In a message dated 12/20/99 9:51:31 PM Eastern Standard Time, reeevans@gulftel.com writes: << He was born Mississippi Territory 1839. >> Mississippi Territory? This territory consisted of Alabama and Mississippi until 1817, when the latter became a state. Alabama became a state in 1819, so I am puzzled as to how anyone could be born in Mississippi territory in 1839 when there was no such territory by then. The birthplace must have been Alabama. Howard