Hello, I've been wanting for 5 years to write a story about my grandmother's life. I had typed up the story a few years ago, but only typed up the details in report form. This year I wanted to type it up as a story, but couldn't decide how to start the story out. Should it start out with all the lies the adoptive couple told her while she lived in their home? Should it start out with 1888 and early 1889 when she was conceived and born? Etc. But, over the weekend, I decided. I'm going to start with John and Mary (CLARK) DEXTER's life in Killingly, CT, from 1850 until 1880's. I'll mention what was going on in CT during the Civil-War years, and before and after. And, I'll mention that the lost 2 daughters, and later a granddaughter. Etc. I'm going to have to find a book at a library on the history of Connecticut. Or, I have some old Encyclopedias in my home, and maybe I'll get some information from them. I also want to check out which "epidemics" were going on during 1850's to 1880's in New England. I know there are many reasons why pre-schooler child / toddler would get very sick, and then die. But, the "flu" could be the most probable reason. I did find out that the Dexter's 14-year-old daughter died from Diptheria, and I read that's a terrible disease. http://hawkshome.net/misc_items/events/epidemic_timeline.htm If you look at that timeline, it says that many epidemics happened along the many, major ports on the "East Coast" of the U.S. (Possibly in the Maritime Provinces?) And, I had already read that sailors and mariner would get these "horrible diseases" while "at sea" and bring them back to the ports in the U.S. On that chart is was 1865-1875 (also the Civil-War years, or the aftermath of them). http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Civil_War Speaking of that, I learned that John Dexter, even in his 30's, seemingly did not fight in that War. I don't know why. But, he had a cousin, with same name, and of same age, who did fight. It took me a while to find out which John was my (supposed) ancestor. When I mentioned this to someone this week, they said that some men were able to "pay" another man to fight for them. And some "men of color" made arrangements to fight for their "owner" - in exchange for their freedom. Just my thoughts this morning. Betty (near Lowell, MA, USA) List Administrator