Is anyone on the Gallatin or Saline Co. lists researching the settlers who came to this area before 1810? I descend from Hankerson Rude who settled by 1810 as one of his sons was born in IL in 1810. I am trying to determine exactly when Hankerson Rude arrived, where he came from, and with which other families he traveled. In several history books it is said that some early settlers came from Mt. Airy, Tennessee. The surnames listed as being these settlers from Mt. Airy, TN, were JORDAN, ESTES, and RUDE. However, this is in conflict with the research done on Chism Estes and published in the book, "Following the Chism Estes Trail" by Doris Nelson. Based on Warren Co., KY, tax records and the fact that Chism Estes purchased land there in 1804, Chism Estes lived in Warren Co., KY, as did his in-laws the Jordans. They did not live in Mt. Airy, TN. Nothing in the book makes a connection between the Estes family and Mt. Airy, TN. Doris Nelson's opinion was that other early settlers had come from Mt. Airy, NC (not TN). Per the book, the Jordans and Chism Estes came to southern Illinois in 1806; for sure they were there in 1807 as their names appear on an 1807 list of squatters which Ms. Nelson has in her book. Hankerson Rude is not on the 1807 list; thus, I do not think he traveled with the Chism Estes-Francis Jordan group of 1806. However, Ms. Nelson does say that Chism Estes' brother Absalom Estes left Warren Co., KY, and settled "around 1810", but she did not expand on Absalom's settlement and did not refer to any families traveling with him. It is possible that the authors of the history book got Chism and Absalom Estes confused, and that Hankerson RUDE came with Absalom Estes some time between 1808-1810. I descend from Hankerson Rude's daughter Phoebe who was born in KY c. 1805-06. I do not know where she was born in KY. If Hankerson Rude followed Chism Estes to Illinois or came to Illinois with his brother, Hankerson likely lived in or near Warren Co. -- and not in TN. Has anyone on the list researched settlers before 1810? Can you advice me on where I should be looking for pre-statehood records for this area? Would it be the State Archives? If so, what record groups and can I access them by mail? Any help would be appreciated. -- Helen Graves