Not all the towns are represented in the database. My ancestors resided in Eureka and neighboring townships which are not part of the database as of yet..

Hopefully the site is down so they can update it. Was I the only one to notice that the surnames from about L-Z weren't well represented at all? I have tons of people whose obits should be listed but aren't. And most of the names I'm researching are towards the end of the alphabet. One bad aspect about the database being down is that it's supposed to be free to anyone for a certain amount of time. I wonder if Ancestry will adjust that time limit once it's back up. Amy atjaden@mindspring.com amy@tjaden.com

John Fischer, or others on the Woodford Co (Illinois) List: I was able to access (directly on Ancestry.com) the excellent obituary data base mentioned below on Wednesday, but I've tried twice today and the following message comes up from Ancestry: "Sorry, the page you requested was not found" One other database on the same list comes up with no problem. Does anybody have any idea of what's happening and if we WILL be able to access this database again? Jim in Ohio jmfreed@Midohio.net ----- Original Message ----- From: "John E Fischer" <fischerj@one.net> To: <ILWOODFO-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Tuesday, January 29, 2002 8:30 PM Subject: [ILWOODFORD] Woodford County Obituaries 1887-2000 > Note: www.ancestry.com has just released a new data base entitled "Woodford County, > Illinois, Illinois Prairie District library, obituaries, 1887-2000" > > Take a look. I've found several of my ancestors listed. > > Happy hunting. > > John E Fischer Cincinnati, OH

This is not quite what Gene asked for but I found it while looking for what he wants and thought I'd send it to the list in case it helps anyone else. All names spelled as they are in the sources, even when I know they're misspelled. Prairie Farmer's Reliable Directory of Farmers and Breeders of Woodford County, Illinois 1917: (Head of household, Wife, Child[ren], Where Living, Tenant/Renter or Owner and Number of Acres, Farm Owner's Name, Year Became Resident of County) Gangloff, George (Susie Miller) Ch Anthony, Leona, Vincent, Marie, Odella, George, Arthur, Morris; Metamora R3 Metamora Sec 19 O81a (1873) Gangloff, Henry (Susan Scheirer) Ch Willard, Lorine; Metamora R2 Metamora Sec 30 O93a (1885) Gangloff, L.G. (Nellie Seckler) Ch John, Laverne; Cazenovia R1 Partridge Sec 36 T160a John Gangloff (1890) Gangloff, Joe A (Clara Eichhorn) Ch Helen, Kathryn; Metamora R4 Worth Sec 26 O80a (1886) Greis, J.C. (Caroline Kolb) Ch Walter; Benson R1 Linn Sec 28 O40a T102a A.L. Greis (1878) Gries, L.F. (Katie Schleich) Ch Isabelle, Ralph, Rachel; Benson R1 Linn Sec 24 O40a T257a A.L. Gries (1875) Gries, Roy (Elsie Haig) Benson R1 Linn Sec 23 T160a A.L. Gries (1890) Meister, John (Caroline Noe) Metamora R1 Metamora Sec 8 T160a Mrs Thomas Summers (1886) Meister, Joseph (Pauline Alig) Ch Margaret; Metamora R3 Worth Sec 6 O157a (1846) Meister, Leo (Pearl Wagner) Ch Eileen, Madlon, Louise; Metamora R3 Partridge Sec 32 T500a Lena Wagner (1888) Rufing, Joseph (Clara Zilm) Ch Ruby; Benson R1 Clayton Sec 19 T100a Mrs A. Rufing (1874) Historical Directory of Woodford County, Illinois 1893: (Name, Business, Township or Village, Section, Post Office, Nativity, When Came to County} Gangloff, J.J., Farmer, Partridge, 36, Metamora, Illinois, 1843 Gries, Adam, Farmer and Stock Raiser, Linn, 23, Benson, Germany, 1856 Meister, Geo, Farmer and Stock Raiser, Partridge, 26, Chillicothe, Germany, 1845 Meister, Geo, J., Farmer and Stock Raiser, Worth, 6, Spring Bay, Illinois, 1849 Patron's Reference Directory of Woodford County, Illinois 1912: Gangloff, Henry, Farmer, S 1 T, Partridge, P.O. Cazenovia Gries, A.L., Farmer and Stockraiser, S 23 T, Linn, P.O. Benson Amy Robbins-Tjaden atjaden@mindspring.com amy@tjaden.com

Hi, Does anyone have any birth, marriage, death dates or spouse's names on these Woodford county people? Andrew Rufing's children: Joseph Frank Rufing b11-1874 d1949 Phoebe (Saraphine) Rufing b4-1878 Husband--Burke Slain George Meister's children: Anna Meister b abt1879 Adolph G Meister b7-9-1880 d11-1965 Andrew Meister b1-1883 Adam Gries's child: Mary B (Mae) Gries b1-31-1888 d1964 Louis Gries's child: Marie Gries b2-1898 Does anyone have any dates for Joseph P Reiter, who was married to Elizabeth Rufing, and his children? Does anyone have any dates or spouses names for Wendell Schultheis's children? Gertrude Ellen Margaret Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks Gene

Hi, Does anyone have any birth, marriage, death dates or spouse's names on these Woodford county people? Andrew Rufing's children: Joseph Frank Rufing b11-1874 d1949 Phoebe (Saraphine) Rufing b4-1878 Husband--Burke Slain Gerge Meister's children: Anna Meister b abt1879 Adolph G Meister b7-9-1880 d11-1965 Andrew Meister b1-1883 Adam Gries's child: Mary B (Mae) Gries b1-31-1888 d1964 Louis Gries's child: Marie Gries b2-1898 Does anyone have any dates for Joseph P Reiter, who was married to Elizabeth Rufing, and his children? Does anyone have any dates for Wendell Schultheis's children? Gertrude Ellen Margaret Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks Gene

Note: www.ancestry.com has just released a new data base entitled "Woodford County, Illinois, Illinois Prairie District library, obituaries, 1887-2000" Take a look. I've found several of my ancestors listed. Happy hunting. John E Fischer Cincinnati, OH

Looking for info on ElPaso, IL family of Irish origin. Grandpa Edward Maskel was born 1866/67 in ElPaso area. He had 3 siblings, Matthew, Patrick and Margret. He suggested that there were other children who had died. We don't know his mother or father's name. All the children lived in Streator, IL as adults. The siblings used various spellings for the surname. (Maskel, Mascal, Maskal) It is possible that the real spelling could be one of the above or Meskil, Maskil, or Miskil. Family rumor says that the 2 older boys left home because of a stepmother. We have found in the Woodford County Almshouse Register a record of admittance for Jackson Maskil(age55?), Patrick Maskil(11) and Margret Maskil(8) in May, 1984. We know Patrick was "bound out" that month to a Danner family of Palestine township. We think because of the ages of these 2 children that they may be our relatives, but we can't be sure. Any information you might have would be appreciated. Charlotte Gautschy

"Woodford County, Illinois, Illinois Prairie District library, obituaries, 1887-2000" This lists: Name: GERTH, Charity Gender: Female Birth Date: 16Dec1861 Death Date: 28Mar1941 My information shows her as Charity ASHANDER, b. 18 Sep 1862, died 28 Mar 1941. This is from 22 June, 1880 Census, hand copied in 1979. Occupation, servant, in home of Christian Gerth. Any clues as to which of the Gerth sons she married? Sharon

Enjoy John E Fischer Forwarded>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> 8. HUMOR: What is a Genealogist? ------------------------- Thanks to Andrew Billinghurst billingh@rootsweb.com who says he saw it on the KENT-L@rootsweb.com mailing list WHAT IS A GENEALOGIST? A full-time detective A thorough historian An inveterate snoop A confirmed diplomat A keen observer A hardened skeptic An apt biographer A qualified linguist A part-time lawyer A studious sociologist An accurate reporter An hieroglyphics expert, AND . . . A complete nut! PERMISSION TO REPRINT articles from ROOTSWEB REVIEW is granted unless specifically stated otherwise, PROVIDED: (1) the reprint is used for non-commercial, educational purposes; and (2) the following notice appears at the end of the article: Previously published in RootsWeb Review: Vol. 5, No. 4, 23 January 2002 and written by [author's name, e-mail address, and URL, if given].

Does anyone know anything about Polly Beckett at Minonk, Illinois. She was an orphan, and she came to the US with her uncle, Arthur Dawn Scott. If anyone knows about her, please contact me. Thanks, Cindy Pickard

I'm looking for information about Mary Scott and Charles Dunham. They immigrated from England to Minonk, Illinois. If you have any information, please, contact me. Cindy Pickard

Hello, I am wondering if someone has access to the 1860 Census Woodford Co., am looking for John and Katrina (Katherine) KUHN. Believe they lived in or near the township of Metamora... They moved there from Kane Co. IL abt. 1856. Any help sincerely appreciated... Sharron Redden

I'm going to start combing through the book I have, Benson Centennial 1873-1973, and was wondering if anyone needed me to look for any of their names while I'm looking for my own. It's mostly a collection of photos (the 70s ones are sometimes a real hoot) and business ads with some history of the area, including but not limited to its churches and banks and some of the businesses. And there are just bits and pieces like a list of Centennial Farms (those that have been in the same family name for 100 years or more) and another list of people who were married fifty years or more when the book was published. There are a number of unidentified group photos that just beg to be identified. Anyone want to help with that project? They range from the pupils of Benson High School in 1917 to one entitled "Benson Woodsmen taken in Benson's Early Years" to just men in hats. Hope to hear from others with Benson ancestors/families. Amy Robbins-Tjaden atjaden@mindspring.com amy@tjaden.com

Sharon and anyone else interested in Gerth/Geirth/Girth-- I don't know what happened to all the siblings of this family, but this appears to be them in the 1870 census. There were only seven children at that point. 1870 census - Montgomery Twp, Woodford Co, IL Dwelling 51, Family 51, page 385B Girth, Christian, 70, farmer, born Prussia Alice, 52, keeps house, born Penn Alexander, 26, born Ill John, 23, born Ill Mary, 28, born Ill Edward, 20, born Ill [?]ogloff, 17, born Ill Hanna, 15, born Ill William, 10, born Ill Pittinger, Liddy, 25, domestic servant, born Ill And here are the people listed with Christian and Alice in the 1880 census - Montgomery Twp, Woodford Co, IL: Dwelling 135, Family 135, page 573A Gerth, Christian, 79 Alice, 62 C. Edward, 29 C. Volesco [??], 26 H. William, 20 Alexander Charles, 18 [note: this entry lists him as a servant and no relationship to head of house is listed] Maybe something here will be a clue to try to track down these siblings? Amy atjaden@mindspring.com amy@tjaden.com

Using a search engine, try typing in "<Surname> Funeral Home." <Surname> General Store <Surname> Blacksmith <Surname> Dry Goods .......etc. I thought it sounded funny but tried it. I found a whole line of family that had a web site and loads of history on it. I emailed them and we compared notes. It was great for such a "funny idea." Sharon Albright Moeller

MISHLER/BROWN/DAY/RUSH/JONES/GERTH-GEIRTH I am looking for ANY connections to these families from Woodford County and Tazewell County. (Yes, you have heard from me before!) I now have more names added and some new information I wish to share. My long lost Charles BROWN has been found! He was born in New Jersey. A nice lady in Wisconsin found him for me, listed on the Federal 1880 census in Rock Island, Illinois. He was a carpenter that apparently traveled around a lot doing his work. He was married to Mary Eleanor Gerth. Mary Gerth's parents are in Woodford County census records. Parents are: Christian Gerth and Alice (Day) Gerth. Their marriage is listed in Tazewell County, 19 Mar 1840. The name was listed with a different spelling: GEIRTH. I found it searching marriage records in IL with the name DAY. According to a relative that did research 20-some years ago states that Alice Day was born in PA about 1818 and her father was born in England. I do not have his name yet, or location in PA of birth of Alice Day. Listed below is the info I have, and at the end some requests. Any family web sites that you may know of that I could search would be extremely helpful. For those asking about my mother, Dorothy Carstedt Albright, she lost her battle with ALS (Lou Gehrig Disease) on November 1, 2001. I promised her I would keep up the search. Thank you for asking about her. If anyone has not yet used or visited http://www.findagrave.com please do so! It's a wonderful web site where you can add your own family. One interesting feature and fun reading is the "Famous People." It list many from your own state. Illinois had a long list. Woodford County: GERTH Christian Gerth, b. about 1800, Prussia. He sailed to every major port in the world for 22 years before he settled down with Alice Day in Woodford County. Alice Day, b. abt 1818 in PA. Children of Christian and Alice Gerth: Mary, b. 1842 Leonidas (?sp) b.1844 John b. 1848 Edward b. 1850 Cagle b. 1853 Theodore b. 1855 (twin) d. 18?2 or 18?3 Harrison b. 1855 (twin) Hannah b. 1858 d. 10 Dec 1867 William b. 1860 Now, what happened to the surviving Gerths? Mary married my Charles Brown! What Day family did Alice Day come from? I found a Henry C. Day in some land records for 1838. Does anyone have a connection to Alice or Henry, and are they the same family? BROWN Charles Brown b 1826, NJ. Both his parents born NJ, married Mary Gerth. This from 1880 Fed Census: Census Place: Rock Island, Rock Island, Illinois Source: FHL Film 1254246 National Archives Film T9-0246 Page 510B Relation Sex Marr Race Age Birthplace Chas. L. BROWN Self M M W 54 NJ Occ: Carpenter Fa: NJ Mo: NJ Eleanor M. BROWN Wife F M W 38 IL Occ: Keeping House Fa: PRUSSIA Mo: PA Emma A. BROWN Dau F W 15 KS Occ: At Home Fa: NJ Mo: IL Charles A. BROWN Son M W 14 MO Occ: Laborer Fa: NJ Mo: IL George W. BROWN Son M S W 3M IL Fa: NJ Mo: IL Anna PETTIT Other F S W 14 IL Occ: At Home Fa: IN Mo: OH Looks like Charles L was from New Jersey and b 1826 with both parents b NJ. NOTE: My records show names as Charles W. Brown. Also listed is Eleanor M. Her correct name was Mary Eleanor. Some census records show her as Mary A. Charles and Mary's daughter, Emma Alice Brown, married Douglas Rush. I have a Rush file going back many generations if anyone needs it. RUSH: Joseph Rush, born Abt. 1796 in Pa; died Abt. May 1873 in Woodford Co, Illinois; married Anna Duvall. Son of Joseph and Anna Rush: Nicholas Rush, born Abt. 1824 in Franklin Twp, Smith Creek, Greene Co, Pa; married Jane Brown. Children of Nicholas and Jane Rush: Joseph b. 1851, PA Sara Jane b. 1854 PA Mariah E. b. 1856 PA Douglas b 1861 IL Jane E. b 1876 IL ( late life baby or belongs to someone else?) Douglas Rush married Emma Alice Brown in Leavenworth KS, in 1889. They had two children: Mary Jane Rush, b. 1890 IL Anna Alice Rush b. 1891, Pekin, IL. (MY GRANDMA!!!) Douglas Rush died of Tuberculoses around 1894 in Woodford County, IL. My aunt said she visited the grave many years ago. My hand written info from relatives say he is buried at a place called Hallam Burying Ground, 3 miles south of Eureka. I found HALLAM on census records. Was there a family connection between HALLAM and RUSH? Emma Alice Brown Rush married Abraham Mishler, 6 Aug 1894, I believe, in Tazewell Co. Abraham Mishler b. 16 Oct 1863, IL. Died 16 Feb 1929. (Samuel Mishler and Naomi Jones are parents of Abraham Mishler.) Emma died 1 Jul 1953 at Dakota, IL (Stephenson Co.) I believe they are both buried at Freeport City Cemetery, Freeport, IL (Stephenson Co) Now then....where are all those Woodford County Mishler and Rush decedents? My hope and dream would be to find a family or community member with a picture of Douglas Rush! He died when my grandma was so young and she had one tiny picture of him when she was young. No one knows what happened to that photo. But alas! That means if there was ONE photo, there my be others. If you got this far and didn't fall asleep, THANK YOU! Any one wanting those Rush files I have, just ask. Later I will post a list of names IN that file. Everything in this letter pertains to my mother's side of the family. The web site listed below is my father's side. I am including it because there seems to be many connections between Stephenson County and Woodford and Tazewell County, IL. Sharon Albright Moeller http://www.albrighttree.com

URGENT REQUEST!: Now that we are over the holidays, This years is our 350th Anniversary of the landing of the Swartwout family in North America. The name has many variations such as Swarthout, Swartout, Swartwood, Swathwood, Swarthwood etc. We need help in gather lines, pictures, articles, wills, what ever you have stashed in your attic. We would really appreciated it if you shared with us what you had, there a literally thousands of us here looking for our roots, looking for connections. For our 350th Anniversary we need to updated our list of folks out there that are descendants somewhere along the line of any of those variations. We also have a family newsletter that cost only $5.00 per year, a real bargain. Just send it your mailing address. Every day I get e-mail asking me for help. Up here in Canada, there were two brothers that had huge families, all the remains of their descendants are the female sides. All the male went back to the States. I'm am the maintainer of "The Updated Swartwout Chronicles" People submit their lines-ged-coms etc. and I just drop them into the data base. It is everyone's database. Each person is responsible for their own submissions. It is not copyrighted. Kathy kathyhoeldke@sympatico.ca ldyk@hotmail.ca

Amy & List, Thank you for posting this. I research the Tool line and have a copy of this; however, if someone is researching the DeBolt line am wondering if they have anything on Matthew & Margaret DeBolt Tool's children, etc. If so, I would love to trade information. I have some information on one daughter, Julia A. Tool but I don't have anything on the rest. Mickey in Iowa -----Original Message----- From: Amy Robbins-Tjaden <atjaden@mindspring.com> To: ILWOODFO-L@rootsweb.com <ILWOODFO-L@rootsweb.com> Date: Saturday, December 29, 2001 10:08 AM Subject: [ILWOODFORD] TOOL, DEBOLT in Metamora >I posted the following biography on the Woodford Co message board hosted by Rootsweb/Ancestry in response to a query there and remembered that someone on this mailing list is researching DEBOLT so I'm sending this to the list in hopes that the DEBOLT researcher is still subscribed and will see this. > >>From The Past and Present of Woodford Co, Illinois (1878): > >Tool, Matthew, proprietor of "Home Flouring-mill", was born in Augusta County, Va., Feb. 22, 1829. When he was about 5 years old, his parents removed to Tazewell Co., Ill.; he was raised on a farm until he was 18 years of age, when he learned the trade of a carpenter, which he followed about twenty years. He came to Metamora Township in 1849; settled in the village in 1858; built the Home Mill in 1868, and has been engaged in the milling business ever since. He was married June 29, 1854, to Miss Margaret Debolt, who was born in Greene County, Penn., March 27, 1831; they have five children -- Alice E., George H., Mary E., John W., and Julia A. He has held the offices of School Director and Commissioner of Highways. > >Amy >atjaden@mindspring.com > > > >==== ILWOODFO Mailing List ==== >To unsubscribe: Send a message with only the text UNSUBSCRIBE in the body to ilwoodfo-L-request@rootsweb.com [for mail mode] or ilwoodfo-D-request@rootsweb.com [for digest mode] >

Amen to that, Amy. I also have found them very helpful, and when I arrived on a day that they were closed, someone at the library, which is across the street, called them, and someone arrived to open the building. I admit that I have not been as supportive as I need to be, but my New Year's resolution.... Ellen Rowan Taylor > > > > I just found out from the webmaster of the Woodford Co Historical Society website that the membership dues for that Society have not been raised for 2002. So, if anyone wants to join or renew their membership, the dues are only $7.50. You can find an application for membership by going to http://www.eureka.lib.il.us/community/wchs/ and then clicking on the link for Membership Application. > > Though the WCHS is rather small and doesn't publish newsletters or similar things, many of it's members were a huge help to me last year (including finding me out of print books) and I'm proud to be a member myself. Maybe if more of us joined, we could make it bigger and better and more helpful to more people? > > Just a thought from snowy North Carolina. > > Amy Robbins-Tjaden > atjaden@mindspring.com