Hi, My JOSHUA PETTINGILL BLANCHARD went from Barre, VT to IL where he enlisted in the U.S. Mounted Riflemen in 1847 and served in the Mexican War. He married REBECCA JANE RACE in 1851, and they set out over the Oregon Trail from Peoria that April. I have often wondered what connection he had to IL. Anyone help? I have lots on the J.P. BLANCHARD family in VT and MA. Albert ------------------------------------- E-mail: skipb@nh.ultranet.com Date: 07/15/98 Time: 19:24:24 ------------------------------------ ALBERT EDWARD BELANGER 128 Middle Road Brentwood, NH 03833 (Researching: BELANGER, BLANCHARD, ENSOR, GAGNON, HARRINGTON, HUGHES,RACE, ST.PIERRE, EDMINSTON, MARINO, McQUEEN, MEALEY, Oregon Trail 1851, PETTINGILL, SEAL, STEWART)