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Archiver > ILJOHNSO > 2004-01 > 1074223820
From: Bill <>
Subject: [ILJOHNSO] Little Egypt Heritage, 15 January 2004, Vol 3 Special Edition #01
Date: Thu, 15 Jan 2004 22:30:20 -0500
Little Egypt Heritage Articles
Stories of Southern Illinois
(c) Bill Oliver
15 January 2004
Vol 3 Issue: Special Edition #01
ISBN: pending
Good Evening Ladies and Gentlemen of Little Egypt,
I never pulled much that my parents didn't know about. It
is not that I informed them, but years later when certain
tales came out, they knew a lot more than I ever wanted them
to know [at least at that time]. Well, there were stories
about them that when they were told in family gatherings we
children, grandchildren and cousins would giggle with glee
and our eyes would sparkle.
My Dad was born and raised [pre-teen] in "Little Egypt".
His Dad in Sulphur Springs [Creal Springs, today] and his
Mom in West Vienna [Boles].
One thing about that is that he never forgot his early
childhood and had very strong feelings about the area and
the people. Oh, he would say that they always called
Williamson county "Bloody Williamson", however he'd add,
"... not the folks I knew!"
Since our daughter passed from this life between Christmas
and New Year's just past, I was reminded of the above each
time one of the family and/or friends mentions the wonderful
things they remember about Sarah.
Along with this, I found, in my readings this week, the
following words which I quote sections of from, Milo Erwin's
"The History of Williamson County, Illinois, From the
Earliest Times, Down to the Present", Marion, Illinois,
1876, pages 87-88.
"I was born a farmer, and am therefore independent."
"I have known this people [Williamson County, IL folks] from
childhood. I believe, sublimated by education, they are
capable of attaining nobler hights than have usually been
ascribed to the people of ‘Egypt.' I not only glory in my
birth-place, but pass encomiums on the county, and say to
the world that from my knowledge of the public spirit of our
people, I can expect protection, honest dealing and liberty
...". "Linked to her by historic associations and proudly
treasuring the memories of my fathers, ...",,, "... and
invite an unsophisticated world to look with joy and pride
upon a county redeemed from crime, and sparkling with
brilliant gems of innocence and virtue. ...." "... and
prove to the world that our community is not composed of
outlaws and cut-throats, but of a highly intellectual,
honorable and moral people."
This was not said to hide or white wash what history has
recorded. Our people were [and are] human and products of
their times. Prejudices have changed and as have
attitudes. The peoples who represent our enemies change
with times and circumstances.
The historian, like the Mr Milo Erwins, looks at the daily
relationships of people and strips away some of the truly
repugnant deeds done by the person/s who committed them.
That which is left is the love for those who we call "kin"
and "neighbor". This is good so long as we can remain aware
of all of the facts.
Williamson County must record the "Vendetta" in all its
horrors, but remember that is was conceived by some leaders
and carried out by fiendish emissaries, not the people
themselves. My cousins and I must face some acts by kin who
in today's judgments didn't act in ways we would, but they
are kin and their everyday behavior had many good qualities
just the same. Probably they weren't as "wicked" as volumes
have been written about them, nor as "good" as my
interpretations.
e-la-di-e-das-di ha-wi nv-wa-do-hi-ya nv-wa-to-hi-ya-da.
(May you walk in peace and harmony)
Wado,
Bill
-=-
PostScript:
Other sites worth visiting:
http://archiver.rootsweb.com/th/index/SOIL
http://archiver.rootsweb.com/th/index/ILMASSAC
http://www.usgennet.org/usa/ne/state/BillsArticles/LittleEgypt/intro.html
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