by Randolph County Genealogical Society | Mar 1, 2014 | Biographies
Pierre Menard, with his brothers, Hypolite and Francois, came from Quebec to Kaskaskia in 1790. Hypolite became a successful farmer. Francois became a distinguished trader and flatboat operator on the Mississippi. Pierre remained at Kaskaskia and became a wealthy...
by Randolph County Genealogical Society | Mar 1, 2014 | Biographies
The name of Archibald McNabb is a prominent one in the early English history of Prairie du Rocher where he settled in 1800, having come from Kentucky. Seeing the need for leather, he established a tannery, and McNabb’s tanning yard was a prosperous business for many...
by Randolph County Genealogical Society | Mar 1, 2014 | Biographies
Stacy McDonough was a venturesome and picturesque figure who came to Randolph County in 1797. He had served with the Kentucky militia against the Indians in several campaigns. He served with St. Clair, “Mad Anthony” Wayne, and Clark in other campaigns. At times he was...
by Randolph County Genealogical Society | Mar 1, 2014 | Biographies
An increasing number of settlers required some regular means of travel. To fill this need, John M. McCutcheon established an early day stage line from Chester to St. Louis by way of Sparta. Carrying passengers and mail, these stages operated on schedule for many...
by Randolph County Genealogical Society | Mar 1, 2014 | Biographies
About 1816 James McClurken came to Sparta. He settled a short distance southeast of town. McClurken was a rather versatile business man. We find him establishing or interested in numerous ventures: a cotton gin, a woolen mill, a castor bean press, a steam gristmill...
by Randolph County Genealogical Society | Mar 1, 2014 | Biographies
The blacksmith and gristmill operator were two persons very necessary to the prosperity of a pioneer community. William McBride was blacksmith (1804), and Robert McDaniel (1816) became miller of the community lying southwest of Baldwin.
by Randolph County Genealogical Society | Feb 28, 2014 | Biographies
When Henry Levens came to the Horse Prairie Settlement about 1800, he brought a large family of sons and daughters. Though they were good and substantial citizens, they might have been forgotten long ago had they not been in one way a most unusual group. Most of his...
by Randolph County Genealogical Society | Feb 28, 2014 | Biographies
Major LaCompt, one of the leading citizens of Prairie du Rocher, kept a store and operated a horse mill for many years. The mill began operating about 1800.
by Randolph County Genealogical Society | Feb 28, 2014 | Biographies
Intending to establish a rather large farming and trading business, Pierre La Clede had come to the region of Fort Chartres in 1763. Upon his arrival he learned that the territory had recently been given to the English. Not wanting to settle in English territory, he...
by Randolph County Genealogical Society | Feb 28, 2014 | Biographies
Elias Kent Kane, a native of Vermont, came to Kaskaskia in 1814. He was influential in the formation of the government of the state and served in various public offices, being a senator from Illinois at the time of his death.
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