In a message dated 12/22/2003 5:07:39 AM Central Standard Time, mahan@hiwaay.net writes: Isn't it important to learn all we can about our ancestors, including what might have been happening in their daily life - not just as adults, but as children too? After all, this is what puts some 'meat' on the 'bones' of name, date, place, and event. Has anyone given thought as to how those early folks travelled from the east into north Alabama? My earliest folks came in in 1809. My g-g-grandmother went by stage or horse from Center Star, Lauderdale County, AL to Mount Pleasant, TN in the early 1840s to help a 2nd cousin with his children. His wife had just died and the youngest child was 3 weeks old. How far could a horse or stage travel in a day? Could this trip have been done in one day? If not were there places to stay along the way? Where did they get food? Where can I find the answers? Betty.