In a message dated 12/1/2006 4:48:45 P.M. US Mountain Standard Time, chewlye5@hotmail.com writes: Hi! There are germs of truth to the story as quoted by Roger, but there were startling details that have been overlooked, or purposely altered. It is my understanding that the Driscoll descendants are not pleased with the semi-annual alterations. The story was written in 1909. It would be interesting if descendents would share other versions. I don't know about Driscoll descendents, but I know there are Campbell descendents still in the area. There is a historical monument in Ogle Co. which says the following: In the 1830's and 1840's an organized criminal gang known as the Banditti of the Prairie was active on the midwestern frontier. In 1841 six members were arrested and held for trial in Oregon, Illinois. On March 21, the day before the trial, the new Oregon courthouse was burned. In retaliation, a group led by W.S. Wellington organized the Regulators and ordered several suspected Banditti to emigrate or be whipped. Some left but those remaining forced Wellington to resign as Regulator leader. He was replaced by John Campbell. A Banditti leader, John Driscoll, and his four sons (Pierce, William, David, and Taylor) made a career of horse stealing and murder. When the Regulators gave the Driscolls 20 days to leave Illinois, the Banditti decided to kill Campbell and Phineas Chaney. Another Regulator leader, Chaney escaped but on June 27, 1841, Campbell was killed by David and Taylor while John, William, and Pierce waited nearby. John was caught and jailed at Oregon. The Regulators apprehended William and Pierce and forcibly took John from jail. The three were "tried" in Washingon Grove on June 29 by a jury of 111 Regulators. Pierce was released but the other two were found guilty. John was shot by 56 men and William by 55. Although Banditti activity continued for several years, it was no longer centered in Ogle County. The Regulator judge and jury (112 men) were tried three months later in Ogle County Circuit Court for the vigilante murder of the Driscolls and were acquitted. Historical Marker erected by the Illinois Department of Transportation and the Illinois State Historical Society, 1967 Roger