This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Stephens, Evans, Davis, Davies, Williams, Thomas, others Classification: Lookup Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/Qg.2ADE/220 Message Board Post: Here's a photo of the Bed & Breakfast, my wife Eileen included. And she's also here with some Stephens family who were introduced to us by the Bed & Breakfast hostess. They drove us all over the area. The vicar and his wife drove us out to see more of the countryside. We were also his guests at two Pencader old folks dinners at the church. At each dinner, over 100 people gave us a standing ovation as guests of the town. Sharing these photos and part of the experience of the two trips would be the very least I could give back to my families with whom I am not even acquainted in the Malad Valley. It is to these families and our ancestors that I owe my heritage in the Church, for the enormous sacrifices that our ancestors made for us. My father's dad lost his farm in St. John in the Great Depression. They were never the same in Ogden. St. John was their life. It was the greatest tragedy, a dark day when they were forced to leave. My dad never had anything but the very best of memories of growing up there. Last year, I had the most wonderful experience. My dad's cousin, Mitchell Deschamps (now age 100) made me a series of audio cassette tapes. They include many voices from St. John, perhaps including some of yours, his, and he even went out to the farm to tape the cows mooing so I could understand his life better. The tapes are histories and memories of St. John. You can be sure that Mitchell Deschamps is one of St. John's greatest heroes! I am in the process of slowly transcribing these tapes. When completed, I'll post the typed version on this site. Family history has been one of my hobbies since age 15 (now 56). Feedback welcome. Steve Illum Springfield, Missouri stevef_i@yahoo.com