ILKANE-L Archives

Archiver > ILKANE > 1999-10 > 0939691824


From: "Donna Burns" <>
Subject: [ILKANE] A genealogical puzzle
Date: Mon, 11 Oct 1999 18:30:24 PDT


TO:
October 11, 1999

Hello Kane Listers,
This request is a genealogical one - but not of the usual sort.

I believe our Smith line or Weldon (aka Welden, Welton) line had some
connection in Kane county - likely near Elgin.

In the early 1900s Edward Smith would annually gather the whole extended
family from Chicago and other northeastern Illinois towns. They held a day
long event at a park near a river. Ed Smith had some connection with the
park that gave him special access.

For years we thought this was because the Smiths might have owned land
there. Land along the river. It was lost when the river changed course.

I have found nothing that is confirmable: not in the census, not in
directories, not in obituaries. And of course the search is complicated by
the surname being 'Smith'.

1. Is there a park along the river that was owned or partly owned by a
Smith or Weldon family?
2. Was there some special organization that had access to such a park?

3. Would a veteran's son or nephew have special access to such a park? Ed
Smith, born in 1862 in Will County, was too young to be in the Civil War,
but one of the Smith/Weldon family served in a Zouave unit (no idea which
one)

4. Also, the family had some connection with the Santa Fe Railroad or its
predecessor. Did the Santa Fe have offices or facilities in Elgin?

I've monitored (lurked about) the Kane-L list for over a year. The solution
is not popping out on its own, so I'm asking for your help.
Even if you haven't specifics, feel free to respond.

You have a great list. It's been fun lurking, uh monitoring.
Looking forward to your replies
Cordially,
Mike Burns

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