Hi Mindy - I'm not sure who you thought Minerva was but here's the story (as I understand it.) Minerva "Effie" Thompson (one of Dr. Samuel Thompson's eldest children - born around 1821) married John Pilcher (son of Edward and Nancy Pilcher) 17 Jan 1839 in Adams County, IL. She died 4 April 1890 in Hannibal, Marion County, MO, although she had been living in Reno County, KS in 1880. Two of her children, William and Sara "Sallie" moved to Reno County, KS, in 1875. Will Pilcher became a druggist and postmaster in Partridge, Reno County, KS, and lived out his life there. Sallie died in Reno County 29 Oct. 1902. Her first husband was Lamar Farnsworth, who she married in 1865. She later married O.F. Kemp. (Some of this information comes from the transcription of a diary written between 1871 and 1875 by Julia Aurora Field, daughter of Salvina (Thompson) Field and granddaughter of Dr. Thompson. Sallie and Lamar were very close friends with Julia and her husband Thompson Burton Hand.) By the way, Partridge, Kansas, is where my grandmother was born. Will Pilcher sent for my great-grandmother, Kate Thompson (youngest child of Dr. Samuel Thompson, born in 1861), to come and teach school where she met and married my great-grandfather, Alonzo Bradbridge. Does that clarify things (or just muddy the waters more)? Lucy

Does anyone know if there was a County Home or a girls home (either as a reform school or a school for unwed mothers) in Adams Co.? This would have been in the late 1920's. Thanks