Notes from the White County Historical Society as they appear in "The Carmi Times."

Copyright ©1998 by "The Carmi Times" Permission to reprint granted to Laurel Crook and the ILGenWeb by Tammy Knox, editor, "The Carmi Times."

Aug. 31, 1998

Last week this column gave an account of a boat passage on the Great Lakes which was documented in a letter written in 1836 by Esther West Conger to her brother. A copy of this letter is in the files of the White County Historical Society. The trip was perilous and slow. The letter continues:

"The boat had lost so much time she would not go to Portland on her way back, and those who wished to land there must wait for the next boat which was expected to leave there next morning.

"However, I went to visit...a friend and was kindly received. I found also a Mrs. Moon with whom I was acquainted in Pennsylvania, a milliner and dressmaker who was doing good business.... Went to a prayer meeting Tuesday and Wednesday evenings, as there was no boat in.... Thursday at 9 a.m., I went on board the Hincary. A little after dark I arrived in Sandusky and found friends on the wharf.... I now learnt what I had indeed expected, that my friends...and husband had been very anxious about me...." (The last of the letter has been lost.)

Also in this file is a page of dates. There is no documentation, but these seem to have been copied from a Bible.

Esther West b. Sept. 4, 1796 d. Apr. 14, 1882 m. Mar. 20, 1814 to Enoch Conger b. Feb. 15, 1791 d. Apr. 17, 1872

Issue:

Flavia Alcina b. June 10, 1815 d. Aug. 5, 1869

Omar Dwight b. Apr. 1, 1817 d. July 11, 1895

Weltha Terisa b. Mar. 19, 1819 d. Nov. 2, 1859

Williston Kingsbury b. Oct. 6, 1821 d. July 22, 1900

Seymour Beach b. Sept. 27, 1825 d. Aug. 7, 1864

Enoch Greenwood b. Oct. 25, 1827 d. May 31, 1846

Mary Esther b. Feb. 23, 1830 d. July 31, 1831

Everton Judson b. Apr. 25, 1834 d. summer, 1918

Mary Frances b. Aug. 3, 1836 d. March 7, 1857

Chauncey Stewart b. Jan. 24, 1838 d. July 24, 1916

After Enoch Conger retired as a circuit-riding Presbyterian preacher in Ohio, he and his wife, Esther, came to live with Judge C.S. Conger in Carmi until their deaths. They are buried in the Old Graveyard in Carmi. Tombstone inscription: Enoch Conger and Esther West, his consort.

The Genealogy Library is open from 11 to 5 on Wednesdays.
Write us at PO Box 121, Carmi, IL 62821.

Notes from the Genealogy Library
White County Historical Society
located downstairs in the Ratcliff Inn, downtown Carmi

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