Robin, I will write in between. My references are "Lest We Forget" (LWF) by Thelma Kurtz and info from Steve Hull (he got it from Stan Bourdo of Curtice, OH). I'll abbreviate that one as SH. In a message dated 6/18/2000 6:34:21 AM Pacific Daylight Time, Mindvoice@email.msn.com writes: << I have just a bit on Benjamin Pinkley and His m to Rachael Hembree. not much. I would be most interested in the information about his first wives and children.!! Would like to add them to my Old Settlers project!>> Benjamin Franklin PINKLEY b. 2 Nov 1819, IN (LWF). He d. 24 April 1862, near Rolla, MO 24 Apr 1862 (smallpox). He was in the war at the time. MARRIAGE #1: Margaret KILLION (German-Cherokee in one place, then Dutch girl from PA in another place.) (LWF). They had 6 kids: (LWF). Steve Hull says 4 kids, but lists 6, so I think he made a typo. 1. John C. PINKLEYb. 27 (LWF)/ 29 (SH) Nov 1840-10 Dec 1840 (both) 2. Juliann PINKLEY 27 Nov 1841-4 Mar 1925 Conway MO. (both). m. Benjamin Franklin HEMBREE 25 Aug 1861 Stone Co MO. 3. Sarah Jane PINKLEY 25 Dec 1842-1862 (both). LWF says that she may have m. a CARRINEAL. The online Marriage Directory for Stone Co. shows a Sarah J. PINKLEY m. James C. CARMICAL 17 Sep 1858. 4. Elizabeth PINKLEY (LWF)/ S. Elizabeth PINKLEY (SH) b. 23 Nov 1844 (both) in IN (SH) d. 25 Aug 1845 (both) 5. Syntha Ovaline PINKLEY b 8 May 1846 (both) in IN (SH) d. 4 Mar 1861 (both) in MO (SH) 6. George Washington PINKLEY b. 2 Jul 1848 (both) Steve Hull descends from this guy. Margaret dies 2 days after giving birth to George. (LWF). MARRIAGE #2 Mrs. Emily (CURBO) FORD. They had 2 kids: 1. Christopher Columbus PINKLEY 2 Nov 1850 (both) d. 1928, buried Macedonia Cemetery, Dallas Co, MO (LWF). He m. Elizabeth WHITE (LWF). 2. Dorcas Emily PINKLEY b. 1852. (SH). She married a SMITH (LWF). Emily dies 8 Sep 1853. MARRIAGE #3 (15 Mar 1854, Stone Co, MO) (LWF) Rachel Ellen HEMBREE. They had 4 kids: 1. John Allen McDowell PINKLEY b 20 Jul 1856, Stone Co, MO (both) 2. William D. M. PINKLEY b 7 Sep 1858 MO (both) d. 8 May 1862 (LWF) 3. Benjamin Franklin PINKLEY, Jr. b 18 Dec 1860 - 12 Jan 1861 (both) 4. Margarette Susana PINKLEY b 15 Nov 1862 d. 1863. (both) Well Benj. Franklin PINKLEY dies of small pox. Rachel hires Henry "Bogg" BOWMAN to help on the farm and has 4 kids by him (LWF...another place it says that he had 2...Dorcas' testimony). Rachel gives these children the PINKLEY name. Children by Rachel (HEMBREE) PINKLEY & Bogg BOWMAN (as near as I can tell from looking at the online censuses): 1. Benjamin Franklin PINKLEY (another one) b. 1865/6 2. Martha Jane PINKLEY...7 months old in the 1870 online census...then 12 years old in the 1880. 3. Nancy Elizabeth PINKLEY b. c. 1871 4. Darrathiel b. c. 1875 <<Below is what little I have..:} I have only 3 children listed.. John Allen McDowell Pinkley b July 20, 1856 (Could he be the source of family gossip?)>> No. See above. <<William D.M Pinkley b Sept 7, 1858 Benjamin Franklin Pinkley b Dec 18, 1860.>> See above. <<Also, I have a marriage for Sarah Jones to William Mayberry..>> OK, who is Sarah JONES the dau. of? What is the marriage date? <<Benjamin Pinkleys dau Julianne m Benjamin Franklin Hembree, s/o John Hembree.>> Yes. <<Also, take a look at 1860 James Hh 389. Rachael Merrit, widow of Allen Pinkley has apparently remarried..but I can't locate a m record for her. She has her two children by Allen Pinkley living with her. These families are all connected..Merrit, Jones, Carter, Pinkley.>> I'll have to look into that. I swear I saw her in a later census, still a widow. <<Dang, I know I have more notes around here somewhere, but just can't locate them when I want them >> LOL, I know what you mean. Cheri