I've tried to learn who the parents are of Ann (nee' McGee) Ridgeway Purcell for 25 years and have hit a brickwalls at every turn. Ann was born abt 1810-1815 (nativity OH, or KY, or PA) and had to be among some of the earliest emigrants to Peoria/Marshall County as she marries in 1832 at Northampton, widower, John Ridgeway (whose wife Mary Ann Cooper must have died about 1831, possibly in the Peoria area). John and brother David, were among the earliest settlers in Peoria Co, on the tax list in 1824. John appears to have come with --or about the same time --as Jeremiah Cooper, George Spar/Spahr to Marshall County, Steuben twp. All of these people came from Ohio (Ross Co, Pike Co., Licking Co.) before reaching IL. As the Ezra McGee group also came from Ohio, it isn't much of a leap of logic to consider that Ann McGee may have been among those early Ohioans who came to IL with or about the same time as John Ridgeway came and she may well have come WITH John Ridgeway and his first wife. One of the conflicting censuses for Ann gives her nativity as Ohio (though another says KY). George Spar's daughter, Sarah, md Ezra (aka Azariah) McGee and they lived near Ann and John Ridgeway. When Jeremiah Ridgeway died about 1854 (son of John Ridgeway by his first wife, Mary Cooper), Ezra McGee and Ann (nee' McGee) Ridgeway are involved in the guardianship of Jeramiah's young chidlren--Ann takes them to raise and Ezra McGee posts bond. John Ridgeway died in 1852 and Ann marries Edward PURCELL. Ann is clearly part of this McGee family, though Ezra would have been 10 years (-10/+10 yrs) younger than Ann (younger brother?). This McGee family had unique christian names: Brazilla/Barzilla, Ezra/Azariah, for instance. It appears that Ann and Edward had two children: Thomas Purcell born abt 1859 and Mary Purcell born abt 1857. Either Ann McGee-- or another of my ancestral grandmothers was a full-blooded squaw--and circumstantial evidence ponts to Ann, in case this would ring any bells for anyone. If it's Ann, and if she did indeed come from the Ross County, OH area, there was a Shawnee reservation in Ross County. 1. I'm trying to locate information about Ann Purcell's death-where, when--and find her grave. The Peoria Co., Clerk of Court has set up so many restrictions in order to access vital records at the courthouse, which might answer some questions, that I find myself stuck without being able to see the death docket and/or other VR's which might be helpful. If all the Peoriea County graves have been inventoried, she might be listed and apparently was living in 1880. 2. All censuses between 1850-1880 for Ann which might give clues as to her nativity, her parents, correct age, either have conflicting information or can't be found at all. 3. 'Records of the Olden Times--of fFify years on the Prairies, Illinoios', by Spencer Ellsworth (Putnam and Marshall Counties, IL) copyright 1880 - p 540 regarding Steuben Twp, Marshall County. The city of Peoria is the location for this quoate "......Mr. Ridgeway died in 1852 and his widow, since Mrs. Purcell, still survives' I cannot find Ann Purcell in the 1880 census in Peoria County or adjacent counties. This census might shed light on her background and clarify previous conflicting censuses for her. 4. I'd like to hear from any descendant of any McGee familes from the Peoria county area who might link up with Ann. 5. If someone has access to Peoria County histories, I'd like to know the copyright year for the county history which says: "Jesse McGee was the first school teacher 1826-1828." He apparently taught at Mossville, in Medina Twp, Peoria Co. I'd like to be able to give him an approximate age based upon the copyright year of that county history, for he may be a brother or her father; Mossville is very near where Ann and John Ridgeway settled. I'd be deeply grateful to anyone who has access to the above records, and to anyone who recognizes this family and can add any further information. Thanks for a ny information. My email is: Cashby2587@lvcta.com If anyone responds to this, please e-mail me PERSONALLY as well as list it in the Peoria mailing list, as I'm having some problems opening the Peoria digest. ----- Original Message ----- From: <ILPEORIA-D-request@rootsweb.com> To: <ILPEORIA-D@rootsweb.com> Sent: Friday, October 31, 2003 11:00 PM Subject: ILPEORIA-D Digest V03 #111