I am searching for info re: the Tilman KEMPER/Jane Ann CRESS marriage - which may be the union registered on the Illinois State Marriage Index as Tindale KEMPER and Jane Ann GRAY, Knox County, 4-14-1837. To add to my confusion, I have recently been informed that Jane Ann CRESS's family surname was actually GRASS, not CRESS (or GRAY, as found on the Illinois index) but I do not have independent knowledge of this or done research. The Tilman KEMPER and Jane Ann CRESS/GRASS family are found in Tazewell County after the marriage where they raised a large family. One of their daughters, Catherine Jane KEMPER, is my g grandmother. Any history or records that can be found re: this union, their parents and sibs would be greatly appreciated. I have this KENPER family's history after the marriage along with pictures and some docs re: their daughter, Catherine. I will be happy to share my knowledge w/ those who are reseaching same line. I am Jean Conover Blaney, g g granddaughter to Tilman Kemper and Jane Ann Cress/Grass.

Dear Jean, According to the 1880 census your Jane was born abt 1822 in VA, correct? Don't dismiss the surname Grass in your quest because of that marriage record spelled Gray. There were 2 Grass marriages in Knox Co in the 1840's. There is also a Jacob Grass in Knox Co in 1850. He is 71 born in VA, his wife is named Jane, she is 66 born in VA. Two other Grass households from VA, Peter, 22 & James, 25. Putting these two young men in the same age span as your Jane, all possibly children of Jacob. All 3 households are living beside each other. There are some other Grass's who came from NY. The style of cursive handwriting used in that era had a commonly used way of writing the letters "ss" in lower case. It ends up looking more like "ff" or sometimes "fs" which can look also very much like a "y" given the writer's style. The 1850 census indexes Jacob as Grass but when you look at the actual image you will very easily mistake it for Gray. That is possibly why your marriage for Jane to Tillman Kemper is listed as Gray on the Illinois index. Email me direct and I will send you an email copy of that census image and you will quickly see what I mean. I would try to get a copy of the marriage license from Knox Co or the Illinois archives so you can take a good look at it. A marriage license from 1837 will probably just look like a receipt from a ledger book but as long as you can read the handwriting it may solve your dilemma. here is a link to the will list in Knox Co that shows Jacob, Jane & Peter Grass who all died in the 1850's. Perhaps Jane or Jacob's will may be of some help. http://www.iltrails.org/knox/Wills/WillsE-I.html Patti ----- Original Message ----- From: [email protected] To: [email protected] Sent: Friday, June 04, 2004 6:00 AM Subject: [ILKNOX-L] kEMPER/CRESS/GRASS I am searching for info re: the Tilman KEMPER/Jane Ann CRESS marriage - which may be the union registered on the Illinois State Marriage Index as Tindale KEMPER and Jane Ann GRAY, Knox County, 4-14-1837. To add to my confusion, I have recently been informed that Jane Ann CRESS's family surname was actually GRASS, not CRESS (or GRAY, as found on the Illinois index) but I do not have independent knowledge of this or done research. The Tilman KEMPER and Jane Ann CRESS/GRASS family are found in Tazewell County after the marriage where they raised a large family. One of their daughters, Catherine Jane KEMPER, is my g grandmother. Any history or records that can be found re: this union, their parents and sibs would be greatly appreciated. I have this KENPER family's history after the marriage along with pictures and some docs re: their daughter, Catherine. I will be happy to share my knowledge w/ those who are reseaching same line. I am Jean Conover Blaney, g g granddaughter to Tilman Kemper and Jane Ann Cress/Grass.