I guess you are referring to the Marion County Genealogical & Historical Society which is the only one I know about. It is located in the Bryan-Bennett Library at Salem. I believe there is usually someone there on Wednesdays during library hours (Noon - 8:00p.m.) which may be able to help you. You will find the library just west of the courthouse, about two blocks on Highway 50. Since you would probably be coming off of Interstate 57 onto Highway 50. Turn left at the stoplight at the end of the exit ramp. The courthouse will be downtown just a little over a mile and the library will be on the right about 2 block before that. So watch for it. It depends on what other records you want to search. Centralia's library is located 15 miles south west of Salem and has the Centralia Sentinel on film that you can use to find obits. That paper is most likely to have them for a large area. Mt. Vernon's library (20 miles south) also has a very large holding of genealogical information. Here are phone numbers for each in case you want to call ahead and confirm this information. Salem - Bryan Bennett Library: (618) 548-7784 Centralia Library: (618) 532-5222 Mt. Vernon - C.E.Brehm Memorial Library : (618) 242-6322 Hope this helps. Have a good trip. ----- Original Message ----- From: <VelvetDove2002@aol.com> To: <ILMARION-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Saturday, June 07, 2003 3:17 PM Subject: [ILMARION] directions to historical society, please > could someone give me general directions to the historical society, please? i > live in KY and have never been there before, but will be making a trip soon. > Are there any other places with records I should stop by while I'm there? What > hours are they (the historical society) open? Thank you for any help you can > give me. Meg > > > ==== ILMARION Mailing List ==== > To unsubscribe from the ILMARION List if you are in mail mode, send to > ILMARION-L-request@Rootsweb.com. If you are receiving messages in the digest mode, send to ILMARION-D-request@Rootsweb.com > >

could someone give me general directions to the historical society, please? i live in KY and have never been there before, but will be making a trip soon. Are there any other places with records I should stop by while I'm there? What hours are they (the historical society) open? Thank you for any help you can give me. Meg

David, I have been enjoying the letters you are posting. It's almost like having a ring-side seat watching the troops fighting and moving around from place to place. I sure wish his wife would answer his letters. He gives the feeling of being all alone, while fighting for what he belives in, while waiting to hear from his wife to send something from home for him to hold onto, so he would know this is not all in vein and that she is waiting on him to return. Thank you for sharing these letters. Juanita --- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.486 / Virus Database: 284 - Release Date: 5/29/03

Dave, Thank you so much for taking the time to share these letters. They are a fascinating piece of personal history that could have been written from any of our ancestors. I am enjoying them very much. Nancy Scott/Dallas ----- Original Message ----- From: "David Thomson" <dave@volantis.org> To: <ILMARION-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Friday, June 06, 2003 4:47 PM Subject: [ILMARION] Civil War Letters from William A. Smith > *** > Marion Brimberry has entrusted me with a folder of Civil War letters by > William A. Smith and has asked me to type one letter every day or so and > post it to this newsgroup. I have typed the letter true to the spelling and > grammar of the letters in my possession. If I add any errors of my own, > please forgive me. > > David Thomson > *** > > Tuesday morning, 18th March 1862 > > The firing continued at intervals during the night and this morning about > sunrise the whole atmosphere seemed to vibrate with the regular shocks of > each gun which was fired very fast for considerable time, but it has nearly > ceased now, there being only about one gun in five minutes. But it is a > little like you was when you first heard a drum, it is like making thunder. > I have just learned there is a regular mail established to this place that > will bring our mail three times each week. I think you can now hear from me > regular again until we are ordered to march. > I have again this morning been over to the 22nd Regiment and saw those boys > there that I am acquainted with. We are encamped about a mile and a half > apart and the whole distance is a solid encampment in two rows about half a > mile apart. I see this morning that five Regiments have been removed and I > hear that they are going to Point Pleasant. Yesterday there came a Rebel > boat down the river bearing a flag of truce and having on board 450 (or 50 > ???) sick and wounded soldiers asking General Pope to allow them to pass > down to be taken care of, but the General told them that we had some sick > and wounded, but that he had no disposition to send them up the river home. > That if they would land their sick here, he would have them provided for, as > ours are provided for, but that the boat would not be allowed to proceed > farther into Dixie. At this the boat returned up the river to take the > chance of being captured or whip us out. The fire at the Island is > increasing very fast. They are certainly having a tolerably hot time up > there. I suppose that your Thursday's paper will tell you all about it as > well as the run from New Madrid. It may seem strange to you but you are all > better posted upon how the war progresses than we are, who are actually > engaged in it. > I wish you would send me the Commercial, occasionally. Direct them just as > you direct the letters. Lest you get tire of my scribbling, I thin I had > better stop this time, but will soon write to you again. Hoping that you > are well and enjoying yourselves. I bid you for the present, good bye. > William A. Smith > > 5 o'clock P.M. > We have just had orders to march to Point Pleasant tonight. We will be off > at dark which will be in about two hours. The firing continues at Island > No. 10. You will direct to New Madrid. > W.A.S. > > > ==== ILMARION Mailing List ==== > To unsubscribe from the ILMARION List if you are in mail mode, send to > ILMARION-L-request@Rootsweb.com. If you are receiving messages in the digest mode, send to ILMARION-D-request@Rootsweb.com > >

Is anyone on this list a member or volunteer for the Marion County Historical Society? Karen Wolber

Hi Stella, Since I'm seeing the letters for the first time as I type them, I only know as much as you do. Maybe Marion Brimberry can shed some more light on William A. Smith? I looked in my genealogy records and found that I have 4 William Smith's in my database. All four were from the 1600s and 1700s and at least three from Massachusetts. There are several more letters, yet, so we might still learn something. Dave > -----Original Message----- > From: Dave and Stella Schilling [mailto:schilling2@charter.net] > Sent: Friday, June 06, 2003 11:39 PM > To: ILMARION-L@rootsweb.com > Subject: Re: [ILMARION] Civil War Letters from William A. Smith > > > We are enjoying these letters with great interest. We are wondering what > company he was assigned and what rack he held. We are wondering > if he would > have still been in the area in 1864 when they had the battle at > Pilot Knob, > Missouri, which is near there. We found that there was a William > Smith there > at the time, but of course that is a common name. > > My great-great-grandfather, Pinkney Lee Powers, fought there. > So, we may be > able to add some information for anyone who would be interested. > > Stella > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "David Thomson" <dave@volantis.org> > To: <ILMARION-L@rootsweb.com> > Sent: Friday, June 06, 2003 5:33 PM > Subject: [ILMARION] Civil War Letters from William A. Smith > > > > *** > > Marion Brimberry has entrusted me with a folder of Civil War letters by > > William A. Smith and has asked me to type one letter every day or so and > > post it to this newsgroup. I have typed the letter true to the spelling > and > > grammar of the letters in my possession. If I add any errors of my own, > > please forgive me. > > > > David Thomson > > *** > > > > Camp near Point Pleasant, Missouri > > Monday morning March 24th, 1862 > > > > My Dear Wife:- > > > > I have been anxiously expecting a letter from you for four or five days, > > but am still disappointed. I mailed my last one to you on last > Wednesday. > > We was then ordered to strike our tents and march for this place at 7 o' > > clock P.M. We accordingly packed everything, took down our > tents and just > > as we got everything loaded, the order was for our Company to stop till > > morning to guard the train of waggons. We soon had our horses > unsaddled > > and went to roost without tents and slept very well till about > two o'clock > > when there came a shower and rather made us bustle to get up our tents > > before everything got wet. We then got a good nap before morning. At > about > > nine in the morning we started and about three in the evening we got to > our > > camp ground about one and half miles back from the village. > > On Friday morning Sergeant R.L. Buy and me got into one of the waggons > that > > was going for forage and rode down to town to get to see the > place. There > > is a few good houses here but they have been nearly destroyed by the > cannon > > balls passing through them. We have about half dozen small cannon along > the > > bank of the river and our men have rifle pits dug along the > bank for about > > half a mile. A rifle pit is a narrow hole dug in the ground > about five or > > six feet long and as deep as a mans breast. Two men get in > each of these > > pits with good Sharps rifles and when a boat attempts to land, the pick > off > > those that try to run out the planks. When a cannon is fired, they just > > haul in their heads like terrapins and load their guns all ready for the > > next man that shows himself. > > The Rebels have two guns on the other bank in Tennessee. They > fire at our > > men about three or four times each day. The distance is one and three > > quarters miles. While we was in one large store house looking how the > balls > > had knocked things around, Bang went the gun across the river and whew, > whiz > > came the ball. I was in the back room and stood listening, > expecting the > > ball to strike the building we was in, for it is the one > nearest the flag > > pole and it is cut up the worst. But the ball came whistling on and > Crash. > > It went through the next house to us in which there was several men, but > it > > did not hurt anyone. Our men picked up the ball. It was > around a twelve > > pound ball and was fired at a team that was passing, but it was a little > too > > high and rather ahead of the team. The gunners there said it was a good > > shot for the distance. > > Our flag is up on the pole that the secesh flag was on when our men took > > possession of the town. > > I did intend to write to you yesterday but at half past three yesterday > > morning our officers had notice to march at 7 o'clock with two days > rations. > > Accordingly we was ordered and your humble servant packed his haversack > with > > the dainties of a soldiers life, namely six crackers and a hunk of beef, > and > > at 7 o'clock we was in the saddle. Just exactly six months > from the time, > > even to the hour, if you recollect. We started southwest towards where > the > > report says Thompson, Kitchens, and Bowles are said to be encamped with > > eight hundred men and four pieces of artillery. We went about > twelve mile > > and came to a kind of a running lake called Little river, over > which there > > is a bridge and one of the stringers was nearly chopped in two. While > some > > of our men was examining the bridge to see whether we could cross, there > was > > four men jumped out of a house on the opposite side and run for > the woods > > like the old boy was after them. We crossed over and soon > captured them. > > Here begins hat is called a plank road, it crosses a swamp and goes on > > toward Bloomfield. It is twelve miles from this and to where there is a > > ridge of high ground and on this ridge is where the Rebels are encamped. > We > > started on the Plank road. It is only eight or ten feet wide and the > grade > > is no wider than the planks are. There is about every half mile a place > > made with dirt for a waggon to switch off on while another passes. At > first > > the swamp is only wet land but gradually getting wetter, till it is all > > water. Then the water gets deeper till it is a lake and the > whole country > > as far as the eye can see is one vast lake. The only ground visible is > the > > road which is about three feet high and nearly the whole country is > covered > > with cypress saplings about the size of telegraph poles and where the > water > > is not too deep, the small bushes are covered with a kind of small vine > that > > mats all over them like hop vines. Along the road there is > bridges to let > > the water pass and in some places it runs with considerable force. > > We had left one company to guard the bridge and prisoners and gone about > > seven miles when firing commenced at the front. The order was given for > the > > first part to dismount and pass forward. I gave my horse to Haley and > went > > to the front with the rest and found that our advance guard had > come upon > > the rebel pickets and exchanged shots with them. The pickets > had torn up > a > > bridge and when they fired they started towards camp. We put > more planks > on > > the bridge and passed to where they had stood. There was here > a Toll gate > > and house, the front end standing on the edge of the road and > the back end > > on blocks. There was here some canoes and great many steel > traps, two bed > > steads and beds, a few cocking tools and a small wagon without any bed, > but > > nary body. The picket guard as they retreated, shoved the planks off of > the > > bridges which we replaced with planks off of the road. After awhile we > came > > to a place where they had left the bridges whole. We then let > down to the > > work of overtaking them, but when they heard us coming they again > commenced > > to destroy bridges, but we was there before they could finish their work > and > > they scattered into the swamp, leaving three of their horses, blankets, > > overcoats, etc and one gun. They fired at us from their cover of brush > and > > the fire was returned by us. They wounded four of our men, two of whom > > died, one died last night on the road, the other this morning just after > he > > was brought in, after the firing was over. Our wounded men was > placed on > > blankets and carried by hand back to the Toll gate where they > took down a > > door and placed it on the hind wheels of the waggon that we found there > and > > put the worst wounded prisoners on it and pulled it by hand till we met > the > > doctor and the ambulance. Then the wounded men was taken into > a house and > > their wounds dressed, but one of them died during the night and this > morning > > the other one died in a few minutes after they was brought here. The > doctor > > saw that he was dying and told them to not move him till he died, so he > died > > in the ambulance. They was both shot in the body, the others, one was > shot > > through the arm and the other slightly wounded in the feet. > The one that > > was shot in the arm was a brother to one that died. They stood close > > together when they was shot. Their names were Cockerell of Company "K". > We > > got into camp exactly at midnight. > > I cannot tell what will be done about them out there in the swamp. > Perhaps > > we will give them a fight in a few days, but I will if > permitted, give you > > an account of them at some future time. There was one man of this > Regiment > > wounded in the foot while on picket duty by the accidental discharge of > his > > carbine. I have known several such cases and the wonder with me is that > > there is so few wounded or killed so. > > It is two o'clock P.M. and there is a squad of soldiers starting to take > > those prisoners that we captured yesterday to General Popes Headquarters > at > > New Madrid. > > I am notified that I am on guard tonight so I will have to wind up this > > letter rather soon as I want it to go in the morning mail and I will not > be > > in till after it is gone. > > We have no news from Island No. 10. I hope that you will be > able to tell > > me of its capture in your next letter. Say, what must I do if I do not > get > > any more letters from you, or do you get any from me. > > The boys are taking their turn at the mumps, Will Knight and some of the > > rest have already had them and William A. Arnold has them now. > I suppose > it > > will be my turn after they are all well, if there is any left > after going > > the rounds. > > My health is as good as you could ask for me. I hope that you are all > > well. For the present you will have to excuse me. > > Yours truly, > > William A. Smith > > > > > > ==== ILMARION Mailing List ==== > > To unsubscribe from the ILMARION List if you are in mail mode, send to > > ILMARION-L-request@Rootsweb.com. If you are receiving messages in the > digest mode, send to ILMARION-D-request@Rootsweb.com > > > > > > ==== ILMARION Mailing List ==== > To unsubscribe from the ILMARION List if you are in mail mode, send to > ILMARION-L-request@Rootsweb.com. If you are receiving messages in > the digest mode, send to ILMARION-D-request@Rootsweb.com

We are enjoying these letters with great interest. We are wondering what company he was assigned and what rack he held. We are wondering if he would have still been in the area in 1864 when they had the battle at Pilot Knob, Missouri, which is near there. We found that there was a William Smith there at the time, but of course that is a common name. My great-great-grandfather, Pinkney Lee Powers, fought there. So, we may be able to add some information for anyone who would be interested. Stella ----- Original Message ----- From: "David Thomson" <dave@volantis.org> To: <ILMARION-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Friday, June 06, 2003 5:33 PM Subject: [ILMARION] Civil War Letters from William A. Smith > *** > Marion Brimberry has entrusted me with a folder of Civil War letters by > William A. Smith and has asked me to type one letter every day or so and > post it to this newsgroup. I have typed the letter true to the spelling and > grammar of the letters in my possession. If I add any errors of my own, > please forgive me. > > David Thomson > *** > > Camp near Point Pleasant, Missouri > Monday morning March 24th, 1862 > > My Dear Wife:- > > I have been anxiously expecting a letter from you for four or five days, > but am still disappointed. I mailed my last one to you on last Wednesday. > We was then ordered to strike our tents and march for this place at 7 o' > clock P.M. We accordingly packed everything, took down our tents and just > as we got everything loaded, the order was for our Company to stop till > morning to guard the train of waggons. We soon had our horses unsaddled > and went to roost without tents and slept very well till about two o'clock > when there came a shower and rather made us bustle to get up our tents > before everything got wet. We then got a good nap before morning. At about > nine in the morning we started and about three in the evening we got to our > camp ground about one and half miles back from the village. > On Friday morning Sergeant R.L. Buy and me got into one of the waggons that > was going for forage and rode down to town to get to see the place. There > is a few good houses here but they have been nearly destroyed by the cannon > balls passing through them. We have about half dozen small cannon along the > bank of the river and our men have rifle pits dug along the bank for about > half a mile. A rifle pit is a narrow hole dug in the ground about five or > six feet long and as deep as a mans breast. Two men get in each of these > pits with good Sharps rifles and when a boat attempts to land, the pick off > those that try to run out the planks. When a cannon is fired, they just > haul in their heads like terrapins and load their guns all ready for the > next man that shows himself. > The Rebels have two guns on the other bank in Tennessee. They fire at our > men about three or four times each day. The distance is one and three > quarters miles. While we was in one large store house looking how the balls > had knocked things around, Bang went the gun across the river and whew, whiz > came the ball. I was in the back room and stood listening, expecting the > ball to strike the building we was in, for it is the one nearest the flag > pole and it is cut up the worst. But the ball came whistling on and Crash. > It went through the next house to us in which there was several men, but it > did not hurt anyone. Our men picked up the ball. It was around a twelve > pound ball and was fired at a team that was passing, but it was a little too > high and rather ahead of the team. The gunners there said it was a good > shot for the distance. > Our flag is up on the pole that the secesh flag was on when our men took > possession of the town. > I did intend to write to you yesterday but at half past three yesterday > morning our officers had notice to march at 7 o'clock with two days rations. > Accordingly we was ordered and your humble servant packed his haversack with > the dainties of a soldiers life, namely six crackers and a hunk of beef, and > at 7 o'clock we was in the saddle. Just exactly six months from the time, > even to the hour, if you recollect. We started southwest towards where the > report says Thompson, Kitchens, and Bowles are said to be encamped with > eight hundred men and four pieces of artillery. We went about twelve mile > and came to a kind of a running lake called Little river, over which there > is a bridge and one of the stringers was nearly chopped in two. While some > of our men was examining the bridge to see whether we could cross, there was > four men jumped out of a house on the opposite side and run for the woods > like the old boy was after them. We crossed over and soon captured them. > Here begins hat is called a plank road, it crosses a swamp and goes on > toward Bloomfield. It is twelve miles from this and to where there is a > ridge of high ground and on this ridge is where the Rebels are encamped. We > started on the Plank road. It is only eight or ten feet wide and the grade > is no wider than the planks are. There is about every half mile a place > made with dirt for a waggon to switch off on while another passes. At first > the swamp is only wet land but gradually getting wetter, till it is all > water. Then the water gets deeper till it is a lake and the whole country > as far as the eye can see is one vast lake. The only ground visible is the > road which is about three feet high and nearly the whole country is covered > with cypress saplings about the size of telegraph poles and where the water > is not too deep, the small bushes are covered with a kind of small vine that > mats all over them like hop vines. Along the road there is bridges to let > the water pass and in some places it runs with considerable force. > We had left one company to guard the bridge and prisoners and gone about > seven miles when firing commenced at the front. The order was given for the > first part to dismount and pass forward. I gave my horse to Haley and went > to the front with the rest and found that our advance guard had come upon > the rebel pickets and exchanged shots with them. The pickets had torn up a > bridge and when they fired they started towards camp. We put more planks on > the bridge and passed to where they had stood. There was here a Toll gate > and house, the front end standing on the edge of the road and the back end > on blocks. There was here some canoes and great many steel traps, two bed > steads and beds, a few cocking tools and a small wagon without any bed, but > nary body. The picket guard as they retreated, shoved the planks off of the > bridges which we replaced with planks off of the road. After awhile we came > to a place where they had left the bridges whole. We then let down to the > work of overtaking them, but when they heard us coming they again commenced > to destroy bridges, but we was there before they could finish their work and > they scattered into the swamp, leaving three of their horses, blankets, > overcoats, etc and one gun. They fired at us from their cover of brush and > the fire was returned by us. They wounded four of our men, two of whom > died, one died last night on the road, the other this morning just after he > was brought in, after the firing was over. Our wounded men was placed on > blankets and carried by hand back to the Toll gate where they took down a > door and placed it on the hind wheels of the waggon that we found there and > put the worst wounded prisoners on it and pulled it by hand till we met the > doctor and the ambulance. Then the wounded men was taken into a house and > their wounds dressed, but one of them died during the night and this morning > the other one died in a few minutes after they was brought here. The doctor > saw that he was dying and told them to not move him till he died, so he died > in the ambulance. They was both shot in the body, the others, one was shot > through the arm and the other slightly wounded in the feet. The one that > was shot in the arm was a brother to one that died. They stood close > together when they was shot. Their names were Cockerell of Company "K". We > got into camp exactly at midnight. > I cannot tell what will be done about them out there in the swamp. Perhaps > we will give them a fight in a few days, but I will if permitted, give you > an account of them at some future time. There was one man of this Regiment > wounded in the foot while on picket duty by the accidental discharge of his > carbine. I have known several such cases and the wonder with me is that > there is so few wounded or killed so. > It is two o'clock P.M. and there is a squad of soldiers starting to take > those prisoners that we captured yesterday to General Popes Headquarters at > New Madrid. > I am notified that I am on guard tonight so I will have to wind up this > letter rather soon as I want it to go in the morning mail and I will not be > in till after it is gone. > We have no news from Island No. 10. I hope that you will be able to tell > me of its capture in your next letter. Say, what must I do if I do not get > any more letters from you, or do you get any from me. > The boys are taking their turn at the mumps, Will Knight and some of the > rest have already had them and William A. Arnold has them now. I suppose it > will be my turn after they are all well, if there is any left after going > the rounds. > My health is as good as you could ask for me. I hope that you are all > well. For the present you will have to excuse me. > Yours truly, > William A. Smith > > > ==== ILMARION Mailing List ==== > To unsubscribe from the ILMARION List if you are in mail mode, send to > ILMARION-L-request@Rootsweb.com. If you are receiving messages in the digest mode, send to ILMARION-D-request@Rootsweb.com >

Thank you so much I do hope that your husband is OK. All my love to you both God Bless Shirley ----- Original Message ----- From: "Sandy Bollhorst" <sandy@usafast.us> To: <ILMARION-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Wednesday, June 04, 2003 8:39 PM Subject: Re: [ILMARION] Marion Co. Cemetery books > Shirley > I have been working on her for some time now and won't give up. I checked > at the county clerk's office and they have no record of her and so far > haven't ran across her in any of my cemeteries. but still have a lot that I > ahven't gotten off the recorder and onto paper. My hubby is having laser > surgery in the morning and then he is having a cornea transplant next > Wednesday on the same eye so the 2 days we are in St. Louis I plan on > transcribing as many as I can. Also I will make a run out to the Odin > cemetery tomorrow afternoon after his cardiac rehab and see if I can find > out anything. Don't give up, we will find her come H_ _ l or high water. > I have been looking for her for so long for you I feel like she is one of > mine and never fail to look for her when I am researching. If she doesn't > have a stone though it may be a bit more dificult but will see if I can find > out who has the records for there and ask them. > Sandy > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Shirley Brewer" <shirbrew@camasnet.com> > To: <ILMARION-L@rootsweb.com> > Sent: Wednesday, June 04, 2003 9:52 PM > Subject: Re: [ILMARION] Marion Co. Cemetery books > > > > Hi Sandy: > > I have looked for one of my relatives for 15 years and still unable to > find > > a grave I know that she died and is buried in and around Odin . Salem > Marion > > County . I have narrowed her death down to 1900-1910. Her name was Nancy > Ann > > Alexander and she was born 1822 . She was living with her daughter Nancy > > Ferguson in 1900 census. I have checked all the records but she died > before > > they required to record them. I was wondering could you check the > > cemeteries that you have . I think that she did not have a stone on her > > grave. . If only I could get where she is buried Maybe I could find a > family > > member that purchased the grave... I really hope that some one could help > > me... This lady is my only connection to the BREWERs family line. I don't > > know what happened to her first husband ? BREWER...... > > thank you very much for any help > > Shirley Brewer > > ----- Original Message ----- > > From: "Sandy Bollhorst" <sandy@usafast.us> > > To: <ILMARION-L@rootsweb.com> > > Sent: Tuesday, June 03, 2003 7:48 PM > > Subject: Re: [ILMARION] Marion Co. Cemetery books > > > > > > > Dot > > > I too have cemetery books 2 & 3 and would be happy to add my name to > your > > to > > > do look ups but have no idea how to get to the site to add myself. If > you > > > would loke help please tell me how to get there LOL. I also live in > > Marion > > > County and have walked and recorded most of the cemeteries there andI am > > in > > > the process of getting them off the recorder and onto paper then Ican do > > > research from them also > > > Sandy > > > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > > > From: "gengar" <gengar@centurytel.net> > > > To: <ILMARION-L@rootsweb.com> > > > Sent: Tuesday, June 03, 2003 3:22 PM > > > Subject: Re: [ILMARION] Marion Co. Cemetery books > > > > > > > > > > I thought a few words about cemetery books for Marion Co. might be of > > > help. > > > > > > > > The Marion County Genealogical & Historical Society has published four > > > > cemetery books. None of them include Centralia. The cost of each > book > > is > > > > $35 plus shipping. Most of them are 300 pages or more and one is > > probably > > > > over 500 pages. > > > > > > > > Each book includes a few townships. > > > > > > > > Book # 1 > > > > Patoka > > > > Foster > > > > Carrigan > > > > Tonti > > > > > > > > Book # 2 > > > > Alma > > > > Kinmundy > > > > Meacham > > > > Omega > > > > Those two books above cover the upper half of Marion Co. > > > > > > > > Book # 3 > > > > Haines > > > > Iuka > > > > Romaine > > > > Stevenson > > > > This book covers the southeastern corner of Marion Co. > > > > > > > > Book # 4 > > > > Odin > > > > Raccoon > > > > Sandoval > > > > EXCLUDING Hillcrest Cemetery > > > > > > > > That leaves the two most populus townships-----Salem and Centralia > > > > unpublished. > > > > > > > > I understand that it takes a LOT of work to inventory cemeteries, type > > the > > > > data, cross reference for notes, proofread and then have books > printed. > > > The > > > > index of each book has a full name index----every person, alphabetical > > > > order, not just a surname. All of this is done by volunteers. Many > > > members > > > > of the genealogical society, live out of state so that leaves a few > > people > > > > who do a lot. > > > > > > > > I can say that as a volunteer to do lookups, it very rewarding to > help > > > > people find some long lost relative or conquer a "brick wall". But > when > > > > someone asks for ALL of a surname, and it is a common surname---at > least > > > in > > > > Marion Co., it can be a bit overwhelming. It is helpful if requests > are > > > > made for specific people. That way more people can be helped without > > > > spending hours for one lookup and maybe the names sent include only a > > few > > > > that they really know anything about at all. > > > > > > > > Thanks for letting me have my say. > > > > > > > > Dot > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > ==== ILMARION Mailing List ==== > > > > To unsubscribe from the ILMARION List if you are in mail mode, send to > > > > ILMARION-L-request@Rootsweb.com. If you are receiving messages in the > > > digest mode, send to ILMARION-D-request@Rootsweb.com > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > ==== ILMARION Mailing List ==== > > > To unsubscribe from the ILMARION List if you are in mail mode, send to > > > ILMARION-L-request@Rootsweb.com. If you are receiving messages in the > > digest mode, send to ILMARION-D-request@Rootsweb.com > > > > > > ==== ILMARION Mailing List ==== > > To unsubscribe from the ILMARION List if you are in mail mode, send to > > ILMARION-L-request@Rootsweb.com. If you are receiving messages in the > digest mode, send to ILMARION-D-request@Rootsweb.com > > > > > > > ==== ILMARION Mailing List ==== > To unsubscribe from the ILMARION List if you are in mail mode, send to > ILMARION-L-request@Rootsweb.com. If you are receiving messages in the digest mode, send to ILMARION-D-request@Rootsweb.com

*** Marion Brimberry has entrusted me with a folder of Civil War letters by William A. Smith and has asked me to type one letter every day or so and post it to this newsgroup. I have typed the letter true to the spelling and grammar of the letters in my possession. If I add any errors of my own, please forgive me. David Thomson *** Camp near Point Pleasant, Missouri Monday morning March 24th, 1862 My Dear Wife:- I have been anxiously expecting a letter from you for four or five days, but am still disappointed. I mailed my last one to you on last Wednesday. We was then ordered to strike our tents and march for this place at 7 o’ clock P.M. We accordingly packed everything, took down our tents and just as we got everything loaded, the order was for our Company to stop till morning to guard the train of waggons. We soon had our horses unsaddled and went to roost without tents and slept very well till about two o’clock when there came a shower and rather made us bustle to get up our tents before everything got wet. We then got a good nap before morning. At about nine in the morning we started and about three in the evening we got to our camp ground about one and half miles back from the village. On Friday morning Sergeant R.L. Buy and me got into one of the waggons that was going for forage and rode down to town to get to see the place. There is a few good houses here but they have been nearly destroyed by the cannon balls passing through them. We have about half dozen small cannon along the bank of the river and our men have rifle pits dug along the bank for about half a mile. A rifle pit is a narrow hole dug in the ground about five or six feet long and as deep as a mans breast. Two men get in each of these pits with good Sharps rifles and when a boat attempts to land, the pick off those that try to run out the planks. When a cannon is fired, they just haul in their heads like terrapins and load their guns all ready for the next man that shows himself. The Rebels have two guns on the other bank in Tennessee. They fire at our men about three or four times each day. The distance is one and three quarters miles. While we was in one large store house looking how the balls had knocked things around, Bang went the gun across the river and whew, whiz came the ball. I was in the back room and stood listening, expecting the ball to strike the building we was in, for it is the one nearest the flag pole and it is cut up the worst. But the ball came whistling on and Crash. It went through the next house to us in which there was several men, but it did not hurt anyone. Our men picked up the ball. It was around a twelve pound ball and was fired at a team that was passing, but it was a little too high and rather ahead of the team. The gunners there said it was a good shot for the distance. Our flag is up on the pole that the secesh flag was on when our men took possession of the town. I did intend to write to you yesterday but at half past three yesterday morning our officers had notice to march at 7 o’clock with two days rations. Accordingly we was ordered and your humble servant packed his haversack with the dainties of a soldiers life, namely six crackers and a hunk of beef, and at 7 o’clock we was in the saddle. Just exactly six months from the time, even to the hour, if you recollect. We started southwest towards where the report says Thompson, Kitchens, and Bowles are said to be encamped with eight hundred men and four pieces of artillery. We went about twelve mile and came to a kind of a running lake called Little river, over which there is a bridge and one of the stringers was nearly chopped in two. While some of our men was examining the bridge to see whether we could cross, there was four men jumped out of a house on the opposite side and run for the woods like the old boy was after them. We crossed over and soon captured them. Here begins hat is called a plank road, it crosses a swamp and goes on toward Bloomfield. It is twelve miles from this and to where there is a ridge of high ground and on this ridge is where the Rebels are encamped. We started on the Plank road. It is only eight or ten feet wide and the grade is no wider than the planks are. There is about every half mile a place made with dirt for a waggon to switch off on while another passes. At first the swamp is only wet land but gradually getting wetter, till it is all water. Then the water gets deeper till it is a lake and the whole country as far as the eye can see is one vast lake. The only ground visible is the road which is about three feet high and nearly the whole country is covered with cypress saplings about the size of telegraph poles and where the water is not too deep, the small bushes are covered with a kind of small vine that mats all over them like hop vines. Along the road there is bridges to let the water pass and in some places it runs with considerable force. We had left one company to guard the bridge and prisoners and gone about seven miles when firing commenced at the front. The order was given for the first part to dismount and pass forward. I gave my horse to Haley and went to the front with the rest and found that our advance guard had come upon the rebel pickets and exchanged shots with them. The pickets had torn up a bridge and when they fired they started towards camp. We put more planks on the bridge and passed to where they had stood. There was here a Toll gate and house, the front end standing on the edge of the road and the back end on blocks. There was here some canoes and great many steel traps, two bed steads and beds, a few cocking tools and a small wagon without any bed, but nary body. The picket guard as they retreated, shoved the planks off of the bridges which we replaced with planks off of the road. After awhile we came to a place where they had left the bridges whole. We then let down to the work of overtaking them, but when they heard us coming they again commenced to destroy bridges, but we was there before they could finish their work and they scattered into the swamp, leaving three of their horses, blankets, overcoats, etc and one gun. They fired at us from their cover of brush and the fire was returned by us. They wounded four of our men, two of whom died, one died last night on the road, the other this morning just after he was brought in, after the firing was over. Our wounded men was placed on blankets and carried by hand back to the Toll gate where they took down a door and placed it on the hind wheels of the waggon that we found there and put the worst wounded prisoners on it and pulled it by hand till we met the doctor and the ambulance. Then the wounded men was taken into a house and their wounds dressed, but one of them died during the night and this morning the other one died in a few minutes after they was brought here. The doctor saw that he was dying and told them to not move him till he died, so he died in the ambulance. They was both shot in the body, the others, one was shot through the arm and the other slightly wounded in the feet. The one that was shot in the arm was a brother to one that died. They stood close together when they was shot. Their names were Cockerell of Company “K”. We got into camp exactly at midnight. I cannot tell what will be done about them out there in the swamp. Perhaps we will give them a fight in a few days, but I will if permitted, give you an account of them at some future time. There was one man of this Regiment wounded in the foot while on picket duty by the accidental discharge of his carbine. I have known several such cases and the wonder with me is that there is so few wounded or killed so. It is two o’clock P.M. and there is a squad of soldiers starting to take those prisoners that we captured yesterday to General Popes Headquarters at New Madrid. I am notified that I am on guard tonight so I will have to wind up this letter rather soon as I want it to go in the morning mail and I will not be in till after it is gone. We have no news from Island No. 10. I hope that you will be able to tell me of its capture in your next letter. Say, what must I do if I do not get any more letters from you, or do you get any from me. The boys are taking their turn at the mumps, Will Knight and some of the rest have already had them and William A. Arnold has them now. I suppose it will be my turn after they are all well, if there is any left after going the rounds. My health is as good as you could ask for me. I hope that you are all well. For the present you will have to excuse me. Yours truly, William A. Smith

He isn't listed in book 3 either but will continue looking Sandy ----- Original Message ----- From: "Nancy Scott" <teddysrn@msn.com> To: <ILMARION-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Friday, June 06, 2003 12:05 PM Subject: Re: [ILMARION] Pearson/Farmer > Unfortunately, he's not in book 2. I sent you all I had. Send your request to Dot to check Book 1 and to Sandy to check Book 3. So far I don't know of anyone who has book 4. Good luck finding him. > Nancy > ----- Original Message ----- > From: David Thomson > To: ILMARION-L@rootsweb.com > Sent: Saturday, May 31, 2003 8:22 PM > Subject: RE: [ILMARION] Pearson/Farmer > > > Thank you Nancy, for your listing of the Pearsons. Do you have an Absolum > Pearson born sometime in the 1820s or 1830s listed anywhere? > > Dave > > > ==== ILMARION Mailing List ==== > To unsubscribe from the ILMARION List if you are in mail mode, send to > ILMARION-L-request@Rootsweb.com. If you are receiving messages in the digest mode, send to ILMARION-D-request@Rootsweb.com > > > > ==== ILMARION Mailing List ==== > To unsubscribe from the ILMARION List if you are in mail mode, send to > ILMARION-L-request@Rootsweb.com. If you are receiving messages in the digest mode, send to ILMARION-D-request@Rootsweb.com > >

*** Marion Brimberry has entrusted me with a folder of Civil War letters by William A. Smith and has asked me to type one letter every day or so and post it to this newsgroup. I have typed the letter true to the spelling and grammar of the letters in my possession. If I add any errors of my own, please forgive me. David Thomson *** Tuesday morning, 18th March 1862 The firing continued at intervals during the night and this morning about sunrise the whole atmosphere seemed to vibrate with the regular shocks of each gun which was fired very fast for considerable time, but it has nearly ceased now, there being only about one gun in five minutes. But it is a little like you was when you first heard a drum, it is like making thunder. I have just learned there is a regular mail established to this place that will bring our mail three times each week. I think you can now hear from me regular again until we are ordered to march. I have again this morning been over to the 22nd Regiment and saw those boys there that I am acquainted with. We are encamped about a mile and a half apart and the whole distance is a solid encampment in two rows about half a mile apart. I see this morning that five Regiments have been removed and I hear that they are going to Point Pleasant. Yesterday there came a Rebel boat down the river bearing a flag of truce and having on board 450 (or 50 ???) sick and wounded soldiers asking General Pope to allow them to pass down to be taken care of, but the General told them that we had some sick and wounded, but that he had no disposition to send them up the river home. That if they would land their sick here, he would have them provided for, as ours are provided for, but that the boat would not be allowed to proceed farther into Dixie. At this the boat returned up the river to take the chance of being captured or whip us out. The fire at the Island is increasing very fast. They are certainly having a tolerably hot time up there. I suppose that your Thursday’s paper will tell you all about it as well as the run from New Madrid. It may seem strange to you but you are all better posted upon how the war progresses than we are, who are actually engaged in it. I wish you would send me the Commercial, occasionally. Direct them just as you direct the letters. Lest you get tire of my scribbling, I thin I had better stop this time, but will soon write to you again. Hoping that you are well and enjoying yourselves. I bid you for the present, good bye. William A. Smith 5 o’clock P.M. We have just had orders to march to Point Pleasant tonight. We will be off at dark which will be in about two hours. The firing continues at Island No. 10. You will direct to New Madrid. W.A.S.

Hi Dot, > There is an Absolum and Elvira PIERSON on the 1850 census in Randolph Co. > IL. He is 22 and it looks like she is 16, both born IL. But no > Absolum or > Elvira PEARSON or PIERSON in cemetery book # 1, nor on the 1850 or 1860 > census in Marion Co. IL. Thank you. Absolum and Elvira from Randolph Co. are my ancestors. I was hoping there would be a link between Absolum and several of the Pearsons who lived in Marion County about the same time. Perhaps if I knew where the original Marion County Pearsons moved in from, that might be a clue? Your help has been much appreciated. Dave

There is an Absolum and Elvira PIERSON on the 1850 census in Randolph Co. IL. He is 22 and it looks like she is 16, both born IL. But no Absolum or Elvira PEARSON or PIERSON in cemetery book # 1, nor on the 1850 or 1860 census in Marion Co. IL. Dot > ----- Original Message ----- > From: David Thomson > To: ILMARION-L@rootsweb.com > Sent: Saturday, May 31, 2003 8:22 PM > Subject: RE: [ILMARION] Pearson/Farmer > > > Thank you Nancy, for your listing of the Pearsons. Do you have an Absolum > Pearson born sometime in the 1820s or 1830s listed anywhere? > > Dave

Cousin Mary Do you have any information on the William Gleason BRYANT who was in TN in 1850? Could he by any chance be the William Bryant who married Martha MCCOLLUM in Fayette County IL 17 March 1858? This William was born in TN, and his mother was probably the widow who married David MCCOLLUM as his second wife. Martha was born March 1840 in Union Dist SC, (mother Susan HOWARD), and arrived in IL via TN. It my be possible William and Martha were step brother and step sister.They had two sons, Douglas and Charles. Bob in NM At 01:32 AM 6/6/2003 -0500, you wrote: >Cousin Mary >Here is what i have come up with so far seems you have it all but will send >it anyway. Well I thought I had something but find now this must not be the >same Rachel. This came from another Alderson cousin and I sent him part of >your email and his is what he sent back. Do you know who she is ? >Sandy >Hi again, >Nothing more on Rachel as we only keep data for male lines. Her marriage >date is 6 June 1825 in Botetourt Co., Virginia and I have her listed as the >first child of Burzilla and Elizabeth DAWSON with a birth date of abt 1797. > > >----- Original Message ----- >From: "Mary Park" <crosstichgen@webtv.net> >To: <ILMARION-L@rootsweb.com> >Sent: Thursday, June 05, 2003 8:49 AM >Subject: [ILMARION] BRYANT > > > > Hi, still looking for a death date and burial place for my ggg grandma, > > Rachael Alderson BRYANT, b. 1800 VA, m. 1815 James T. BRIANT, d. after > > 1863. Was living in Marion County, IL when husband died in 1850. He is > > buried in Campbell Cem, Wayne Co. > > > > Her children were John, James, Barzil, St. Clair, William Gleason, > > Augustain, Margaret, Harriet, Paralee and Mary (may be a dau in law). > > > > Most of the children m. Marion Co girls & boys, but Wm. Gleason Bryant > > was in DeKalb Co, TN at time of father's death in 1850. > > > > Thanks! Cousin Mary in OK > > BRYANT, ALDERSON, WINFREY, DODD, ADAMSON, WILLIAMS. > > > > > > ==== ILMARION Mailing List ==== > > To unsubscribe from the ILMARION List if you are in mail mode, send to > > ILMARION-L-request@Rootsweb.com. If you are receiving messages in the >digest mode, send to ILMARION-D-request@Rootsweb.com > > > > > > >==== ILMARION Mailing List ==== >To unsubscribe from the ILMARION List if you are in mail mode, send to >ILMARION-L-request@Rootsweb.com. If you are receiving messages in the >digest mode, send to ILMARION-D-request@Rootsweb.com

Unfortunately, he's not in book 2. I sent you all I had. Send your request to Dot to check Book 1 and to Sandy to check Book 3. So far I don't know of anyone who has book 4. Good luck finding him. Nancy ----- Original Message ----- From: David Thomson To: ILMARION-L@rootsweb.com Sent: Saturday, May 31, 2003 8:22 PM Subject: RE: [ILMARION] Pearson/Farmer Thank you Nancy, for your listing of the Pearsons. Do you have an Absolum Pearson born sometime in the 1820s or 1830s listed anywhere? Dave ==== ILMARION Mailing List ==== To unsubscribe from the ILMARION List if you are in mail mode, send to ILMARION-L-request@Rootsweb.com. If you are receiving messages in the digest mode, send to ILMARION-D-request@Rootsweb.com

Hi, In my Marion Co. book 2, I have Sutton, Jones, Adams & Wheeler's. Please send me first names to see if they might be who you are looking for. Nancy Scott in Dallas ----- Original Message ----- From: betty or gil allison To: ILMARION-L@rootsweb.com Sent: Wednesday, June 04, 2003 7:30 PM Subject: [ILMARION] Allison near Salem, Marion County 1865 Nice to see some activity on this site. With interest stirring I would like to repost my interest in Salem, Marion County, IL. I have a John Allison who was in Salem in August 1865. I think he was only there during the year 1865. Family story says the children attended school there. His brother Hugh Lawson White Allison sent him a money order from Chattanooga TN to Salem. The money order was $250.00 dated August 28, 1865. Have no idea why, perhaps to move back home to Dade County GA or to head south thru MO (probably Lawrence County MO), then to Franklin County AR and finally to TX. Since he was there between census, it is hard to tract him. As he moved and was recorded on census, he was most often than not with family in a particular county. So I wonder if family was in Salem also. He was John Allison and he married Mary Elizabeth Wakefield of Dade County GA. Related names to this line are: Sutton, Jones, Cartwright, Adams, Coppinger, Bryant, Wheeler, Pennington, McGehee. I live in TX so little chance of visiting Marion County. thanks.... Gil ==== ILMARION Mailing List ==== To unsubscribe from the ILMARION List if you are in mail mode, send to ILMARION-L-request@Rootsweb.com. If you are receiving messages in the digest mode, send to ILMARION-D-request@Rootsweb.com

Mary, I have found only 1 Adamson in my Book 2, but there are a number of Alderson's--send me some first names to check for you. Nothing on other names. Hope this is someone you are looking for: ADAMSON, Simon, b.3 Mar 1814, d 18 Feb 1894, buried in HENNEMAN Cemetery (very small, 21 graves.), in Omega Township. Nancy Scott in Dallas ----- Original Message ----- From: Mary Park To: ILMARION-L@rootsweb.com Sent: Thursday, June 05, 2003 8:49 AM Subject: [ILMARION] BRYANT Hi, still looking for a death date and burial place for my ggg grandma, Rachael Alderson BRYANT, b. 1800 VA, m. 1815 James T. BRIANT, d. after 1863. Was living in Marion County, IL when husband died in 1850. He is buried in Campbell Cem, Wayne Co. Her children were John, James, Barzil, St. Clair, William Gleason, Augustain, Margaret, Harriet, Paralee and Mary (may be a dau in law). Most of the children m. Marion Co girls & boys, but Wm. Gleason Bryant was in DeKalb Co, TN at time of father's death in 1850. Thanks! Cousin Mary in OK BRYANT, ALDERSON, WINFREY, DODD, ADAMSON, WILLIAMS. ==== ILMARION Mailing List ==== To unsubscribe from the ILMARION List if you are in mail mode, send to ILMARION-L-request@Rootsweb.com. If you are receiving messages in the digest mode, send to ILMARION-D-request@Rootsweb.com

Cousin Mary Here is what i have come up with so far seems you have it all but will send it anyway. Well I thought I had something but find now this must not be the same Rachel. This came from another Alderson cousin and I sent him part of your email and his is what he sent back. Do you know who she is ? Sandy Hi again, Nothing more on Rachel as we only keep data for male lines. Her marriage date is 6 June 1825 in Botetourt Co., Virginia and I have her listed as the first child of Burzilla and Elizabeth DAWSON with a birth date of abt 1797. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Mary Park" <crosstichgen@webtv.net> To: <ILMARION-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Thursday, June 05, 2003 8:49 AM Subject: [ILMARION] BRYANT > Hi, still looking for a death date and burial place for my ggg grandma, > Rachael Alderson BRYANT, b. 1800 VA, m. 1815 James T. BRIANT, d. after > 1863. Was living in Marion County, IL when husband died in 1850. He is > buried in Campbell Cem, Wayne Co. > > Her children were John, James, Barzil, St. Clair, William Gleason, > Augustain, Margaret, Harriet, Paralee and Mary (may be a dau in law). > > Most of the children m. Marion Co girls & boys, but Wm. Gleason Bryant > was in DeKalb Co, TN at time of father's death in 1850. > > Thanks! Cousin Mary in OK > BRYANT, ALDERSON, WINFREY, DODD, ADAMSON, WILLIAMS. > > > ==== ILMARION Mailing List ==== > To unsubscribe from the ILMARION List if you are in mail mode, send to > ILMARION-L-request@Rootsweb.com. If you are receiving messages in the digest mode, send to ILMARION-D-request@Rootsweb.com > >

Thank you, Ron, No, you didn't send this information before......I keep all LANDRUM information for future reference and maybe someday I can make that important connection or help someone else. Thank you, thank you! Cathy Whitney in So. California ----- Original Message ----- From: "Ron Hanks" <ronhanks@earthlink.net> To: <ILMARION-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Thursday, June 05, 2003 5:18 PM Subject: Re: [ILMARION] LANDRUM > Cathy, > Not sure but I may have already sent this info to you awhile back. I have Sarah Elizabeth Landrum, daughter of Reuben Landrum & Nancy Bibb. Sarah was born in VA 11Nov1825. She married John Abner Wilkinson 18Nov1841 in Christian Co, KY. They moved to Meacham Twp., Marion County sometime after 1850. John and Sarah are both buried in Cockerell Cemetery in Meacham Twp. > There may be no connection at all between Sarah Elizabeth and Mary Lourene but just thought I would mention it. I don't know very much about Sarah. Of her parents I have nothing further than their names. I don't know of any siblings, but there may very well be some. > > Ron Hanks > ----- Original Message ----- > From: Cathy Whitney > To: ILMARION-L@rootsweb.com > Sent: Wednesday, June 04, 2003 4:12 PM > Subject: Re: [ILMARION] Marion Co. Cemetery books > > > Hi to all you wonderful people that offer to do look ups. I have a "very big > brick wall" and I would be so very appreciative if someone could help. > My great grandmother Mary Lourene LANDRUM b.1832 in TN moved to Fayette > County and later to Marion Co. along with her parents. (possibly Mary and > John?) Mary Lourene married Thomas C. WILLIAMS in 1850 and after he died she > married David HANNA in 1877 in Marion County. I have never been able to find > any trace of any LANDRUMs in Marion County. Are there any in the cemeteries? > Thank you so much for any help...I've been on this search for 10 years. > Very Sincerely, > Cathy Whitney > in Fountain Valley, CA > > > ==== ILMARION Mailing List ==== > To unsubscribe from the ILMARION List if you are in mail mode, send to > ILMARION-L-request@Rootsweb.com. If you are receiving messages in the digest mode, send to ILMARION-D-request@Rootsweb.com >

So far, the only ALLISONS I have found are one marker: ALLISON LINA 1860-1915 MOTHER WALTER T 1855-1910 FATHER. Still on the look out though, I know there has to be more ALLISONS. They just don't name streets after people for nothing. In this town , it seems names were given for past political people or Doctors that contributed to the community. I will post you right away if I can find more. Sincerely, Brenda