Bill: There is a wealth of info in Monroe Co. on Dr. Cairnes. Here's some from Arrowheads to Aerojets (history of Monroe Co.) DR. CALDWELL CAIRNES CALDWELL CAIRNES, M. D. came to Illinois from Pennsylvania soon after the year 1800. His wife was Mary Stevenson Bond, widowed mother of Judge Shadrach Bond, whom Dr. Cairnes met when she was making her first visit to the Illinois country to see her son. Shortly after they met, they were married in the home of her son, Judge Bond. There were three children born to this union. The eldest child was Mary Stevenson Cairnes, named for her mother. She married General James Semple, who was at one time one of the Supreme Judges of Illinois, United States Senator, and Minister to Bogata. The Semples died at their home near Elsah, Jersey County, Illinois. Henry C. Meisner, who kept a store at the old town of Bridgewater, is also listed as a son-in-law of Dr. Caldwell Cairnes. The names of the other two children were not found recorded. Dr. Cairnes bought a fine farm near Harrisonville. He called his splendid farm "Walnut Grove." He was fond of agriculture and farmed on a large scale. He attended, likewise, to his medical profession and had a large practice among the residents of the Bottom. He was elected a Justice of the Peace, and also one of the Judges of the St. Clair County Court before Monroe County was organized. He was sent as one of the delegates from Monroe County to the convention which formed the First Constitution of the State of Illinois. He was one of the active working members of that body. Dr. and Mrs. Cairnes were two of the seven members who helped to organize the Methodist Episcopal Church in Harrisonville Precinct. The first meetings were held in homes. More about the church may be found under the chapter on religion. Dr. Cairnes was a man of sound mind, honest in his transactions with the public, and upright in his deportment. He died on his farm, leaving behind him a good reputation and a large estate. 192 Marriage date - Caldwell Cairns to Mary Bond, January 30, 1800 (unpublished marriage records). This would have been St. Clair Co. as Monroe Co. was not established until Jan 1816. It was carved out of St. Clair and Randolph counties. In the next MCGS Quarterly I am including a short history on Harrisonville Precinct which mentions Dr. Cairnes. You should definitely get the book Minutes of the Organization of Monroe Co. as he was one of the first Commissioners. It is available from MCGS. Would you be interested in joining MCGS? We do not have a current member who is researching Caldwell CAIRNES/CAIRNS and could use your knowledge of this prominent Monroe Co. surname. Also, MCGS will do a basic search for $10 per surname. Janet Flynn