Re: My Great Grandmother. Melissa Houghton was born in (unk) Town in (maybe) Orange County, Vermont Feb.19,1832. She is buried in Sonora Township, Hancock County, Illinois, tombstone date of death is Jan. 16,1907. She lived in Sonora with her husband Christian HAMMA from the early 1850's till her death. Thirteen children were born to them, only one died before becoming an adult. I have information about her and her children in Illinois, but need to learn who her parents were and why she was living with Andrew TIMMONS Family in Nauvoo, Hancock, Illinois in the 1850 Census. Listed with her are George W. HOUGHTON age 13 yrs, David HOUGHTON age 10 yrs, and Sarah HOUGHTON age 6 all born in Vermont except for Sarah who was born in Illinois. By the 1860 Census Melissa and Christian were married and had several children. So far I haven't found the younger ones in a later Census. The TIMMONS Family were living in Montrose, Lee, Iowa by 1860. (This is just across the Mississippi River from Nauvoo) Anyone who can help me with this please let me know as this is becoming my "brick wall". I have written to Montpelier, Vt for her birth record--None Found; I wrote to a couple of town clerks with the same result. I must admit that I couldn't even get a death record from Illinois. Thank goodness for Census records and tombstones. Nancy Nichols nicgen@home.com