I also mostly lurk and read here. I enjoy the group and the memories it brings. My connection to Taney County is my own family. My father was the County Extension Agent from 1938 to approx.1950. His name was William E. Yates (Bill) and mom is Hazel Whitley Yates. She had some relatives in Taney Co - Ralph & Florence Whitley and children. They lived north of Forsyth on what is now Hwy 160. We moved away from Forsyth in 1951 but came back every summer to visit friends (and swim in Swan Creek). My mom was into genealogy big time for years and now I'm hooked too. Since she has done all our family, I'm working on my husband's side. He's a Stone but as far as we can tell his family doesn't connect with any of the southern Missouri ones. They came from VA/WV to Cooper & Saline Counties in mid MO. Sara