How someone might come to be a pauper..... What years are involved here? SOme of my family started out prosperous in Summit County, then their holdings became smaller & smaller. Come to find out, there were Panics in the 1830's & the 1850"s. Banks printed their own currency. That was not centralized. If the bank went under, all their currency became valueless-- plus they re-called all loans, etc. Many families throughout the country lost their money this way. In the 1850'sw, in OH, with the development of canals, entrepreneurs bought land on speculation, figuring towns & houses would spring up in the vicinty with improved commerce. Good idea, no? When some local banks failed, the speculators' mortgages were called in. Many bought with minimum security. They had to borrow from friends & family to avoid bankruptcy. This happened with my family. That is one scenario. If the Wards were living in one place and Mr. Ward another at the same time--- could be that ol' demon drink. Judith in OH ----- Original Message ----- From: <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Thursday, June 22, 2000 12:00 AM Subject: OH-CLEVELAND-IRISH-D Digest V00 #71