My other problem with Melisssa Parthenia Beavers being the daughter of James G. Beavers and Nancy James WAS the census record. The only one I had was the 1860 Ouchita County census Missouri Township, which lists the following family: J.G. Beavers 45 M Ten Nancy 36 F Ten Wm J. 15 M Ten Mary F. 13 F Ten Margaret 10 F Ten John 8 M Ark Missouri 5 F Ark Marilda 2 F Ark Marrietta 3/12 F Ark But then I was finally able to get the 1870 census, and darn if it wasn't an "Initial" roll. The census taker didn't write out ANYONE's full name! Lazy good-for-nothing grumbledy grumbledy . . . but here is what I find: Ouachita County, Missouri Twshp, pg. 346 Beavers, J. G. 55 m (TN) N.A. 46 f (TN) M.J. 21 f (TN) M.C. 20 f (TN) John A. 18 m (AR) M.N. 15 f (AR) M.E. 12 f (AR) M.P. 10 f (AR) M.A. 7 f (AR) If we take "M.P." to be Melissa Parthenia, it would be possible that in the previous census she was still a babe in the womb. This would make her a respectable aged 23 when her som Millard Orestes Walthall was born Jan 31, 1883. What would be my next step on "proving" that "M.P." is Melissa Parthenia? Thanks for any help, Gary Warner (in Birmingham, AL)