Erma, Below is a query (1999) that I extracted from Rootsweb on your Joel Todd. It was written by Tom Todd at the following e-mail address: [email protected] Don't know if it is still a good address, but wouldn't hurt to try. Author: Tom Todd Date: 28 Sep 1999 12:00 PM GMT Surnames: Todd, Lee, Elder, Collier, Vermillion Classification: Query In Reply to: Joel Todd by: James Todd Joel Todd (b.8 Mar 1801, Madison Co, Ky) son of John Todd and Martha "Patsy" Collier, married Nancy R. Lee. Of their 10 children, the first mentioned Joel Jr. (b.15 May 1838, Madison Co, Ky) was the tenth child. He married Sarepta (or Serephena) Vermillion. They had 8 children, including a John (b.1869) and a Joel III (b.1871). Joel Todd and Nancy R. Lee's third child was named John (b.1 Jan 1826, Madison Co, Ky). He married Martha Ann Elder. They had 9 children, the second of which was named Joel Howard (b.22 July 1850, Madison Co, Ky) and the fourth of which was named John (b.2 May 1857, Madison Co, Ky). Joel (Sr) was a supporter of the abolitionist "colony" of John Gregg Fee near Berea. Many of his sons and sons-in-law served in the Union cause during the War of the Rebellion while Joel Sr. was exiled to Cincinnati. His son, Joel Jr., attended Berea College after the hostilities ended. I recommend "A Day of Small Things" by Dr. Richard Sears. It provides a good summary of the events around Berea at this time. In Dr. Sear's writing, it is mentioned "...although many of Joel Todd's relations were slaveholders in both Madison and Rockcastle counties (his cousin John Todd was the slaveholding deacon of Scaffold Cane Baptist Church), Joel's sympathies lay with the abolitionists;..." I have not had any luck in finding out more about this 'cousin' John Todd. Perhaps he sired a Joel as well? Quite a mess of Johns and Joels, but I hope it helps in your efforts. Doug Park Hurricane, WV