Hello everyone. I just joined the list and am looking for help tracing my family tree. I've tried tons of web sites and keep hitting a dead end. Here's my story: My father, Gene Ferguson, was the illegitimate son of Forest E. Beavers of Columbus, IN. and Bertha Mae Ferguson. When Bertha became pregnant, her father, Francis Marion Ferguson, ran Forest off at the point of a shotgun! (no shotgun wedding here!!) Forest moved to Santa Barbara, CA prior to WWII and worked for the railroad. At the advent of the war, he enlisted in the Army Air Corps and served in Europe. I believe he was in France when he recieved word that his brother Orville was critically injured in Italy when his tank was blown up. His CO would not grant him emergency leave to be with his brother, so Forest went AWOL! Somehow he managed to make it to his brothers side. Thankfully, Orville was going to make it! He was shipped to a stateside hospital where he was later discharged. I'm not certain how Forest rejoined his unit or whatever became of the charges against him. How about that.... one brother a decorated war hero, the other a criminal!! After the war, Forest married Leola M. (unknown) b. Jun 6, 1916 d.Aug 3 1989. He retired as a machinist with Cummins to his farm in Columbus, IN where he raised registered Black Angus cattle. Forest died in a VA hospital on Sep 8, 1978. (Must not have gotten a dishonorable discharge!) They are both buried in Riverside Cemetary, Seymore, IN. Forest was born to Jessie Beavers & Sophie Garlow on Sep 7, 1912. He had three brothers, Orville, of Muncie, IN. Ralph "John", of Freetown, IN. and Albert of Calif. He had one sister. A Mrs. Ollie Malson of Edinburgh,IN. I have been told he had a cousin out in Nebraska with the same name as his but with a different spelling. His was Forrest E. Beavers. Now you know almost all the info that I do! Any help with this would be greatly appreciated!!! Thanx in advance!!