With his newest book Justin Taft, Jr. continues to build on his previous success. As I Saw It was well received by the Rochester community as a colorful and engaging look at Rochester during the 1930s Depression. Whereas his first book included humorous recollections of town characters, community leaders, escaped convicts, gypsies and chicken thieves The Tafts of Rochester, Illinois focuses on the Taft family itself. Through this book Justin Taft continues to share his insight on life in the early days of Rochester. Unlike his previous work, this newest effort is professionally researched within its historical context. The westward migration and acquisition of land by Vermont to Rochester families is explored. Previously unidentified relationships between migrating Vermont families are documented. Each of the Rochester Tafts is traced through vital records, census listings, land transactions, family letters and bibles. The author annotates the book with early Rochester photographs and Taft family heirlooms, never forgetting to spin his signature folktales, adding depth to our understanding of the lives of his ancestors and many other early pioneers of Rochester. The Tafts, and their associated families, were some of the earliest settlers in Rochester. They were active in the political and social structure of the fledgling community. Their impact on Rochester's development is a must read for anyone interested in the history of Sangamon County.

Assistant Surgeon James A. Black takes the reader on a seldom traveled journey--a fourteen hundred sixty-one day excursion--as he participates in the American Civil War. During his sojourn the Union soldier openly shares his observations, his joys, his concerns, and his frustrations, as he provides the reader with tremendous insight into the daily lives of soldiers in their camps and on their campaigns some one hundred fifty years ago. Black and a contingency of Southern Illinois men enlisted in the Union Army October 6, 1861. The 49th Illinois Infantry Regiment was mustered into service December 31, 1861, briefly trained at Camp Butler, near Springfield, Illinois, and was engaged in combat by February, 1862. The regiment remained active in the Western Theatre of action for the duration of the war. Although the diary does not offer revolutionary revelations about the war or its generals, it does present interesting and revealing perceptions about the conflict, especially concerning the impact on soldiers involved in prolonged military engagement. Black s perspective as a Civil War soldier is unique in many ways. For the first year he wrote with the view of an enlisted infantryman, while the last three years he viewed events from the eyes of a commissioned medical officer. In addition, James Black, a good soldier, was a strong believer in the Union cause, a religious man, and a moralist. In many ways his thoughts reflect the times and yet many thoughts do not necessarily follow conventional Civil War wisdom. The diary is completely unabridged and void of interpretation or comment by scholars. Simply, the diary is James personal story as he lived it.

Volume 3, Part B, republishes Donna Holt Siemiatkoski's work on the sixth-generation descendants of Gov. Thomas and Alice (Tomes) Welles. It extracts this generation's treatment from her Research Papers previously published for the Welles Family Association in 1995, 1996, and 1997, using the status of the manuscripts in 2001. These extracts are published as a service to genealogical researchers, so that the records held by the Welles Family Association are more readily available. Numbering of individuals has been updated to synchronize with Volume 2. Welles descendants were farmers, governors, senators, bishops, manufacturers, members of the French court, generals, sea captains, and other leaders in eighteenth and nineteenth century America. Family names found here include Wells, Welles, Bidwell, Curtiss, Hale, Hawley, Judson, Robbins, Shelton, Stoddard, Thompson, and Wolcott.

DELAWARE FAMILIES 1787-1800 By The Delaware Genealogical Society Delaware Families 1787-1800 is a commemoration of families who lived in Delaware during its earliest statehood, from the date it became the first state to ratify the new United States constitution until a new century began in 1800. These are some of the first families of the first state in the United States. This work evolved from submissions made over a period of years, principally from Delaware Genealogical Society members to whom the individual sketches are attributed. Its basic element is a three-generation family group, who lived in Delaware during the focus period "1787-1800," with vital data for each-dates and locations of births, marriages and deaths, and the sources documenting them. Delaware was a center from which many of these families followed migration routes in all directions, not only westward beyond the Mississippi, but also north and south along the Atlantic coast. Over 5,800 citations and the extensive bibliography will provide a valuable resource for this time period since the Delaware census has been lost. Also included is an index of 1,900 surnames, more than 8,000 names and over 100 enslaved or manumitted persons listed in association with these families.