Hello, I just signed up for the list. Does anyone know anything about the Onstott family who lived in Perry County in the late 19th Century (and possibly 20th as well). I'm looking for confirmation that Kyle Onstott, born in 1887, was actually born in Perry County, and better yet, actually grew up in DuQuoin. I'm not related to Onstott, but instead I'm researching the Old Slave House near Equality, Illinois. In the mid 1950s, Onstott's book, Mandingo, became a best seller. It's depiction of plantation times went far beyond the tame Gone With The Wind version. Onstott and fellow author Lance Horner ended up writing a series of these racy plantation-themed novels known as the Falconhurst series. Hollywood later made a rather bad movie based on the book in the 1970s. It had the same title. There are similarities between some of the stories at the Old Slave House and the book Mandingo. I'm wondering where Onstott learned about slavery and whether or not he may have picked up any stories from the region. If anyone has a transcription of the 1900 census of Perry County and could do a lookup I would be very grateful. I'll appreciate any help I can get. Sincerely, Jon Musgrave www.IllinoisHistory.com