Dear List, Since 1981 when my grandmother passed on I have had a small suitcase full of her memorabilia which I never opened until a few months ago. Among the items are several newspaper clippings originating from Urbana. For many of these I have no idea what the connection to my grandmother might be. These are things she kept and must have meant something to her. I would like to share a brief description of these items in case they have some meaning in your research. Please write for full details if you see anything of interest. I know this is very long but please at least scan to the bottom, I have put all surnames in caps and there are many of them. HAYS, Alvin David I have his complete memorial record booklet with details of who attended his service, sent flowers etc. Alvin was born in Urbana Dec 20, 1895, Died Nov. 11, 1940 was living at 103-5 Grossback Dr., Urbana Within this booklet is a page titled "Family Record" with the following: Father--- Emmies Hays 1861-1926 Mother---Mary A. HAYS (nee Richter) Father's Father--Davide E HAYS Father's Mother-- Margert PETROW Mother's Father-- Peter RICHTER Mother's Mother--Elizabeth PECK Services were held at the Renner Funeral Home, Urbana. Internment at Mount Hope Champaign, IL. Among the surnames of relatives attending are: SAMS, MC NALLY, JONES, AUSBROOK, MACKEY There are 4 pages of friend's names and those who sent floral offerings one of which was "Car Dept. Wabash Locomotive". I also have two wallets that belonged to Alvin in which there are employee passes for the Wabash Railway "over Decatur division" dating back to 1928, as well as his driver's license and a Membership card to the Disabled American Veterans chapter 8. One of the wallets says "souvenir of Madison Wis." the other stamped with "compliments North American Accident Insurance Co. The Rookery, Chicago. Inside one wallet is a newspaper clipping with photo caption reading : "Saturday Mrs Mary HAYS 206 South Walnut street Urbana, posed with her great-grandson Donald Raymond MC NALLY, six weeks old, of Decatur. She is shown with her daughter Mrs. J.A. MC NALLY, and her grandson, Raymond MC NALLY both of Decatur, who complete the four generations." I have no idea of the date of this clipping and it very well may have been placed in the wallet after Alvin's death by my grandmother. PHOTO identified on the back as Alvin HAYS and Myrtle MCNALLY. This is a photo of two children with the front inscribed as being from Gamble and Joslin 214 West Main St, Urbana, Illinois. Alvin was my grandmother's second husband and has no genealogical connection to me. If he belongs in your tree you are more than welcome to have these items I would love to see them get to a rightful owner. Walter Thomas Peters A small laminated clipping which is very inaccurate however, since it shows that he was born in Urbana Aug. 30, 1910 and was survived by a brother and four sisters ( not named) who were still living in Urbana in 1956 I thought I should include this. Willing to share what info I have on Walter who was born with half of one arm missing. He was my grandmother's third, and last, husband and I knew him as "grandpa". Walter had been married previous to my grandmother and had two children, Phyllis and Walter Jr. Walter Jr died of diabetes as a child. If Walter is part of your tree please contact me and I will share photo's and as many details as I can remember. Again, this is not my biological grandfather so I am not really researching the name but, if I can help someone else please let me know. Various Names Clipping from an Urbana newspaper with photo showing 106th Cavalry.This is announcing their return from the Panama Canal Zone. 14 veterans of the 106th Cavalry, now the 27th and 26th returned home to Urbana and were entertained by their mothers in the Urbana USO center. Names: WILSON, Donald SMITH, Oakley COLE, Richard DECK, Charles KIRBY, Homer TARPENNING, Robert BLACK, Minor PARKER, Robert BARNES, Eugene STANFIELD, Russell ROUGHTON, Merle Men not in picture: MILLER, James SAATHOFF, William SMITH, Kenneth Willing to scan or send copies to anyone with a connection to these men. If copies are needed please send SASE. OAKLEY SMITH I do not know my grandmother's connection to this man but, besides the group clipping above I have his wedding photo and his obit. which contains the following info. Oakley SMITH Dies; Funeral is Saturday (this is rather large headline for an obit) painter in the Physical Plant Dept. University of Illinois, died April 15, 1964. Keith Funeral Home, Villa Grove internment at Villa Grove Cemetery. military rites conducted by Walter JONES Post 2876 Veterans of Forgein Wars, Villa Grove. Born Oct. 30, 1915 in Philo, son of William and Lillie JOHNSON Smith. Married to Thelma FROMAN Nov. 2 1945 in Urbana. Veteran of World War II member of Urbana Post 71, American Legion. Survived by parents and the following: five sisters: PELLIM, Pauline--Monroe,GA GRASHAM, Ruth--Manhattan, Kan FRYER, Thelma--California ROSE, Mary--Champaign NALLY, Ellen--Urbana (this may be a typo meant to read MC NALLY) two brothers: Frank--Philo Roy--Indianapolis, Ind. This is just a synopsis of the obit. let me know if you have a connection and I will scan or copy complete info. If Oakley is part of your tree you are welcome to the photo's as they deserve to have a rightful home. Clipping, Engagement Announcement with photo of bride to be LEGUE-GRINDLEY Mr and Mrs Richard LEGUE announce engagement of Valerie Ann to David Morris GRINDLEY. Valerie is a 1960 graduate of Urbana High School. David is a 1961 graduate of same. Wedding date July 6. Once again I do not know my grandmother's connection to these people, if they are part of your tree let me know, you are welcome to the clipping. Clipping Mrs.Peters Returns for Visit Mrs Corena Peters, Monterey, Calif. who left Urbana in 1946 to make her home in California, returned here for her first visit in 16 years. She flew from California to Dubuque Iowa for a reunion with her sisters in August and then came on to Champaign-Urbana for a visit with friends and relatives. She left Sunday for Madison, Wis and will return home via Dubuque by plane. In Champaign-Urbana she visited: SHOUP, Goldie 912 S. Oak THOMAS, Margaret 2304 N. Campbell GRINDLEY, Dorothy and family 910 S. Lynn, Urbana MACKEY, Rose 306 N. Urbana, Urbana SAMS Mona 1105 E. Pennsylvania, Urbana Okay, I know who this is, it's my grandmother but, I don't know why in the world a newspaper would print a story about her visit. If you see anyone you know and want a copy or scan of this article let me know. Also, my grandmother also had the names LETTMANN & HAYS and was born Corena Barbara SCHMITT. I hope someone finds something of interest. If you know of a place to post these permanently in the county page or wherever let me know I will be happy to post them in full along with the newspaper photo's. No, just thought of something; they are too new to post in full due to copyrights of the newspapers. Will post synopsis if a place is available. Happy Hunting Ronnee SCHMITT, WILLIAMS, UNBEHAUN, ROHRBACH, WODRICH, MUELLER, LETTMANN PS I just know some of you will suggest I post info to pertinent surname lists--already thought of that!