I just read something about how folks on the prairie [and other pioneer areas] went on with their lives and when the preacher came around they formalized weddings, funerals and the like. This, of course, means many children born before legal marriage. I had noted this in several of my lines in Logan County in the 1830s and I wondered if others had noted this also. Of course, we only have the dates of the legal marriage. Perhaps they had some sort of ceremony with family but without benefit of preacher? Any ideas or information? Cheryl Rothwell LoganCty@mindspring.com Coordinator, Logan County, ILGenWeb Project http://www.rootsweb.com/~illogan/loindex.htm Logan County mailing list> LOGAN-L-request@rootsweb.com Downing mailing list> DOWNING-L-request@rootsweb.com Harding mailing list> HARDING-L-request@rootsweb.com Downing query board> http://cgi.rootsweb.com/~genbbs/genbbs.cgi/FamilyAssoc/Downing Lucas query board> http://cgi.rootsweb.com/~genbbs/genbbs.cgi/FamilyAssoc/Lucas