Opinion

The Ben-Hur Literary Club was organized on Oct. 25, 1901, by some of Ramsey’s upper crust ladies, and has been identified as one of the longest continuous organizations in Illinois.

The object of the club, as stated in their "constitution," was to "advance the knowledge of literature and promote the art of conversation."

Mark Twain wrote of his Western travels in the book, “Roughing It.” Twain said that the men he traveled with had three subjects on their mind – "Californy, the Nevada silver mines and the desperado, Slade."

Twain wrote, “From Ft. Kearney west, he was feared a great deal more than the Almighty. Mothers used his name to strike terror in the hearts of their misbehaving children.”

Someone asked the other day how I found ideas for the articles that appear in this column.

That is an interesting question. A subject can be suggested by a photograph, a biography of a person, the history of a town and even questions from our readers.

Fayette County’s recorded history begins in scattered histories of Illinois, the "History of Fayette County," published in 1878; followed by the "Pictorial History of Vandalia, Illinois," in 1904; and the "Encyclopedia of Illinois and History of Fayette County," from 1910.

Along with contributing a weekly history column for The Leader-Union, I also answer genealogy and history questions in a “Queries” column published bi-monthly in The Ramsey News-Journal.

A question from Ron Marsh of Pullman, Wash., prompted me to look closer at the family of Zelah F. Watwood, who homesteaded along Boaz Creek (Ramsey Creek) in the 1830s.

Ron had found the family living in Fayette County in 1840 and 1850, but Zelah was not mentioned in the 1855 Illinois State Census records. Ron questioned what happened to him. Had he moved on?

Last week, I wrote of my work to compile a list of War of 1812 veterans buried in Fayette County. Beginning with seven names, the list had grown to 11 by publication time.

After receiving her newspaper, Lucille Fisher telephoned to remind me of the War of 1812 veteran marker in the Pilcher Cemetery for Winslow Pilcher. Winslow served in Captain G. Smith’s Company of the Virginia Militia.

Given the roller-coaster ride that those of us in the media have been on this past year, it’s more appropriate than ever to pause and take a deep breath during National Newspaper Week.

And as we do, it’s time to take stock of this always fascinating but sometimes maddening institution in which we toil.

Last Tuesday evening, my friend Bill Wilson, president of the Hill’s Fort Society, telephoned to remind me that I had promised him a list of War of 1812 veterans buried in Fayette County.

This sounded like something I would do, and the fact that Bill needed it for a talk on Saturday, Sept. 19, at the Society’s “Living History Days” in Greenville, spurred me to begin my research right then and there.

As construction work advances down Gallatin Street, the rebirth of Vandalia’s downtown is becoming more apparent each day. Much of the underground infrastructure work is now complete, and workers are preparing to pour the second block of concrete street surface.

There’s a lot to be excited about as a new and improved downtown Vandalia gradually takes shape.

The late Dr. George Ross published a history column in The Centralia Sentinel newspaper, and from time-to-time my friend, Emory Meador, would hand me an envelope stuffed with some of Dr. Ross’ articles that he thought would interest me.

One of these was a compiled list of 42 Marion County inventors. I came across this list the other day and thought to myself, if Marion County has 42 inventors, then so does Fayette County.