The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.
Pioneer life in early Henderson County was tough. The first year the Phelps brothers located in Oquawka they were expecting supplies to arrive via the river. However, that did not happen as an early winter set in halting boat passage so the family had to survive by pounding corn into meal in a piece of hollow tree and killing wild game for meat.
The bread was coarse but substantial and the game always plentiful; both William and Stephen were good shots having both rifle and shot gun to use. 1882 History of Henderson County