JAMES B. BOND is my GGGgrandfather who enrolled in the BLACK HAWK WAR from Jefferson County, Illinois. He was one of the five (5) persons from Jefferson County, Illinois who was killed at BATTLE OF KELLOGG'S GROVE near KENT, ILLINOIS in STEPHENSON COUNTY.

He is buried at the KELLOGG'S GROVE CEMETERY, a NATIONAL REGISTERY CEMETERY maintained by the State of Illinois.

His father ALLEN BOND is the Patriarch who is buried at the BOND FARM CEMETERY in FARRINGTON TOWNSHIP in JEFFERSON COUNTY, ILLINOIS.

He was in the SPY BATTALLION, under the command of Maj./Col, JOHN DEMENT (of Jefferson County, Illinois) and under the direct command of Capt. JAMES BOWMAN. This was while ZADOCK CASEY (of Jefferson County, Illinois) was Lt. Gov. State of Illinois. He was buried by PRIVATE ABRAHAM LINCOLN (who later of course was PRESIDENT LINCOLN).

I am presently, with the assistance of State Senator John O. Jones, trying to get the spelling of his name corrected on the individual monument at KELLOGG'S GROVE.

Dennis Johnson

WRIGHT BOND > ALLEN BOND > JAMES B. BOND > ALLEN WRIGHT BOND > SARAH C. BOND > SPEEDY JOHNSON > CLIFFORD JOHNSON > DENNIS JOHNSON

*NOTE* (a female descendant of Allen Bond) has been certified by the DAR for membership based upon the verified service of WRIGHT BOND.

JAMES B. BOND was initially discovered when reading the probate of his fathers estate of 1861. In it the young Allen Wright Bond (born 4 Feb 1831) was referred to as the son of James. Also it is known that Allen Wright Bond named his first child, JAMES A., most likely after his father. Also, it known that Allen Wright Bond named his second child, SARAH C. most likely after Viola's mother, Sarah (Bullard) Meador.

7 Oct 1997.. Have now discovered that a James Bond who fought in the BLACK HAWK war had a son named Allen who lived in Illinois and who filed for a dependent pension. I have sent for the records from Washington DC to try and determine if it is in fact this my James and is my Allen.

15 Dec 1997.. Have received twenty (20) pages of records from National Archives, and YES, YES, YES.. This is my JAMES B. BOND, and my Allen Wright Bond from FARRINGTON TOWNSHIP in JEFFERSON COUNTY, ILLINOIS.

THE PAGES DETAIL THE FOLLOWING:

"THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES "OLD WAR" WIDOW FILE NO 24712"

#1.. A letter dated 28 Dec. 1842 from Carmi, Il. authored by one Daniel Hay to James L. Edwards, Commissioner of Pensions, Washington City. The letter is as follows: " Sir:
I send you this papers is support of a claim for a pension for ALLEN BOND, SON OF JAMES B BOND, for a pension. WILLIAM DONOHO (dj's note: This would be William T. Donoho (the Uncle of William Riley Bond who was the half-brother apparently of James B Bond) the guardian, the affidavit of ALLEN BOND; the father of the deceased and MARY ANN BOYKIN, (dj's note: this would be the mother of ALLEN WRIGHT BOND, " MARY ANN HOLT"), who was his wife, differ six days as to the date of the marriage, it is an immaterial (sic) part I presume and we account for it as follows - ALLEN BOND lived in the WESTERN COUNTRY when his son JAMES was married in VIRGINIA; and he received his information by a letter from his father (Grand Father to JAMES), (dj. notes: the father of ALLEN BOND who is un-named) Who commenced his letter the day of the marriage and finished and dated it six days afterwards.

On behalf of the Mother of the boy (ALLEN WRIGHT BOND), I think it proper to make to you the following suggestion - The first section of the ACT OF THE 4TH JULY 1836 does not fix on a time for the commencement of the five years pension - It would be within your descretion (sic) to fix the time at the date of the death of the Soldier - If that time was fixed in this case MRS BOYKIN would be entitled to the benefit of the pension during the whole time of her widowdhood (sic), 3 years, 7 1/3 months amounting to $130.00 of the pension this was certainly the most trying time of her life. When She was a poor widow with two orphan children to take care of. Justice would seem to require that She Should get a Share of the pension - Again, If the pension had been applyed (sic) for during the lifetime of the girl. She would have entitted (sic) to half of it. and at her death the Mother would have been the heir of her daughter. at least to the amount of two thirds. she being the only Surviving parent -- MR DONOHO. the guardian is anxious that he Should be autherised (sic) to divide the pension when he gets it. between the wife & Son of the deceased. any instruction from you would be his authority for doing So. will you please to bestow a thought on these matter. and communicate the Same to me. I am Respectfully your obt Sevt DANIEL HAY"

#2 letter is as follows:
" January 24, 1843
On referring to Capt James Bowman's roll of Illinois Militia from 7 June 1832 to 16 Aug. 1832, JAMES B BOND (Private), Said Corp of Said period is Mustered Out as being DECD."

#3 letter is as follows:
" State of Illinois, Illinois Marion County SS Be it known that on the 28th day of December 1842 before the subscriber a Justice of the peace in and for the County aforesaid personally appeared MARY ANN BOYKIN and made oath in due form of law that her maiden name was HOLT, that She was married to JAMES B BOND on the 1st day of January 1827 (dj's notes: this would have to had been 1828) in BEDFORD COUNTY VIRGINIA, that She lived with him until She had two children. one daughter and one Son. the daughters name was ELISABETH (sic) was born on the 14th of October 1827 (dj's notes would have had to been 1828) and died about the 1st of June 1840 her Son is named ALLEN and is now living - he was born on the 4th day of February 1831 - that her husband, JAMES B BOND went into the Service of the United States in the year 1832 in a company of mounted volunteers in a company Commanded by Capt Bowman and never returned, but was killed by the Indians, and that She was again married to WILLIAM BOYKIN on the 4th day of February 1836.

Sworn and Subscribed the day and year above written MARY ANN (her X mark) BOYKIN EPHRAIM MEADOR, J.P."
(dj's notes, this is my great,great,great grand father, via; SPEEDY JOHNSON, SARAH BOND JOHNSON, VIOLA MEADOR BOND, AMBROSE MEADOR, EPHRAIM MEADOR) In presence of Daniel Hay

#4 letter is as follows:
Attests to the fact that it is in Marion County, Illinois; that EPHRAIM MEADOR, Esquire is a Justice of the Peace and that he is authorized to administer Oaths and that he did so to MARY ANN (HOLT) (BOND) BOYKIN

#5 Letter is as follows:
" State of Illinois Jefferson County SS Be it known that on the 25th day of October 1842 before the Subscriber Probate Justice of the Peace in and for the County aforesaid personally appeared CAPTAIN JAMES BOWMAN a credible person and made oath in due form of law, that in the year 1832 he commanded a Company of Mounted volunteers in the Service of the United States in a SPY BATTALLION commanded by MAJOR JOHN DEMENT, in what was called the - BLACK HAWK WAR - that JAMES B BOND of this County of Jefferson was a Private Soldier in his company, that in a Scrimish (sic) with the Indians at a place called KELLOGG'S GROVE, on the 25th DAY OF JUNE 1832, THE SAID JAMES B BOND WHILE IN LINE OF DUTY WAS KILLED BY THE INDIANS, BY BEING SHOT OR SPEARED AND SCALPED OF WHICH WOUNDS HE DIED ON THE DAY ABOVE NAMED,THAT THIS DEPONENT SAW HIM WHILE A CORPSE AND HELPED TO ENTER HIM IN THE EARTH.
(signed) JAMES BOWMAN, CAPT. in the late Black Hawk War."

#6 letter is as follows:
Dated: 31st day of October 1842; a statement of ZADOK CASEY (dj's notes: He was in the same outfit as JAMES B BOND and he was at that time the Lt. Governor of the State of Illinois) stating the validity of the Notary of Public who notarized letter # 5.

# 7 letter is as follows:
VIRGINIA: BEDFORD COUNTY
"I ROBERT O MITCHELL Clerk of the County Court of said County, do hereby certify that on the 28th day of December 1827, I issued a Marriage license to JAMES BOND for his intermarriage with MARY HOLT (a daughter of SPRADLEY HOLT) and that the following are true copies of the certificate upon which I issued said license, as alas the bond executed by said JAMES BOND to the Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia, on the awarding of said license:
" MR. ROBERT MITCHELL, SIR,
You will please to grant license to JAMES BOND and MARY HOLT to join together in matrimony, and oblige your (??) (signed) SPRADLEY HOLT, December the 26th 1827, Testr DREAD HOLT Know all men by these presents that one JAMES BOND and DRED HOLT are held and fimly(sic) bound us to WILLIAM B. GILES, ESQ., GOVERNOR or Chief Magistrate of Virginia, in the sum of one hundred and fifty dollars - current money of Virginia, to which payment will and truly to be made to the said Governor or his successor for the use of the Commonwealth of Virginia, we bind ourselves, and each of us, our, and each of our heirs, executors, and administrators, jointly and severally firmly by these presents sealed, and dated this 28th day of December 1827. The condition of the above obligation is such, that where a marriage is shortly intended to be had and solemnized between the above bound JAMES BOND and MARY HOLT. Now if there can be no lawful cause to obstruct the said marriage, then the above obligation to be void else to remain in full force and virtue

JAMES BOND (seal) DREAD HOLT (seal) Testr. ROBERT O. MITCHELL

I do further certify, that I find no return of the celebration of said marriage made by the Minister celebratin(sic) the same, of record in my Office, and I might also add, that Ministers of the Gospel frequently omit making such returns altho(sic) required by the law of the State to do so. In testimony whereof, I have hereto set my hand and affixed the Seal of said Court this 6th day of June One thousand eight hundred and forty three. (signed) ROB. MITCHELL, C.R.C."

#8 letter is as follows:
State of Illinois, Jefferson County "I EDWARD H. RIDGWAY, Clerk of the County Commissioners Court in and for said County hereby certify that, WILLIAM BOYKIN and MARY BOND were married by the Rev. NATHANIEL (?) ESKRIDGE(?) on this 4th day of February AD 1836, which facts appears from and in, matter of record in my office...... dated 29th day of October AD 1842." (it is then signed and then it is certified by ZADOC CASEY on the 31 day of Oct. 1842)

#9 letter is as follows:
"State of Illinois, Jefferson County SS Be it known that on the 29th day of October 1842 before the subscriber Probate Justice of the Peace in and for the County aforesaid personally appeared ALLEN BOND, SENR, a credible person and made oath in due form of law, that he had a Son whose name was JAMES B BOND, who was lawfully married, as the deponent does ____ believe, having been well informed, to MARY HOLT, on the 6th day of January 1827 (dj's notes: I believe was 1828, due to the records of ROBERT O MITCHELL in letter # 7) in BEDFORD COUNTY VIRGINIA, that they afterwards removed to this County of Jefferson (IL) where they lived together as husband and wife untill(sic) they had born unto them one daughter and one Son, the daughters name was ELISABETH (sic) and was born about, October 1827 (dj's notes: this was 1828 I do believe) and died in June 1841 (dj's notes: In letter #4, the mother said 1840), the Son was born on the 4th day of February 1831 in the despondents (sic) (Allen Srs') house, his name is ALLEN (WRIGHT) BOND and is now living, and is the only living child of said JAMES B and MARY. That his Son, JAMES B. BOND went into the service of the United States in the year 1832 as a Private Soldier in a Company of mounted volunteers commanded by Captain JAMES BOWMAN in the SPY BATTALION commanded by Major JOHN DEMENT and that he never returned, but was killed by the Indians on the 25th day of June 1832 at KELLOGG'S GROVE as will more fully appear by Captain BOWMAN'S affadavits(sic) -- that the said MARY (HOLT) BOND, widow of said JAMES B. was married on the 4th day of February 1836 as will more fully appear by the certification of the Clerk of the Jefferson County, (Il.) court." (dj's notes: This document bears the actual signature of ALLEN BOND, SR. signature).

#10 letter is as follows:
A certification of ZADOCK CASEY as to the reality of the Justice of the Peace.

#11 letter is as follows:
A LETTER FOR GUARDIAN prepared by WILLIAM DONOHO on the behalf of ALLEN BOND, a minor, as to his right of the proper division of his fathers estate.

#12 letter is as follows:
A letter dated February 2, 1932 from MRS. LOUIS F. HOWARD residing at 608 N. School St. Normal, Illinois to Mr. E.W. Morgan, Director of Pensions, Washington, D.C. In part says... that she is the grand daughter of ALLEN WRIGHT BOND (dj's notes: this is Allen Bond, Jr.) that her Great Grand Father JAMES ? BOND was killed in action in the BLACK HAWK WAR (1832) and that he had an infant son named ALLEN WRIGHT BOND and that his widow was MARY HOLT BOND. She goes on to say that she thought JAMES B BOND'S father was named James Allen Bond but she was unsure.(dj's notes: she was incorrect). She continued by saying that "neither do we know where they lived, nor from where he enlisted. But it may have been from Jefferson County, Illinos(sic), as that is where the son, ALLEN WRIGHT BOND (our Grand Father) lived".

She continued, "But we do know (from hearsay) just this one more thing: Sometime in the far distant past, ALLEN WRIGHT BOND (our grand father) RECIEVED from "SOMEWHERE" $5,000.00 in Gold, which "he buried in an iron sugar bowl, under a rose bush in his garden" NOW, his grand-daughters WONDER "WHERE" he got the gold from. Could that have been "PENSION" money on account of the service and death of his father in the Black Hawk War?"

IT'S THE JAMES ? BOND OR "JIM" BOND (WHOSE MIDDLE NAME WE DO NOT KNOW) WHO WAS KILLED IN ACTION, AND WHOSE HEART WAS CUT OUT BY THE INDIANS AND CARRIED ON A POLE, THAT WE ARE NOW INTERED IN. ...... and on.....

"P.S." What we are trying to do, is to trace our ancestors back to the Revolutionary War. If we can find that Our Ancestor, Jas or Jim ? Bond , who was killed in the Black Hawk War, is related to GOVERNOR SHADRACK BOND, the 1st Gov. of Illinois, tht(sic) is about all we would need. But all that we do KNOW is that our Mother's Grandfather was killed in the Black Haw War.
(dj's notes: this would make her the daughter of MARY E. BOND)

#13 letter is as follows:
(dj's notes: this is a very nice typed written letter in response to letter #12, written on 24 February 1932 from E.W. MORGAN, Director of Pensions. In this letter he has confirmed to her all the information contained in letters #1 thru # 11. He is however wrong in the use of the location of the Battle and the impending death of JAMES in that he reports the location of the Battle and death as KELLY'S GROVE instead of KELLOGG'S GROVE. I am confident of my facts in that it is referenced by Capt. BOWMAN in his statement and it is drawn as a battle site on the inside front and back cover of the book " THAT DISGRACEFUL AFFAIR", the BLACK HAWK WAR by CECIL EBY. It is also referenced on Page 61 of ILLINOIS VISITORS GUIDE "get a million miles from Monday", under the town of KENT, IL.

#14 letter is as follows:
"Carmi, Illinois 21st day June 1843 Sir, I sent you near six months ago the papers claiming a pension for the Son of JAMES B BOND. I now enclose to you, evidence of the marriage of BOND with MARY HOLT. The Clerk informs me that he cannot assertain(sic) that the license was ever returned by the Minister who Soleminized(sic) the marriage but that there are people now living in the County who where at the wedding - The minister who married them removed to Tennessee and there died. Will you please give this case your early attention and let me know the results. I am Respectfully your obt Servt .. Daniel Hay"

#15 letter is as follows: " 5/48 (May 1848)
ALLEN BOND son of JAMES B BOND, Private Illinois Militia, who was killed June 25, 1832
$ 3 per month to com; July 4, 1836, under 1st Section Act July 4th 1836.
Payable at Springfield, Illinois - to WILLIAM DONAHO (sic) guardian of ALLEN BOND.
Send cert: to D Hay Carmi, Illinois"
(signed by the letter) "E"

#16 letter is as follows: " ILLINOIS 4062 ALLEN BOND, Son of JAMES B BOND who died on the 25th June 1832 Jefferson Co. in the State of Illinois who was a Private in the Illinois Militia, subscribed on the Roll of Illinois as the rate of 3 dollars per month to commence on the 4th day of March 1836 Certificate of Pension issued the 20th day of August 1844 and sent to D Hay, Carmi, Illinois Arrears to the 4th of (blank) Payable to WILLIAM DONAHO (sic), Guardian of ALLEN BOND Revolutionary Claim Act July 4, 1835 Section the (?) D Brown .. C. Vol. 1, page 202"
(dj's notes: the paper was missing and torn before being copied, I guess that it reads;
FILED BY D. BROWN CLERK BOOK C, VOL. 1, PAGE 202
and could be more page #'s after the last 2 in 202.)

#17 letter is as follows:
" JAMES B BOND (Childrens claim under Act July 4, 1836, 1st Section.) WILL THE SECOND ___________ BE PLEASED TO CERTIFY WHETHER OR NOT IT APPEARS FROM THE ____ THAT THE ABOVE NAMED SOLDIER DIED WHILE IN SERVICE, AS ALLEGED?
Pension Officer, Jan. 9, 1843 J.L. Edwards"

That is all that I find important enough in the 20 pages to take up valuable space in this file. I now turn my attention to "THAT DISGRACEFUL AFFAIR" the BLACK HAWK WAR by CECIL EBY. I direct your attention to exact quotes from this book commencing on page 190 and continuing thru page 196.

"The first to arrive at Dixon's tavern were the volunteers of Major Dement's spy battalion, all of them exhausted and irritable after a three-day hunt for hostile along Bureau Creek. On the morning of June 23, having given them one night's rest, Taylor poled across to their camp and personally ordered them to Kellogg's Grove immediately, spicing his address with allusions to his past experience with cowardly, skulking citizen-soldiers. By the time the colonel had concluded his lecture, Dement later reported, the men "were almost ready to fight Taylor rather than obey him." They regarded themselves as an elite corps, representing the finest blood of Southern Illinois. (Dement was Treasurer; Zadock Casey, of his staff, was Lieutenant Governor; another aide, Stinson H. Anderson, was to become Lieutenant Governor.) Major Dement salvaged the pride of his battalion (and deftly proved that he could not be bottled with Taylor's label) by calling out, "Men! You need not obey his orders. Obey mine and follow me." He then swam his horse across the Rock (river) and his battalion followed. Taylor greatly relished John Dement and enjoyed telling brother officers how the volunteer major gave him his comeuppance." The Dement battalion of about 120 men rattled into Kellogg's Grove on Saturday evening (June 23) and, finding no spoor of Indian, passed Sunday in hunting and idling about the oak grove. (dj's notes: Page 191 thru 193 record that BLACK HAWK himself is leading the war party. They have set upon the Apple River and have concluded their battle at that location and have now move to Kellogg's Grove where Dement's battalion, containing JAMES B BOND is now located)

"Some time in the afternoon he then withdrew from Apple River and quickly moved toward Kellogg's Grove, where the rangers of John Dement's command were lazing away a rainy Sunday afternoon."

"On Sunday night a chance wayfarer from Galena brought Dement news that he had seen signs of Indians en route; but he had apparently learned nothing of the Apple Rive fight. On Monday morning (June 25) Dement ordered out a company to reconnoiter and to seek some horses that had strayed off during the night. The men spotted four Indians on the prairie, hooted the alarm, and chased them into a stand of timber where BLACK HAWK lay in ambush. The major and his staff, fearing a second STILLMAN'S RUN, dashed after the men, ordering them to come back. When they were a quarter of a mile from the timber, the Sauk opened fire, cutting down two rangers and driving the others back in a "tumultous retreat." The Indians, stripped to the skin and well mounted, charged the whites,, coverging from three directions. Major Dement and a handfull of stalwarts loosed a volley that temporarily halted the first wave of the attack and gave the company time to take refuge in the buildings of Kellogg's Grove." Over to one side, however, three whites on foot looking for their horses were chased and slaughtered by the onrushing Sauk.

"Like the men, the horses had huddled about the buildings. Knowing how difficult horses were to come by in that part of Illinois, the Sauk mowed them down in order to hamper the Chemokemon ability to fight as much as possible. Dement's men had to listen impotently as their mounts whinnied, reared, kicked, and galloped off to join the Indian ponies. When Dement's Batallion reappeared blinking in the light of day, a horrible sight greeted them. The whole grove appeared to be covered with dead, dying, and bleeding horseflesh. In all twenty-six horses had been killed, twelve disabled and eighteen run off. (This is the official count; some sources place the number of missing horses as high as fifty-seven. Half of Dement's battalion had been rendered horseless by the battle.)"

" AND THE FIVE DEAD RANGERS, ALL OF THEM SHOCKINGLY MUTILATED, LAY AMONG THE CARNAGE WHERE THEY HAD FALLEN LIKE BROKEN DOLLS."

(dj's notes: JAMES B BOND had to be one of the five as the notarized statement of CAPT. BOWMAN leaves little doubt that he was killed on this date and at this battle. Thus, we are left to question only which of the mortally wounded and scalped individuals he was; one of the two (2) cut down on the charge of the Grove or one of the three (3) rounding up the horses?)

" On the morning of June 26 an odd company under CAPTAIN JACOB EARLY, a Springfield circuit rider and physician, reached Kellogg's Grove. The impressions of PRIVATE ABRAHAM LINCOLN, who had enlisted in this company after ELIJAH ISLE'S twenty-day company had been disbanded, are worth recording:

" I remember just how those men looked as we rode up the little hill where their camp was. The red light of the morning sun was streaming upon them as they lay heads toward us on the ground. And every man had a round red spot on the top of his head about as big as a dollar, where the redskins had taken his scalp. It was frightful, but it was grotesque; and the red sunlight seemed to paint everything all over. {pause} I remember that one man had buckskin breeches on." " Lincoln at least saw out-and-out corpses. Few of the volunteers ever could boast of that."

(dj's notes: I am subject to speculate as to why JAMES B BOND saw fit to volunteer to fight this war. It is my bet that having recently relocated to the WESTERN COUNTRY, as it was called at this time, and given that he has arrived from VIRGINIA and having missed the excitement of being involved in previous settlement establishments, has been intrigued by the opportunity to make history. Given that he has now become associated with ZADOCK CASEY, Lieut. Governor of the State of Illinois, and one of the first to settle the area now known as Jefferson County, Il,, as is JAMES B BOND at the time of enlistment, and given the fact that his enlistment would only be for twenty days unless he chose to re-enlist, I assume he found it to be a big thrill. With little thought of the opportunity, if any, to end up a statistic and to only be referenced as one of the five dead rangers and not even being referenced by name in history, when there were only five names to recite."

13 August 1999:
Dennis and Janet Johnson visited Kellogg's Grove, the monument and the gravesite of JAMES B. BOND. THE MONUMENT: An Oblisk shaped monument of cement and stone with three tabloids being inlaid into the left, right and rear side. It reads as follows: THIS MONUMENT IS RAISED BY STEPHENSON COUNTY AD 1886 IN GRATEFUL REMEMBERANCE OF THE HISTORIC DEAD WHO DIED THAT WE MIGHT LIVE. WM. ASTER, CONTRACTOR

KILLED ON THE FIELD OF BATTLE 23.
NAMES AS FAR AS KNOWN
Ben J. Scott, Drummer Boy, Ames, Private
S. Howard, Sublette
Wm. Hall
J. Fowler
Crawford
A. Bond
Hallett
W. Allen
J. Black
A. Bradford
I. Meek
Savery
Flord
W.B. Makenson
M. Lovel
B. McDade, Corpl
Aaron Hally
F. St.Vrain, Indian Agent

1982 at the Sesquicentennial, put together by Mr. Sherman Virtue (the neighbor to the right of the Monument. His parents owned the property on which the Monument was located. More on him later.)

At the Sesquicentennial representatives of President Reagan were present from the Bureau of Indian Affairs in the person of the head of Indian Affairs a descendent of BLACK HAWK and the son of Olympic star runner (Thorpe), also present representing the Sac and the Fox Indians was the Chief of the tribes of Oklahoma who was brother to the Chief of Indian Affairs and also another descendent and the son of Olympic star (Thorpe). Where upon this day another monument was erected and dedicated to those killed in the BLACK HAWK WAR. The new monument reads as follows:

BATTLEFIELD OF KELLOGG'S GROVE WHERE WAS FOUGHT JUNE 25, 1832 THE DECISIVE BATTLE BETWEEN THE FORCES OF THE U.S. AND THE GREAT INDIAN CHIEF BLACK HAWK. U.S. FORCES COMMANDED BY COL. JOHN DEMENT. Flatchtemeier Monuments-Freeport

State of Ill & U.S. Dept. of Interior Nat'l Park Service have listed Kellogg's Grove in the National Registry of Historic Places June 23, 1978.

Kellogg's Trail completed in 1825 ( then there is a drawing of the location of the inns and the trail and an indicator as to the two miles to the battle ambush site.

The inscription goes on to read: MOST OF THE FIGHTING TOOK PLACE FROM THE CABINS TO TWO (2) MILES WEST WHERE BLACK HAWK HAD SET UP A "CUSTER LIKE" AMBUSH. ABE LINCOLN WITH MILITIA MEN FROM DIXON CAME THE NEXT DAY IN TIME TO BURY COL. DEMENT'S SOLDIERS KILLED IN COMBAT. Kellogg's Grove - 56 acres Battlefield designated on National Register of Historic Places W. DC. 1978

THE HEADSTONES THAT ARE INSIDE THE MONUMENTS IRON FENCES AND ARRANGED IN TWO ROWS TO THE BACK OF THE MONUMENT ARE AS FOLLOWS:

Row closest to stone (L-R)
WILLIAM ALLEN, PVT. 1 ILL. MTD VOL.
JAMES BLACK, PVT. 1 ILL. MTD VOL.
JAMES B. BAND, PVT. 1 ILL. MTD VOL. ( I am having new stone made to replace the incorrectly spelled stone - DJ)
ABNER BRADFORD, PVT. 1 ILL. MTD VOL.
MARCUS RANDOLPH, PVT. 1 ILL. MTD VOL.
ROBERT MEEK, PVT. 1 ILL. MTD VOL.
THOMAS SUBLETT, PVT. MTD. RIFLEMEN
SAMUEL CRAWFORD, PVT. 3 ILL.
MOSES HALLETT, PVT. 27 ILL.
WM B. MAKENSON, 6/11

The first five individuals were killed at the Battle of Kellogg's Grove. All others were killed and buried in make shift graves where the fell. All were later recovered and all persons shown hereon are now buried at this site in one (1) container.

Farthest from the Monument (L_R)
BENJAMIN SCOTT, PVT. MTD. VOLS. 6/11
GEORGE EANID, PVT. MTD. RIFLEMEN 6/7
BENJAMIN McDANIEL, MTD. VOL. CORP. 6/16
MICHAEL LOVELL, PVT. MTD. RIFLEMEN 6/17
STEPHEN P. HOWARD, MTD. RIFLEMEN 6/17
JOSEPH H. FOWLER, PVT 3 BRIG MICH MIL.
AQUILLA FLOYD, IOWA MIL.
WILLIAM HALE, 1st SGT. IOWA MTD. VOL.
FELIX ST.VRAIN, U.S. INDIAN AGENT 5/22/1832

The dates appearing behind various names signifies the date of death.

During our visit, we had the opportunity to meet and visit in the home of Mr. and Mrs. Sherman Virtue. Mr. Virtue and his family has long been the catalyst which has caused the site of the Monument to be maintained and he is the cause of it being placed on the National and State list of historical sites. His family once owned the land on which the monument is located. He is the individual responsible for the Sesquicentennial, the invitation to the President, and the erection and dedication of the new monument. He indicated to me that precedent to his death that he was going to dedicated the balance of the monument area inside the fence to the monument so that the grounds would not be reduced in size.

Mr. Virtue was born in the house in which he resides today. He sleeps in the room in which he was born. He took the time to take Janet and I across the road and show us where KELLOGG'S TRAIL was actually at. He showed us and we could readily see where the road was cut into the hillside. We were also able to see where the trees had leaned due to the road undercutting them. The road and the area always having been a part of his life. Mr. Virtue also told us of his Great Uncle taking him across the road and showing him the road bed and explaining the significance of the road, the battle and of that era to his family and their continued existence. He said that his Great Uncle wanted that no member of his family would ever forget the importance of what had happened there. He also had a vast amount of hand written materials which had been written by his Great Aunt but we did not have adequate time for me to read through all of it.

Mr. Virtue was very happy to have the opportunity to have met one of the descendants of one of the men who was killed at the Battle of Kellogg's Grove. I believe that the appreciation that we showed him for the work that he had done made it all quite worth while. I can not overstate the appreciation that I have for Mr.& Mrs. Sherman Virtue and the efforts that they have gone to to have my Great-Great-Great Grandfather remembered and honored.

Mr. Virtue joined Janet and I in our car and we traveled to two (2) miles West of his home and the monument to the site of the Ambush. It was readily apparent to anyone who understood the impact that the road had and how it was cut into the hill and prairie as the sleds of Iron ore were pulled along it, where the road had been. He showed us where it pulled off the road we were traveling and where it had headed for the "GROVE" where the "Custer Like" ambush was ready and awaiting. He was able to take us to the field and the Grove where our JAMES B. BOND was struck and killed. Another neighbor of his, who is now deceased had until his death owned this property and he had remarked to Sherman Virtue and to others at the Bank of Kent, that it was in this grove that the ambush has transpired.

Mr. Virtue had PLATES which had been made in honor of the ORIGINAL MONUMENT DEDICATION and of the SESQUICENTENNIAL which I was able to purchase from him. In addition an original painting of the combining of these two events was made into 500 prints. Mr. Virtue allowed me to purchase four (4) of these numbered prints.

Things to do:
HISTORY OF STEPHENSON COUNTY, PAGE 41-49 need to obtain copies thereof. The History of Stephenson County located at the Brehm Library in Mt. Vernon, Il. is not the correct publication for the pages I need. Need to write to Stephenson County, Freeport, Il. to obtain copies.

Also need ILLINOIS MAGAZINE VOL.25, #5, Sept-Oct 1986 issue.... has article on Kellogg's Grove on page 5,6&7.