My 2nd great grandfather and mother and probably their 3 small daughters and grandmother's brother traveled to Fulton County, Illinois in 1861 (as nearly as I can tell). Searching around a bit, I read that the rivers were closed to commercial traffic in 1861. Would someone have had to have a pass to travel by train from Ironton, Mo to St. Louis, and by steamboat to Havana, Illinois? I had wondered if they traveled that way, or to Ste. Genevieve and boarded a boat. If they did require passes, would there be any record of them still?
I suppose they also could have just taken a wagon and crossed on a ferry, too. That probably wouldn't have required a pass.
Thanks-
Pamela Hahn Pierce