Fellow Behymer researchers: According to a reference I found in the Salt Lake City Mormon Library back in April of this year, Henry, John and Benjamin Beckelshymer left wills in Fulton County, IL. Sad to say, such is not the case, however, they did leave estates in Fulton County. Over 4 months ago, I wrote to the Fulton County Circuit Clerk requesting copies of the wills. They informed me that there were no wills, only the estates I mentioned previously. I just received photocopies of selected pages from these estates, and the following important information is contained therein. (1) Henry Beckelshymer died in Fulton County, IL on 31 Oct 1859. He left the following survivors: Nancy Jane Beckelshymer, his widow, Nancy Beckelshymer, age 21, Newton? (hard to read) Beckelshymer, aged about 19, Alexander Beckelshymer, age 9, Beckelshymer, an infant son, 2 months old. (2) A legal suit was filed on 16 Mar 1868 between David S Ray & Mary Ann Beckelshymer, administrators of the estate of Benjamin Beckelshymer, deceased Vs Caroline (Beckelshymer) Bainter and Scott Beckelshymer. In the document, Benjamin's death is indicated as 21 May 1857. He left surviving him, Mary Ann Beckelshymer, his widow, and the following children: Caroline Beckelshymer then married to Peter Bainter and Scott Beckelshymer, a minor child. (3) In the Sale Bills for John Beckelshymer's estate, the following names, along with many others, appear: Henry Beckelshymer, Benjamin Beckelshymer, Orvil France, Anna Beckelshymer, Thomas Beckelshymer, Lemuel Beckelshymer, Isaiah Beckelshymer, Rebecky (sic) Beckelshymer, Jesse Beckelshymer, Samuel Guthrie, Chapman B. hymer, Jesse France, Hosea Parvin, Thomas Guthrie, Martin B. hymer. The two Sale Bills I received copies of are dated 16 Jun 1847 and 10 Jul 1847. Regarding (3): other than the census enumerations, this is the first proof I have seen of the close association of Chapman and Martin Behymer with John Beckelshymer and his family. It seems obvious to me that Martin was the one who married Caroline Cummings on 22 Sep 1839 in Lawrence County, IN. He later shows up in the 1850 census of Fulton County, AR. Chapman appears in the 1840 and 1850 censuses in Fulton County, IL. Enjoy! John Charles Tippet JohnDoeTippet@csi.com