Hi to all my Cousins, Was reading the post and have I got a story for ya'll. My great-grandpa (Dale Kemp or Kempler Arden) according to what I have been able to fine is: he was born 26 of Feb. 1870 or 26 Feb. 1876 ?? I have only been able to fine him on one census, and I've been looking for over 30 years :(` (Florida, Monroe County; Eighth Precinct Chokolskee Bay; 12th - 14th July 1900; Census).he was listed as Dillds K. Arden?? living right next door to what is already supposed to be his mother and father-in-laws. The census list him as being born in N. Carolina, father born in Virginia and mother born in N. Carolina; he was listed as being a seaman, which was what I was told. They had applied for a marriage license in Monroe County, but it was never filed. It was filed under Kemp Arden and Bertha Allen 2 Dec. 1899. They had a son to died from falling off his boat at age 2 in the Gulf of Mexico. They moved to Mobile County, Alabama during the year of 1909 to 1910. He homesteaded land there and I have those records which he claims he was born in Virginia. By age 12 he had lost both parents and was living with an uncle. He wasn't getting along well with the uncle's wife so he was put into an orphan home which he didn't care for, so he ran away. I've been looking in North Carolina and Virginia in the census and haven't been able to find anything. I've looked through tax records birth records old newspapers anything I could thing of, but haven't been able to fine anything on this man. Would be willing to take any advice from my cousins on where to try and find his parents. He lived until 1937 but his death certificate says unknown on both parents. There are no pictures of this man because he wouldn't allow pictures to be made of him and there are still two of his children living but they know nothing about him. In fact my great uncle is so willing to have information that he wrote a letter giving me the go ahead to go through any records. I just haven't been able to fine anything. This is a real needle in the hay stack. And with these dates you think I could have found something by now. Can any of you give me any help?? Sincerely, Linda #1

Tonight I will forget the "purple shorts" and Linda, I think he was a runner of contraband from the states to Cuba. Maybe he got caught up in the Bermuda Triangle and lost his bearings on who he was or was suppose to be....:-) Back to a more serious note... if he had a ship or a boat he was probably, I say probably fishing or shrimping in the Gulf. Would the Maritime ?? have any records of his boat or his logs? Surely they had to check in with someone when they were out to sea and had to report to someone when they came in. If he still has close relatives living, boy I would really pick some brains. I have warn poor Donna out trying to pick her brain. And, by the way... she is doing a lot better. Are you ready for this, she had a bad attack and it wasn't asthma, she has emphysema. But, before she can come to AZ she has to go thru a stress test and have the heart checked out to see why she was having chest pains. That will happen later in January and who knows she might be my neighbor. And, then I will really put her to work on genealogy. Since she won't be able to run a mile, she can type a mile...;-))) Love you, Donna!!! Seriously, I wonder how she can cope with a stress test when she can't carry anything or even walk any distance. I told her to get out and walk the parking lot in her complex and walk around her little golf course and she should start soaking in the hot tub and using her pool. She doesn't have to be on oxygen nor does she have to have any at home and the spot of her lung was from the Valley Fever that she had years ago... so things are looking up and a lot of it is due to the prayers of her family. Gail