In a message dated 3/23/01 10:07:03 PM US Mountain Standard Time, [email protected] writes: << William Sweeten was the son of Absolum Sweeten b. between 1761-1770 VA. I have not found anyone who can go back farther that this Absolum Sweeten and no one seems to know his wife. Not much is known about him. >> In the New Hope Cemetery, Champion Township, Douglas County: Lydia Sweeton 1853-1943 William Sweeton 1855-1937 shared tombstone 3 tombstones away is his father: Absalom Sweeten Co C Reg 48 Mo Inf Vol Feb 20, 1822 - May 10, 1897 Absalom is my family line too... the 1880 census lists his birthplace as Kentucky. His wife was Dicy Elizabeth Wheat, b February 1831, Bedford Co TN d May 25, 1911 at Drury, Do Co, MO. Her parents were Josiah Wheat, b 1808 in Kershaw Co SC, d 1885 in DoCo MO and is also buried in the New Hope Cemetery. Dicy's mother was Sarah Bryant b 1813 in Bedford Co TN, d 1874 and is buried in the New Hope Cemetery. Josiah's father was John Wheat of Wales, United Kingdom. Hope this helps, Laine