Dear Betsy, My note on the board was in response to a Moon family inquiry regarding a Pearl Moon. Glad you enjoyed a bit of the local history. Franklin, Oil City, and Venango County have an extraordinary amount of early American history. Prior to discovering oil in 1861, the area was variably under the control of the French, British, American, and of course, the only true Americans. Major military encampments, forts, trading posts, and notable economic history of our western migration together with ruthless ethnic cleansing of the native american nations occupying this area are all worthy of your study. Although I've spent a delightful week in Franklin doing some family research, I've never had the privilege of residing there. I recommend a pilgrimage to this warm and friendly town, which while modern, has retained the Norman Rockwell-like ideal of days gone by. I reside in my hometown of Portland, Oregon, the site of next years annual convention of the National Genealogical Society. We invite you and your friends to attend the annual NGS Conference, 16-19 May, 2001, Portland, Oregon. For information on the conference, go to: http://www.gfo.org/ngs2001/index.htm John D. Webber, MD webberj@compuserve.com