"You mean her mother's family owned a cotton Plantation in Missouri and were wealthy?" "Nope, but that's what she claimed." "Well for heaven's sake what was the truth, was she lying? She does look wealthy in that picture." "Guess I better go get the picture of the General." "The General, You mean she was a General's daughter?" "Nope, she said she was a General's granddaughter who fought in North Carolina in 1864." Well what do you know about that? My grandmother was a Confederate General's granddaughter who had fought in the Civil War in North Carolina. Wasn't that something? When gramps got back and sat down, he handed me a tin type of a rather handsome young confederate soldier. "Who's this gramps?" "That's her grandfather the Confederate General," said Ralph. "Just wait a minute," I said. "This guy has no insignia of rank, he's not wearing a hat, and he has a powder horn strap over his shoulder. This is no General." "Jim how can you be so damn smart and be such a dummy? Didn't you hear me the first time tell you Mae lies like a worn out rug?" "Well, Yeh, but why would she lie like that?" "Because that was just plain old Betty Mae Brown." I would later discover in my family research that Betty Mae Brown did indeed live on a plantation in Ellsinore, Missouri at one time. It may not have been as big and grand as some, but they did plant a few rows of corn and some beans and tomatoes. A Little Filler Dropping back a little we find the marriage of Septimus Brown and Josie Rover July 25, 1897 in Van Buren, Missouri. Their marriage license reads: Septimus Brown of Ellsinore, County of Carter, State of Missouri who is over 21 years and Josie Rover of Ellsinore who is over the age of 18 years. This is to certify that the undersigned, Johnathon Wood did at the Residence of Rover on the 25th of July AD 1897 unite in marriage the above couple. (Always you must remain vigilant when reading the name; Rover in truth is Roper.) The same year of 1897 we find an entry in the Tax records at the county seat of Carter County in Van Buren, Missouri. This is from my spy; as sent: Jim, I have spent the last 2 days in Van Buren going through moldy records trying to find something on the Ropers or Browns for you. Today I found the tax records for the time frame 1898 and 1899. The only information on those lists is the amount of tax paid and the amount of personal property to be taxed. I found only a J W Roper who had 2 mules , 6 cows and 14 hogs . His total tax paid was 12 cents. There was no such thing as an address in 1890's. If the general store had a corner to use the mail was picked up there. I have personally been to every cemetery in Carter County that could be found in the last 6 years and I have never seen a marker for Josie Brown. I'm sorry to report that Miss Margaret lost her husband Murphy the 4th of September 2004, I spoke with her yesterday, and she did remember you. Daisy Note: Miss Margaret was a lady who lives in Ellsinore, MO who I had met there in 2002 while searching for Josie Roper. Without knowing me, this kindly and very well informed lady, invited me into her home without knowing me from Adam. She, her husband Murphy and I, had a terrific and jovial afternoon talking about all the county gossip and a tornado that had wrecked their house and barn the previous year. Also note: the tax ledger show's that James W. Roper was living in Jackson TWP in Ellsinore, MO in 1897, at current number 810.