Hi Carter Co, I am Lynda Combs Gipson and I'm sorta new to your list, but not to the surrounding County Lists. Debi Houser has asked me to forward this on to you folks. We will be adding more books as we go along........Lynda Hi everyone, I've just created a webpage called Eastern Kentucky Books for Sale that I'd like to invite you to take a look at. It's new, still under construction with plans on adding more info. If ya'll have any books you'd like to add to this page, please contact me. http://www.combs-families.org/~combs/records/ky-books.html Debi Houser Kendrick Owsley Co Ky ALHN Coordinator http://www.combs-families.org/~combs/records/ky-ows-alhn.html Lee Co Ky ALHN Coordinator http://www.combs-families.org/~combs/records/ky-lee-alhn.html Ky Combs Web Editor http://www.combs/families.org/~combs/records/ky.htm

I am trying to locate the Ward Burying ground called "The Mound" in Carter Co., Ky. I have ancestors buried their: Stella Morton George 1859-1925 and Alice Kirtley d. ca1898. I would like to know what town and road it is located on - many thanks for help. Lee Kirtley

Hi Lists, I am looking for the parents of Hail (Hale) Maness. He was the second husband of Jane Bledsoe. He died about 1845. Also was he related to her first husband and if so in what way? Jane and Hail had several children one of which was Hiram Maness. Any info on him will also be appreciated. I have Hiram marrying Talitha Bledsoe and they had a son Shelvy (Shelby) Maness. Any help will be reciprocated as much as possible Sherman R. Manis Researching: MANESS, MANIS, etc, BURKE, BURKS, HANCOCK, WHISMAN and other names as they tie in. -- =========================== Jesus is Lord of our lives Sherman and Rodana Manis visit our web sites: http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~srmanis Sign up to receive gospel tracts via e-mail at: http://www.onelist.com/subscribe/gospeltracts In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. (Gen 1:1 KJV)

In reply to several messages I've received from the list for more info, Carter Co. Memory Days is an annual event. I also posted info last year. I do apologize for the late posting this year. A contest is held a couple of months prior to the event to determine that year's theme. The permanent overall theme is "Come to Grayson to Remember and to Be Remembered". Memory Days begins the weekend before Memorial Day with a beauty pageant to crown Miss Memory Days and two-day benefit golf tournament at one of the Local State Parks (for those of you not familiar with the actual area, Grayson is known as "The Heart of the Parks", because we are surrounded by three State Parks - Carter Caves State Park, Grayson Lake State Park and Greenbo State Park). On Thursday before Memorial Day, Memory Days officially opens with a ceremony on the downtown parking lot and is followed by an evening of outdoor clogging and performances by different bands. Most of the downtown merchants have special sales and their front windows include displays of historical memorabilia and pictures. These window displays are judged on Thursday for the best display and winners are announced Thursday. There are commercial, carnival-style food wagons set up downtown from Thursday through Saturday and local charity groups etc also set up bake sales and food tables. This year there was also an antique auction at Kentucky Antiques and Collectibles on Main Street. Friday is a busy time at the Carter Co. Courthouse in Grayson as travelers get into town early and stop by to look for an ancestor or two. Friday night there will be additional bands playing downtown and there is an event known as "A Stroll Down Main Street". Beginning around 5:00 pm people dress in period costumes (there is a judging for this event as well) and stroll up and down Main Street and everyone takes this time to particularly check out the store window displays. Saturday includes the annual parade. A different grand marshall is chosen each year. Chuck Woolery, hometown boy and National TV game show host, was grand marshall a few years ago. Other Saturday events include the Anna Robinson Memorial Art Show in the City Park, a sidewalk Chalk Art Contest for the children, the Prichard Alumni Dinner (people from all the many generations that attended Prichard gather for a dinner at the school), the first night of the horse show, square dancing and folk music at Carter Caves, local yard sells, Grayson Fire House lunch (the firemen cook lunch, last year it was a catfish fry and this year is a rib feast) Merchant sales, etc. Sunday wraps up the event with the final night of the horse show. Each year there are tee-shirts, badges and caps sold that display that year's theme. Many residents have collections that go back to the first Memory Days in the mid-70's. Many of the area family cemeteries hold reunions on this weekend and of course if you are looking for a particular cemetery or just want to go cemetery hunting in general, this weekend is the best possible time to go. It's very rare to find any cemetery not properly mowed and opened for visiting on Memorial Day Weekend. It has been my experience that at many rural cemeteries an elder member of the family can often be found at the family cemetery, greeting the visitors and always ready to talk about the "good 'ole days" with anyone willing to listen. Memory Days is a really big event in Grayson. Each year there are many other activities that are not always repeated but are still enjoyable such as this year's Motorcycle Show and the Health Fair. This year's events also included the burial of a time capsule to be dug up in 50 years. So each year for Memorial Day you should plan to "Come to Grayson to Remember and to be Remembered"! God Bless! Sherry J. Lowe

I am looking for information on the family of John LORE/LOAR born in Carter County March 22,1865 married Laura Staggs. I am looking for his parents. I also am looking for information and proof of James LORE/LOAR born March 22,1865 parents .James was born in Carter and married Mary Ellen Arms. And a Jack Lore born KY. 1889 married Mertie Parker 17,November 1908 Jack's mother was Mary E. Colinsworth his father was James Lore. Jack died within the next two years I would like to no what happened ? they had one child that died also.

Memory Days 2000 began last night in Grayson. The big parade is set for Saturday at 1:00 pm. The Art Show will be held that morning and the Horse Show that night and again on Sunday. Many of the downtown store fronts are filled with old pictures and various pieces of area historical memorabilia Numerous other events are planned. "Come to Grayson to Remember and Be Remembered."

I would like to correspond with descendants of the following individual. Additions or corrections welcomed. Alexander Sherman WALKER, born 11-Apr-1830 in Perry County, KY, died 19-Aug-1900 near Enterprise, Carter County, KY, son of John W. WALKER and Polly DEVERS. Married 1) Mary Elizabeth (Betsy) ALLEN about 1847 in Floyd County, KY; married 2) Olive UNDERWOOD, 14-Feb-1860 (?) in Carter or Perry County, KY. Olive was born June 1840 in Virginia. Children by Mary Elizabeth ALLEN: 1. William M. WALKER, born 24-Dec-1848 in Perry County, KY, died 7-Feb- 1907 in Dallas, TX. Married 1) Mary (Mollie) GREGORY, 12-Sep-1876, in Delta County, TX (license issued in Fannin County, TX). Married 2) 18-Jul- 1887 in Kaufman County, TX. 2. Baby Girl WALKER, born 25-Dec-1851 in Perry County, KY, died 25-Dec- 1851. 3. John (Jack) WALKER, born 1852 in Perry County, KY, died 1917/18 in Altus, Jackson County, OK, never married. 4. Dave WALKER, born 1852 in Perry County, KY. Never married. 5. Mary WALKER, born 3-Apr-1858 in Perry County, KY, died 3-Dec-1943 in Will County, IL. Married Matthew William CRESSE on 18-Dec-1888 in Centralia, Marion County, IL. Children by Olive UNDERWOOD. 6. Amelia A. (Minnie) WALKER, born 1862 in Carter Co., KY, died in Pecan Gap, Delta County, TX. Married Jim T. DENNIS, 27-Jan-1881 in Pecan Gap, Delta County, TX. 7. James M. WALKER, born Oct. 1866, Hayward, Carter County, KY. Married Laura GRAVITT on 14-May-1903 in Paris, Carter County, KY. 8. Fred WALKER, born Jan 1882, TX, died 3-Mar-1937 in Carter County, KY ?. Never married. According to KY Tax Lists, Alexander moved from Perry County, KY to Carter County, KY in 1859/60. He left Carter County, KY in 1872/73. He then moved to Olathe, Johnson County, KS and on to Delta County, TX in 1876/77. He then returned to Carter County, Ky in 1897/98. Regards, Bob Walker Genealogy Webpage <A HREF="http://members.aol.com/rwa5352802/index.html">http ://members.aol.com/rwa5352802</A>

Hello! Would anyone happen to have a complete listing of who is buried in Manning Chapel cemetery in Brinegar, KY? I especially need a list that would include the unmarked graves. I have reason to believe that my great - great grandmother, Florence Fouch Fraley, may be buried there in an unmarked grave. Florence was just 18 years old when she gave birth to her first and only son, William Leslie Fraley. She died when William was just 9 months old in Feb. of 1890. Her son was raised by an aunt so I have very little info on Florence. Another question, Is there a church near the cemetery that is still being used? I was wondering if they might have any records on Florence Any information on the cemetery or Florence that you might have would be appreciated. Jennifer Fraley Voss

Dear List, About 2 years ago I was in the Middle East .. I was writing with someone about the SMITH family ... Mary SMITH m John RILEY Could you contact me? My computer is still packed and all information, disks and etc. .. while I am here, stateside? I would like to study the information once again .. PLEASE< forgive me .. I really can't remember who gave me the information. Now they are saying we will be heading down to Mexico .. so why bother to do anymore unpacking .. Thanks, Derre - --------------------------------------------------- Click here for Free Video!! http://www.gohip.com/freevideo/

I received the following email which noted a proposed large increase in fees from the National Archives and Records Administration (effective THIS September). The biggest change will be in the military pension records. We will no longer be able to request just 20 pages or so for $10. We will HAVE to pay for the WHOLE file and it will cost $40 !! I agree that we should band together and voice our protest over this! Here is a summary of the increases (go to the sites to see for yourself: Proposed fees at: http://www.nara.gov/nara/fees-pro.html and current fees at: http://webgopher.nara.gov/11/about/cfr/public/1258.txt): DATES: Comments must be received by June 26, 2000. ADDRESSES: Submit comments to the Regulation Comment Desk (NPLN), Room 4100, National Archives at College Park, 8601 Adelphi Road, College Park, MD 20740-6001. Comments may also be faxed to (301)713-7270. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Nancy Allard on (301)713-7360. PROPOSED NEW FEES (with current cost in brackets): - ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Type of record and order form Price - ---------------------------------------------------------------------- (1) Passenger arrival lists (order form NATF Form 81).......... $17.25 [was $10] (2) Federal Census requests (order form NATF Form 82).......... $17.50 [was $6] (3) Eastern Cherokee applications to the Court of Claims (order $17.50 [was $10] form NATF Form 83)............................................ (4) Land entry records (order form NATF 84).................... $17.75 [was $10] (5) Bounty land warrant application files (order form NATF Form $17.25 [?? was $10 ??] 85)........................................................... (6) Pension files more than 75 years old (order form NATF Form $40.00 [was $10 for up to 20 pages] 85) will ONLY send WHOLE file may be 100+ plus pages................. (7) Military service files more than 75 years old (order form $17.00 [was $10] NATF Form 86)................................................. - ---------------------------------------------------------------------- (a) Certification: $6. [was $10] (b) Electrostatic copying (in order to preserve certain records which are in poor physical condition, NARA may restrict customers to photographic or microfilm copies instead of electrostatic copies): - -------------------------------------------------------------------------- - ---------------------------------- Service Fee - -------------------------------------------------------------------------- - ---------------------------------- (1) Paper-to-paper copies (up to and including 11 in. by 17 $0.15 per copy. [was $0.10 per copy] in.) made by the customer on a NARA self-service copier. - -------------------------------------------------------------------------- - ---------------------------------- (2) Paper-to-paper copies (up to and including 11 in. by 17 $0.50 per copy. [was $0.50 per copy or $10 for] in.) made by NARA staff. [1st 20 & $5 ea. adtl. block of 20] - -------------------------------------------------------------------------- - ---------------------------------- (3) Oversized electrostatic copies......................... $2.70 per linear foot. [same] - -------------------------------------------------------------------------- - ---------------------------------- (4) Electrostatic copies (22 in. by 34 in.)................ $2.70 per copy. [same] - -------------------------------------------------------------------------- - ---------------------------------- (5) Microfilm or microfiche to paper copies made by the $0.30 per copy. [was $0.25 per copy] customer on a NARA self-service copier. - -------------------------------------------------------------------------- - ---------------------------------- (6) Microfilm or microfiche to paper copies made by NARA $1.90 per copy. [was $1.75 per copy] staff. - -------------------------------------------------------------------------- - ---------------------------------- (c) Original negative microfilm (paper-to-microfilm): $0.70 per image. [was $10 for 1st 15 & $14 ea. adtl. block of 20] (d) Diazo microfiche duplication: $2.50 per fiche. [was $2.10 per fiche] (e) Self-service video copying in the Motion Picture, Sound and Video Research Room: - -------------------------------------------------------------------------- - ---------------------------------- Service Fee - -------------------------------------------------------------------------- - ---------------------------------- (1) Initial 90-min use of video copying station with 120- $9.75. [was $20] minute videocassette. - -------------------------------------------------------------------------- - ---------------------------------- (2) Additional 90-minute use of video copying station with $6.25. [was $14] no videocassette. - -------------------------------------------------------------------------- - ---------------------------------- (3) Blank 120-minute VHS videocassette..................... $3.50. [was $6] - -------------------------------------------------------------------------- - ---------------------------------- (f) Self-service Polaroid prints: $5.75 per print. [was $9] (g) Unlisted processes: For reproductions not covered by this fee schedule, see also Sec. 1258.4. Fees for other reproduction processes are computed upon request. ------- -----Original Message----- From: GaleFuller@aol.com <GaleFuller@aol.com> To: ALTALLAP-L@rootsweb.com <ALTALLAP-L@rootsweb.com> Date: Tuesday, May 16, 2000 2:41 PM Subject: [ALTALLAPOOSA] Important to Each of You >Dear fellow researchers: > >I know that many of you have ordered documents from the National Archives and >Records Administration called NARA for short. This is the federal agency >which has *our* pension records, bounty land records, military records, >passenger lists as well as other records of importance to a genealogist. > >NARA is proposing a rate increase. Not a small one to cover the cost of >living but a VERY LARGE increase! The records most often sought, the pension >records of our ancestors, will have a 400% increase in Sept. unless we make >our voices heard. > >Several years ago, when NARA was threatened with a dramatic funding cut, they >appealed to genealogist to write and express our opinions and >dissatisfaction. We did and basically *saved* them. Now it is our turn to >speak out on this issue too. > >First visit this site, it is the NARA site that tells you about the proposed >fee increases. Some of you can hyperlink and others will need to copy and >paste the page. Either way, read it carefully. Yes, it is your typical >government document full of mumble jumble and you have to wade through all of >that. But the new fees are listed. All increases are far more than a modest >increase! > >Now is the time we can act together. We can write an email, send a fax or >better yet, a snail mail letter to NARA. In addition, notify your congressman >and any other official you know to express your dissatisfaction in this most >unfair rate increase. > >The time is NOW. The cut off date for getting your opinions in is June 26, >2000. Although the increase is not scheduled until Sept., we must act now to >get them to rethink this gigantic increase. > >Thank you for reading this. Please take the time to write a similar message >to each of the mailing list you receive, and send to them as well as to each >genealogist that you personally correspond with and encourage them to do the >same. Together we can be a Million Genealogist On Line Against Fee >Increases!! > >With elections not far away, I do not think congress wants to make a VERY >Large group of constituents upset!! So go below and click or copy and see >for yourselves what is proposed and then write your letter now, not tomorrow, >not next week. NOW. > > <A HREF="http://www.nara.gov/nara/fees-pro.html">Proposed Rule NARA Fee >Schedule-36 CFR Part 1258</A> or > >http://www.nara.gov/nara/fees-pro.html > >Thanks. Gale

CARTER CO KY MARRIAGES, 1838-1875: Love Collins to Alice Bloomington, 09 Apr 1871. Wickliff Collins to America Mosley, 18 Sep 1874. Anyone researching these Collins' families? Descendants?

Attention: There is a new site that you can post your Carter Co. KY names on and all your eastern KY names as well. Please pass it on to all the eastern KY lists and if you have a website please link to it. This will do away with all those row calls forever. The address is http://www.skyn.net/east/ Kevin Williams _______________________________________________________ Get 100% FREE Internet Access powered by Excite Visit http://freelane.excite.com/freeisp

My sincere apologies for that mess. Let's try again and see if I can dodge the AOL gremlin. Thanks to the efforts of Louis M. Stewart and Joyce Taylor Collins I was provided a copy of a 1913 Kentucky Court of Appeals case wherein one Jesse WALKER, and others, were attempting to prove their heirship in order to inherit land in Elliott County, KY. A copy of this document can be read, or downloaded, from a secondary web page I'm building at <A HREF="http://members.aol.com/bobwalkersr">http://members.aol.com/bobwalkers r</A> Click on "Table of Contents" and then on "Misc". The files are named aawalkers.htm and aawalkers.rtf. Names Mentioned: ADKINS; Andy BALDRIDGE; Morge BATES; Bob BURGESS COMBS; Alcey, Eliza, Ison, Jack, James, Jerry, Jesse, Taller Dick, William FERGUSON; Lewis E., R.J., Sallie FLANERY, John H. FRANCE FRANCES; Thomas HICKS; E.L. HIGGINS; Amanda, Lewis HUTCHINSON ISON; Reuben LESTER MASON MOORE; Fred, Col. Frederick PRATER; Jim STAMPER TIPTON; R. WALKER; Adeline, Aleck (white-Alexander Sherman), Bill, Crecie, Dick, Eliza, Jesse, Jesse Sr., Jim (white-James Calhoun), John, John (white-John W. "Squirrel Man"). John Willie, Milla, Richard, Susie WALLACE; Mariah, Richard WATSON, Dick, John, Nancy, Richard, Rolla, Rolla Sr. KY Counties Mentioned: Carter, Elliott, Floyd, Grayson, Knott, Lawrence, Leslie, Letcher, and Perry. Good luck, and I hope this helps someone locate their ancestors. Regards, Bob Walker Personal Genealogy Webpage <A HREF="http://members.aol.com/rwa5352802/index.html">http://members.aol.com/rwa 5352802</A>

Thanks to the efforts of Louis M. Stewart and Joyce Taylor Collins I was provided a copy of a 1913 Kentucky Court of Appeals case wherein one Jesse WALKER, and others, were attempting to prove their heirship in order to inherit land in Elliott County, KY. A copy of this document can be read, or downloaded, from a secondary web page I'm building at <A HREF="http://members.aol.com/bobwalkersr">http://members.aol.com/bobwalkersr</ A>. Click on "Table of Contents" and then on "Misc". The files are named aawalkers.htm and aawalkers.rtf. Names Mentioned: ADKINS; Andy BALDRIDGE; Morge BATES; Bob BURGESS COMBS; Alcey, Eliza, Ison, Jack, James, Jerry, Jesse, Taller Dick, William FERGUSON; Lewis E., R.J., Sallie FLANERY, John H. FRANCE FRANCES; Thomas HICKS; E.L. HIGGINS; Amanda, Lewis HUTCHINSON ISON; Reuben LESTER MASON MOORE; Fred, Col. Frederick PRATER; Jim STAMPER TIPTON; R. WALKER; Adeline, Aleck (white-Alexander Sherman), Bill, Crecie, Dick, Eliza, Jesse, Jesse Sr., Jim (white-James Calhoun), John, John (white-John W. "Squirrel Man"). John Willie, Milla, Richard, Susie WALLACE; Mariah, Richard WATSON, Dick, John, Nancy, Richard, Rolla, Rolla Sr. KY Counties Mentioned: Carter, Elliott, Floyd, Grayson, Knott, Lawrence, Leslie, Letcher, and Perry. Good luck, and I hope this helps someone locate their ancestors. Regards, Bob Walker Personal Genealogy Webpage <A HREF="http://members.aol.com/rwa5352802/index.html">http://members.aol.com/rwa 5352802</A>

I am looking for any information on James Meridith Gillum married Caroline Stevens in Carter Co. Kentucky. I am looking for anything about these two people and their son John James Gillum and any other children. James was born 19 Sep 1859 and I have nothing on Caroline. There son John James was my great-grandfather and I only have that that he died 11 Oct 1958 in Logan Co. W. Va. I know that John left Kentucky after his wife died and went to W. Va. and took his children and found work in the coal mines. I would appreciate any help on this line. Marjorie Gilliam Wood

Just wanted to let everyone know that this was me (had my default email set to my main account) LOL John -----Original Message----- From: RUCKER,JOHN [mailto:jrucker@columbus.rr.com] Sent: Saturday, May 13, 2000 10:41 PM To: kycarter-l@rootsweb.com Subject: {not a subscriber} Cemetery CD Well, things are still pretty hectic around here, but I swear I'm getting around to answering all my emails...vbg. And doing the website edits. The reason for this message is to let you guys know that if you've been meaning to send a check to order the Cemetery CD, you can now just use your credit card via PayPal. I've been using them for eBay auctions for over a month now (both to pay and also to accept payment & I'm very happy with them. If anyone is interested, here's their spiel, along with a link to get registered: **************************************************************** Did you know you can email money with PayPal.com? PayPal.com is a completely free service that lets users send money to anyone with an email address. Use PayPal.com to settle restaurant tabs with colleagues, pay friends for movie tickets, or buy a baseball card at an online auction - all with the click of a mouse! PayPal charges the money to an existing credit card or bank account. It's faster, safer and easier than mailing a personal check. As soon as you sign up and register your credit card, PayPal will automatically send you $5! I recently signed up for PayPal and got my $5 bonus right away. Signing up is quick, easy and you can download the money to your bank account at any time. No strings attached. Click on this link to sign up and see for yourself: https://secure.paypal.com/refer/pal=kycarter%40columbus.rr.com REFER YOUR FRIENDS AND EARN MONEY After you sign up, you'll get an email like this to send to your friends and family. PayPal will give you $5 for each friend that signs up and registers a credit card. It's that easy! **************************************************************** I hope noone is offended by this message (I know it kinda borders on being SPAM), but I also figured there may be some folks out there who have just never gotten around to ordering the CD & thought that this might make things easier for them.... Thanks, John

I haven't posted my Bradshaw's for awhile, so I though this was a good time to repost with the current activity and maybe there is a new cousin out there. Robert R. Bradshaw abt 1830 to after 1900. - This is my great grandfather. I have very little facts concerning him: He married Elizabeth Howard for Scioto County, Ohio in December 1852 with a residence and birth listed as Greenup County, Kentucky. He lived in Lewis County from abt. 1860 to 1870 and worked as a shoemaker. He lived in Carter County, Kentucky at the time of the 1880 census. The last residence I could find in the 1900 census records is in Grayson, Carter County, Kentucky where he lived alone. His children are: Children of ROBERT BRADSHAW and ELIZABETH HOWARD are: i. MARY EVELYN BRADSHAW, b. 25 May 1854; m. ORLANDO SANDERS.(Married 1874 in Vancebury, Lewis Cty, KY) ii. NANCY FLORENCE BRADSHAW, b. Abt. 1857 iii. JAMES BRADSHAW, b. Abt. Dec 1859. iv. CLARK H. BRADSHAW, b. Abt. 1865; d. 02 Apr 1918. v. GEORGE S. BRADSHAW, b. Abt. 1867 vi. THOMAS HARRISON BRADSHAW, b. Nov 1869, Lewis, Kentucky,18; d. Aug 1913, Matewan, Mingo, West Virginia; m. HANNAH FRANCES HUNTER, 26 Dec 1901, Futz Switch, Carter County, Kentucky; b. 18 Dec 1875, Reedville, Carter County,Kentucky; d. 27 Nov 1959, South Portsmouth, Kentucky. vii. FRANK BRADSHAW, b. 17 Oct 1872,20; d. 06 Sep 1942, Leon, Carter County, Kentucky; m. MARY JANE POPE,22; b. 06 Jan 1875, Kentucky; d. 17 Dec 1971, Leon, Kentucky. viii. WILHELMINA BRADSHAW, b. 1874; m. CHARLES W. KEMPER, 23 Jun 1891. ix. ORVILLE BRADSHAW,( my grandfather) b. 24 Mar 1878, Greenup County, Kentucky; d. 18 Oct 1956, Eskdale, West Virginia; m. FLORENCE UTTERBACK, 1907; b. 31 Oct 1887, Quinnemont, West Virginia; d. Abt. 1970, Goshen, Indiana. Any help locating the family, especially his parents, would be greatly appreciated. I have more information on later generations and would be very happy to share. Regards, Pat Muniz Researching AMOS, ANGEL, BRADSHAW, BRYANT, HOWARD, SNYDER, UTTERBACK/OTTERBACH

Who can help me with the 1900 or 1910 Carter County Census? I need a look up for Jacob Maggard wife Delia Wells? Thanks for your help. Ken Maggard Marietta, GA

Well, I'm back from an exhausting trip down south. 2 1/2 days of nonstop fishing (16 hours Fri & Sat), 15 freezer baggies of fish, 13 keeper bass and a 9-hour drive back today - I'm tired. I have a lot of new email to catch up on, but I'm going to wait until tomorrow. Just wanted to let everyone know that if you've written the last several days & I haven't written back yet, be patient - I'll get to you. Thanks, John

When we think it is hard to trace our family trees , here is something to think about! ----------- Survivors Remember Orphan Trains By ROBERT WELLER .c The Associated Press LAKEWOOD, Colo. (April 29) - It is one of the least-remembered of America's migrations to the West: as many as 350,000 orphan children shipped out of New York on ''Orphan Trains'' from the 1850s to 1929. The trains stopped in rural areas so that prospective parents could look over the youngsters and decide whether to take in any of them. The process wasn't always successful, recalled Dorothy Sharpley, 81, one of six Orphan Train ''riders'' who attended a reunion Saturday in Colorado. Sharpley said she was rejected by her first adoptive family, in Columbus, Neb. ''I was sent back to New York only to ride the train again and end up in St. Mary's, Neb., only 20 miles from Columbus.'' The trains were the idea of Methodist minister Charles Loring Brace, founder of the Children's Aid Society of New York, intended as a means of moving children out of the alleys and squalor of a city overrun by immigrants and the industrial revolution, out to the West and wholesome farm family life. ''It was a major event in migration to the West, where life revolved around the railroad,'' said Tom Noel, a University of Colorado historian. For Sharpley, life before the Orphan Train meant having to beg for food in an orphanage with 600 children. Janet Liebl, author of ''Ties That Bind, the Orphan Train Story in Minnesota,'' said her research indicates the number of orphans who rode the trains is about the same as the number of slaves brought into the United States. ''We don't hear about these people because they were assimilated,'' said Liebl. Less than 1,000 of the ''riders'' are estimated to be still alive. The Orphan Train was a sweet second chance for many, a Dickensian nightmare for others. ''We'd stop in these little towns and get out of the trains and they'd interview us. It was kind of like a cattle auction. If they liked us they'd take us,'' said Stanley Cornell, who joined Sharpley at Saturday's reunion. Cornell, then 6, rode the train twice with his brother, Victor, who was 5. Their mother died when their sister, Eloise, was born, and their father, a victim of a German gas attack in World War I, was unable to care for them. Another sister took Eloise, but didn't have room for Stanley and Victor. On their first trip they were taken in by a family in Coffeyville, Kan. ''They were kind and we liked them, but after a couple of months they sent us back. I still don't know why. Maybe their other kids didn't like us,'' said Cornell, now 80. On their second trip, they met a Wellington, Texas, man with two daughters who had wanted a son. ''He only wanted one boy, but he took us both,'' Cornell recalls. His only question ''was whether we liked farms and animals,'' and when they passed that test, he gave them a bag of jelly beans. Liebl said the nuns of New York's Foundling Hospital were finding up to 1,000 abandoned babies on their doorstep every year in the 1870s. The nuns and Brace's group were the main groups sending orphans on the trains. Brace's faith in farmers didn't always pan out for the children. In some cases orphans were treated as indentured workers, and were sent away once the harvest was finished. ''My mother loved me but all my father cared about was how much farm work I could do,'' said Sharpley. The orphans were told to never try to find out who their parents were, and their adoptive parents signed an agreement not to divulge the information. ''I'm still trying to find out who my real parents are. But the Foundling Hospital tells me the records are all burned,'' said Sharpley. Cornell got unexpected assistance finding his family. While serving in the Army during World War II, he sent a telegram to J. Edgar Hoover asking for help. The FBI director replied within 10 days, telling him where his father lived.