Paw Paw bushes and Bloomington

"Third day 22nd [Tuesday, October 22, 1867] Came 16 miles yesterday. I had to lay in bed all day. Camped in a beautiful grove by a large Methodist meeting house & graveyard. Cool night. Very cool all the forenoon. Crossed the Mackinaw river. Beautiful sugar & oak trees. The little scrubby bushes we saw 12 years ago are now from 6 to 10 inches through & from 20 to 40 feet high, nice & straight. We are feeding & eating dinner by a branch 12 or 13 miles west of Bloomington. Saw some Paw paw bushes today. After dinner passed through Concord, a flourishing little place. Got to Bloomington before sunset. I think it decidedly the largest city in the west. Henry thinks it is fully 50 times as large as it was 12 years ago. We were directed on the wrong road from town & had to take the back track which made us after dark getting to a camping place. Made a fire in a lane by the side of an oak and sugar grove. Clear & cold."

Driving southeast from Morton, we crossed the Mackinaw River and headed for Bloomington. Here is a picture of the fruit of a Paw paw bush, something I have never seen in California.

We couldn't find Concord anywhere near Bloomington, but later discovered that Concord changed its name to Danvers in the 1860's. Ann calls it by its original name.

The cities of Bloomington/Normal are indeed thriving. My cousins had friends there, so we enjoyed lunch together. We found out that Bloomington/Normal is home to Illinois State University and State Farm Insurance, both major influences in the area.

The Midwesterners we have met are friendly, helpful, and really pleasant folks. Nice meeting you Bob, Bobbi, Wayne & Myrna!