Lois -- Bingo! Let me see if I can lay this out for you: First of all, there is a typo in your item from the Wayne County Press -- your Mrs. Alice WALKER is actually Mrs. Alice WALLER. She was the daughter of James R. and Mary J. BECK. In the 1880 census for Lamard twp, Wayne County, their family includes: James R. BECK, age 44 Mary J. BECK, age 46 Jeptha B. BECK, age 18 Hester A. BECK, age 17 Nancy BECK, age 14 Sherman BECK, age 12 Soloman [sic] BECK, age ?? Evidently, Alice was already out of the household and on her own (married?) by 1880. In the 1900 census, Mary BECK (age 67) and her sons Sherman and Solomon appear on the census for Elkhart, Logan County, Illinois. Sherman and Solomon are both listed as barbers. Now -- how does this family tie in to the BURROUGHS? Well, it's a little convoluted, but here's the way it works: 1) Alice BECK married Amos WALLER, the older step brother of James A. BURROUGHS. 2) Hester Ann BECK, Alice's younger sister, married Nathan E. MILLER, who was the older brother of my great grandfather, Oliver Perry Morton MILLER. Oliver married Fannie Amanda ALLEN, who was the daughter of Mehetable "Hettie" C. BURROUGHS, the older half sister of James A. BURROUGHS. In the 1884-1886 time frame, the entire MILLER clan removed from Wayne County to Logan County -- lock, stock, and barrel! Amos and Alice WALLER and their family also made the move shortly thereafter. Therefore, according to your 1896 letter, James A. Burroughs went from Wayne County to Logan County to live with his step brother's family. However, his sister-in-law, Alice WALLER, was also the sister of the wife of his niece's brother-in-law! Got that? To add to the confusion, Maude WALLER, the second child of Amos and Alice WALLER, married George Thomas MILLER, the son of Nathan's and Oliver's older brother, William J. MILLER. When these folks talked about the extended family, they really meant extended! As always, Guy I. Colby IV Irving, TX -------------- Original message from Bfamilyseekr@wmconnect.com: -------------- > Hi Guy, > This item published 27 Feb 1896 in the Wayne County Press was written by Mrs. > Alice Walker who mentions her Mother Mrs. Mary Beck. > "Mrs. Alice Walker writes from Elkhart: We came here from Wayne county nine > years ago. My husband is farming and raising a few hogs for the market; we are > doing very well. Jas. A. Burroughs is living with us at present, so we get to > read his Press, which is like a letter from home. Mrs. Mary Beck, my mother, > and two brothers, Sol and Sherman, are running a barber shop, and doing well. > Our family consist of five children three girls and two boys; all are going to > school. Our oldest is a girl of seventeen." > Are you related to them? I'm trying to find out if this is Elkhart, IN or > Elkhart, IL which is located in Logan Co. IL. My reason for locating Elkhart is > to find more information on the James A. Burroughs who is mentioned. > Thanks, > Lois Branch > > > ==== ILLOGAN Mailing List ==== > To unsubscribe from the Logan County List if you are in mail mode, send to > ILLOGAN-L-request@Rootsweb.com. If you are receiving messages in the digest > mode, send to ILLOGAN-D-request@Rootsweb.com >