Dear Listers, Today I wish to share with you the biography of a rather "colorful" person whose wife I am having trouble finding precise information about: Andrew A. GROVES, also known as Andrew GROVE, son of 1845 emigrants from Hafslo parish, Luster Co., Norway, Andrew and Martha GROV, was born in Dane Co., WI Apr. 16, 1847. He entered the Civil War and was stationed in Kansas at the end of the War. Exactly when he "went west" is unknown, but he ended up mining for gold in Baker Co., OR. He had a claim in Cleary precinct, Baker Co., OR, but retired about 1915 moving into Baker City, OR. Relatives in Iowa who remembered Andrew, told me years ago that Andrew once had visited back "east", and he was quite a "character" with the mouth full of gold and a fairly "goldy" complexion in every way, wearing a huge thick fur coat full of gold buttons etc. At the ripe age of 80, on July 7, 1927, he was married at Vancouver, WA to Mrs. Clara A. RYAN, nee LAND, born in NY, possibly New York City, NY, about February of 1864. She had been married 1st time at Montrose, CO on Dec. 25, 1890 to Charles M. RYAN, born in Dutchess Co., NY about February of 1855 or 1857. He was a salesman and was in 1920 called a "state brace inspector" in live stock (whatever that was for a profession?). Charles and Clara mostly resided at Montrose, Montrose Co., CO where Charles died in 1925. How Clara ended up marrying Andrew Groves two years later is for me an "enigma", and the marriage didn't last very long either. Their final divorce decree was signed in Baker City, OR on Nov. 7, 1929, but in his will written that same year Andrew willed one dollar to "his dear ex-wife Clara"! Andrew remained in Baker City, OR where he died Apr. 24, 1935. Clara apparently moved back to Montrose, CO where he only son Archibald Sedgwick Ryan (1894-1955) still resided, and she died in 1933. Then to my questions: * Is it possible to find any information telling us approximately WHEN Andrew Grove(s) settled on his gold mine in Baker Co., OR? Maybe newspaper articles? * Then I am looking for specific dates (both birth and death) for Clara Land Ryan (Groves) (1864-1933) as well as for her 1st husband Charles M. Ryan (1857-1925)? Maybe newspaper items can be located from Colorado about them? * Finally, can someone please clear me up on that occupation of Charles Ryan's, state brace inspector? Thanks a million in advance for any assistance you can give me with this family! Again I am hoping that newspaper articles can help answer at least some of the questions... Very sincerely yours, Lars E. Oyane