I was perusing my records this morning, and came across one of those mysteries that I've never solved. My ancestor, Wiley WINEMAN, was married to Martha "Patsey" CARTER on 13 Aug 1843 in Crawford Co., IL. In 1850, they are still in Crawford Co. with children Hannah, Polly A., Anna, and Mary E(llen). In 1860, however, they have removed to Cave In Rock P.O., Hardin Co., IL. There, he and Martha have children: Hannah, Polly A., Anna, Mary E., Jonathan (my ancestor), Joseph and Emaline. By 1870, Wiley and his daughter Emeline, are living back in Crawford Co., IL. No wife, no other children. His daughter, Ellen (Mary Ellen), age 18, appears to be living with Wiley's brother Joseph and his wife Hannah as a housekeeper. Where did Martha and the rest of the children go? A search of the 1870 and 1880 censuses (Heritage Quest and FamilySearch online databases) comes up with nothing for a Joseph WINEMAN born in 1855, as was the son of Wiley and Martha. The girls, obviously, are a little more difficult to trace, given that the older ones likely married between 1860 and 1870. But what of Martha? I have found no other marriage records in Crawford Co. for those girls in Crawford Co. as yet. Anyone out there researching these lines who might have any information on this family? I'd appreciate any help I could get in locating these children and Wiley's wife, Martha. I'm starting to wonder if there was some big epidemic that went through Hardin Co. and took the lives of most of Wiley's family, prompting him to come back to Crawford with his two remaining daughters. Any thoughts? Mary Kathryn Kozy mkozy@attglobal.net http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~marykozy/