ILEDWARD-L Archives

From: DONNA COLYER HUNT <>
Subject: [ILEDWARD-L] Prairie Albion Book
Date: Tue, 2 Mar 1999 22:52:45 -0800

Rich and others

The book Prairie Albion by Charles Boewe is readily available for sale at the
Stewarts Store, 5th St Albion IL 62806. It is also available by interlibrary
loan

As to the prairies and a current map. If you are familliar with Albion, think
back to
driving west towards Fairfield, just past the Massilon Rd - the area was and
still is
the prairie, tho many houses are there now. Due to the farming, its difficult
to "see"
the prairie as it once was, but again, stopping along the Bone Gap Rd, between
Rt 130 and the big curves, looking to your right or left and you have the
prairie
as it is today, crop covered but gently rolling area, with few trees.

In some spots the prairie grass still grows along the roadside.

If you are interested in further reading -

Flowers History of the English Settlement by George Flower (pub c1880 many
years after his death)

Compilation of Letters of an English Gentlewoman, letters by Eliza Julia
Flower.
to her nephews about life in the settlement.

Notes on a Journey from Va to ILL territory by Morris Birkbeck

Letters from Illinois by Morris Birkbeck
''
Two Years Residence in the Settlement on the English Prairie in the Territory
of
ILL. by John Woods (written c1820) a diary kept as Woods traveled from London
to Albion.

A Pioneer Family: the Birkbecks in ILL by Gladys Thomson - again a compilation
of letters from the Birkbeck family to family remaining in England.

Yes the settlement of Albion is in exactly the same spot as was surveyed and
agreed upon by Flower, Ronalds and the others. (their names escape me).
Tho much larger now, the square area is exactly as they planned it, and began
building. None of the houses from the early days remain, seems the last was
destroyed in the 1950's I believe. Tho pictures do exist at the Hist Society.

I was raised in Albion, tho I was born in MD, my dad and his entire family were
born and bred in Edwards Co. My line is Colyer, 2 brothers that were on that
first shipload of immigrants in 1818 from Surrey Co England. But thru marriages
I connect to a large number of lines within the county.

My family data is printable from database on page below.

I visit Albion on a weekly basis due to having family still there. If I can
help in anyway just let me know.

Rich - note for you - I worked for serveral years for Jakes Tire Co in Mt
carmel
and well remember Halliburton and their grey and red trucks! Nice to meet you

The settlement of Wanborough which was actually thefirst settlement no longer
exists except for a nicely cared for cemetery, approx 2 mi from Albion itself.

NEW EMAIL -
Donna Colyer Hunt
808 E DeYoung
Marion, Il 62959
Colier/Collier/Collyer/Colyer Homepage
http://www.midamer.net/users/colyer5

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• [ILEDWARD-L] Prairie Albion Book by DONNA COLYER HUNT <>