Janet- <you wrote> >(1) I am curious if the John D. Allen is one and the same John D. Allen, with whom my 2g grandfather William Washington Gay (wife Mary Whaley) had the partnership in the general store on the courthouse square I've always assumed (Gay, Allen & Co. from memory). I would assume the probabilities are high that is the case.< Did not find an ownership of property by Guy and Allen during the time period Book A (1845-1847) Book B (1847-1852) or Book C (1852-1855) cover. They were both busy guys: William W Gay was clerk/recorder and superintendent of schools and John D Allen, in addition to surveyor and sheriff, commanded the 15th cavalry and surveyed the town of Verona. The partnership may have been after Book C which ended in 1855. The business partner Could have been a brother of John D Allen. >(2) Were there any separate plots for WW Gay?< William W Gay bought 80 acres in Section34, Twp 29, Range 26 W in 1851 from William B Dryden. He paid $125. This land is northeast of Mt Vernon and east of Heaton. >(3) Mary Whaley's father, Seth and son Henry, operated a saddlemaking/harness making, etc. store. By the information I have from the business probate packet when Seth died (yes his personal packet is still missing from the courthouse, but I haven't gone to the court books!), it appears the Sec/Township/Range numbers put him a block or two away from the square. But I could be very wrong. Was there a lot for the Whaleys?< The only Whaley deed I recorded was Thomas Whaley’s purchase in 1846 or Lot 4 in Block 5 which is about a block off the square on West Dallas and Vineyard. Keep in mind book C only cover to 1855. In 1860, the Whaleys are all listed as merchants, perhaps that is the time frame for the saddlemaking business ? >(4) Because I have been to the courthouse twice, and will probably be there again in the fall, I am curious if you can place the John D. Allen property on today's streets there. < When you visit the court house, check Deed Book C. William W Gay was signing nearly every page as Recorder. Suspect you will need to check the next book to find the location of the businesses mentioned. good luck with this, Bill Landers