This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: aeriehollow119 Surnames: Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/surnames.powell/7119/mb.ashx Message Board Post: Helena Florence Canton was born May 17, 1885 in Evansville, Indiana. She was "adopted" by William Henry Sterrett who turns out to be her real father and his wife Mary Elizabeth Grismer in 1894. The record is wrong as it lists her birth year as 1894. Census records have the correct year listed for 1900. The record of "birth/adoption" lists her mother as Florence Powell. Unfortunately Vanderburgh County Indiana has "lost" some records in a move to a new courthouse over the last 15 years... but the library had a transcribed record with the information stated here. I'm assuming that Florence's birth name was Canton and that at the time of the adoption she was married to a Powell. William Sterrett bought property in Evansville Indiana and owned it from 1894-1907. He and Mary Grismer married July 5th, 1894. The adoption took place before school was to start. Grandma said that they took her to the World's fair in Chicago and then to their new home. Anyone who connects or knows more of this story, would appreciate knowing more about her mother Florence Canton Powell. I had the autosomal DNA testing done to find this info out and confirm the family's suspicions - grandmother thought this was also true - too bad she passed before I could let her know. Granddaughter of Helen, Leslie Barker Thomas aeriehollow@ellijay.com Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board.