This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/HNG.2ACEB/133.173.206.220.221.1.2 Message Board Post: I took a look at this thread and it looks like you are researching Ballard P. Browning of Wyoming Co., West Virginia. Census records in 1870 show that Ballard P. Browning, son of Edmund & Cyntha Browning, was 4 and born in 1866. They were living next door to John B. Browning, age 67 and his wife, Tamsey. In the 1860 US Census, Edmund & Cyntha are in Mercer County, Virginia (remember WV was not a state until the Civil War) and they were again next door to John and Tamsey. Edmund and Cyntha sre still in Wyoming County, WV in 1880 as is Ballard P., age 18. In the 1900 US Census, Ballard P. is still in Wyoming County but now living with wife, Dora. They have been married 12 years and have children Lex L (hard to read), born Oct 1889, Walter W., born Feb. 1895, Lucinda, born July 1897, and Jennis L., (son) born Mar 1899. Edmund is living a couple of doors down from his brother, Green W. Browning and his family. By 1910, still in Wyoming Co., WV, Ballard and Dora have added children Ollie, female, age 10, Merlie E., female, age 6, Arnett P., male, age 4, and Valie P., age 1 8/12, female. Also still with them are Jemis (Jennis?) L., age 12, female, Lucinda, female, age 12, and Leu L. (Lex?) age 20, female. Dora has had 12 children with 7 surviving. By the 1920 Census, Oceana, Wyoming Co., WV, Ballard and Dora added children Vida, age 9 1/2, female, and Lanford, age 5. Still living with them were Ollie, Merle, Arnett, and Vallie. They are still in Wyoming County in 1930 and living in Slab Fork. With Ballard P. and Dora are daughter Merlie who is married to William Baker and their daughter, Marjorie, born in 1929, and daughter Vida and son Ira L(anford). The rest of the children are no longer in the home. Arnett P. Browning was living in Slab Fork, Raleigh County, WV. and was a boarder. He was a coal miner. Apparently Slab Fork crossed county lines as Arnette and Ballard are both listed as being in Slab Fork but different counties. Ballard was also listed in 1930 as a coal miner.