<p><img src="images/stories/headston_webb_lazarus.jpg" border="0" alt="lazarus webb headstone" title="lazarus webb headstone" align="left" />Lazarus Webb and his wife Nancy Creek came to Illinois in 1812 with his brother Eli. At first they settled in Saline County, but soon changed to the north edge of Webb's Prairie, Franklin County.  There with the country full of wild animals and Indians, a dense forest on one side and prairie grass from 8 to 10 feet high on the other side, Lazarus built the first house ever built in the prairie and gave the prairie its name. He never saw fit to change his home any more but lived there until 1832 when he died. Lazarus was a farmer, a surveyor, and a Justice of the Peace. He and wife were members of the Regular Baptist church at Middle Fork. Both were ardent Christians and would go to church sometimes as far as Ten Mile Church which wa about twelve miles east of their home and both walk and carry a child, going one day and returning the next day. Sometimes they would both ride the same horse with a child on their laps.</p>
