The Legends and Lore of Illinois

Lakey’s Creek – McLeasboro, IL
By Michael Kleen

Click here to download the entire issue!

The headless horseman of Lakey’s Creek is quite possibly one of the oldest ghost stories in Illinois.  Passed down as an oral tradition until John W. Allen put the story on paper in 1963, the mysterious man named Lakey, as well as his untimely end, has been immortalized in the folklore of Southern Illinois.  Like Seaweed Charlie, this ghost story may be preserving the memory of an unsettling event in local history.

Long before a concrete bridge spanned the shallow creek 1.5 miles east of McLeansboro, a frontiersman named Lakey attempted to erect his log cabin near a ford along the wagon trail to Mt. Vernon.  One morning, a lone traveler stumbled upon Lakey’s body.  Lakey’s head had been severed by his own ax, which was left at the scene.  According to legend, his murderer was never found.

But his story doesn’t end there…

What happens next? Click here to download the entire issue (.pdf) and find out!

Legends and Lore of Illinois Vol. 2 – on Kindle!

Or, order all 12 issues of the Legends and Lore of Illinois from 2008 for only $5.00 in a special Kindle edition. Places covered in Vol. 2: Archer Cemetery, Sunset Haven, Peoria State Hospital (Bartonville Asylum), Airtight Bridge, University of Illinois, Calvary Cemetery and ‘Seaweed Charlie,’ Lakey’s Creek, Peck Cemetery, Blood’s Point Road, Old Union Cemetery, Hartford Castle, and more!

Order it today on Amazon.com.

Note: Amazon Kindle required.

Legends and Lore of Illinois: Case Files!

Or, order our book, Legends and Lore of Illinois: Case Files Vol. 1 to get two years of the Legends and Lore of Illinois (2007 & 2008) in one paperback volume (8.5 x 11, with 140 pages and 24 haunting photographs).

With this new collection, you may enjoy the past two years of the Legends and Lore of Illinois distilled to its very best, featuring updated content. This unique look at Illinois ghostlore is presented in a fun, entertaining way that sheds light on the dark recesses of our imagination.

But that’s not all. Delve into the secret history of your favorite paranormal adventurers with two rarely-seen stories from the early days of The Fallen. Plus get a special preview of their next adventure: Black Willow Grove. This is the Legends and Lore of Illinois as you have never seen it before!

Sorry guys, this page is copyright Black Oak Press, Illinois, 2008. You do not have permission to copy this for any reason.  Please learn how to cite your work.