Susan, I am sorry if I indicated you might be criticizing Dot's book. I was aware that you had already conferred with her on it. = = = = = = = = = = = = Susan wrote: I was in no way criticizing the book or her and just wanted others to have further information. = = = = = = = = = = = = = I learned a lot watching Dot fret over the original book. What do I include, leave out or add to. All the time new information was being exchanged - the hard way. Then it got closer to print time, cost factors began to creep into the picture. How many pictures, how many pages, etc. What is a reasonable and affordable price for our cousins? Quality? Quanity? During the latter months I was on a standing Federal Grand Jury, in Kansas City, and had to spend several days up there every sixth week. It gave me a chance to visit, sit at her kitchen table and ponder. We had a problem with Betsy Gentry, wife of "Tough" Daniel Maupin. The date of her marriage, and the number of children (11) just didn't fit. Her father's will confirmed 5 children - that did fit. Yet they were giving permission for the older children to get married. We were missing a piece of the puzzle, but what to do. She gave the facts as we knew them and let the rest stand as it was. William has since found some very conclusive evidence to account for the first six children. I enjoyed the reports from her trips and eagerly awaited the next discovery and associated stories. Although, I must admit that some of LD's stories provided more humanity and laughter. What a pair. What I was trying to explain was simply that Dorothy put uncovering the "True Story" first. Second she made every effort to report Eugene Maupin's work as she found it and give him full credit for it. That is the reason for the funny numbering system. Little effort was made to change his work. Then came the hard part - HOW - WHAT - and which NEW information to include, without turning it into a set of encyclopedias. That was the headache and worry, which was accompanies by a major accident and some health problems. Finally - off to the press. By the time the first 500 copies arrived it was obvious that her guess was WAY short. So she worked with the publisher and they made some agreements. She could make some corrections and additions - AS long AS - it would NOT require changing the page numbering system. So it was back to the drawing board. She just knew she would never get rid of the 2nd 500. It took a bit of time, less than two years, and she was out again. Through the process she donated MANY copies, gave permission to the LDS to film a copy and lost her loaner. After 6 years she finally consented to print another 300 copies. These were simply additional copies printed from the plates of the 2nd edition. God bless Dorothy for her work on behalf of the family. It was rough, but he stood by her through accidents and health problems, but the years have taken their toll. Help was offered to distribute this last printing, but politely declined. She and LD are doing it all. Now it is up to the rest of us to update, bring together, correct and record the rest of the past, the present and the future. I pray we will be able to share a lot of it with Dorothy and prove all her work was worthwhile. While Dorothy does not plan to reprint any more copies - she IS still doing and sharing research, and updating her files. William is preparing a newsletter, part of which will be dedicated to correcting past errors, filling in the gaps, and publishing new information. There will be room for stories, research and FUN. NOW, I'm looking forward to the spring picnic in California, the Reunion in Fulton, some research time with William and another trip to Madison County, KY. How's that for retirement? Love to all... -- Loren <kycollja@midusa.net> {:-)> HOKC *))))) TSG, USAF, Retired >From Iola, in the rolling hills of SE Kansas