trees and fine homes, the center of some of the world's best corn land. It is fitting, we think, that a century later it should be known as the Capital City of the Corn Belt.
 
 

REFERENCES AND NOTES

1. We omit much about the building of the Illinois Central, recommending the book Main Line of Mid-America by Carlton J. Corliss, Creative Age Press, 1950, as this excellent work commemorated the 100th anniversary of the charter of that railroad, and it is available in the El Paso Public Library.

2. This cottonwood became the largest tree in El Paso. Robert G. Pierce took it down in 1946 to make way for his garage which now stands on the spot at the rear of his residence at 303 West First Street. When taken down we counted ninety-six rings on the radius of the stump.

3. They were Pvt. Willis S. Davis of Capt. Hubbard's Company, 5th Regiment of Virginia Militia; warrant No. 24,900 assigning him the east half of the southeast quarter; Corp. William H. Sadler of Capt. Felter's Company, 1st Regiment of Virginia Militia; warrant No. 38,412 assigning him the west half of the southeast quarter. (Vol. 4, pages 275 and 276, Misc. Land Grants.)

Pvt. Thomas Brumfield of Capt. Sower's Company, Virginia Volunteers; warrant No. 24,100 assigning him the east half of the southwest quarter; Pvt. Asa Wells of Capt. Bunn's and other Companies, with three separate services in the War of 1812 in Vermont Militia; warrant No. 40,028 assigning him the west half of the southwest quarter. (Vol. 6, pages 134 and 135, Misc. Land Grants.)

Many El Paso abstracts of title begin with the first entry waiving their prior rights to the land they assigned to Wathen and Gibson. Also see Land Grants To Soldiers, L. J. Freese and Milo Custer, 1913.

 4. Upon authority of Edward J. Riley of the Woodford County Abstract Co., Eureka.

5. Deed Record H, page 104.

6. Letter from Mr. John E. Lundholm, former T. P. & W. attorney, quoting the acts. Other valued information is from Mr. David L. Keith of that railroad, and Mr. Frank M. Cruger, genealogist and descendent of one of its builders.

7. Illinois As It Is, by Fred Gerhardt, Keen & Lee, 1856. He describes the Peoria, Bloomington, Champaign and Danville route as being planned for the eastern extension of the Peoria and Oquawka. The western end had been planned in 1851 and built in the following two years, but is not the line they use today. It is operated by the C. B. and Q., and the present western line of the T. P. & W. was built after our eastern extension. These transfers were involved in the financial troubles. Old Bloomington papers show much railroad interest and activity of the Allin-Fell-Davis-Funk and Gridley group.

 8. Deed record book J, pages 442-3. A copy appears in Original Town abstracts.
  1. James Huffy and William F. Buckner had dropped out of the group, leaving William H. Cruger, Charles A. Secor, Thomas C. Fields, Thomas A. H. Smythe, Samuel Gilman, Peter Sweat, Arthur Leary and the president of that date, George Clinton Bestor. Rudolphus Rouse had been president on
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