on Thursday evening at 8pm CST. for northwestern Illinois at www.freeportillinois.com Lou Cook

genealogy chat for northwestern Illinois tonight at 8:00pm. at www.freeportillinois.com Lou Cook

for Northwestern IL and affiliated PA counties on Thurs eve at 8pm CST. Lou Cook www.freeportillinois.com

I note with interest the request for information on the Scottish Rite Consistory of Freeport. I know that when my Great Grandfather Thomas Benson Reynolds went to Wyoming, Jones county, Iowa from Lena, he was a member of the AF&AM. This raises a question if he had joined while living in Stephenson county. Also if his wife, Paulina Eleanor (Cobb) Reynolds was a member of the Eastern Star at that time. Thank you for the Freeport Address. Are there any Lodges, or contacts in Lena? Glenn G. Reynolds

Good Shepherd was formerly called Amity Lutheran Church. The name change came in the 60s with the merging with Emmanuel German Lutheran Church. The church does have early records. As the church is without Pastor at this time you may want to visit or write an elderly gentlemen by the name of Fred Buske who is knowlegable to the location of the church records. Fred Buske 309 N Center, Lena, IL 61048. You may also want to send photo copies of the pictures. We have several in the Historical Society that could help identify also. What is you location? Gary <<< "Gary Price" <priceg@le-win.net> 2/ 5 3:16p >>> The English Lutheran Church in Lena is currently called Good Shepherd Lutheran Church. What do you need. I can possibly help. Gary <<< Bill Dahlberg <billd70@essex1.com> 2/ 5 1:42p >>> Hello all... Can anyone tell me about the English Lutheran Church? I believe it was in Lena, IL. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks! Bill ============================== Free Web space. ANY amount. ANY subject. RootsWeb's Freepages put you in touch with millions. http://cgi.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/acctform.cgi ============================== Join the RootsWeb WorldConnect Project: Linking the world, one GEDCOM at a time. http://worldconnect.genealogy.rootsweb.com/

You can write to the Masonic Temple, 305-315 W Stephenson St. Freeport, IL 61032 for further information. <<< Michael Kirchhoff <mktwa@ix.netcom.com> 2/ 6 11:33p >>> I am seeking any information concerning the Scottish Rite Consistory of Freeport, Stephenson Co., Illinois. What type of organization is this? Is it still in existence? Does it have a contact postal address or email address? Specifically seeking information on Henry H. KIRCHHOFF, of Hampshire, Kane Co., Illinois, who was associated with this organization, early to mid 1900's. Any and all info would be greatly appreciated. Thanks. Michael Martens Kirchhoff St. Louis, MO / USA mktwa@ix.netcom.com http://www.uftree.com/UFT/WebPages/michaelkirchhoff/KIRCHH/index.htm ============================== Free Web space. ANY amount. ANY subject. RootsWeb's Freepages put you in touch with millions. http://cgi.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/acctform.cgi

Michael: Scottish Rite is associated with the Shriners, who are associated with the Masonic organization. Hope this helps. Jean ---------- > From: Michael Kirchhoff <mktwa@ix.netcom.com> > To: ILSTEPHE-L@rootsweb.com > Subject: [ILSTEPHE] Freeport - Scottish Rite Consistory? > Date: Sunday, February 06, 2000 11:32 PM > > I am seeking any information concerning the Scottish Rite Consistory of Freeport, Stephenson Co., Illinois. What type of > organization is this? Is it still in existence? Does it have a contact postal address or email address? Specifically seeking > information on Henry H. KIRCHHOFF, of Hampshire, Kane Co., Illinois, who was associated with this organization, early to mid 1900's. > > Any and all info would be greatly appreciated. Thanks. > > > > Michael Martens Kirchhoff > St. Louis, MO / USA > mktwa@ix.netcom.com > http://www.uftree.com/UFT/WebPages/michaelkirchhoff/KIRCHH/index.htm > > > ============================== > Free Web space. ANY amount. ANY subject. > RootsWeb's Freepages put you in touch with millions. > http://cgi.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/acctform.cgi

I am seeking any information concerning the Scottish Rite Consistory of Freeport, Stephenson Co., Illinois. What type of organization is this? Is it still in existence? Does it have a contact postal address or email address? Specifically seeking information on Henry H. KIRCHHOFF, of Hampshire, Kane Co., Illinois, who was associated with this organization, early to mid 1900's. Any and all info would be greatly appreciated. Thanks. Michael Martens Kirchhoff St. Louis, MO / USA mktwa@ix.netcom.com http://www.uftree.com/UFT/WebPages/michaelkirchhoff/KIRCHH/index.htm

Hello all, I've just finished updating the Obituary page and added 15 new obits. I think you'll enjoy the new layout. If you haven't checked any of the obits out, take a peek! Some of these are very interesting to read, from a historical point of view. Let me know if you find any broken links, I'm afraid I've gotten a bit glassy-eyed. <http://www.rootsweb.com/~ilstephe/obits.html> Julie -- List moderator , Stephenson Co., IL mailto:ILSTEPHE-L@rootsweb.com Stephenson Co. ILGenWeb Project http://www.rootsweb.com/~ilstephe

The English Lutheran Church in Lena is currently called Good Shepherd Lutheran Church. What do you need. I can possibly help. Gary <<< Bill Dahlberg <billd70@essex1.com> 2/ 5 1:42p >>> Hello all... Can anyone tell me about the English Lutheran Church? I believe it was in Lena, IL. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks! Bill ============================== Free Web space. ANY amount. ANY subject. RootsWeb's Freepages put you in touch with millions. http://cgi.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/acctform.cgi

Thank you Julie - much of this is new information. Marilyn

>I am looking for information on parents, family, and migration to Illinois >for William Shirk, born September 15, 1822 somewhere in Pennsylvania and >Susannah Penticoff born March 2, 1835 in Pennsylvannia. There approximately >nine childred were born in Illinois. The lived at various places near Loran >and Kent. I do not know if they married before or after coming to Illinois. > >Thank you for any help. >Marilyn Donegan > Marilyn, Sorry for the great delay...I've been so busy lately I can hardly keep up with my volunteer work and have put my personal genealogy on the back burner until things slow down. This is what I have on the above mentioned names...........my mother's line has Penticoff's. Hope this helps some, but it's by no means complete. Julie Descendants of George (Pennycoff) Penticoff 1 George (Pennycoff) PENTICOFF b: 1803 in Northampton Co., PA d: 26 Aug 1878 in Loran Twsp., Stephenson Co., IL . +Catherine HOFFMAN .......2 Daniel PENTICOFF b: 1852 in Kent, Stephenson, Illinois ........... +Jane m: 31 Dec 1873 .......2 George J PENTICOFF b: 1827 in Yellow Creek, Stephenson, Illinois ........... +Katherine WACHTLE m: 1859 .......2 Sarah PENTICOFF b: 1830 .......2 Jacob PENTICOFF b: 1834 in Lena, Stephenson, Illinois .......2 Susan PENTICOFF b: 2 Mar 1835 in Yellow Creek, Stephenson, Illinois ........... +William SHIRK b: 15 Sep 1822 in PA ................ 3 Lydia Susan SHIRK b: 23 Jul 1869 d: 18 Feb 1942 .................... +John Benjamin DITSWORTH b: 17 Mar 1865 d: 1 Dec 1919 m: Abt 1887 ....... *2nd Husband of Susan Penticoff: ........... +William VAN TASSELL .......2 John PENTICOFF b: 16 Aug 1835 d: Mar 1887 in Forest Hill, Pennsylvania .......2 David PENTICOFF b: 1837 in Loren, Stephenson, Illinois .......2 Samuel PENTICOFF b: 1838 ........... +Mary HARTMAN .......2 Levi PENTICOFF b: 1840 .......2 Rebecca PENTICOFF b: 1842 .......2 Catherine PENTICOFF b: 11 Jan 1844 in Pennsylvania d: 20 Jul 1922 in Yellow Creek, Stephenson, Illinois ........... +John COLE b: 5 Nov 1838 in Limestone Twp., Lycoming, Pennsylvania d: 22 Jun 1930 in Mt. Morris, Ogle Co., Illinois m: 1860 in Williamsport, Pennsylvania ................ 3 COLE ................ 3 Charles COLE b: 16 Sep 1862 d: 20 Aug 1935 .................... +Margaret KINMAN b: 27 Oct 1860 in Freeport d: 22 May 1908 ................ *2nd Wife of Charles Cole: .................... +Della WOHLFORD ................ 3 George COLE b: 7 Oct 1865 in Stephenson, Illinois d: 18 Oct 1940 in Yellow Creek Cemetery, Kent, Stephenson Co. IL .................... +Sarah Rebbeca METZ b: 20 Feb 1870 in Kent Twsp, Stephenson, Illinois d: 1 Mar 1959 in Nursing Home, Stockton, Illinois src: word of mouth Jean Cole Sturtevant m: 19 Dec 1888 in Eleroy, Stephenson, Illinois src: Marriage License .......2 Elizabeth PENTICOFF b: 1846 in Yellow Creek, Stephenson, Illinois d: 20 Jul 1922 in Yellow Creek, Stephenson, Illinois ........... +Andrew KOSER .......2 Katherine PENTICOFF b: 1846 .......2 William PENTICOFF b: 1850 in Yellow Creek, Stephenson, Illinois ........... +Leah KOSER

Gary Price wrote: > The English Lutheran Church in Lena is currently called Good Shepherd Lutheran Church. What do you need. I can possibly help. > Gary Gary... Thanks for responding...I had quite a few of my ancestors and their siblings families that were members there. I have a picture from about 1890 of a picnic of the English Lutheran Church and was wondering if there are other pictures there at the church that might have more of my family in them...plus I would like to get some of the people identified. It also helps for me to know what the church is now since I am also an ELCA Lutheran pastor here in Northern IL, so am not far away. But do you have access to any church records? Thanks! Bill

Hello all... Can anyone tell me about the English Lutheran Church? I believe it was in Lena, IL. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks! Bill

Hello, I've updated the county website with queries, surnames and an obituary. I apologize for the delay. Julie -- List moderator , Stephenson Co., IL mailto:ILSTEPHE-L@rootsweb.com Stephenson Co. ILGenWeb Project http://www.rootsweb.com/~ilstephe

Genealogy chat for Northwestern IL and related PA counties, Thurs eve at 8pm CST. Just go to www.freeportillinois.com , click on the chat button on the lower right hand side. It may take a bit for the chat room to load in, it will as for your name, and in the profile area type in the surnames you are researching, hit Chat and you are in. Lou Cook

***** URGENT ***** ***** URGENT ***** ***** URGENT ***** Are Iowa Birth Records Closing????? Are you aware the State of Iowa's Legislature is considering a bill RIGHT NOW to close Iowa birth records to public viewing in Iowa county courthouses? Laws like this have already been enacted in other states. If this bill passes the only way to obtain a birth record for anyone born after 1905 will be to write to the IA State Dept of Health. You will have to pay a (probably) non-refundable fee for EACH record search you want performed. When just starting your research, how will you even know which records to ask for? Aren't you are searching the records for that very information?? The following is from Richard Harrison, the IAGenWeb State Coordinator.: The Closing of Iowa Birth Records???? The Iowa State Department of Health, Vital Records Division, would like to see all birth records less than 95 years old closed to the public at the county level and have drafted a bill to this effect to be taken up by the legislature. According to Larry Coghlan of the Vital Records Dept., "The proposal is to make birth certificates 95 years old and older available for inspection and copying at the county level. The rest of the birth certificates would require a direct and tangible interest to obtain a copy. It is being proposed because of the identity theft (fraud) that has been taking place throughout the United States." This proposal raises a number of questions: Is it really necessary to close 95 years of records to address this problem? How will moving the records from the county level to the state level make it any more (or less) difficult for people interested in committing fraud? How will they define "direct and tangible interest"? Will state employees have the time and inclination to REALLY search the records for your ancestor, or will they keep the money and say "Not Found!" when the record is not exactly where it should be but just a few lines or pages away? Can they take the time to search for possible misspellings or decipher illegible handwriting? If ISDH gets this passed for birth records will all the other records follow suit? Is this an ill-conceived plan to punish the innocent (genealogists and others who need access to these records) instead of the guilty (those who commit fraud)? We need to ask questions, now. If you cherish your right to have all your county records available at your county courthouse, now is the time to speak up. WRITE… CALL… EMAIL… your county officials, state representative, and yes, even Governor Vilsack. If you don't speak up now, it might be too late. -- Richard Harrison/Encinitas, San Diego, California IAGenWeb State Coord.: http://www.rootsweb.com/~iagenweb/index.htm IAGEN-L List Owner: IAGEN-L@rootsweb.com ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** If you are NOT an Iowa resident it is just as important, if not more so, that you also be heard. Remind the legislators of the money you spend when you are in your county of interest to do research. Not only are you providing revenue to the county for copy fees, etc. You are also spending money in their motels, eating establishments, shops, and other area tourist attractions. PLEASE contact one of these legislators and express the importance of having the birth records remain open. Send an email to: keith_weigel@legis.state.ia.us and betty_soukup@legis.state.ia.us ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** CONTACT INFORMATION The Honorable Governor Vilsack Mailing Address: Office of the Governor State Capitol Des Moines, IA 50319 Phone or Fax: (515) 281-5211 phone (515) 281-6611 fax Email the Governor http://www.state.ia.us/governor/comments/index.html The web page below has links to District Maps and to the emails of all the Iowa Senators and Representatives. Send an email to the ones representing your county of interest: http://www.legis.state.ia.us/Members/78GA-members.html. We will post the bill number and the names of committee members as soon as that information is available. Please forward this message to: 1) as many people you know who reside in Iowa 2) as many genealogists you know who have Iowa research 3) as many genealogical societies as you know 4) as many other organizations whose voices might make a difference 5) everyone you know who is involved in genealogy and history research ________________________________________________________________ YOU'RE PAYING TOO MUCH FOR THE INTERNET! Juno now offers FREE Internet Access! Try it today - there's no risk! For your FREE software, visit: http://dl.www.juno.com/get/tagj.

Sarah Kafer wrote: "The Sarah BROWN I have was born in Freeport, Stephenson, IL, and she never married. It appears that my BROWN originated from NY (the earliest listing I have of them is 1810), but I don't know how long they lived there, or where they came from. I have very sketchy info on BROWN, but who knows." I have the following BROWN line in Stephenson County (is there a connection?): 1 Unknown BROWN b. 1790-1810 in MA m. Sarah ___________ b. abt. 1810 VT 2 Alvin Anderson BROWN b. 11/11/1830, Hamburg, Erie Co., NY m. 4/11/1852 in Stephenson Co., IL Harriet Louisa TORREY (b. 3/17/1834, Akron, OH) 2 Sarah BROWN b. abt. 1834 (probably Erie Co., NY) 2 John BROWN b. abt. 1835 (probably Erie Co., NY) 2 Rosetta BROWN b. abt. 1837 (probably Erie Co., NY) 2 Eunice BROWN b. abt. 1839 (probably Erie Co., NY) 2 Smith BROWN b. abt. 1841 (probably Erie Co., NY) 2 Dock (or Dockon) b abt. 1843 (Stephenson Co., IL) 2 Hannah BROWN b. abt. 1845 (Stephenson Co., IL) This family appears in the Stephenson County 1850 census - in Silver Creek. Of this family group, Smith and Alvin BROWN moved on to Iowa in the 1860s. Alvin then moved on to Nebraska in the 1870s - and then to Kansas in the late 1890s. Darryl Brown Austin, Texas

In a message dated 1/23/2000 6:03:52 PM Central Standard Time, treseh@ix.netcom.com writes: << John Hagedorn Descendants >> Theresa, Thanks for the reply. It doesn't look like we connect, but I will keep this info in my Hagedorn file just in case. Sam Brown Benbrook, TX

Need obituary for the following person: Carl WITT, born 18 Mar 1932, died 02 Oct 1995, Freeport, Stephenson, IL Willing to pay for copying and postage. Thank you for your time on this matter. Sincerely, Justin L. Dingman, Tacoma, WA ________________________________________________________________ YOU'RE PAYING TOO MUCH FOR THE INTERNET! Juno now offers FREE Internet Access! Try it today - there's no risk! For your FREE software, visit: http://dl.www.juno.com/get/tagj.