This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Elkins, Craiger Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/an/EBB.2ACE/2517.3 Message Board Post: Joseph Elkins was the son of Mary Jane Galloway and an unknown partner. In Wise County VA marriage records, Joseph F. Elkins first marries to an Almira Nunley and his father is listed as unknown. On Wise County VA birth records, his mother is listed as Mary J. Elkins and father as Isaac William ??. This is a rather confusing story but let me give some basics. Mary Jane Galloway first married Thomas Elkins. They had children David, Aron, Alexander, Sarah. They had a very srange relationship as they are not together in a single census. Mary Jane married Samuel Eli Craiger in March of 1879 in Wise County, but by then Samuel and Mary had already had two children together. Samuel and Mary are found together in the 1880 Wise VA census. Samuel and Mary are found next in the 1900 Harlan KY census, and Joseph is living in their home, although he is listed as a Craiger. In 1910, Joseph is living in Laurel KY with wife Nancy Caudil (Caudle) and his mother is living in the home as well, although she is listed under the name of Elkins. Mary Jane, the mother, dies in 1920 and is buried in the same cemetery as Joseph F and his brother Aron, which is the Young cemetery in Laurel County. You will find Aron Elkins living in the home of Joseph Elkins in the 1920 and 1930 Laurel census. Joseph Elkins is born in 1861, but I do not know where he is in the 1870 nor 1880 census. I have been unable to find his mother in the 1870 census and he is not listed in the home with his mother in the 1880 census with Samuel Eli Craiger. My research on this family stems from researching Samuel Eli Craiger as he is in my family line. If you are interested in my notes on this family I would be happy to email you a short document that I wrote up on them.