Statehood of Illinois, formation of county topics for Hancock County Historical Society meeting on Saturday

CARTHAGE, Ill. — The Hancock County Historical Society will welcome Vietnam-era U.S. Navy veteran and historian Reg Ankrom, who will speak about “The Statehood of Illinois and County Formation” in the Carthage Community Center, 301 W. Main, at 7 p.m. Saturday.

Ankrom’s interest in Abraham Lincoln led him to a 10-year study of Stephen Douglas. The results have been two award-winning biographies, and Ankrom is working on the final volume of his three-volume biography of Douglas. He recently edited an anthology about Adams County founder John Wood. Ankrom’s other historical literature has shown up on the pages of numerous books, journals, magazines and newspapers. He speaks frequently about Douglas and Lincoln and pre-Civil War American history.

Another early Illinois story by Ankrom will address the day Hancock County was organized, Jan. 13, 1825. The General Assembly established Adams and Schuyler counties that same day.