Here's another tip I learned from getting hundreds of messages. Put the surname in capital letters, add a time period and a rough location. Example: Thomas GILKERSON, late 1800's, Vermont to Illinois. Also put all surnames in capital letters in the message body. It makes scanning easier. -----Original Message----- From: Ida B. Wiese <[email protected]> To: [email protected] <[email protected]> Date: Saturday, January 22, 2000 1:30 PM Subject: [ILWILL-L] COPE Hello Joy; I have no Copes in my family, but I do have the Will Co History, and it has a bio of your H. W. COPE. If you don't have it, I'd be happy to send it in an e-mail. It does not mention his father by name. Ida P.S. Just a hint--always put the name you are searching in the subject line on any list. People who get hundreds of messages a day tend to delete pretty quickly and you want to catch their eye. > Hi, > > I am new to the WIll County Mail List and want to see if anyone is else > is interested in these > family names. I am looking for any clues, but really would like to find