Hi Polley, Ager usually is chills and fever. It could be malaria which was common. Any group new to an area had a period that was called seasoning in which they appeared to be very likely to get any fever or disease that was common to that area. Often many of them died. This happened to the Pilgrims; it happened at Jamestown and it happened to groups as they moved west. In Perry County, MO where I live, the Germans were hit hard in the Wittenberg, Altenberg area. In areas along the river, chlorea was bad at various times. Some kind of fever or malaria is my guess for the Ager or the Illinois shakes. Each group always named their new experiences by their new home. Billie ----- Original Message ----- From: <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Monday, November 20, 2000 8:09 PM Subject: [ILMONTGO] What were the "Illinois shakes?" > In reading a booklet of memories from my Great-Grandmother, she mentioned > that when the pioneers came west, there would be "whole families lying on the > ground shaking. Not to worry, it was just the Ager..." What were these > shakes? What condition caused them? > > Many thanks! > Polley Lawrence > Roswell, GA > > > ==== ILMONTGO Mailing List ==== > Visit the Montgomery County USGenWeb Home Page! > http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Cabin/3648/montgo2.html > > ============================== > Visit Ancestry.com for a FREE 14-Day Trial and enjoy access to the #1 > Source for Family History Online. Go to: > http://www.ancestry.com/subscribe/subscribetrial1y.asp?sourcecode=F11HB