What is Munson Township like? (Normal, Geneseo: work, land, population)

[2you]

I am just curious.
I had family over there two generations ago.

[CarolL]

Munson Township, as in, Henry County?

[2you]

Yes Carol, it is in Henry County.

[CarolL]

I grew up in Cambridge, which is right next to it. I have family all over Henry County, so I've been in and thru Munson Township many, many times. (My mother lives in Geneseo.)

Not sure what info you're looking for...It's farmland: corn and soybeans. Rolling hills. I believe it's Munson Twp where there is a historical landmark on the site of one of the Black Hawk War battles.

[2you]

Thanks for your beautiful description of the region.

What I am looking for is not as simple. Normally I should do this via a genealogical society, what I tried but until now it didn't work.
I am living in Flanders in Belgium; i found out that the brother of my grandfather has immigrated to the states is 1913. He

[2you]

( continuation...)
He settled down in Munson Township and became farmer.
I found some old pictures of him on his farm with the cattle. His name was Richard B De Beir ( or DeBeir) and he died on the 27th of nov. 1959 and was, at the time of said death, a resident of Munson Township.

My question:
I don't know if he had any desendants and how I can obtain this information.

[CarolL]

I notice you said you tried to get information from a geneaological society. Did you try the Henry County Geneaological Society? Here's a link to their website:
http://www.rootsweb.com/~ilhcgs/index.html

Perhaps you can contact them with your questions. I Googled "Richard Debeir Illinois" and found several people by that name in Illinois. Perhaps you could try that, too.

The population of Munson Twp is only about 500, if that. It's completely rural -- no towns. There is at least one cemetery that I know of. I don't know the name of it (it's at the top of a hill with pine trees, and it's very beautiful and peaceful there), but it's so old that the road that used to lead to it from the highway is now little more than a cowpath.

The site of one of the many Black Hawk battles is marked by an inscribed stone on the side of the highway. I always marvel at the place when I drive by -- it's just empty rolling fields. Hard to imagine that Native American tribes fought there. (Actually, they fought all over that area for years over broken treaties and/or broken promises from the French, British and Americans.)

Good luck in your search. Let me know if I can help in some way.

[2you]

Thanks for helping me. I found my family in Geneseo.

[CarolL]

You're welcome. Glad you found them.