Anna: Pope Creek runs in Sections 4, 5 and 6 in the Northwest Corner of Ohio Grove Township. Although Pope Creek does not run in Section 7, it comes close and the Pope Creek (Candor) Cemetery is located in the NW corner of Section 7. [From the History of Mercer County, Illinois - 1882] Thomas Candor set aside the ground for the graveyard for the burial of his wife, Margaret, who died on September 30, 1841. Thomas Candor, who died on March 13, 1871 was an elder in the Presbyterian Church and foremost in building the Candor Church on the property in 1849, now known as the Pope Creek Presbyterian Church. A memorial service is held here each year. And your last question; if you were to go there today, you would find a beautiful old church and the resting place for many of the pioneers who endured the toils and hardships of settling Mercer County. At one time, this church was as far west as the Presbyterian Church had been established in the United States. Both the cemetery and the church are well cared for. I hope you will go there and feel the presence of these early settlers. As for me, I was born on the kitchen floor on a farm along Pope Creek, just a few miles from this site on the coldest January of the depression years. George Carpenter Illinois City, Illinois ----- Original Message ----- From: "Anna" <farich@alltel.net> To: <ILMERCER-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Sunday, January 19, 2003 3:12 PM Subject: [ILMERCER-L] Location > I have a 2nd great grandfather on the > 1850 Federal Census Ohio Grove, > Mercer County IL > > The same person on the 1860 Federal > Census, listed as > Pope Creek, Mercer Co. IL > > Question is this.. > Is Pope Creek, as it looks on the Mercer Co. > Atlas (on line) in section 5 or 6 of Ohio Grove Township? > > Why do I see Ohio Grove Township > with Candor (Pope Creek) together. > Is it now called Candor? > > IF I were to go there today to find the location, > what might I look for? > > Thanks, > Anna > farich@alltel.net >

Thanks to George for his wonderful evocation of the atmosphere of the historic Pope Creek Presbyterian Church. My husband's ancestor, Josiah Gray, is among those pioneers interred in the Candor burial grounds. Josiah and Lucinda Gray and twelve of their children made the long trek from Somerset County ME to Mercer County in 1854. Unfortunately, on some Candor Cemetery records, Josiah is incorrectly read as Issiah Gray and he is recorded as a Civil War Veteran. Josiah is actually a veteran of the War of 1812. When I moved to the Mercer County area in 1998, I made sure that I attended the Sunday before Memorial Day Service at Pope Creek Church. Those old well-beloved hymns were played and sung and the Minister selected for his text that day, "..so great a cloud of witnesses.." from Hebrews. It was a perfect choice as we all remembered the sacrifice and the sturdiness of all who settled there. We indeed felt their presence. Thanks for bringing a great memory to mind, Karen Gray

I've been following the submissions by George and Karen with great interest, as my ggg grandfather Henry Kimmel and wife Anna Hirst are buried in the Candor cemetery. It has been about 20 years since I visited the church, but at the time I thought it to be a wonderfully preserved reminder of some of the history of my forebearers. I'm glad to hear it is still in good shape. The reason for my query is to see if anyone might have digital pictures of the church. I have a few colored slides, but haven't yet got them converted yet so that I can use them in the electronic recreation of my father's Kimmel research that I'm working on. I believe there is some documentation as to how Henry and Anna were connected to the church. By some, I mean more than what appears in the "History of Mercer County (Illinois) H. H. Hill & Co., Chicago, 1882, pp. 601-603." There it is stated of Anna ..."A sad bereavement befell the family when, August 18, 1846, death claimed the wife and mother. She was a member of the Presbyterian church." This family came to Ohio Grove Township, Mercer County in June of 1840 from Mahoning then Trumbull) County Ohio. If any lister would like to pursue the history of this church further, please contact me directly. I'm very interested in finding out what if any records of the church and cemetery might still exist. Jay Kimmel

Hi Mercer County List Could someone Please! tell me where/address to order Death Recards for 1879 and 1889, and the Cost? I have the Tombstone information and the forms fill out Just need to know where to send and how much. Really Ayour help, Thanks Iris

According to the Handy Handbook for Genealogists the County Clerk has death records from 1877. Address PO Box 66, Aledo IL 61231. Phone 309-582-7021 for fees or send a stamped self-addressed envelope for fees. Or perhaps you will hear from someone one the list who knows the fee. Nadine Holder > Hi Mercer County List > Could someone Please! tell me where/address to order > Death Recards for 1879 and 1889, and the Cost? > I have the Tombstone information and the forms fill out > Just need to know where to send and how much. > Really Ayour help, > Thanks > Iris > >

I'm not sure about the fee for death records, but copies of marriage licenses cost $7.00. I just ordered one this week. Tom Allen -----Original Message----- From: nadin@c2i2.com [mailto:nadin@c2i2.com] Sent: Friday, January 24, 2003 10:38 AM To: ILMERCER-L@rootsweb.com Subject: Re: [ILMERCER-L] Mercer County: Death Records 1879 & 1889 Where and Cost? According to the Handy Handbook for Genealogists the County Clerk has death records from 1877. Address PO Box 66, Aledo IL 61231. Phone 309-582-7021 for fees or send a stamped self-addressed envelope for fees. Or perhaps you will hear from someone one the list who knows the fee. Nadine Holder > Hi Mercer County List > Could someone Please! tell me where/address to order > Death Recards for 1879 and 1889, and the Cost? > I have the Tombstone information and the forms fill out Just need to > know where to send and how much. Really Ayour help, > Thanks > Iris > >

Thanks! Nadine for all your help, I going to call, I'll post the cost and other inf .I find for others Appreciate your help, Regards, Iris, ----- Original Message ----- From: <nadin@c2i2.com> To: <ILMERCER-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Friday, January 24, 2003 11:38 AM Subject: Re: [ILMERCER-L] Mercer County: Death Records 1879 & 1889 Where and Cost? > According to the Handy Handbook for Genealogists the County Clerk has > death records from 1877. Address PO Box 66, Aledo IL 61231. Phone > 309-582-7021 for fees or send a stamped self-addressed envelope for fees. > Or perhaps you will hear from someone one the list who knows the fee. > Nadine Holder > > > Hi Mercer County List > > Could someone Please! tell me where/address to order > > Death Recards for 1879 and 1889, and the Cost? > > I have the Tombstone information and the forms fill out > > Just need to know where to send and how much. > > Really Ayour help, > > Thanks > > Iris > > > > > > > >