Early days in Champaign County, IL, are recalled through a mixture of colorful tales, individual biographies and factual data in this new 8 1/2" x 11" spiral-bound book reproduced from the hard-to-find 1886 book: Pioneers of Champaign Illinois, originally published by the Champaign County Herald, and including excerpts from Illinois, a Descriptive and Historical Guide, a work of the WPA in 1939. The book is printed on 60# opaque paper. A vinyl sheet has been added to protect the three-color front cover. Among the subjects discussed are: Location of the county seat, County Commissioner's Court, County Officers, First School House, the Preemptor's Fight, Early Sunday Schools, Old Settlers' Meetings, and Interesting Incidents. There are histories for the individual Townships, with subjects like Indian Occupation, First White Occupancy, Diseases, Early Deaths, Schools, Mills, Physicians, Churches, and personal observations. Some of the writers of these histories were: J.O. Cunningham, F.B. Sale, C.H. Gallion, John Roughton, J.M. Harnit, H. J. Dunlap, A.O. Howell, and Rev. A. Bradshaw. Attention Genealogists: Besides the many names mentioned in the history portions of the booklet, there are biographies of many county residents of yesteryear. Each contains a drawing of the subject, and while a few are brief, most are lengthy, containing such things as ancestors, previous residences, children, in-laws, affiliations, war records, and business activities. These bios often shed light on the businesses, professions and institutions in the county. The biographies, alphabetized by the first letter of the last name, include: A.) Richard Allen; B.) Malinda Bryan, George W. Burton, Edward Blackshaw, Thomas L. Butler, James Boyd, John A. Benedict, Simeon H. Busey, John Brownfield, Fountian J. Busey, Rzin Boltin, Andrew Barr, Samuel Boyd; C.) David Cantner, J.O. Cunningham, Archa Campbell; Albert G. Carle, William N. Coler; D.) John W. Dodge, Harrison W. Drullinger, M.L. Dunlap; E.) George Ely; F.) W.J. Ford, W.J. Foot; G.) Z.E. Gill, Clark R. Griggs, John Gere, William S. Garman, William W. Graham, James S. Gere; H.) Thomas S. Hubbard, Dr. C.A. Hunt, Eli J. Heller, Moses D. Harvey, Eli Halberstadt, Asa F. Hays, Johnathan N. Howser, Rufus A. Harvey, Abel Harwood; J.) James Johnson, Samuel D. Jones, William H. Jaques; K.) Joseph T. Kelley, A.M. Kerr, Bernard Kelley, ; L.) Abraham Lincoln, Thomas Lindsey, Andrew Lewis, Morris Lowenstern; Thomas R. Leal, Alonzo Lyons; M.) Lewis A. McLean, John L. McCain, Giles F. McGee, Rev. William Munhall, Calvin R. Morehouse, Arthur W. McNichols, Dr. Phillip C. Mosier; O.) W.H. Owens, Samuel Osgood; P.) John T. Phillips, E.W. Parker, Benjamin P. Prather, J.B. Porterfield; R.) N.A. Riley, William Radebaugh, James T. Roe, John Rogerson, S.B. Radebaugh, William Redhed, Martin Rinehart, Rev. G.W. Riley, John Roughton, Henry W. Renner, Daniel Rugg; S.) Elisha Stevenson, David Silver, Alexander Spence, David B. Stayton, John H. Strong, James W. Somers, Wallace Silver, William D. Somers, William H. Somers, Fielding L. Scott, Abner W. Somers, Penrose Stidham, Dr. Winston Somers, F.B. Sale, William Sim, John M. Spencer, Francis M. Snyder; T.) John Thornburn, J.P. Tenbrook, John C. Thomas, James G. Thompson; W.) Randolph C. Wright, James S. Wright, George Wilson, Thomson R. Webber, James C. Ware and George G. Webber.


