Denis, I don't know how much I can add to what you know, but this is what I was able to find out. >From Census Records: >From the 1880 Federal census for Washington Township, Warren County, Iowa: Lumsdon, John, head, aged 40 born England, parents born England Lumsdon, Jonas W., son aged 10, born Iowa, father born England, mother born Sweden Lumsdon Annie E. dau, aged 9, born Iowa, father born England, mother born Sweden Lumsdon, John D. son, aged 7, born Iowa, father born England, mother born Sweden Lumsdon, Andrew D., aged 5, born Iowa, father born England, mother born Sweden Ragsdale, Charlotte, housekeeper, aged 35, born New Jersey, father born New Jersey, mother born Pennsylvania Ragsdale, Lee J., other, aged 9, born Iowa, father born Illinois, mother born New Jersey >From the 1881 census for Penshaw, Durham, England: Patterson, Jane, head, aged 77, born Morpeth, Northumberland Lumsden, Mary Jane, grand-daughter, aged 20, born Kenton, Northumberland Lumsden, Ralph, grand-son, aged 17, born Penshaw, Durham >From the 1900 Federal census for Center township, Wapello county, Iowa: The following are living in consecutive addresses: Lumsdon, Ralph, head, born Apr 1863 in England, parents born England came to U.S. in 1888 Lumsdon, Mary Emma, wife, born Sept 1867 in England, parents born England Lumsdon, Emma B, dau, born Apr 1888 in England Lumsdon, John C., son, born Mar 1890 in Iowa Lumsdon, Samuel, son, born Mar 1892 in Iowa Lumsdon, Laura, dau, born Jun 1897 in Iowa Lumsdon, C. S., head, widowed, born Dec 1845 in New Jersey, father born New Jersey, mother born Pennsylvania (indicates she is the mother of 4 children all living Lumsdon, David B., step-son, born Aug 1871 in Iowa, father born England, mother born Sweden Lumsdon, Andrew, step-son born Nov 1875 in Iowa, father born England, mother born Sweden Ragsdale Lee, son, born May 1873 in Iowa, father born Illinois, mother born New Jersey Lumsdon, Rachel, dau, born Jan 1886 in Iowa, father born England, mother born New Jersey Lumsdon, John L., son, born Jun 1888 in Iowa, father born England, mother born New Jersey Lumsdon, James, head, born Feb 1830 in England, parents born England Lumsdon, Nannie, wife, born Nov 1850 in Ohio, parents born Ohio Lumsdon, Maud, dau, born Sept 1886 in Iowa Lumsdon, William, head, born July 1869 in Iowa, father born England, mother born Sweden Lumsdon, Mary, wife, born Apr 1877 in Iowa, parents born England Lumsdon, Raymond, son, born Aug 1898 in Iowa. >From Iowa WPA records: Charlotte S. Lumsdon, born 1845, died 21 Jun 1924 buried in Abbey Cemetery, Fairfield, Jefferson county, Iowa. Children: J.L., Pearl Cashman, L.J. Ragsdale, Mrs. W.H. Pedrick, Mrs. C.A. Swanson John Lumsdon, born 1839 died 18 Feb 1900, buried in Woodland Cemetery, Polk county, Iowa Andrew Lumsdon, born 1875, died 18 Dec 1918 buried in Woodland Cemetery, Polk county, Iowa Ralph Lumsdon, born 1863, died 1931, buried Ottumwa Cemetery, Wapello county, Iowa Samuel Lumsdon, died 5 Aug 1922 (World War I Veteran) >From Iowa Marriage Records: Charlotte Wells married William Ragsdale on 1 Sep 1872 in Warren county, Iowa L. J. Ragsdale married Bonnie R. Lord on 6 Oct 1917 in Wapello county, Iowa Anna E. Lumsdon married Charles A. Swanson on 16 Jun 1889 in Warren county, Iowa Rachel Ellen Lumsdon married Willard H. Pedrick on 22 Jun 1913 in Wapello county, Iowa John D. Lumsdon married Nellie Ellen Chambers on 27 Jan 1904 in Wapello county, Iowa John C. Lumsden, married Sarah Louisberg on 26 Jan 1909 in Wapello county, Iowa William Lumsdon married May Jamieson on 28 mar 1896 in Wapello county, Iowa Albert Lumsdon married Bernice Grinsted on 1 Oct 1913 in Wapello county, Iowa (don't know where he fits in, but thought I'd add him just for fun). Hope some of this helps. Bill Hansen Ottumwa, Iowa ----- Original Message ----- From: denis leighton To: IAWAPELL-L@rootsweb.com Sent: Saturday, March 06, 2004 3:20 PM Subject: {not a subscriber} We have hit a brick wall in our search on the LUMSDON family John Lumsdon born England appr 1838 wife ? born England Wife Born Sweden Wife Charlotte S. RAGSDALE nee WELLS born 1845 New Jersey Children Ralph Lumsdon born England 1863 death 1931 Ottumwa Anna E. Lumsdon born USA 1871 John D. Lumsdon born USA 1872 Andrew D. Lumsdon born USA 1875 Jonus W. Lumsdon ' ' 1878 Rachel Lumsdon Summerset 1886 John Lyborn Lumsdon 1888 Would like to hear from anyone who is seaching/has details for the above family Linda New Zealand