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The word Illinois comes from the French word meaning "Illini or Land of Illini. It
is an Algonquin word meaning "Men" or "Warriors." Illinois was discovered in 1673, settled in 1720 and entered the
Union on 3 December, 1818. Illinois is surrounding by bodies of water on nearly every border: Mississippi River
on the west; Ohio and Wabash Rivers in the south and Lake Michigan in the North. The States that border Illinois are: Kentucky, Iowa, Wisconsin, Missouri and
Indiana. The first Railroad train crossed the Mississippi River on the river's first bridge in Rock Island, Illinois
on 21 April, 1856. The highest point in Illinois is Charles Mound in JoDaviess County, elevation, 1, 235 and the lowest
point is in Cairo, Alexander county at the Mississippi River, elevation 279.
Genealogy is interesting, but you need to see the old homeplace or cemetery with your own eyes. Gallatin County
may be one of the smallest counties in the state, in terms of both population, but it has to be one of the most scenic and
historic.
Off Site Link ~ Welcome to Illinois
Source: Smith's History (1912)
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