This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: violapuryear Surnames: David Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/topics.cemetery.us.mo/1829.1.2/mb.ashx Message Board Post: My name is Gary Puryear. I an a direct descendant of Edward Adolphas David born Sept 25, 1857 near Allensville, Switzerland County, IN died in Bakersfield, Kern County, California April 2, 1948. In the Kern County Library I found the following: Recollects of Edward A. David >From his earliest recollections he has been familar with farming. THe clearest recollections of childhood are those associated with the then frontier of Missouri, where he helped till the soil and harvest the crops, doing a man's part in the field while he was yet a mere boy. The family was poor and the struggle for a livelihood keen. Switzerland was his native county in Indiana, being born near Allensville, September 25, 1857. He was the son of William Atwell and Prudence (Ray) David. In 1859 when the son was 2 years old, the parents removed to Holt County, Missouri, where his father died the same year. The death of his mother occured in Kirksville, Missouri. While his mother sent him to the county schools as much as possible, he was so greatly needed at home that his educational advantages were meager and his present broad fund of information results from habits of careful reading rather than from attendance at school. When he was fourteen years of age his mother died and! ! he went to work on farms in Missouri, continuing this until he came to the Pacific Coast. Taken from the book: The History of Kern County printed in 1914 There is more to the article but too much to post here. I have been trying to find more information as the book shows Prudance Ray not Rae and William Atwell David's death was in 1859 according to the book. Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board.