Goodspeed History of Williamson County Index Added to Site

Posted on by March 16, 2018
The local history book “The History of Gallatin, Saline, Hamilton, Franklin & Williamson Counties, From the Earliest time to the present, together with sundry and interesting biographical sketches, notes, reminiscence’s, etc., etc.” has been indexed for references to Williamson County only. The index was added to the Master Local History Index and was published in 1887 by the Goodspeed Publishing Company out of Chicago.
 
The new index contains 2,900 references to people, places, businesses, organizations, schools, churches and government.

Index to Williamson County Miscellaneous Court Records Added to Site

Posted on by March 7, 2018

The index to “Williamson County Miscellaneous Court Records, 1840-1903” published in 2002 by Mary Jo Moore has been posted on our site in the Master Misc. County Records Index and contains court records taken from the circuit clerks office found in the miscellaneous files. First forty pages are Coroner’s inquests and verdicts and the rest are varied cases ranging from divorces to adultery and murder. The index contains 616 new references.

Williamson County Will Book A & B Indexes Added to Site

Posted on by March 4, 2018
The indexes to two Williamson County Will books have been added to our Master Misc. County Records Index. Both books were re-indexed to add familial connections (i.e, Smith, John, son of James & Martha) where available and contain 1,538 references to people.
 
County Will Book A was published in 1998 by Violet Grisham and contains records dating from 1847-72. Will Book B was published in 2001 by Mary Joe Moore and contains records from 1867-97. Both books were transcribed from the county clerks office. The Will Books appear to have three basic functions: 1) Establish a last Will & Testament. 2) Establish an estate administrator or 3) Establish a guardian for your children in case of your demise.
 
The books can be telling in that wills not only reveal what a person owns but can also expose family rifts. The books can also point out who a person would trust not only with their estate but with the care of their children as well, which in itself can be revealing. Who would you trust with your children’s lives after you’re gone?

WCHS Ex-Board Member Passed Away

Posted on by March 3, 2018

Clarence De Mattei, 87, passed away Thursday, March 1, 2018, at 3:42 am at Heartland Regional Medical Center.

Clarence was born in his home in Benton, Illinois, on July 10, 1930, to Aldo Giuseppe Angelo (Joe) and Ernestine (Lovati) De Mattei from Cuggiono, Milano, Italy.

He graduated from Benton High School in 1948 and enlisted in the Navy. He returned and earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in education from Southern Illinois University in 1952.  His passions were woodworking, craftsmanship, drafting, construction, and athletics, and he had a positive impact on hundreds of students, athletes, and colleagues.  He married his high school sweetheart and love of his life, Mary Jean O’Hara De Mattei, in 1954.  He was blessed with six children, eight grandchildren, and great-grandbaby soon to be born.  Clarence relished every minute that he spent with his family.

Clarence was preceded in death by his wife, Mary Jean, after 63 years of marriage. Also, preceded by his parents, sister Theresa (De Mattei) and her husband William Barminski, sister Josephine (De Mattei) and her husband Richard Nash, brother Aldo De Mattei, brother William “Chick” De Mattei and his wife Vera (Austin), and one nephew Tommy Barminiski. Continue reading →