You should try to get your grandfather's military records from the National Archives for the Spanish American War and National Personnel Records Center (NPRC) for World War I. I presume you meant that he served in World War I because his death date is before World War II. For more info on how to order records, go to this link: http://www.archives.gov/research_room/obtain_copies/veterans_service_records .html Since he was about 20 years old for the Spanish American War, your grandfather probably would have had to list his parents' names. You could also check the 1880 U.S. Census for Clarke and Wayne counties (since Shubuta is on the county line they could be living in either one) for a 2-year-old Henry Pinkney Collins living in the household of his father. Check the Meridian newspaper for an obituary and see if the Elks Club has a written history of its founding. It may have a biography of your grandfather. Good luck! Ralph Poore 3440 S. Brookshore Place Boise, Idaho 83706 [email protected] -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: Saturday, March 12, 2005 4:30 PM To: [email protected] Subject: COLLINS SURNAME-SHUBUTA & MERIDIAN This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/lIB.2ACE/601 Message Board Post: My grandfather named Henry Pinkney Collins was born in Shubuta in 1878 and died in Meridian 1932. Mother's named Alice Adams....father unknown. His documents stated he was mulatto.....served in the Spanish American War and World War II. Henry was one of the founders of the Meridan Elks Club. I would like to find his father's family. ______________________________