I've been trying to find more information on my gggrandfather Alexander Morris(b. 28 Dec 1821)(don't know where). I know he had at least one daughter Mary Ann Morris(she married my ggrandfather Oliver M. Chesney at Springfield,IL on Nov 9, 1880. Alexander Morris died in Hutchinson, KS (don't know if he was living there or just visiting) on 1913. He was buried in Topeka, KS next to his wife(I know nothing about his wife). Can someone help me with my "Big Mystery"?? Thank You My name is Anne Chesney.

I have been researching my 5th grandfatherHenry H, Davids also went by William Seward for about a year now with no luck.He was born 1834 Cayuga NY and supposivly was killed or had some kind of accident before 1874.The church records say he was dead before 1874.I cannot find anything ,everyone is so hush hush,and dont ask questions about him.I want to know what happened.He died so young and left a wife and 6 children...His wife Clara Patterson (Davids) has since then married to numerous times to put down a man named John Gartlans,William Leggett,and who know who else,I have heard the term Black Widow since all her husbands died young. this is the follow up post for this one. I posted about a week ago about the mysterious death or accident of my 5th grandfather Henry H Davids (Seward Davids).Well since then I found out some rather puzzling info,and I am hoping you all can help me solve this puzzle with your opinions as to what might have happened. Henry H Davids was born 1834 and died sometime before 1874,dont know how,where,or why?? Well anyway There were also several other children in the family and a brother also named Seward Davids.When my 4th grandfather died also a Henry H,Davids it states on his death certificate Seward Davids and Clara Patterson as parents.Now I know for a fact that Henry H Davids and Clara Patterson were his parents because Seward and Clara were never married Seward married a lady named Mary Main also from Cayuga NY.I even went further and and got Henrys Obit from OH and it states again Seward and Clara as parents.My uncle calls and tells me he found an old letter and he never read the back of it and it says there Henry H Davids b.1834 is Seward Davids,now how can that be, there is a brother named Seward that was only two years younger then him.I have the 1850 census for Aurelious Cayuga Co and it names the children and there is a Henry H Davids b.1834 and a Seward Davids born 1838.I am very puzzled here,any suggestions?? Thanks,Jackie

I am looking for my Grandfather, Edward Perry Campbell (b Mar 1876 Greenup Co, KY). He was the son of James Milton and Sarah "Allie" (Stark) Campbell. He married Bessie Getts in Salina, KS 29 Dec 1896. In the 1900 Census they were living in Empire, Ellsworth Co, KS. By 1904 they were living in Trinidad, CO, where their 3rd son was born. Edward worked for the ATSF Railroad on the Raton Pass between Trinidad, Co and Las Vegas, NM. Their 4th son, my father Harold Campbell, was born in Raton, NM Jan 1907. At that time Bessie was living in Raton, NM and Edward was living in Las Vegas, NM. From there, Edward Perry Campbell completely disappears. New Mexico was not a state at this time, so records are really sparse. Harold never saw his father. The railroad records do not go back this far and neither does Social Security. In 1910 Census Bessie lists herself as a widow, which may or may not be true. Edward's family, mostly living in NE, never knew what happened to him. Can anyone help with this? Thanks! Shirley

Eva Evaline STONEHOUSE makes her appearance as part of the John and Charlotte (HONEY) STONEHOUSE family on page six of the McLean Twp, Muskoka County, Ontario census of 1891. Among the children, Grandpa George is 14 and Eva 11. She would have been born in 1879 or 80 to be 11 on an unknown date in 1891. She is not with this family in the 1881 or 1901 census. My first presumption was that she didn't live to grow up. It is not uncommon for such children to be omitted from family lore. A search of the Index of Ontario births for 1878 through 1882 and deaths for 1891 through 1919 reveals no entry in her name. The actual birth record in a similar name (Ada Evaline, born 1880 in Markham) proved to be unrelated. Perhaps Eva is not really a child of this family. Or a 'natural' daughter of one of George's siblings registered in the name of the other parent but represented as part of the family. Family lore has George as the final child of this family. But there's Eva, plain as day, in 1891--who is she? Warren Sadler Researching: Ireland-->Quebec, Ontario-->and beyond: SADLER Scotland-->Quebec: LENNOX, SANGSTER, WHITEFORD England-->Quebec: TATE England-->Ontario-->and beyond: BAILEY, HONEY, STONEHOUSE, TAYLOR

I received a Table of Contents for this Digest that listed 13 articles. None of them appeared on what I received. I got the Table of Contents, instructions to unsubscribe, and headers. This happens to me with another list also. If anyone has any idea why this happens to me, please contact me directly. This is not an appropriate topic for this list but I don't know where else to holler, "Help!" -- ApliKaye@aol.com

In a message dated 98-06-18 14:02:37 EDT, dwburgess@worldnet.att.net writes: << However, on the subject of "brick wall" postings, I want to say that I have been seeing some postings that should not be on this list. >> Dear Nicole: I am new to the list and understand what a brick wall is, but when does a mystery become a brick wall or a brick wall become a mystery? I don't want to post anything that is considered a brick wall, but exactly what will be considered a mystery vs the brick wall? Thanks, Lisa

Daniel Leahy, a cooper b. 1805 in Co. Cork Ireland, arrived in the US in 1837 alone. His family was to join him in Boston later after he had established a home. Seven years later when they arrived in Boston he was gone. His wife, Margaret Healy Leahy, posted an advertisement in the Pilot's search for Missing Friends column, saying that he had been seen in Cleveland OH in 1839. The family rumor was that he had gone west for the Gold Rush but an obituary for his son, John Leahy, said he had fought in the Mexican War. As far as I can tell both of these stories are untrue - no records exist for him in the military records and he does not appear in any records for CA or NV. Any suggestions? ( His brothers and mother eventually settled in Little Falls NY but his family stayed in Boston) Amy

Hi, My grandfather, Stuart Sylvester HARPER, left his home in Charles City, IA for a gold rush in nEW zEALAND, in Abt. 1915. He wrote occassional post cards. Then, in 1918, he sent a card (which I have seen) saying that "Christmas came two months early", supposed to be a signal that he had struck it rich. He said he was on his way home, and was currently in Nova Scotia. (He was b. and raised in Ontario, CA) He also said, "See you soon, Love, Papa". Well, Stuart never arrived. Nobody knows whether he d. at sea, or was murdered for his gold, or what. Of course, he may have just decided to start a new life. I'd like to be able to find out what really happened to Stuart back in 1918. Betty sullivan

So glad to have discovered this list! My grandmother's brother, Roy Spiher, is one of two unsolved SPIHER mysteries. He was born 1885 in Vandergrift, PA, son of Edward Spiher and Henrietta Wilson. Roy married Jeanne Norris (1886-1967) of Apollo, PA and had Helen, Henrietta, Jean, Edward (Ned), and George. According to Ned's son Bob, Roy attended Slippery Rock College and was borderline genious. He was also an alcoholic who would disappear for months at a time. My father remembers him showing up to live with them for a few months and spending his time either reading voraciously and being a wonderful person, or drinking and becoming abusive. He finally had to ask him to leave, and that was the last time my grandmother saw her brother (early 1930s). He was transferred from the mills in Vandergrift to East Chicago, IN in the hopes of straightening him out. He was hired and fired from Youngstown Sheet and Tube Co. five times and was finished. Roy was last seen in 1938. Rumors persist that he left the country for South America. Another story from Aunt Nelle was that he relocated to Youngstown, OH and remarried after changing his name. He was never divorced from Jeanne Norris. Roy's brother, A.J. (or Andrew Jackson Spiher) was a lackadaisical character and was also an alcoholic. His brother Roy got him a job in the mill and he moved his family to East Chicago, IN from Vandergrift around 1928. He married Irene Grimm and they had three children (Jack, Parks or Pat, and Mary Jane--all deceased). Around 1932 or 1933 A.J. went out for a loaf of bread and never came back. Roy surmised he might have been murdered for unpaid gambling depts. In all fairness to the Spihers--the few I have met have been wonderful! But we are all so curious, especially about Roy. Any help would be appreciated!

I posted about a week ago about the mysterious death or accident of my 5th grandfather Henry H Davids (Seward Davids).Well since then I found out some rather puzzling info,and I am hoping you all can help me solve this puzzle with your opinions as to what might have happened. Henry H Davids was born 1834 and died sometime before 1874,dont know how,where,or why?? Well anyway There were also several other children in the family and a brother also named Seward Davids.When my 4th grandfather died also a Henry H,Davids it states on his death certificate Seward Davids and Clara Patterson as parents.Now I know for a fact that Henry H Davids and Clara Patterson were his parents because Seward and Clara were never married Seward married a lady named Mary Main also from Cayuga NY.I even went further and and got Henrys Obit from OH and it states again Seward and Clara as parents.My uncle calls and tells me he found an old letter and he never read the back of it and it says there Henry H Davids b.1834 is Seward Davids,now how can that be, there is a brother named Seward that was only two years younger then him.I have the 1850 census for Aurelious Cayuga Co and it names the children and there is a Henry H Davids b.1834 and a Seward Davids born 1838.I am very puzzled here,any suggestions?? Thanks,Jackie

This email was sent to me by Timothy Flacy. His email address is: mailto:tefpacker@worldnet.att.net Please contact him for more information. --------------- "My paternal great great grandparents, Simon and Mary Valentine Phillips Daly (also spelled Daley on some of their records) lived in Rosser, TN (also known as Post, TN for a period of time)....on the outskirts of Huntingdon in Carroll County. They had five sons: Eddie (b. Nov. 1874), Carl L. (b. abt 1878), Clint Atkins--my grandfather (b. Oct. 1879), Robert E. (b. 1880), and Horace (b. Dec. 1882). Eddie remained in Rosser throughout his life. Clint, Robert and Horace went to Arkansas as railroad agents. Good ole Carl seemed to be the maveric, he went to Chicago. Simon died in 1889, leaving Mary to raise the sons by herself. All of the boys remained close to their mother, continuing to return home regularly to visit her...including Carl. No one was quite sure what Carl was up to in Chicago, but there was dark hush-hush whispers--something about the Mafia. Sure enough, Carl came home sometime in the early years of 1900's for his annual visit...the tale passed down for almost a 100 years now is.... that on one of those mornings, the family awoke, the curtains in his open window were fluttering, and good old Carl was no where to be found...and never was. The dark whispers then were bent towards figuring that those Mafia folks followed him to Tenneesee and had done him in.....Clint was known to enjoy gambling a bit more than he rightly should have...I'd be more likely to suspect that Carl did too, and got a bit more indebted to some old local friends that they figured he shoulda." -- ------- snip-------------- Nicole Burgess mailto:dwburgess@worldnet.att.net http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Park/1268

Hello! First let me say, I hope this is the type of message that is allowed on this list. It is a murder mystery and I'm at a loss as to how to find out anything about it. My G-Grandmother Lucy Lillian McGUFFIN b.1912 in Dustin, OK or Kellyville, OK married(?) a man by the name of Orby YORK? or RHINEHEART? or RHINEHOLD? she had a child in July 1933 in Kellyville or Bristow and her husband(?) was found murdered in a field in the Kellyville/Bristow area. His name may have just sounded like one of the above names, we don't know for sure. We don't know for a fact that Lucy married the man, and wonder if that may be why he was killed. Some family members say the man was married at the time that Lucy ended up pregnant, and that's why he ended up dead. But no one has ever said WHO killed him. So...... We would really like to find out what his name was, and who his family was. And we would like to know exactly what happened to this man. Of course, the story could be something entirely different from what we've always been told, but that's all I have to go on. Does anyone out there have a relative that was murdered around 1933 in the Kellyville or Bristow, Oklahoma area? I can't be positive that's the area it could even be somewhere in Oklmulgee Co., OK OR Maybe heard about this happening OR Seen a newspaper article about it, way back when? He probably had reddish-blonde hair and blue eyes, and was fair complected. This is what my Grandma looks like and her mother was very definitely Cherokee. I'm wondering if maybe he was Irish or Scottish, something like that, because of his, possible, name and the way my Grandma looks. In the end, Lucy married Alvin GOWER sometime around 1933, their next child (actually their first together) was born in Dec.1934.(They had 7 in all) The family has always been told that Lucy was an indentured slave? Don't know how true that is, but that's what my Grandma has always said. Alvin loved Lucy very much, so maybe he killed her husband to get her, I don't know???? Any help and, or, ideas very welcome! Thanks- Tracey JLY-PIO@juno.com _____________________________________________________________________ You don't need to buy Internet access to use free Internet e-mail. Get completely free e-mail from Juno at http://www.juno.com Or call Juno at (800) 654-JUNO [654-5866]

Mary COLES was born 11 Dec 1902 in Etna, Allegheny, PA, the daughter of Isreal COLES and Ellen MAHONY. Her mother died 13 Dec 1903. Mary and her siblings were all placed in an orphanage. All of the children except Mary were reclaimed by family members. Mary was apparently adopted out, and the family has no further information regarding her. Surviving family would like to make contact with her or her descendants. Does anyone out there have any information? Toni Richard Turk P.O. Box 667 Blanding, UT 84511 turkt@do.sanjuan.k12.ut.us

I hope this is the kind of message i can post. In june 1907 my g grandmother Bertha L. Durbur was put in the Greystone Park N.J. State Hospital. Because of this her daughters were all "farmed out" to various relatives. Her husband Frederick J. Durbur disappeard from sight when this happened and no one knows where he went , He was originally from England but I doubt he went back there. They lived in New Jersey prior to this happening. I heard he may have been very depressed when this happened. Did he just disappear or did he commit suicide or what?

Searching for information my G grandparents death, burial, circumstances, etc,. James (RITCH) RICH and Lucretia (RICHARDSON) RICH for whom marriage license was issued in Gibson County TN on 5 Jan l852. Indications are they had children born about a follows: Julius 1852, James 1855, Frances 1857, Margaret 1860,Daniel Newton 1862, Caldonia 1864, Mary Ann 1867 and Nancy 1869. James and Lucretia Rich with four oldest children shown in 1860 census in 3rd District of Gibson County TN with Gibson Wells post office, however this is last record that can be found of James or Lucretia Rich. 1880 TN census shows James Rich in household L. E. McLemore in Madison County, Daniel Rich in household Saluda Mobley in Crockett County, Caldonia in household of Joseph Richardson in Gibson County, and Mary and Nancy in household of William Crosby in Gibson County. Perhaps something happened to parents as children apparently placed with brothers and sisters of their mother. James (RITCH) RICH reported born in North Carolina ca 1823 and Lucretia RICHARDSON in Tennessee ca 1831. Desire information as to what happened to James and Lucretia, any information as to their parents or any information as to their children and their offspring. Appreciate any contact or information by e-mail "SelphJr@aol.com" or write J. A, Selph, Jr., l456 Idlewild Lane, Homewood, Illinois, 60430. Have been unable to determine any information on date, location, or cause of death or place of burial, however, recently information was posted about yellow fever epidemic that was in the area where last record found so perhaps this is one possible answer.

I have been researching my 5th grandfatherHenry H, Davids also went by William Seward for about a year now with no luck.He was born 1834 Cayuga NY and supposivly was killed or had some kind of accident before 1874.The church records say he was dead before 1874.I cannot find anything ,everyone is so hush hush,and dont ask questions about him.I want to know what happened.He died so young and left a wife and 6 children... Jackie

Dr John C AUTRY b 1811 Moore Co. NC d 1886 Greenwood, Ar and Margaret Ann MATTIX b 1810 d 1861 Cooke Co. Tx had a son Zachary Taylor AUTRY born March 15, 1849/50 Ar died 1895 San Antonio, Tx Bexar Co. Zachary mysteriously disappeard when "hired on" to a man to help drive a herd of horses to Texas. What happened to him?? Evidently he died 1895 in San Antonio, Tx. This mystery question was written to Mrs R F Calvert 1939 from M E POLK.

My grandfather, S. P. Kimbrough, left Winston Co. Alabama about 1881 and as far as I know never went back. His brother, John B. Kimbrough stayed in Winston Co. I have a copy of a letter written by John to my grandfather about 1885. In it he says, "Pete, if you was to come back I don't think there would be any danger." What kind of danger! I have never been able to find anything out about this. Nobody in my family knew anything about it. It has puzzled me for years, and I seriously doubt if I am ever going to find out what kind of danger John was talking about. Catherine Stiles

Hi everyone, I'm posting the following for Mary Ellen Ledford. Her email is below. Please, do post replies to the list if you feel the info is appropriate, as I love a mystery! Smiles, Nicole Burgess Listowner Back in Tn., possibly Giles Co. Tn. a James CRABB b 1853/6 Giles Co Tn. allegedly fled Tn. and headed for Tx BECAUSE he, allegedly killed a man who allegedly had harmed his sister, Polly Crabb Dollar. Can anyone help solve this mystery?? Would have happened sometime between 1875 and 1880. Have wondered for many years if this was true or not. Can anyone help?? Sisters of this James Crabb, alledgely were Nancy, Dania and Polly. Is it possible that James Crabb's Father was killed in Civil War, Confederacy?? Is it also possible that James Crabb's Mother was Ann MOORE who md a CRABB?? Will appreciate any info. Ann Moore Crabb died bef 1874. Maternal grand-parents of this James Crabb may have been Thomas MOORE and Lucinda?? Thomas died in Ar cir 1869 but Lucinda was still living in Ar in 1874. Thnx. so very, very much. Mary ellen@airmail.net -- Nicole Burgess mailto:dwburgess@worldnet.att.net http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Park/1268

> > Hi, I'm new to this and it is my first time writing. > > I'm from South Africa and looking for ancestors from Scotland. > Specifically > WILLIAM DOUGLAS who married an English girl, BRIDGET ELLEN COLEMAN daughter > of HENRY COLEMAN. > > The following mystery surrounds their leaving Scotland. This is the story > I was told: > The Douglases owned land in Scotland (DUMFRIESHIRE I think). A friend (or > relative) of the King "plundered" (?) their land upon which WILLIAM DOUGLAS > killed him in an act of anger. The King wanted to avenge his > relative/friend and William Douglas (and his family) had to flee from > Scotland....and, I was told, eventually settled in South West Africa > (Namibia). > > However, fearing that the King's revenge would reach as far as Africa, > they changed their name to DRYSDALE... after the parish from where they > came, which I think must surely then be DRYFESDALE, Dumfrieshire. > > I have no idea of the year but calculated that it would probably be > somewhere between 1840 and 1876. > > William Douglas and Bridget Ellen Coleman had a son - Henry Coleman Drysdale > (b. 31/7/1876) (who married Margaret Julia Turck (b. 9/10/1880) but it's > possible he was born in SW Africa. > > Is there anyone out there who knows anything about these people or the way > and time they left Scotland?? Or maybe someone who could tell me where to > find information? My info is terribly limited but I do know the names of > all the children thereafter if someone else is interested. I am willing to > make use of a genealogist to get this information if there is no other way. > > William Douglas' father's name might also have been Henry Douglas. > > Thanks, Charlotte > > > > >