin County was 1829, when Macoupin County was organized into a county. My ancestors John Cummings, his son William Cummings, Solomon Davis, his daughter Julia Davis, were farming in what is now North Palmyra several years before there was a Macoupin County, so I suppose they were kind of like pioneers although I doubt very much that they ever thought of themselves that way. Interesting question, but why ask it? A pioneer is in the eye of the beholder. If we are lucky, the "Pioneer Period" will never end. Dwayne Wrightsman -----Original Message----- From: ilmacoup-bounces@rootsweb.com [mailto:ilmacoup-bounces@rootsweb.com] On Behalf Of IDL64@aol.com Sent: Wednesday, June 10, 2009 10:33 PM To: ilmacoup@rootsweb.com Subject: Re: [ILMACOUP] ILMACOUP Digest, Vol 4, Issue 94 Ivan of Trafalgar notes, questions What is considered the end of the Pioneer Period for Macoupin County. In my county in Indiana it was 1830 and has recently been changed to 1840, as I remember. Ivan D. Lancaster of Trafalgar Check out Macoupin County ILGenWeb page at http://www.macoupinctygenealogy.org/. ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to ILMACOUP-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message **************Download the AOL Classifieds Toolbar for local deals at your fingertips. (http://toolbar.aol.com/aolclassifieds/download.html?ncid=emlcntusdown00000004)