Research on Captain Harley Wayne-- Part 1: The Parentis

From the May 30, 1987, Northwest Herald (McHenry County, Illinois)  "Resurrection took 31 years" by Jerry Kuyper.

Leo and Constance (Connie) Parenti of Union, Illinois, are the ones whose extensive research on the Wayne family are responsible for it still being here.  (Until June of this year, I had never heard of him, even though Union is just 30 miles from where I live.)

The material covered in these last several posts all came from one newspaper page from back in 1987.

Much material that was lost has been found by the couple, who back in 1987, resided in the old Wayne mansion in Union.

According to the Parenti's, "We probably know more about the family than today's relatives do."  Accumulating all this Wayne legacy has taken 31 years.  And, as a coincidence, Harley Wayne was only 31 years old (and 11 months and 15 days) when he was killed at the Battle of Shiloh.

The interest in Wayne began in 1956, when the couple bought and moved into the handsome red brick house with the circular drive in Union.

The search for Wayne history began soon afterwards.

--Old Secesh

Researching the Civil War-- Part 2

MAY 6TH-- MONDAY

On May 6th, I spent the afternoon in the research library at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library. I had wanted to find out what Illinois regiments were organized along the latter route of Route 66 during the war.

The librarian gave me a pamphlet put out by the Illinois Centennial Commission in 1962 which listed all Illinois regiments. Obviously, there were a lot of regiments raised in Cook County (Chicago), but every county along the route had at least one regiment composed primarily of companies from that county.

In addition, I also researched the Lake and McHenry county regiments (since I have lived in those two counties since 1975).

The library even has a multi-volume series on every Confederate soldier during the war. I researched both my family name and my mom's. I joined the Sons of Confederate Veterans based on her great-great grandfather.

Lots of Good Info in the Library. --Old B-Runner

Researching the Civil War-- Part 1

APRIL 30TH-- SATURDAY

After the SCV meeting and appearance at the Lincoln Home in Springfield, Liz and I drove out to the Camp Butler National Cemetery northeast of Springfield. We eventually found our way over to the Confederate burial ground (some 2,000 Confederates died here while it was a prison camp.

Confederate military gravestones are pointed, Union ones are rounded. Quite a few Confederates from the 10th Arkansas (Johnson's Regiment) are buried there.


MAY 1ST-- SUNDAY

Spent the afternoon in the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum. The museum is featuring the "Boys in Blue" exhibit on Illinois soldiers during the war. Lots of interesting stuff in it.

More to Come. --Old B-Runner