In 1920 and 1930 a Bert Palmer, born ca 1890 is residing in Big Rapids, Mecosta Co., Mich. He has a wife Tressa b ca 1890, children Marjorie b ca 1918 and Charles b. post 1920. I am searching a Bertram Palmer b. Batavia, Genesee Co., NY March 25, 1890 to James and Hattie Gibbs Palmer. About 1895 the mother, Hattie, abandoned the family leaving Bertram age about 5 and his sister Hattie (whom I refer to as Jr.) b. 1888 with the maternal grandmother, Nancy Hess. Hattie Sr. took the baby, Edith Mae b. 1893 with her. The father, James did not support the children so the grandmother turned them over to the local Poormaster who, in turn, gave them to Rev. W. Jarvis Maybee, supposed Superintendant of the "National Children's Society" which was "headquartered" in Syracuse, NY. These children may have been sold by Maybee. I have Newspaper accounts indicating this and that Maybee "took" children from parents. I have names of a few of these children. Hattie, Jr. is accounted for. This is my husband's great grandmother. Edith turned up in 1958 in Batavia when she applied for her Social Security benefits. No idea if she married, not another word about her. Bertram is unaccounted for although a Bertram Palmer does appear in Bloomfield, Essex Co., NJ in 1930 that fits the bill with one acception. The question asked of him on this census is if he had military service, that column is checked, "No". Family legend is that it was heard he was a Navy Man. I have had the various Military groups in NJ look for him as well as other Genealogical type records of that area. Supposedly he never married. The Bert Palmer of Mecosta Co. is married. The 1920 Census shows him b. New York, parents Unknown which would indicate he was raised without parents. The 1930 gives birthplace as Michigan and parents b. Michigan. I have been researching these children for about 30 years. He cannot be located in 1900. There is a Bert Palmer in 1910 in Otsego Co. that has not been identified. It would be as helpful for me to eliminate the Mecosta Bert Palmer as to find a link to the Batavia, Genesee Co. family. Deanna