by David McKelvey | Feb 28, 2014 | Newspapers, Biographies, Blacks
This is from the Herald Tribune Newspaper. (reprinted in the Randolph County Genealogy Society’s Quarterly “Trails”) Robert Higgins – enjoying more than local fame as a hunter, moved from the vicinity of Kaskaskia to a place about two miles...
by David McKelvey | Feb 28, 2014 | Biographies
In 1872, Henry Herschbach established a wagon factory in Chester. This industry became a very important one, and many an older person in southern Illinois recalls the farm wagons with the name “Chester” painted proudly on the side of the wagon box.
by Randolph County Genealogical Society | Feb 28, 2014 | Biographies
When John Heard settled north of Chester in 1801, he was beyond the established settlements and for some time had no nearby neighbors.
by Randolph County Genealogical Society | Feb 28, 2014 | Biographies
Paul Harrelston came to the county in 1802 and settled near the mouth of Camp Creek. He later became, for a short time, one of the early sheriffs of the county and was influential in local affairs for several years.
by Randolph County Genealogical Society | Feb 28, 2014 | Biographies
Because of Indian unrest, only one settler is indicated as coming to Randolph County in 1811. This man was Michael Harmon who established a settlement near Palestine. Though he died within a short time, five sons carried on. This settlement later attracted numerous...
by Randolph County Genealogical Society | Feb 7, 2014 | Biographies
The tanning of leather continued for many years to be a local industry. William Gordon who came to the Sparta region in 1820, worked at the tanner’s trade. Robert Pollack also had a tannery nearby. Two fair-sized tanneries in one locality would seem to indicate a...
by Randolph County Genealogical Society | Feb 7, 2014 | Biographies
William Going was a blacksmith and bell maker who settled in the community known successively as Washington, Horse Prairie Town, and Lafayette; neither of which succeeded in growing into a village. William was a good blacksmith and bell maker but doubtless would long...
by Robyn Asimus | Feb 7, 2014 | Biographies
Most of my information is on the Gant and Crisler line and this came from J.B. Dodge, aged historian of Fort Gage, who wrote a series of articles for the News Plaindealer: He wrote the following: The Gant’s of the New Palestine and Diamond Cross communities descended...
by John Parker | Feb 7, 2014 | Biographies
Robert Foster, was born in Abbeville (Old 96 District), South Carolina in 1785. Robert came to Randolph County in 1808. He arrived on horseback with John Anderson. Their most probable route was via the Old South Carolina State Road to the North into the Cumberland...
by Randolph County Genealogical Society | Feb 7, 2014 | Biographies
Though Brewerville has never prospered as a village, it provides a point by which some earlier interests may be located. The lowlands between Brewerville and the Mississippi River once contained some of the finest kind of pecan trees. There were great groves of them,...
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