Norma, Looking this over, I wonder if we have more than one Thomas Bush. Mary Louisa SCOTT m Thomas BUSH 1 March 1855, shortly before the death of her father Samuel SCOTT. 1860 Census IN Owen Co.: Thomas Bush & Perlina with children: Charles L. 9, Solomon R. 7, Mary E. 5, Lorra S. 2, Madora F. (female) 1. 1870 census IL McLean Co. Mary E. Bush (born c1855-56) is living with Agnes Mary (Scott) McNaught, widowed. Mary is Agnes' niece. This has to be a daughter of our Mary Louisa (Scott) and Thomas Bush, in order to be a niece. This makes me think that perhaps Thomas Bush was married once before he married Mary, and then again married a third time after Mary's death. Charles born 1851 & Solomon born 1853, children of the first wife. Mary E. born 1855-56, daughter of second wife, Mary Louisa. Lorra S. & Madora, born 1858 & 1859 daughters of a third wife. All of these dates are too early to be the children of Thomas Benton Bush who married Minerva Ooley 21 June 1868. If this is the same man, it would be a fourth marriage. You mention Mary E. Bush, born 11 Apr 1870 + Benjamin F. Babbs, but this girl is too young to be the daughter of our Thomas & Mary Louisa. Seems like we have more than one Thomas Bush. What do you think? Thanks for chewing on this with me. Here is a copy of info that Roger Peterson sent about the boxes in the archives for Thomas Bush. Box 194, wife is Hannah, no age found.Some children are Enid Goodridge, Eunice Bush, Thomas Gury Bush. Jane(?) Purkins Mary Ann Hicks Matilda etc. Box 213 Did not find wife's name but only scanned the file. Some children are Mary Bush, Lauson(?) Bush, Doro (?) Bush and Martha Bush. John foster Gdn. A pettiton (ptn) usually is a request to sell land for cash needed to support the children or widow or both. No age given. Box 158, widow Hannah, one daughter Enid Goodridge and other children. No age given Roger nancy ----- Original Message ----- From: Nancy R. Scott To: [email protected] Sent: Saturday, March 09, 2002 6:42 AM Subject: Re: [INOWEN] Thomas BUSH Thanks, Norma. Could you send me a copy of the obit of Minerva, mentioned in your note, please? Do you have a death date, burial place or obit for Mary Louisa Scott? Did Thomas Bush and Mary Louisa Scott have any children? I found Thomas Bush & Perlina on the 1860 census, but couldn't decide if this was a second wife or a different Thomas! Still not sure. What do you think? Thanks again. nancy Walter & Nancy Scott 2008 Silver Court West Urbana, IL 61801 ----- Original Message ----- From: [email protected] To: [email protected] Sent: Friday, March 08, 2002 5:30 PM Subject: Re: [INOWEN] Thomas BUSH In a message dated 3/8/02 7:22:59 AM Central Standard Time, [email protected] writes: Still searching for information about Thomas BUSH who married Mary Louisa SCOTT in Owen Co. IN on 1 March 1855. Mary Louisa is the daughter of Samuel & Milly (FOSTER) SCOTT. I don't find her on censuses after 1855. Is she in any of the Owen County cemeteries? Did she & Thomas have a daughter? or any other children? Did Thomas remarry, if Mary Louisa died young? Did they migrate out of sight? Who were Thomas's parents? Mystery continued later. nancy Nancy, after Mary Louisa Scott died, Thomas Benton Bush married Minerva Ooley on June 21, 1868, Owen County Indiana Marriage Book 29, pg 444, and they had 2 children, in Minerva's obit it stated that Thomas died shortly after they married Thomas is buried in the Hicks Cemetery, dates in Cem Book, pg 67, Nov 17, 1827 - Nov 30, 1867. (If they had a son born abt 1871 I think date maybe should be 1869) but maybe this is not the right Thomas Bush 1860 Owen census there is a Thomas Bush with wife Perlina & several children Mary E Bush, b Apr 11, 1870 - Benjamin F Babbs , b Dec 30, 1849 Ind, d 1919 both buried Cataract Cem, Jennings Twp, Owen Co. m - Oct 7, 1916 Owen Marr Book H24, p25. In Mary's marriage record she named her father as Benton. John B Bush b abt 1871, When he married (October 27, 1894) it stated he was age 23 (Owen County, Indiana Marriage Book H-19, pg 306, age 23) If you need more info just ask , I hope this all makes sense Norma Ooley Herman