There is a connection between my great grandfather, George Washington TORRENCE and Reuben WILKINSON and it may be of some help to Martha. Here is what I know. When Sarah DONNER and her husband, John TORRENCE, died in 1849 they left 5 small children orphans. George was one of those children and he was raised in part by Josiah WADDELL and his wife Elizabeth HALL in Cotton Hill Township of Sangamon county. When George died, in Christian County in 1913 his obituary said he came to Taylorville when he was 17 years of age and entered the employ of Reuben Wilkinson. Being the curious one that I am, I looked for information on Reuben and found the following: 1880 and 1918 History of Christian County Page 636: "A neighbor and friend of Josiah Waddle by the name of Wilkinson, and his wife, died very close together. They left their only child, Rheuben Wilkinson - a boy in his teens. He was without any known relatives. Uncle Josiah took him in and gave in work. About the time he was of age, Rheuben Wilkinson came to Christian County from Great Uncle Josiah's place near Rochester. He lived with and worked for my grandfather John Waddle for several years. Rheuben saved his money and began to buy land in Smith (May) Township. When older he moved to Taylorville and helped build the town. There is an addition called Wilkinson's Addition to Taylorville. He owned a flour mill and dealt in real estate. He always said he had a great affection for the Waddle people who raised him from teenage to manhood. He lived ninety years or more. My father used to meet him in his old age, and he said tears would well up in the old man's eyes as he recounted his younger days and the happy times." Josiah and Elizabeth WADDELL had no children of their own, so it appears that through the years they raised other peoples children and did a good job of it, too. I have not been able to find George TORRENCE in the 1860 and so I checked the listing for Reuben - did not find George - but found this: 9 June 1860 P. O. Taylorville, Dwelling #230 - Family #191: Wilderson, Rueben 38 Male, Farmer, 22,860 Born Ky. Esther 35 Female, Domestic, Born Staffordshire, England Wilkerson, Emma 7 Female, born Ill. George 5, Male, Born Ill. Edwards, Jane 40 Female, Born Staffordshire, England Carothers, John 23, Male, Laborer, Born Canada Squire, John 18 Male Laborer, Born Ohio Hope this will help Martha Stewart. Since I can't find George TORRENCE in the 1860 census I have checked for Civil War Records but so far have come up empty handed! Jo Ann Schmidt in hot and humid Houston.