Hello to everyone on the list. I think I must have been one of those 4 other women at the courthouse when Norma visited in November. We did have a good time, even with the inconvenience of reaching some of the records! We found what we were looking for - the court records of a 1891 murder trial. The courthouse employees were very gracious, patient and accommodating. We were allowed to copy the whole court record (over 50 pages). That was my second visit there and we found the court house employees friendly both times BUT they have a job to do and genealogical research is not part of their job. They are trying very hard to find accessible storage for the old records and are putting much on microfilm and I believe they have started a remodeling/addition building project which will help greatly. They are working closely with the Cedar Co. Historical Society so the historical records will be preserved. Thank goodness they realize the importance of all the "old" stuff. I've had experience with a county moving into a new courthouse and some of those "old" records were destroyed or thrown away. Horrors! The Tri-County Genealogical Society (Cedar, St. Clair and Vernon Counties) is active but they do not do research. The Cedar Co. Historical Society has several books about local history, including the cemetery directory and reasonably priced I might add. <A HREF="http://www.rootsweb.com/~mocchs/index.htm">Cedar County Historical Society</A> Address for the Tri County Gen. Society can be found at the Cedar Co. Web site <A HREF="http://www.rootsweb.com/~mocedar/index.htm"> Welcome to Cedar County</A> I guess the best solution for research at the Cedar County Courthouse is a paid researcher and I do not have any suggestions. Maybe someone else can help. I have several look up requests that I need also. As you all know, each new piece of information leads to more questions... I live about 10 hours from Cedar County but I have enjoyed my visits each time and hope to go again. There's just never enough time. Searching the Thomas P. MOORE family which includes BARNES, CLINE, HACKLEMAN, HARPER. Have a good day everyone. Cindy in Oklahoma