Hi, I am having difficulty working out if these two are related. The sources I have looked at are a bit confusing and would appreciate anyone's assistance. Source: Directory of Crawford County, 1879-80, page 253 - John McFARLAND born Erie Co., Feb 13 1800 Meadville merchant; treasurer of Allegheny College; elected president of the Merchant's National Bank in 1864; married 1834 Salome Atkinson. Source: Crawford County History, 1885, page 750 - James E. McFARLAND born Chambersburg, Pa., Jan 4 1817; published the Crawford Democrat & Meadville Courier; appointed Deputy US Marshall; elected Prothonotary; served as postmaster; elected president of the Merchant's National Bank in 1865; married 1838 Mary Scott. My thinking is that the county history might be wrong about James E. McFARLAND being president of the Merchant's National Bank. It might have been confused between the to men who I don't think are related. I have John McFarland's undated obituary from a Meadville paper which confirms all the facts published in the directory, the details of which I have shorted for brevity. The obit adds: "...married Miss Salome Atkinson. Seven children were the fruit of this union, five of whom are still living. His first wife having died, he was married again in 1843 to Miss Augusta Atkinson. There were four children of this marriage, three of whom survive...." Which one was president of the Merchants National Bank?? - Ed Sinker in Herefordshire