Posted on: Cowley Co. Ks Queries Reply Here: http://genconnect.rootsweb.com/gc/USA/Ks/Cowley/37 Surname: ------------------------- Cynthia...I am thrilled to discover a new Pierce researcher. Ted McAlister gave me a copy of a letter dated06 July 1982 from a Mary Elizabeth Phillips, Dallas, Texas. She was working on the Pierce line then...I attempted to locate her several times...thinking about her all these years and furious I had no way to track her down. Now, I am wondering if you are related to her? My husband's grandfather was Homer Pierce, brother to your Lavina , daughter of John and Lavina Pierce. Ted allowed me to copy all the photos he had and I am wondering if these are duplicates of what you have...do you have a way to send photos over the internet? Mary Phillips thot that the Pierce line originated in Isle of Wight County, Virginia...she had census records for a Peter, Benit, and others in that county. According to census records in Marion County, Indiana where the Pierce family migrated to...John was born in West Virginia...tho I have never been able to figure out what county. Remember that West Virginia was not a state until after the Civil War and John born early 1800's...so this would have been called Virginia rather than West Virginia when he was born. Since the census records indicate West Virginia, I figure they were from a county in Virginia that became part of West Virginia eventually...what do you think? I have not been able to get going on the Jones line either...Lavina Jones married John, as you know. Her brother Philip lived in Arkansas City, Kansas as we find her with him when a census taken...probably visiting. John Pierce made the run into Kay County, Oklahoma with his sons and died there. One of John and Lavina's sons, Thadius Madison was sheriff of Kay County and died 1928 Major County. Son James Bufford went to Dallas, Texas, William was schoolteacher and sheriff of Kay County, Oklahoma as well before going to Colorado.I would like your family group sheets...can you send them? My addres is 15613 SE Creswain, Milwaukie, Oregon 97267. I have other information for you so you might want to send your address as well. What can you provide for me...I do hope you have something that might shed some light on this elusive Pierce family...I have Indiana census records, land records, marriage record for John and Lavina. I am not interested in McAlister line other than as an aside... Ted won't write and he laughs when I yell at him about this, but you never know when you will get a card or phone call out of the blue. Click into http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~pierces/history.html...intresting info on Origin of the Pierce Family... Did Ted give you copy of Mary Phillips info he had.... I will await reply...great hearing from you. If you only knew what I have gone thru to contact this Mary Phillips...thot I had her tracked down to San Francisco living with boyfriend years ago, but that lead did not pan out....