In a message dated 11/08/1999 12:41:52 PM Mountain Standard Time, DIXIELJAW@aol.com writes: << Murphy's Genealogy Laws >> << f.. You find your family in the census and write to the county where they lived for 40 years, only to receive a letter stating all the county records burned. >> As in Adams Co. OH? Or Gwinnett Co GA? I've got several of those--'taint funny, McGee! Well, while I'm at it might as well repost in search of my lost LEWIS relatives, partially lost because the Adams county records burned! I'm the great granddaughter of James Madison LEWIS and Vanellia MEEKER who were married in Adams Co. 10 Sep 1865. So far, outside of my brother and one first cousin, I know of no other descendants--and I'm trying to find them. James and Vanellia had the following children--I think. There may be others. Rebecca b. 1869 Freddie b. 1875 Adam b. 1877 James Arthur (called Art) b. 1879 Charles Taylor b. 5 Nov 1881 Estelle Chloe b. 6 Feb 1884 George william b. 2 Oct 1886 Earl Campbell b 1892 James (s/o William Lewis and Nancy Ann Lanthorn), died 5 Feb 1893. On 27 Jul 1894, Vanellia admitted Charles Taylor, Estelle Chloe and George William to the OH Veterans Children's Home in Xenia. They remained there until they were sixteen. She kept the baby, Earl, with her in Bentonville. In the 1900 census Earl, Adam and Estelle Chloe (who had just turned 16) were living with her in Bentonville. By 1910, not a single one of these Lewises can be found in Adams Co. Charles Taylor Lewis was my grandfather--he married in IL, 1902, moved to CA abt. 1910. Estelle Chloe was in CA (Sacramento) by 1920--married to Herman Bremer. George William worked in the shipyards around the Great Lakes, married a Gladys and had 4 sons--I only know the names of three: George, Wm. and Charles. George William died early--and Gladys dropped the sons off on Estelle--and disappeared. The sons then promptly ran away, but we have had some contact with several of them over the years. But what about descendants of the other five children? I keep waiting for one of them to show up--so far no luck! Somewhere out there... . Do any of these names look familiar? Happy hunting, folks, Karen Lewis Dale