I have just discovered a first marriage for my grandmother, and I have searched everywhere to find out what happened to her first husband as she married my grandfather using her maiden name. I also seek any children by this marriage. Martha Ann WOODWORTH married Thomas DIVER in Hancock County, Illinois in 1858. I can find no clue that they set up housekeeping in Illinois, Missouri, nor Iowa. She went to Iowa at some point as she married my grandfather in Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa in 1873. I have had that record sent me. Her parents lived and died in Warsaw, Hancock County, her father dying in 1889. I find the Diver name in Rockingham and Augusta County Virginia and in Indiana, but nothing about them in Illinois. I have been chasing this family of WOODWORTh's for 25 years and I sometimes get so close I can taste the victory, and then another brick wall throws itself up and then I am flattened out again!! I know they were in Hancock County as William died there in 1889, but I cannot find the PROOF! No death notice, nor record, no obituary, nor cemetary listing. There were numerous marriages of WOODWORTH's there too and they probably ALL belonged to my William and Mary WALKER WOODWORTH. I have subbed to all these various Illinois sites to seek help from anyone knowing anything abouit this family. Your input will be greatly appreciated. I no longer know where to turn. I have sought the professional help of various WOODWORTH genealogists and they are as mystified as myself with this family!!! Thank you for your time. Mary masdal@ala.net

Did you check out this page on Hancock? http://www.rootsweb.com/~ilhancoc/Cemeteries.html There's an email contact there who may be able to help you too. Cheryl Rothwell LoganCty@mindspring.com