Thursday, February 28, 2013


Christian County Genealogical Society

presents their “annual Speaker Event

Sunday, March 10, 2013 at 1:30 pm

(Location will be in the ’Pence’ building on the grounds of the 
Christian County Historical Society)
______________________________________________

Local attorney & Civil War Historian Tom Doyle will be speaking on the:

“Sultana” - Death on the Mississippi

Tom will also bring an up-date on the 'Long' family of Taylorville, IL.
 _________________________________

Also speaking will be Katie Spindell ‘Chairman of the Board of Directors’ of the


2015 Lincoln Funeral Coalition 
on upcoming events for the coalition



This Event is made possible by the generosity of the Christian County Genealogical Society and is Free to the Public

A printable PDF of this event is available here for off-line viewing and telling others.   


Thursday, February 7, 2013


A NEW BOOK
The Fifth Illinois soldiers "Prairie Boys Go To War"
by: Rhonda M. Kohl


It is with great pleasure that I've gotten to correspond with book author Rhonda M. Kohl. About two years ago she had called the Christian Co. Historical Society asking if we might have a photo of William Skiles, (a Taylorville, IL. native in which the Society had published, a now out of print book titled "Letters to Home"), so that she could use the photo in her new book "Prairie Boys Go To War". I looked, and yes we did which I copied and sent to her.
Rhonda informed me a couple of weeks ago that her book "Prairie Boys Go To War" had been printed and was available for sale on these sites:




About the Fifth Illinois Cavalry between the years 1861 to September 1865.
Rhonda offers the only modern, comprehensive analysis of a southern Illinois regiment during the Civil War.

There is also a 'Roster' listing available (click on Roster) for viewing.

Rhonda M. Kohl is also on Facebook and has a Facebook page for her book: 
The Prairie Boys Go to War: The Fifth Illinois Cavalry, 1861-1865
 Please 'Like'  to have updates available on your FB page


Wednesday, April 4, 2012


Christian County Genealogical Society will host Regional Author for Civil War Discussion

The Civil War in Illinois will be the topic of discussion for a free speaking program sponsored by the CCGS at 1:30p.m. on Sunday afternoon, April 15 in the Pence building on the grounds of the Christian Co. Historical Society.

Carlinville author Tom Emery will present the program, which will cover a wide array of topics relating to the Civil War in the Land of Lincoln. The one-hour discussion will include the following subjects:

  • Leading figures of the Civil War from Illinois,
  • Illinois men in key Civil War battles,
  • Life on the Illinois home front, including divisions between North and South,
  • Top fighting units from the State of Illinois,
  • Civil War prisons in Illinois,
  • The importance of Illinois to the Union effort.


The program will also include information on Christian County in the Civil War, including some of the top personalities and events from the county during the "war of rebellion".

An accomplished speaker and public address announcer, Emery has fourteen book and booklet titles in print, many of which will be available for sale following the discussion. He has been featured in newspapers across Illinois and is currently completing a large-scale print and web history of the Illinois State Library.

There will be a Chicken Noodle dinner served by the Christian County Historical Society prior to the program. Serving from 11:00a.m. until 1:00p.m.

Some original documents of Company 'H', 14th Regiment, Illinois Volunteers organized by Captain Andrew Simpson at Taylorville, IL. in th month of May 1861 will be on display.
For the location of the Christian Co., IL. Genealogical Society click on 'Visit our Website' for a link

Thursday, March 15, 2012

Sunday April 15, 2012 
1:30pm
Guest Speaker

Tom Emery, noted Civil War speaker will be our guest speaker, and, of course speaking on the Civil War.
     Tom's talk will be held in the Pence building on the grounds of the Christian County Historical Society & Museum.
     The Christian Co. Historical Society will be hosting a Chicken & Noodle luncheon from 11:00am to 12:30pm for those who would like to eat before Tom Emery's talk. 
     A small fee will be asked for for the Chicken & Noodles with the Genealogical Societies Guest Speaker being Free.