>In answering your question on why so many came to Illinois, >here is a nice piece written on that.. >http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Academy/4624/histher.html# Is there anyway to get this guy to correct his article - at least his reference to the pictures mentioned in the first paragraph? According to Barbara Burr Hubbs' book "Pioneer Folks and Places" the photos are of Ephraim Herrin and David Ruffin Harrison. I have a tendency to believe her since the one referred to as Isaac Herring in the article is obviously dressed in more recent clothing than what Isaac would be wearing. I also have a feeling that Barbara probably had more access to who her ancestors were than a third party. There is a photo of David Herrin in her book. It makes you wonder where he did his research. These photos are easily found - no digging needed - especially if you use either the genealogy section of the local library in Marion or the Williamson Co. Hist. Soc. I have to admit that if he made these 'easy' mistakes, it makes me wonder how accurate the research for the rest of his article is. I've also wondered why my ancestors left Robertson co., TN and moved to IL while I was visiting TN a few years ago. The area was beautiful! We drove to Williamson Co from there, up through Hopkins co, KY, so we could get a better idea of how they might have traveled. It was obvious why they decided to settle in IL but you had to look at it from a farmer's point of view. TN and KY were green, lush and beautiful but IL was nice and flat - not needing so much heavy clearing. Mary Ann