Don Johnston wrote on 1/6/02 5:42 AM: > I'm at a brick wall with some of my research and I feel the door may be > opened if I'm able to get hold of some obituaries, I've applied top Vital > Records in KS for death certificate copies but unfortunately the dates > preclude registration. Unfortunately, Kansas didn't start recording birth certificates on a statewide basis until the 1900's - around 1911 I think. Thus I can't find my dad's (1891) or granddad's birth certificates (1868) but I can find the birth record of my 6x g.grandad in England in 1583 !! > (I even purchased the book "Pioneers of the Bluestem Prairie" from > a bookshop in California, on the net to help me, and what a mine of > information it is (If anyone wants a look up I'm more than > happy!!). Excellent book it is too, especially for someone researching in Clay County, Kansas and adjacent Riley County. An excellent place to check on obits for your HEMPHILLS and JOHNSTONS would be the Clay County Historical Society. I live 100 miles away or would be glad to do so. Address is Clay County Historical Society, 2121 7th Street, Clay Center, KS 67432. Phone is 785-632-3786. Cathy Haney is the curator and extremely helpful. Someone mentioned last year that there is now at least e-mail contact with the museum ccmuseum@oz-online.net I believe the Historical Society has duplicated records from the cemetery plus obits from the local newspaper running back to the very early days. In fact I found the burial info and obits on my SANDERS rellies there before I made the trip to the cemetery. Good luck in your searches. Jack Sanders, Eureka, Kansas ---------------------------------------- Searching for info. on ANNIE LAURIE SANDERS FARQUAHARSON, born near Clay Center Sep. 5, 1856. Last known address: Des Moines, Iowa Parents: HENRY SANDERS and SUSANNAH ANGELINA SIMPSON SANDERS, m. 1865 C.Center. and descendants of JOY SANDERS b. 1891, C.Center, d. 1970's. buried, Gatesville Cemetery, Clay County, KS Same parents as above. Also any info or relatives of HENRY SANDERS, MAXWELL SANDERS and THOMAS SANDERS, all brothers residing near C.Center starting in early 1860's.