Hi All: At a glance, the Wash. Co. marriage book that was published in 1998 could have arround 1100 surnames and arround 1500 marriages. It only has a few (20) for 1855, and none for 1856. It says this could be due to a fire at the court house ??? Guess there are some that don't want to take a chance on buying this book in case their names are not in it ????? So wait and get it for free if and when it ever gets on the internet. Cost is $7.50 postage paid from: Marissa Hist. & Gen. Soc. Box 47 Marissa, IL 62257-0047 ??????? Did Marissa get all these names and dates from from the Nashville court house ??????? ??????? If so, how did they do it ??????? (the book was only printed two years ago) It has always been my opinion not to start a one on one fight(s) with the court house, but to ask the only two Historical Societies we have, Washington and Marrisa, "WHAT THE HECK IS WRONG WITH THOSE PEOPLE ???????" Can they talk the court house into letting IRAD in to archive the records ????? If I asked, how far do you think I'd get. It was brought to my attention last year that the court house is of the opinion that they will lose the records, and because of this say "NO WAY". When I wrote to IRAD they told me "we only copy them, they (the court house) keep them". In another letter from Wash Co., a person at the court house was quoted as saying "no Mormons are getting into this court house". I think the people of Washington Co. and us descendants should have a say in this, not just one person at the court house. Or does it go deeper than that. Is it a single person that has final say, and just who is that person. Or is it a group ?????????? Is there any "prejudice" involved, or what about "prejudice to our rights for lawfull freedom of information". Robert J. Middleton