I am looking for suggestions/ideas of where to look next for Printha's parents. What records are there that might show her mother existed and fill in the gap of information between 1880 and 1900 census? Family tradition has it that Printha's mother died in childbirth in July 1900 and that Printha was taken in by her grandfather and raised with his young children. Here are the documents I have: 1. Printha Johnson married Thomas Early May 1923 in Metropolis, IL.(It was first marriage for both). She listed her residence as New Liberty, IL, place of birth Pope Co., Il and parents as "Wash. JOHNSON and Nancy OWENS" 2. Death cert. dated April 28, 1924 (death resulted from childbirth of twins). Informant was her husband of 11mos, Thomas Early of New Liberty, IL. Her date of birth was listed as July 26, 1900. Her parents were listed as Wash Johnson and what looks to be Martha OWENS. 3. 1920 Census Printha JOHNSON, age 21 and her son Hardin JOHNSON, 1/12 were in household of her grandfather Samuel Thomas OWENS in Jefferson Pct, ED104, Pope Co, IL 4. 1910 Census Soundex shows Printha A. JOHNSTON, age 10 was in household of her grandfather Samuel T. OWENS in Massac Co., IL 5. I've been unable to find any Wash. JOHNSON/JOHNSTON or Nancy OWENS in 1900 census soundex data, or any of marriage records books. Samuel OWENS was in Jackson Pct, Massac Co. with his third wife Emma and children Millie 14, Blitha 9, Effie 4, Lula 3 and Barney 1. 6. I've found three marriages for the grandfather Samuel T. OWENS in Massac Co., Il (Demis STAFFORD in July 1879;Martha T. FINCH in Nov 1880; and Emily HENSON in Nov 1894). In the 1880 Jackson Pct, Massac Co. census, Samuel is in household of his parents as a widower with daughter Lettey (or Lottey) May who was born in May 1900. Sorry this post is so long. I am stumped as to what to where to look next or even what records might exist. Are there any kind of school records,etc? Sheryl Burns