With my roots firmly entrenched in the founding families of Eastern Kentucky, my genealogy cup overflows on the internet, with many facts and anecdotes to be found on many of my ancestors of the Boggs, Blevins, Gearhart, Martin, Lyon families, to name but a few. The flow of information runs dry, however when the subject turns to my maternal great-great grandparents. I am hoping that someone reading this can offer a clue that will help me solve this family mystery. Their names are Henderson Boggs and Sarah Elizabeth Blevins. Henderson was born probably in Caines Creek, Lawrence County Kentucky in 1861 to James Henry Boggs and Matilda Lyon Boggs. Henderson had the nickname of "Colonel". He can be found on the 1870 and 1880 Lawrence County census, living in the household of James and Matilda. Sarah Blevins, the grandmother of my grandmother, is an enigma. I heard many stories growing up about a sweet lady who was adored by her granddaughter, a lady who had to work very hard raising seven children after the early demise of her husband. It wasn't until after my grandmother's passing that I began researching our family's roots, and to my surprise, none of the surviving grandchildren of Sarah could tell me much about her. All I could find out was that she died "around Christmas" in the late 1920's, and that she lived in Ironton, Ohio, just across the Ohio River from my boyhood home in Ashland, Kentucky. I found her in a death index on the internet, and wrote to the Ohio Historical Society asking for a copy of her death certificate. She died December 29, 1928 of pneumonia after a short illness. The certificate listed her birth date as July 18, 1868. Her husband was listed as Henderson Boggs, she was a widow, but no mention of Henderson's date or place of death. In the section reserved for her parents' names were written the words "Don't Know", written by one of Sarah's daughters, Ida Boggs. How, I wondered, could her own children not know who their grandparents were? Our family always said Sarah was born in Blaine, Kentucky. There is one family from Carter County Ky. that fits the profile. William Blevins and his wife Martha Fields Holbrook are on the 1880 Carter County census, with a daughter Sarah, age 13. Could this be her? Her first child, Carrie Ellen, my great-grandmother, was born 1882. Sarah would have been only 14. Was Carrie born out of wedlock? That could explain why Sarah seemed so disconnected to her family. Her obituary mentions three surviving brothers. James and William Blevins of Portsmouth Ohio, and John Blevins of Warren Ohio. The obit from the Ironton paper also states "Sarah was born and reared here..", which is in contrast to the family story of her being born in Blaine Ky. Another family story tells of great hardship for Sarah after Henderson died, and that she had to work as a housekeeper at a Hotel to put food on the table for her family. The Lawrence County Ohio Register website has a city directory from 1882-1883 that has a Sarah Blevins living at the Center House, a hotel in Ironton, with the occupation of domestic. Could this be her, already living on her own at such a young age? The only other information I have on this family comes from Carolyn Wilson Dyer, who found them on the 1900 Lawrence County Ky. census. It lists Henderson, Sarah, and all seven children. Then they all disappear from the records, with Sarah ending up in Ironton, where she is buried. So, my questions to anyone out there that may know: Does a marriage record exist for Sarah and Henderson? Who was Sarah's parents? Where and when did Henderson die? Is there a birth record for their first child, my great-grandmother Carrie? Carrie married George N. Fields in November 1906, with Carrie listed as residing in Louisa Ky. If anyone out there can help shed some light on my "brick wall", I would appreciate a reply. In my quest I have accumulated a lot of information on the Blevins and Boggs, and I am willing to share. Thanks everyone. Bob Gardner Goldsboro, NC