Hello Group- I printed all of your messages this morning concerning John James HODGES. When I got to the email message about an Ellen (?) MESSER being married to a HODGES, I got so excited that I clicked "delete" instead of "print". SORRY! PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE can someone resend the message to me. I had looked at all the 1870 censuses in Alabama because my John James HODGES told one child that he was born in late October 1870, when I received his death certificate his birth date is listed as Aug 1871. My grandfather, the youngest of John HODGES' children (now deceased) was told when he asked anything about John HODGES' relatives "Boy, you don't need to know anything, and don't ask me again". My grandfather just assumed that John was born in Alabama. His death certificate confirmed that. I am so discouraged because I have two different birth years from him, no clue where in Alabama he might have been born. I find it inconceivable that no one knew either of their parents. My greatgrandmother died at the age of 101 and lived with her children for almost 30 years after John HODGES died, and still no family members knew any of their past. Could it be that my greatgrandfather's name really wasn't HODGES, that that was a name he made up because he was trying to hide something? I do have information that John HODGES got married in Lamar Co, MS IN 1892. Mississippi State does not have marriage records back that far, we have even tried looking in the Archives. His wife Hannah DOBSON just lists her birth as in Mississippi. As far as brothers and sisters, he never would tell anyone if he had any or not. My grandfather never heard or met anyone from either of his parents. I did notice on his death certificate that he never served in the Armed Forces, do you think he was a draft dodger? I don't know the dates of the Civil War. What could he be trying to hide for his wife to keep a secret to her death bed for over 100 years? Suggestion/any help appreciated. Thanks, DeeDee