Bob, As with the other queries on this topic, I am responding to the list, as it might be helpful to others with similar questions. This was the first of hopefully many symposia on land records to be held at Beatrice, Nebraska. It was held there because that is the site of a National Park Service National Monument dedicated to the Homesteading Act that started this tremendous settlement movement of the West and Midwest. I don't live near Beatrice--I'm several hours away. You might try searching Land Records at the web sites I've mentioned earlier to see if this was one of the 60% of homesteaders that could not make a go of their homestead. You might also try searching microfilms of the society pages of newspapers of Monmouth and Beatrice for those time periods to see if there is any mention of their move. You would be surprised at the information these small local papers carried about their citizens! Best regards, Jeanne Nelson ABSOLUTELY FAMILY! http://absolutelyfamily.homestead.com Bob Elliker wrote: > Jeanne, > > Two questions, first, is this program always held at Beatrice? Souhnds very > interesting! > > Second, do you live in or near Beatrice? My wife's Grandfather (John Ray > KETTERING and two siblings) was born there in 1892 and I'm looking for more > information about why his family moved from Monmouth, Illinois to Beatrice > (sometime in the Feb. 1880 and Dec. 1884 and then moved back to Monmouth, IL.