I would invite my gg grandfather, Nicholas Schermerhorn (NS) Bastion, 1808-1884. He was b. in Canajoharie, Montgomery, NY, came to S. IN in 1821, by 1830 was a teacher in IL, across from St. Louis. Some of his papers came down in the family. In 1830 he converted to Methodism at a camp meeting, from his ancestral Dutch Reform. By 1833 he was a Methodist minister, and served Methodist churches all across central IL, from Alton to Paris, as well as Dubuque, where he had a 400 mile circuit. In 1849 he was sent, with his wife, Sarah Miller, and their son John Tenbrook Bastion, to Monrovia, Liberia, as missionaries. Their only child, John, 16 months, died within 6 weeks of "African fever," probably malaria or cholera. In Jan 1850, Bastion returned to NYC to report to the Mission Board and request money to build a school out of stone. He didn't arrive until June, only to learn his wife had also died, and that he'd long since been relieved of his post. He turned in his resignation and became an American Baptist minister, which lasted until the late 1850s. Then he became a Christian (Disciples of Christ) minister until his death. He spent his years as a Christian minister in IL, retiring in the 1860s in Sullivan, Moultrie Co, where he and his second wife, my ancestor, founded the first high school downstate. She ran the school, and taught there, while he served as interim ministers, dying in Fowler, Adams Co two weeks after arriving there. Fascinating character. I have some letters, a journal, his Bible, and a book he self-published. He didn't believe in voting, among other things, because your candidate might end up in Congress and have to vote to go to war. God didn't approve of war. Don't know which part of the Bible he was reading! Would be so many questions I'd like to discuss with him! Among other things, his only son from his second marriage "ran away from home" as an adult, and I'd love to know why. Doris Waggoner ____________________________________________________________ Refinance Now 3.4% FIXED $160,000 Mortgage: $547/mo. No Hidden Fees. No SSN Req. Get 4 Quotes! http://thirdpartyoffers.juno.com/TGL3141/4cd35b3310dd58a252st05vuc

I would invite my great-grandmother, Elizabeth Anderson Lawrie. She was born in Scotland, married ggpa James Brown Lawrie. She had a daughter before the marriage, Jemima...when, who, etc., and why didn't she come to Illinois with them? She joined ggpa James in Illinois (Plano in Kendall Co) in Sep.1883, he coming a 'year' sooner. What was the trip over like...I know you had the five boys ages 1-7. I know you were seasick the whole way. Tell me more, please. Tell me what was in the carryon that you forgot to bring...the bag with all the "precious" must-keep things? Did you ever find out more about it? Tell me about the relatives in Scotland. I have some names...are they right? Was Uncle Jim a drunk? Was your mother special as I've heard? What was your life like there? What was it like arriving in Illinois? How did you get settled in? Your obituary sounds like the community thought you were a wonderful lady...I know my dad (Robbie) did. And so did his cousin (Don). What did you do with them? What did you cook for them? What kind of boys were they? So many little things ... if I knew them I would know so much more about you. And I wish that I did! Your Great-granddaughter, Kristy