Regulators in Clay Co., IL.: THOMAS Harris Posey township, Clay county. *********************************** Indian Settlements: EARLY SETTLEMENTS AND PIONEER NOTES. The earliest settlements in the county were necessarily made on the higher lands, largely on the bluffs and knolls along the river and other streams. At that day the lowlands and flats were entirely too wet for settlement and cultivation. The pioneers planted their habitations upon the seemingly most inviting and promising dry spots, shunning, as prac- tically worthless, the lands which by the lapse of time and the arts of civilization, have become the most desirable and valuable. Usually, a spring was sought, the location of which determined the point of settle- rient. Many of these originally preferred and selected sites for homes are now the least valuable lands in the county. An additional reason for the first settler, or squatter, choosing to plant his primitive cabin on the elevations, or bluffs, adjacent to the streams was that such a location afforded him the more convenient facilities for fishing and trapping, his reliance, in part, for a livelihood during the first years of his experience in the wilderness. It is generally conceded that to David Thomas belongs the honor of having made the original settlement on Eel river, on the bluff on which his son, James P. Thomas, lived up to the time of his death and where James M. Campbell now resides. As nearly as can be ascertained, he came there in the fall of 1818. Two years prior to that time, Mr. Thomas came to White river, near the present site of Spencer, and was also the first white man to settle within the bounds of Owen county. In the spring of 1819, Samuel Rizley came from Knox county and located at the point which we have already designated. Here, on the 13th day of February, 1820, was born to him a daughter, Eliza Rizley, the first white child born within the territory of the county, who was later the wife of Simeon Stacy, residing on the river, near the place of her birth.etc...yada, yada, yada...more can be read at <A HREF="ftp://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/in/clay/misc/early2.txt"> early2.txt at ftp.rootsweb.com (FTP)</A>. Sandi Pixley