There is a Bethany, MO in Harrison County. Early MO births are online, but I have never seen any back that far and did not find your Myrtle listed. It sounds as if you already have the following from the California Death Index. HOLLINGSWORTH MYRTLE 08/16/1878 DURBIN F KANSAS _LOS ANGELES(19)_ (http://resources.rootsweb.com/USA/CA/LosAngeles) 05/01/1943 _565-18-1259_ (http://ssdi.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/ssdi.cgi?ssn=565-18-1259) 64 yrs Now I am going to muddy the waters. The USGS Geographic Names Information System shows Bethany, KS as a variant name for Portis, in Osborne County. Here is their citation for that: Baughman, Robert W. Kansas Post Offices, 1828-1961, Wichita: McCormick-Armstrong Company, 1961. Lists post offices with dates and counties, cross referenced with former names. So at the time you are looking for, there may have been a Bethany KS also. Looks like I have given you information, but not any real help. Perhaps something will be a lead, anyway. Vanette