I have been watching this list for over a year, hoping to see something to link my fathers to his mysterious past. My father actually worked in the Government, so I figured his background check must have revealed nothing too terrible. Looking for information on: David Gardner b: abt 1848 (possibly Ohio) d: 1900 Duluth, MN he married Mary Jane Avery daughter of Christopher Jenkins Avery and Polly Fairchild. They had 2 children: Elmer Avery b: abt 1883 and Grace Emeline b: 1885 (both born in New York). OK, because of the 1920 and 1930 Census availability, I have knocked down an entire brick wall only to find an even thicker brick wall. This is my revelation: My Grandfather Elmer Avery Gardner (born Abt 1883 in New York, died 9/7/1935 in Minneapolis, Minnesota) Elmer worked for the Post Office in Minneapolis. He married Evelyn Montgomery (from Brewster, Minnesota) between 1907 and 1910. They had 3 boys in Minnesota (LeRoy Frances - my father, born 6/24/1910, Lloyd E. - born Abt. 1912 and David - born about 1914). Soon after David's birth, Evelyn disappeared (or ran away), leaving the kids with Elmer, who put them in an orphanage until he could figure a way to provide for them. I believe I find a match in the 1920 Census for Montana, a record of an Elizabeth Montgomery (widow) without a job, living independently. My logic is that she was overwhelmed with the obligations of children and chose to walk out. The Railroad industry would have provided an excellent opportunity to provide distance from what she was trying to flee. At the time, the railroad would have taken her to Billings (and even further, could she afford it). A story I heard from my mother, was that my father traced and tracked her to St. Louis, Missouri. When he got there, the proprietor of the boarding house (he tracked her to) told him to go home and never look back. That may be the reason he would never talk about his heritage. The importance here, is that Elmer had a sister named Grace, which (as of the 1801 Census) I now find living with her uncle George Washington Avery (in Minneapolis, Minnesota) in 1900 (the same year that David (their father) had died). I met Grace as a child, but yet to know the significance of this family as it pertains to me. Any information would be gratefully appreciated............ Thanking you in advance, Beth (Gardner) Hunter -- ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ A friend will joyfully sing with you when you are on the mountain top and silently hold your hand and walk beside you through the valley. I love you friend, Beth