Hello Fellow Researchers, Several people have responded to my messages abt. the McClanahan, Nelson, & Gann surnames. My McClanahan family is first found in Hamilton Co, TN in the 1850 census: Ely (Elijah) McClanahan, b. TN age 28 Jane " b. TN age 23 (Jane's maiden name is Nelson) David " b. TN age 3 Mary " b. TN age 2 Sometime in the mid-1850's they travelled to Johnson Co.,IL. possibly near Grantsburg, where two more children were born. Another family, Moses & Hannah Gann Nelson, also left Hamilton Co., TN abt the same time and also travelled to Johnson Co., IL. and or Pope Co., IL. In the 1860 census of Washington Co., MO, my Elijah & Jane McClanahan are listed. Also in their household besides their children (David, Mary, Hannah, Sarah & Sam) is a Sarah Ghan (Gann). Several houses away is a James Gann family, who were also in Hamilton Co., TN at the same time of my McClanahan's and the Moses Nelson family. They may have been with them in Johnson & Pope Co. as well. A Henry Gann, son of William & Pollie Gann, later married A. Alma McClanahan in St. Francois Co., MO. We do not know what happened to Elijah & Jane, but an old family letter recently recovered stated that Jane died in MO and that Elijah may have returned to southern IL. Also, an old photograph recently found by another cousin has this on the back of the photo: "David McClanahan and his family at their home in Grantsburg or Harrisburg , 1909 or 1910" We believe that this is the David listed in the 1850 TN census as age 3 and the brother of our Joseph Robert (b. 1863) & Hannah Isabelle. We also found in the Johnson Co. IL marriage records: "David M. McClanahan married Florence Small (daughter of William Small and Mary Jane Giller) in Vienna, Johnson Co.,IL on June 26, 1879 by H.T. Bridges, J.P. Could this be the David that we are looking for? We are still searching for Jane Nelson McClanahan's parents. There were also several other McClanahan names in the area at the time and wondered if there was a connection: William McClanahan, Catherine E. McClanahan, daughter of Hamilton Smith McClanahan, married Robert Brown on Dec. 26, 1878. Any help on these families would be greatly appreciated!!! Thanks, Anita McClanahan Kendall