This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Wood, Simmons Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/an/GMB.2ACE/641.1.1 Message Board Post: Charles, Thanks very much for the detailed information. I had not found the 1880 census listing for Joel Simmons. I had found the 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880 listings for Williamson a/k/a William Simmons. Based on your information, it appears that grandchildren William and Delilah living with Williamson in 1880 are probably the children of Samuel Simmons, their second son per the 1850 census. My primary interest in the Simmons family is a possible connection to Jane Wood, wife of William Wood, living two doors away from the Simmons in 1880. The Woods lived in the Weston area until shortly after 1900 when they moved to Crook Co., Oregon. The 1880 census shows Jane's father's birthplace as Indiana, and the Simmons are the only people nearby with that connection -- Joel and Samuel were born in Indiana, per the 1850 census, (and also shown in the grandchildren's listing). Based on your record of Joel Simmons' family in 1880, it is still possible that Jane Wood was an eldest daughter who had married William Wood by 1880. The 1870 record would probably resolve the question, but I have had no luck finding Joel in 1870. I'm wondering if any of your Platte Co. resources may have some references to the William and Jane Wood family. Mainly, I want to determine Jane's maiden name. Jane was born Dec 1856. She was known as Jane in the family and that's what her headstone says, but a later Oregon Census record lists her name as Virginia, and a possible death record in Oregon lists Susan as her first name. Her husband William James Wood (b. Aug 1842) is listed as born in Maryland or England in 1880, 1900 and 1910 census. They were married around 1875. They had children George, Lena, Robert (Martin), Walter, Ada, Othmer, and Marie (Josie), all born while they lived in Weston Twp from 1877 to 1899. The 1900 Weston City census shows the family on p175A, SD4, ED144, dwelling #224. Word in our family has been that Jane Wood had lots of relatives in Missouri - in the Platte Co. area and possibly also in Clay Co., so if there are any clues to her family background available in your records, I'd be very interested. Have not found the Woods' marriage record in indexes available on the Internet, so any suggestions of other places to look would be appreciated. Bob Bryan Seattle, WA