This will be long and somewhat complex, but bear with me. I'm trying to identify this girl Laura Byrd. Background: In 1880 in Forkland, AL Dr. Alexander Hamilton Byrd was the census enumerator. He also lived in Dwelling #4 with his wife's sister and her husband. In fact the first 4 houses on the census were occupied by sisters and their mother. House #1 Harry Innes Thornton, age 32, Sallie Amelia Blocker Thornton (his wife, one of the sisters), age 30, John Blocker Thornton (their son), age 9, James Innis Thornton (their son), age 7, Harry S. Thornton (their son), age 4 months House #2 Amanda Albany Watson Blocker (the mother of the sisters), age 57 John Watson Blocker (her son), age 23 House #3 Frances Amanda Browne Inge (another of the sisters, a widow), age 42 Virginia Browne Inge (her daughter), age 17 House #4 - (2 families) Dr. Alexander Hamilton Byrd, age 31 Julia Watson Blocker Byrd (his wife, another of the sisters), age 25 Alexander Hamilton Byrd (their son), age 1 and Dr. Thomas James Turpin, age 30 Annie McAlpin Blocker Turpin (his wife, another of the sisters), age 27 Annie Blocker Turpin (their daughter), age 4 Fannie Amis Turpin (their daughter), age 1 Because of the loss of the 1890 census, we aren't sure what other children were born to this group of cousins. All we know for sure is that these 4 sisters and their mother were very close in 1880. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- By 1900 there families were situated thus: The families in House #1 & #4 (Turpin): James Innis Thornton (now the head of household), age 27 Harry S. Thorntom (his brother still at home), age 20 Sallie Amelia Blocker Thornton (James's mother, the sister), age 38 Annie McAlpin Blocker Turpin (Sallie's sister, now living with her nephew), age 47 Alice Ingram Turpin, (James's cousin, dau of Annie), age 18 The family in House #2: The mother died before 1900 and the brother moved away from Greene Co. The family in House #3: Fannie Inge had moved to Eutaw and now lived with her daughter Virginia Browne Inge Winn, a widow. The families in House #4: The Byrds had moved to Eutaw: Dr. Alexander Hamilton Byrd, age 55 Julia Watson Blocker Byrd (the sister), age 45 Amanda Byrd, age 19 Lavinia V. Byrd, age 17 Alexander Hamilton Byrd, abe 21 John Blocker Byrd, 16 Julia B. Byrd, age 15 Mariah Byrd, age 12 Everlin Byrd, age 6 Daniel Byrd, age 3 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- In April 1906, Alice Turpin in Forkland was getting married to Jim D. Webb in Eutaw. She wrote many letters to her intended over the years from 1897 to 1906 and frequently mentioned her best friend Laura Byrd. Since Alice frequently stayed with friends/relatives in Eutaw, I'm not certain where Laura Byrd lived, but it was either forkland or Eutaw. In April 1906 Alice told Jim D. she wanted Laura Byrd for her Maid of Honor. She also mentioned she wanted Amanda as one of the other Maids. Was this Amanda Byrd? Her cousin very near her age? It would make sense. It would also make sense if Laura Byrd and Lavinia V. Byrd were the same person. Julia Watson Blocker Byrd said she had 9 children, 8 of whom were living in 1900. All 8 of them are accounted for on the 1900 census. So can anyone answer my question about who Laura Byrd, around 20-26 and living in Greene Co., AL in 1906 might be? Thanks for your patience in reading this. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that someone will come up with a clue. Alice Campbell