I am the ggg granddaughter of Samuel HARPHAM, IL Volunteer Infantry, 53rd Reg't., and gg granddaughter of Charles WELDON, the local hoteliers. My grandmother, Nellie Q. WELDON was born in Gardner, 13 May 1887. I had the pleasure of visiting the quiet little village last year and through the help of the local fire chief was able to find the family gravesites at the Braceville-Gardner Cemetery. I would very much like to correspond with others who can help flesh out some of the local history for the book I am working on. Especially I would like to find someone with access to old newspapers for the period. I would like to connect with the WHEELER descendants of George and Mary Elizabeth (nee WELDON) SMITH's daughter, Elma. My notes show both died 1 July 1914(?). It is possible that George's brother, Jonathan SMITH, also moved to Illlinois from Quebec with the WELDONs. Does anyone have access to census records for the area? >Drop a pebble in the water, and its ripples reach out far; >And the sunbeams dancing on them may reflect them to a star. >Give a smile to someone passing, thereby making his morning glad; >It may greet you in the evening when your own heart may be sad. >Do a deed of simple kindness; though its end you may not see, >It may reach, like widening ripples, down a long eternity.--Author Unknown