I am looking for contacts with anyone researching this family and descendants. I am specifically looking for anyone who can help with information about son William J LANKFORD, born abt 1843. Based on research to date, he is the best candidate I have found to be the father of my great-grandmother: Tinnie Mae LANKFORD, born 26 Jan 1872, died 17 Apr 1897. Thanks, Kim ------------------- Federal Census, 1870, Shelby Twp., Shelby Co., Illinois pages 15 (handwritten) 274 (inkstamped) and 16 (handwritten) 275 (inkstamped) P.O.: Shelbyville enumerated 6 June 1870 Bottom of page 15 (handwritten) 274 (inkstamped) household/family 100/102 Bowels, John 23 M W R.R. hand - 140 Ky - - - - - - - - 1 - " , Theresa 24 F W - - - Ills - - - - - - - - - - household/family 101/103 Lankford, John 53 M W Farmer 150 300 Ills - - - - - - - - 1 - " , Elizabeth 49 F W - - - Ills - - - - - - - - - - " , Isaac 22 M W - - - Ills - - - - - - - - 1 - " , John 18 M W - - - Ills - - - - - - - - - - " , James 14 M W - - - Ills - - - - - - - - - - [The wife in household/family 100/102 is the apparent daughter of John LANKFORD and wife Elizabeth, per the Illinois Statewide Marriage Record Index - groom: BOLLES, John bride: LANKFORD, Pernicia date: 07/28/1867 vol./page: C/ 15 place: Shelby Co. ] Top of page 16 (handwritten) 275 (inkstamped) household/family 101/103 (continued) Lankford, Charles 6 M W R.R. hand(scratched out) - - Ills - - - - - - - - - - " , Lizabeth 26 F W - - - Ills - - - - - - - - - - " , Elinore 20 F W - - - Ills - - - - - - - - - - [Per the Illinois Statewide Marriage Record Index - groom: CHAPLIN, Robert bride: LANKFORD, Ellen date: 11/19/1870 vol./page: C/ 29 place: Shelby Co. This appears to be the marriage of Ellender/Elinore LANKFORD, dau. of John and Elizabeth, to Robert CHAPLIN later in 1870.] Also .... Federal Census, 1870, Okaw Twp., Shelby Co., Illinois page 31 (handwritten) 169 (inkstamped P.O.: Shelbyville enumerated 8 June 1870 household/family 222/204 Lankford, B 33 M W Engineer - 100 Illinois - - - - x - 1 - - - - , Roda 33 F W Keeping house - - Illinois - - - - - - - - 1 - - , Phebe 4 F W - - - Illinois - - - - x - 1 - - - Beem, Christian 14 F W - - - Illinois - - - - - - - - - - - , Catherine 9 F W - - - Illinois - - - - x - 1 - - - - , Leemuel 7 M W - - - Illinois - - - - x - x - - - Welton, Lafayette 25 M W Millhand - - Illinois - - - - x x 1 - 1 - Reed, Moses 33 M W Lawyer - - Illinois - - - - - - - - 1 - [Per the Illinois Statewide Marriage Record Index - groom: LANKFORD, Benjamin bride: REED, Jerusha date: 07/22/1866 vol./page: C/ 116 place: Shelby Co. This appears to be the marriage of Benjamin LANKFORD, son of John and Elizabeth, to Jerusha REED. The BEEM(?) children in the household may be those of John A BEEM, who married Matilda Jane REED on 03/10/1870, per vol./page: C/ 16, in Shelby County. Per the 1880 Census, Jerusha had apparently previously married a REED, possibly: REED, DAVID CARSON, JERUSHA 10/27/1850 1/ 34 SHELBY.] ---------------------