The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.
CIVIL WAR -16TH ILLINOIS INFANTRY: Co.F 16th Ill. Inf. was mostly raised in Henderson County by a spontaneous formation of people volunteering.
Two young men in the north part of the county returning from church on Sunday, sat down under a tree with Saturday's Hawkeye full of war news and the fall of Ft. Sumter. They discussed the situation, deliberated on leaving behind aged parents who needed their care and the result was they resolved to go to Oquawka on Monday and enlist.
This is a sample of the patriotism which compelled men with the force of religious conviction to enlist. It was thus that this company was raised.
On May 9th in Oquawka it was organized with James Fritz of Terre Haute chosen captain, John W. Herbert of the same place as first lieutenant and James G. Stewart of Biggsville as Second Lieutenant. The company went with teams to Sagetown and from there on the train to Galesburg where the men stayed over night in a livery stable and proceeded to Quincy the next morning.
1882 History of Henderson County