For one hundred and fifteen years, that portion of Illinois that lies south of the old Vincennes-St. Louis Trace has been known affectionately as Egypt. The old road is no more. Travel today rolls along on U.S. Highway 50 or the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, both of which practically follow the old Trace. Twenty-eight counties make up Egypt, being those counties which lie south of the line of demarcation or are cut by it.

In all the history books considerable space is given to “the winter of the deep snow.” That was the winter of 1830-31. Continue reading →