The fellow I've been calling Robert Badger Jr, was born 1797, probably in PA, and died March 27, 1886 in Stephenson County, IL, near Waddams Grove. He was a carpenter and is credited with building one of the last wooden covered bridges in Union County PA, as I recall. He married Catherine McMurtrie at White Springs, Union County, sometime between 1815-1817. She was born c1794-96, and prob died before 1850. None of this information has been verified, except we do know that he is buried at Waddams Grove IL. I had presumed that he followed his son to Illinois from PA, but it could have been the other way around. In the 1850 census, Stephenson County, in Lancaster Twp, I find a Robert Badger born about the right time (he's 52 in 1850). His wife is Margaret, which would fit with our idea that Catherine had died during the journey. Children living with him are Samuel, 20; Catherine, 17; and John, 15. Our family's records say that the reason for assuming that we have Roberts I, II & III has to do with an old deed in Union County PA, for nine acres of ground sold for $100.00, dated ll/14/1825, from "Robert Badger" to "Robert Badger Jr." Admittedly, that doesn't necessarily mean they are father and son. But I still need to obtain a copy of the deed and see what it actually says. Linn's Annals of Buffalo Valley PA lists a Robert Badger who died October 16, 1837, but no age is given. His family is supposed to have consisted of Robert Jr., Samuel, three more sons and a daughter. This needs more checking. We also have a story about a Robert Badger traveling overland with Henry Lane and some Dalleys (kin on my husband's side) from PA to Stephenson County, IL. They didn't go by river because they had lots of livestock with them. On the journey, when they came to a river they had to cross, the prospect so frightened Mrs Badger that she had some kind of fit and died. I need to do more research on this. Okay, now you know all I know (some of which may be wrong). Happy hunting. Jan **************Wondering what's for Dinner Tonight? Get new twists on family favorites at AOL Food. (http://food.aol.com/dinner-tonight?NCID=aolfod00030000000001)