Hello, After some time away I am back on the list and working on another lead in my hunt for information on JANE BOWLES SHANKS and her husband ROBERT T. SHANKS. In reviewing the pension papers that Jane filed for a pension based on her son WILLIAM SYLVESTER SHANKS' war service and death in 1864 at Andersonville, I find the names of JOHN S. RANKIN and NICHOLAS A. RANKIN of NICHOLAS COUNTY. They swear that they were personally acquainted with ROBERT T. SHANKS and his wife JANE, and that they know that ROBERT left the family in about 1846-7 (supposedly to enlist in the army, and fight in the Mexican War. He was at this time about 47-8 years of age, so suspect he just deserted them and this was the cover story). Robert never turned up again to the knowledge of anyone who knew him. What I am trying to figure out is where the RANKIN'S lived in about 1846-7. I have not been able to find anything on the SHANKS, but hope working from this angle might uncover something. Can anyone help? Dolores panzer@elknet.net