Hi Mary, Stephen Howard and his son William D. Howard were among those given land patents ("original entry") for 160 acres each in Crawford County, KS on 1 Jan 1870. This means they had been living on the land, had built a shelter, and grown a crop, etc. for awhile before that date. In a 1897 list of persons living in Lincoln Twp. over the age of 70, Talitha Ellen Howard was listed as born in 1817 in Kentucky. In a list of surviving old settlers, Bluford Howard of the town of Mulberry was listed as having arrived in Crawford County in 1864 . Stephen Howard's will was dated 22 Feb 1875 and was probated 6 Apr 1875 in Crawford County so he must have died sometime in that time period. The probate record names his wife as Talitha (rather than Tabitha) Ellen Howard. It names his sons as: Joseph S., Bluford J., M. Howard, Stephen M., and William D. It names his daughters as: Nancy E. Patterson, Elizabeth J. Endicott, Malinda A. Claypool, Henrietta A. Claypool, Synthia E. Howard, and Rebecca E. Howard. Bluford and his wife are buried at Rosebank Cemetery at Mulberry. Their tombstones are inscribed: Howard Jane M. 1869-1943 Bluford J. 1864-1949 (So perhaps Bluford was born in Crawford County). I did not find tombstones listed for Stephen, Talitha, or any of the children other than Bluford. There are other Endicotts and Howards (mostly children who died young) buried at Rosebank Cemetery. Mulberry is just inside the Kansas/Missouri state line. I am wondering whether you might find other information about this family in Barton County, Missouri. Just a thought. Lois Kay Hoxsie in Arizona _____________________________________________________________ Click here for to find products that will help grow your small business. http://thirdpartyoffers.juno.com/TGL2121/fc/Ioyw6i3m7tDKdnhXtZUmWxSVLQtMMuAHQbEvcrpflADSZRNK87Xzuz/