This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/an/Ig.2ADI/472.471.468.658.2.2 Message Board Post: Hi Jackie, I think I can help a little. >From the obit of Pearl J. Cope, 3-29-73, I learned that he was the son of E.J. and Catherine (Maple) COPE. He was born in 1908, so it is likely that they were married after 1900 and thus don't show up on the IL marriage index online.Pearl's obit is available from the Jersey County Historical Society. I should point out that EJ is Era COPE, sone of John and Elizabeth (SWEENEY) COPE. He was sitll living with his parents in the 1900 census. Era and Catherine are in the 1910 and 1920 censuses. According to Pearl's obituary, Catherine was still alive in 1973, although his father and only brother had already died. Era is also listed in the IL Death Index online as dying in 1950. I also ran across the marriage registry entry for Charles MAPLE (parents: James MAPLE and Kate QUINN) and Leila BRAY (parents: Daniel BRAY and Elizabeth COPE!!!) who married 9/5/1898, license #2698. If you need more details or directions to sources, drop me a note. joanna The marriage registry books are available on microfilm from your local FHL