If the author of the book on the Birger Gang knows who the person was in the photo in the book, then how about investigating that person. 1. Where was he in the time frame you need? 2. Who was his family? Were they in an area where Earl might have lived as a child. "Earl" may well have changed his name. ----as for Earl 3. Have you investigated the people where he and Mable lived at those times? 4. What about the lady who looked after the babies grave....could she have been a relative? Check out her family. 5. Can you find back issues of the coal mining newsletter and look for the ad? Does the newsletter still exist? If so, can you run an ad there looking for the person who posted the ad? It would seem someone else knew him by that name. 6. I assume you have read the 1920 soundex for PA, TN and surrounding states to see if you can find him. Have you looked at the 1910 soundex for TN to see if he or the people he lists as parents are there? 7. Have you checked to see if there was an attorney by the name he mentioned? Have you checked criminal court records in that area to see if was tried in the area where the attorney worked. He may have been his attorney if he was in trouble, and had been in jail. 8. Have you checked FBI records to see if he was a wanted man? g2