This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/localities.northam.usa.states.nebraska.counties.douglas/4722.1/mb.ashx Message Board Post: If he died as the result of being run over by a train County Coroner's Report books may be a source. I volunteer at the Sarpy County Museum (county to the south of Douglas County, NE) and an old County Coroner's Report book is on file there. I did a lookup on someone in that book, found the individual with the brief notation of the cause of death, used the date to do a lookup in the local paper (on microfilm) and found an article detailing the death of the person. You might try finding out who has the older Coroner's Reports for the various Missouri counties you mentioned.