In a message dated 11/22/99 6:29:05 PM Pacific Standard Time, wwharris@rose.net writes: << Many times the census taker didn't ask for a spelling, he or she simply spelled it the way they thought it should be spelled. Sometimes, the old cursive is often misinterpreted when being transcribed. >> See http://www.firstct.com/fv/oldhand.html for a lesson in deciphering old handwriting. Kathy