The Cairo bulletin., 1907-04-18

10 be Americans are names OF Daniel
and Elijah Flannery and Samuel Han.
ley Those government records seem
TO clearly establish the existence and
identity Of the McElmurrys and Elan
lnarys as those officially recognized as
early Illinois settlers, entitled TO lands
on account Of improvements made by
them thereon prior to the year 1883.
Were these the same identical Me.
Elmurrys and Flanarys who made the
settlement and built the first house
at or near Santa Fe? To find light
upon this point have made care
| fui examination Of the records in the
office of the recorder OF deeds for Al
exander county | there find recorded
in Boock G of Deeds, on page 1872, a
k"Land Grant" from the United
States Of America by Martin Van Blu
rem. president confirming to the
heirs of Thomas Flannery the title 10
claim 500, survey 527. containing 400
acres of land his improvement
claim under act Of congress above
referred TO confirming the decisions
lof the commissioners in favor Of the
claimants of land in the district of
KaskaslSia, This patent was evident
ly procured after the death of Thorn.
as Flanary to perfect title to the
land. ANA was not recorded here until
! 1863
In Book y of Deeds, on page 127,
Elijah Flannely and Samuel Henley,
| to Isaac and Jacob Flannery, convey
I ing 1900 acres OF land In the county
OF Johnson and Illinois Territory, IN
herited, as stated In the deed, as heirs
lof Thomas, Joshua and Abraham
Flannery, deceased. These three last
mentioned are undoubtedly the same
Flanarys whose grants were confirm
Ed for four hundred acres each on ac-
count Of improvements made prior to
1888. SO much for the Flanary
grants. A part of this land now be-
longs to Ex Sheriff James $. Roche.
Unmistakable evidence of the Me
Elmurry family also appears on the
county records, II will be remember
cd. as already stated that the names
Ios John McElmurry and John Nc
Elmurry. Jr, appeared on the list Of
land grants confirmed TO early Illinois
settlers The junior was doubtless
dropped by clerical oversight from
the name Of the younger McElmurry,
leaving land in adjoining tracts be
longing 10 two different McElmurrys
This condition OF affairs led to much
confusion in the recorded Transfers
OF the lands, and many explanations
appear in the subsequent deeds found
necessary by lawyers and conpeyan
GERS to straighten out the tangle.
The first record involving the Nc
Elmurry grant is a quit claim deed.
transcribed In Book "A and p" of
Deeds. on page ), from John Harring
on and wife and son, to one John
Shradcr, conveying 200 acres Of land
lying and being on the Mississippi
River, in the Illinois state. II being
the south end Of 400 acres granted to
John McIslmurIy, Jr which has been
sold for taxes and is now in the hands
of John Shrader This deed Ii dated
April 2, 1919. and the consideration
lamed is -Four Hundred Gallons Of
Wbskey' Judging from the consid
grafton we are forced to tho conclu
lion hat either the land was excep,
fionally poor or the whiskey unusual
iy good. Probably the latter. As
the deed was made out in louisville. /
il was most likely OF the Kentucky /
brand although ii would seem that |
was the favorite here NJ |
'hal period. Governor Reynolds tells |
rs that in the middle ages OF Illinois |
the Monongahela whlsl1ey reigned tri |
lmphant, and was hailed at shooting |
patches ana horse races as The poor
mans friend the lndest ana the
nest Yet adds the historian,
"the Illinois people were never in
aarly times Incorporate
Another conveyance. reco ded IN |
Book of Deeds on page l07, dated
Sept %. 1899, is from one Absolom
Mcllmnrray, one Of the lawful heirs
lf John Mcllmurray deceased. to
James Massey. and il conveys "i0a
'eres of land, being the same tract Of
and on which the town of Santa ne
$ located or laid Out. and lying and
icing opposite he head OF an Island
fConpldpd IN Fourth pagp