I would like to have a visit with my greatgrandfather and all his family. Orrell Gist Couch was born in Buckingham County VA as was all his siblings and his father and mother moved them to KY. Orrell married in KY and along with at least two brother moved to Webster County MO after they had married and started their family in KY. Why would they pick Webster County MO? My grandmother was the first born in Webster County MO and later married there. Long before it was fashionable to educate women, Orrell sent his girl to school. The eldest girl was a school teacher. Orrell was a jack of all trade and I wonder if he ever mastered any of the trades. He taught school, he bought and sold property and dealt in supplies for the union army at one point. He was a justice of peace and I have records of some marriages he performed. However at his death he still owned some land in VA that he inherited from his father. At one point in his life, he (or so they tell me) attended a! "brush arbor meeting" and professed his religion and accepted Christ. Truth or fiction I would like to hear his story about this event. He was so much into the religious aspect at the time that he built a church on a corner acre of his land and deed the land to become the Bethel Church which has been remodeled but still stands today. Thru the years they have added electricity to the building but there is still the outdoor toilet standing. He is buried along with a son and a daughter in the church yard. (I was there a couple of years ago). Also buried with him is his life long colored nanny who refused to leave after the civil war and she was given her freedom. Her statements were: No one takes care of my baby but me and so she remained part of the family. Sure is a strange story or at least to me it is and I believe it would be worth every hour that it would take to hear that family talk about their past. I have rambled but to me it is interesting. thanks for lending your ear and heart. ellen