According to a publication about the history of the Reformed Presbyterian church in Oakdale, IL a group of 40 people from Chester SC reached Randolph Co. IL in May 1830 (the journey took them 6 weeks). The Archibald and John HOOD families and Thomas and James McCLURKIN families continued on into the Elkhorn Prairie and settled near the present site of Oakdale, Washington Co. IL The 1850 Washington Co. IL census shows the following HOOD families: Pg. 1115 John HOOD (age 50 b. SC), his next-door neighbor was Archibald HOOD (age 50 b. SC), his next-door neighbor was Thomas McCLURKEN (age 45 b. SC). Pg. 1147 George HOOD (age 32 b. SC), his next-door neighbor was Thomas HOOD (age 55 b. SC). Pg. 1151 David McCLURKIN (age 38 b. SC), living with him was Elisabeth McCLURKIN (age 83 b. Ireland), their next-door neighbor was James McCLURKIN (age 47 b. SC) with wife Sarah (age 46 b. SC) Pg. 1158 William HOOD (age 43 b. SC) The church history says that Sarah, wife of James McCLURKIN, was Sarah Rodman HOOD and that James McCLURKIN's father was Thomas McCLURKIN (1745-1845). Sarah was one of the original members of the church. The IL Marriage Index shows the marriage of Sarah Ann HOOD to Williamm T. REDMON in Adams Co. IL 5 Oct 1848. Was this the woman who was listed as James McCLURKIN's wife in 1850? Is anyone else out there researching these HOODs and McCLURKINs? Vickie Elam White