RESPONSE: Hello, I am related to the Harlan Co., KY HOWARDS on my grandmother's side of the family. However, I am NOT actively researching your particular line. Here is what I see and what I think. On the 1930 Harlan Co., KY Fed. Census at Wallins Town are your g-grandparents: Dwelling 98-115 HOWARD, Ben, head, age 43 yrs, mar. at 24 yrs, b. KY; parents b. KY - feed and oil salesman . .Frances, wife, 36, mar. at 18, b. KY; parents b. KY . .Edward J., "adopted son", age 5 years, b. KY; parents b. KY On the 1920 Harlan Co. at Wallins they show up as: Dwelling 42-42 HOWARD, Ben, head, 31, b. KY; parents b. KY - retail merchant & dry goods . . Francis, wife, 26, b. kY; parents b. KY Below is JUST A GUESS on my part but you may wish to order the actual birth records from the Commonwealth of KY: HOWARD, Joe E. born 7-13-1924 in Harlan Co., KY; Vol. 072, Cert 35858; maiden name of mother listed as: Ella HOWARD Somehow I just think that is him. I am curious though if he and a sister (you didn't provide her name or what happened to her but) how if they were left on a creekbank would anyone have known that the REAL FATHER was a Thomas CHESTER. And, did anyone ever know who the REAL mother was in this case. I don't see any Thomas CHESTER in Harlan Co. on the 1920 or in the 1930 Fed. Census. However, there is a 38 year old married Thomas CHESTER married to a Nellie, age 29. In 1930, they are living in Butler Co., OH and he is a plumber and odd jobs. They have a bunch of kids. The census gives that he was born in KY and that his parents were from KY. So also is the wife, Nellie, from KY. All their 6 children were born in OH. Of course it could have been anyone else also. Hope this helps. Joyce Taylor Collins La Palma, CA In a message dated 11/11/2008 12:37:19 PM Pacific Standard Time, Hoeckfarms@aol.com writes: > My g-grandparents Ben &Francis "Helton" Howard used to run a store in the > early 1900's in Wallins Creek. They also adopted my grandfather who was Joe > > Chester born in 1924. My grandfather was left on a creek bank with his > sister. > I was wondering if anyone had any information about the store or my > grandfather. His real dad was Thomas Chester. > > Thanks, > Steven L. Hoeck > 2919 Pine Grove Road > Crab Orchard, Kentucky 40419 > (606) 355-2996 - Home > (606) 355-2348 - Fax > (606) 669-0772 - Cell > HoeckFarms@aol.com