To Flavia Hodges: Joel Wells was a member of the numerous Wells family. His Father was Daniel Wells. Joel was born in Deerfield, MA 1 Aug 1775. Died Moline, IL 3 Sept 1838. He was married to Mary Edwards 8 May 1797. Interestingly, she was related to Jonathan Edwards, the famous New England mystic and preacher. It would seem his will would have been filed in Rock Island County which had been recently formed. If you are interested in more information about the Wells family contact me, Mary Jane Nelson at hamptonwells@email.msn.com. Mary Jane Nelson

At 09:54 PM 2/2/00 -0600, you wrote: >Great!! on your find. > >Ok, now off to Robertson Co TN with you, and find my Adcock behind Robertson. Oh my! I wish I knew what suggest for you. This just happened for me, I had no idea there would be anyone who'd remember those names... We're talking a hundred years since William COOK was killed in the accident. I was just lucky... if it will do any good, I wish you the same kind of luck in YOUR search. >I have picked Robertson apart but the ggggrandfather died like in his 50's and family >kinda just went every which way. I am slowly piecing the family back together but need >that person with THAT certain piece of paper. > >I understand how good it feels to make those finds. It is indeed, a special feeling to suddenly find out that I am not alone and that the first step of the journey has been taken. But the quest is far from over. Now I must gather as much family history as I can before the sources are gone! 130 years of family needs to be recorded. A thought I wrote down years ago: There will be time to persue the ancestors here and there but, for now, I must gather what I can about my forefathers AND chase the ghosts of nevermore whilst we sip our drinks and speak softly of things they did with kind and loving hearts. Tell me a tale of common men, of hearty laughter, and burning tears. Speak of their wisdom and not their faults for there, but for the grace of God, go we all. Sleep well my gentle spirits and know ye that this tale we weave of times gone by will live evermore and thus so shall ye. Rest now, for your labors were many and rewards were all too few. Let me embrace your memory and feel the iron hands in velvet gloves that made a heart a home. Hewn from the wilderness, a country borne of strife, stands now tall in the eye of the world because of the love you shared for it. Good men, strong and true, that is our legacy and know ye this, no man had deeper love than those who died to defend what they believed was right. These are your ancestors and mine. A comon voice that will not be silenced and a kindred spirit that will not go quietly in the night. Seek ye not a spectre for there be none here. This path was walked by my Grandfathers and hallowed they made it for they knew one day we too would walk the path to the undiscovered country. Once there bourne no man returns and yet his memory lives, the flame kept alive in the hearts of his children's children. Speak their names lowly and they will live evermore, for no man can dispatch a memory. Gary E Cooke E-mail: gcooke@meonline.net

The will of JOEL WELLS was apparently probated l October 1838. Can someone point me in the direction of obtaining a copy of this probate file? Thank you, Flavia Hodges, San Pablo, CA

Hello listers, I have some really wonderful news ! ! ! A cousin, a real life, honest-to-goodness COUSIN, has E-mailed me ! ! ! I now have my Great-Great Grandfather's name and year of birth as well as some info I'd never hoped to be able to collect. i.e. The circumstances surrounding his death and info about his other son, Abraham COOK. God Bless you, Mary! If there are more cousins there in R.I.County who're tempted to E-mail me, please do! Mary and I have a lot to discuss and info to swap back and forth and probably some 130 years of family history to get up to speed on... This is just TOO good! My personal thank you to all who made suggestions about where to try next and the kind souls who have been so patient with my stupidity. I've only been working on the Family's Tree for a few months and have made more progress than I believed would be possible prior to my eventual demise. You've been absolutely wonderful and I love you all!! I'm not about to leave so you can look for a bit a messaging as I lurk here in the Cyber-shadows and see if there is anyone I can help as I work on getting more information about the COOK Clan. Part of the problem all along has been a transcriptional glitch I had not forseen that has been in the family since 1899. For some reason GrtGrandpa Zachariah decided to add, or a clerk did somewhere along the way, a final "e" to the end of our surname when the marriage took place between he and Melissa CRAWFORD in 1899. That single stroke of the pen, created more stumbling blocks than I'd have imagined. It sent me on a wild goose chase that has lasted a few months and suddenly with her ever so fimble ningers, Mary has cleared the fog and guess what? There is sun shining out there in the distance. Please... PLEASE... Whaever you do, don't give up and so be as narrow of focus as I've been. Try different spellings and be a 'doberman' about your search. Having taken that advice from another, I had the fortitude to arrive at this particular stop and there is still a long journey ahead but the way is now cleared for some distance and the largest single stumbling block has been removed. With just a little more info I can now set my sights on the United Kingdom and begin to 'fire for effect' in making requests for information there. Bless you one and all, and you too 'tiny Tim', Merry Christmas, late, to everyone. I could not possibly have gotten a better present than to make connection with family I only suspected might exist!!!! Gary E Cooke E-mail: gcooke@meonline.net

I know some of you have been talking about Cooks. The following bio was posted to the Scott County Page with the surnames below. W. L. Cook, Bio Ellis Faxon Brockway Taylor Woodhull French Ridgely Ash Sheik Rohlfe Case Hartzell <A HREF="http://www.rootsweb.com/~iascott/scott.htm">http://www.rootsweb.com/~ iascott/scott.htm</A> Debbie Clough G-erischer Roots Web Donor G-erischer Family Web Site http://gerischer.rootsweb.com/ IASCOTT-L - G-erischer-L - D-encker-L V-lerebome-L - Huntington-L EIGS-L, Eastern Iowa Genealogical Society - List Manager Assistant CC, Scott County, Iowa

Hi List, I have received sooooo many requests that if I start making copies and mailing information to people it will start adding up. This is what I will do: 1. I will respond to everyone via e-mail and let them know if I found anything for them. 2. If the information is short, I will e-mail it to you. 3. If the information is lengthy, I will ask you to send me 10 cents for each page and a SASE with sufficient postage. Please remember I must have this book back by February 11. I can not renew it. So I must have your money and SASE on or before February 11. If your information is lengthy, and you do not want to send me the SASE and money, you can order the book, like I did, through interlibrary loan. My copy came from Northern Illinois University. Sandra

Hi List, for the next week, I have a copy of "Portrait and Biographical Album of Rock Island County, Illinois," published in 1885. I am willing to look in the index for the biographical section and send any information they wanted published for anyone's ancestors. Sandra swt39@juno.com

Hello Listers I am trying to find the parents of my Great Grandfather. Elders in the family have no memory or never heard them mentioned. The came to the US in 1868-1869 from Oldham, Lancashire, England and settled in Rock Island County and then Mercer County. The papers for Declaration of Intent to become a US Citizen for his parents MUST be on file in one or the other of the counties. But first I need to find the names. Would some kind soul please check for a marriage license for either of the following marriages: Zachariah William COOK and Ellen D CALLAHAN 20 Mar 1890 in Rock Island County or Zachariah William COOKE and Melissa L CRAWFORD 19 Jul 1899 in Mercer County Alternately, if you've time or inclination, could someone do a lookup for his brother Abraham COOK and [maybe] Phoebe HOLDSWORTH 13 Mar 1894 or George William GREAR and Miriam COOK 11 Jan 1888 Surely ONE of those three must name the parents on their M/L? If someone can get me those names, I will be eternally grateful and if ya be needin' sumthin' from my end, I'd be more than happy to repay the flavor! Thanks so much, Gary E COOKE E-mail: gcooke@mwonline.net

In a message dated 02/02/2000 10:22:46 PM Pacific Standard Time, ILROCKIS-D-request@rootsweb.com writes: > Part of the problem all along has been a transcriptional glitch I had > not forseen that has been in the family since 1899. For some reason > GrtGrandpa Zachariah decided to add, or a clerk did somewhere along the > way, a final "e" to the end of our surname when the marriage took place > between he and Melissa CRAWFORD in 1899. > > That single stroke of the pen, created more stumbling blocks than I'd > have imagined. It sent me on a wild goose chase that has lasted a few > months Let this be a lesson to all novice researchers. There was no common and accepted spelling for ANYTHING until fairly recently. Everyone spelled phonetically, and the receivers' own accent did strange and wondrous things to the way he/she recorded a name. An example: My grandmother's family name is Rowles (or something like that) and the family came from eastern County Limerick in Ireland, where they thought of themselves as Irish and Catholic. But the English official recording thei name for the 1850ish Griffith's Valuation "heard" the English name Rowles and recorded it so. But the Irish priest (who probably spoke Irish, English with a brogue, and Latin) who recorded their children's births heard something else and recorded it as Rouls, Roulds and Rowls. Arriving in America they were recorded variously as Rols, Roles, Rolls, Rolles, Rolless, Roules, and Rowells. That's eleven. There are probably more waiting out there to be found, and the Soundex code is only R420. Treasure those Soundex codes. They are a big help in locating more. But also be aware that the first letter can change. For instance I know a family named Koch who pronounces it Cook. Anne Lamb I have two Cook lines myself, one from Rhode Island and one from Lincolnshire.

Desperately searching for information regarding the James Earl and (Maggie) Morrison from Ireland who settled in Rock Island where my grandfather, James Earl Morrison was born in 1856. His siblings were: Annie, Nina and William. Also looking for: Samuel and Maggie? Ferguson who settled near Rock Island from Scotland. Their children were: Maggie, b.1862 Mary, Simon and James and perhaps others. If any of these names connect with information that you have, I would so appreciate hearing from you. Marty (Morrison)Breyer

http://www.sos.state.il.us/depts/archives/database.html Try The above site for lots of info about Illinois research. It gives you all of the information about obtaining Original Illinois Marriage certificates. If you go to the Illinois Marriage record index you will find all of the people you asked about that were married in Rock Island Cty-- Zachariah Cook/Ellen D. Callahan--3-20-1890 (just enter , under Groom, "Cook, Zachariah") Abraham Cook/Phoebe Holdsworth George Grear/Mariam Cook--1-11-1888 Then you can also contact IRAD at Western Illinois University to see if they have other records. All info on how to do this is at the above URL. Bev in Texas

I would if some kind soul who has easy access to county records of Rock Island County, either through FHL films or because you frequent the courthouse or the Historical Society, would do a lookup for me. This is a collateral line and there is no rush, but it would pleasure me to confirm these two births, that they took place in RIC. Mary Gertrude Higgins b. 11 Jan 1870 Catherine Higgins, b. 15 Aug 1871 - parents Hugh Higgins and Catherine Ellis, who were married 31 Dec 1868 in Rock Island. The girls are in the 1880, listed as born in IL. Thank you so much. Anne Lamb husband's family: LAMB, SCHAFER, SHEPPARD, GARNETT, BRYAN, HOLSAPPLE of Port Byron, RIC.

The new IL-WESTERN maillist is ready to roll! Anyone with a genealogical interest in the Western Regional Counties in IL, Adams, Brown, Calhoun, Fulton, Greene, Hancock, Henderson, Henry, Jersey, Knox, Macoupin, McDonough, Madison, Mercer, Morgan, Pike, Rock Island, St. Clair, Schuyler, Scott, and Warren, is welcome to subscribe at no cost to the mail list. Questions and answers regarding research in the counties, places to look for information, and queries are all welcome. However, one cannot post to the mail list without being a subscriber. Postings to the mail list will be archived. Anyone interested in browsing through these archives should go to: http://archiver.rootsweb.com/ One can search the archives for a key word, as well as browse through the contents. The posts and replies are threaded for ease in following various linked topics. Please be advised that the mail list and archives, although moderated by the Western Regional ILGenWeb Coordinator, are owned by RootsWeb. Also note that RootsWeb's Acceptable Use Policy gives them the right to ARCHIVE AND REDISTRIBUTE. "So we can provide current and future users with access to your posts, by posting here you do give RootsWeb a permanent license to archive and redistribute those posts. This policy may be superseded in specific circumstances by other commitments made by RootsWeb." Further, RootsWeb states that YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR POSTS. If you post anything that results in RootsWeb being sued, you are responsible for any costs you incur. RootsWeb may also hold you responsible for any costs they incur defending themselves. To subscribe to the mail list, send an e-mail message with the word "subscribe" (without the quotation marks) as the only text in the body of the message to IL-WESTERN-L-request@rootsweb.com. If you wish to subscribe in digest mode, in which mail will be packed together in bundles, send the same subscribe message to IL-WESTERN-D-request@rootsweb.com. If at any point you wish to cancel your subscription, send a message with only the word "unsubscribe" (without the quotation marks) in the body of the message to either of the two addresses above. To post a message to the list, send it to IL-WESTERN-L@rootsweb.com. Happy Hunting! Gloria - --------------------------------- Gloria Frazier ILGenWeb Western Regional Coordinator http://www.rootsweb.com/~ilwreg/western.htm

Hi List, Is anyone researching the William and Elizabeth Whiteside family that lived in Joslin, Zuma Township? Their children were William H., Joseph W., Frederic J., Robinson R., Christopher C., Charles E., Roland N., Bessie E., Maggie L.E. and Mary H. Sandra swt39@juno.com

Hi Amy, did you try the State of Illinois Archives at http://www.sos.state.il.us/archives/database.html? Marvin Skinner is in the marriage index and there might be other info at other links. Bev in Houston

MabelHello, Does any one know this name?? I am trying to find out anything aboout her. She marries Marvin J. Skinner in Rock Island, IL in 1897. I hope someone can help! These are my ggrandparents. Thank you! Amy

Does anyone have an index of Milan Cemetery ? I'm looking for a family that lived near Cable but may be buried in Rock Island Co. AJIVES

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can someone give ma site where I can print out the order for a death ceritificate in Rock Island county? thanks I have a HENRY CLARK who died in 1932 and is buried at the South Pleasant View cemetery in Kewanee, Ill, but at the time of his death he MIGHT have lived in Rock Island co, Ill. Henry co, courthouse sent my check back to me,,as he is not listed on the death records in Henry co. Cindy lee bluangel@gassville.net

Hello, Is there anyone out there who might be researching the John & Losada Spivey family? I have Losada back to Thomas and Margaret Allred. John and Losada were married in Indiana, lived and died around Preemption, Il. Both buried in the Sherrard cemetery. If any one has information regarding this family, I would so appreciate corresponding with you. Please email to spivey14@hotmail.com Thank you, V.Spivey