My grandmother was Laura Ellen (STRINGER) SHIPMAN, b. Sept.1, 1884 in Pierce City, MO/Lawrence County. I am at a loss for a small piece of paper with a bit of info which I jotted down some time ago, but some of it I can recall anyway. (I promise to try to find it!) I know that her father was Siegel Stringer. Her mother died in childbirth a few years after Granny was born. At the moment, I can't recall her name. Siegel abandoned my grandmother at the age of 13 to raise her siblings. Family history says that he was traced, but no one ever found out what happened to him. He worked for the railroad (Santa Fe) at the time of his disappearance. Apparently Granny had a sister who married a man by the name of Tompkins in Lawrence or Newton County, MO. Eventually Laura Ellen STRINGER lived with her sister's family before marrying my grandfather John SHIPMAN. The sister's name was Frances STRINGER TOMPKINS. Their father Siegel STRINGER (of whom I have a photo), was presumed by some family members not to have disappeared at all, but some think he simply assumed a different name and lived in nearby Jasper County. Regardless, Granny used to tell stories about how as a child raising her siblings alone, she would often hear horses in the night and a "thud" against the door, only to discover a bag of money had been delivered to her. Family members again presumed this was money provided for her by her own father. I know her brothers were Roy, Leo and Noah STRINGER. There is also the Native American link through Granny as well. I have more on it. I have a number of photos (old tintype looking things) of the Stringer family, but unfortunately can't tell for sure who they might really be! Are there any threads in my tale here you might pull for a connection? By the way,one old photo of Siegel STRINGER has a man in it by the name of Boone SIMS. Please let me know if we can exchange info! Thanks for your time... Debra Shipman Rowe Vancouver