I have been trying to figure out for years when my 2nd great grandfather changed the spelling of his name three times during his life. These are not random misspellings, but deliberate changes. Thomas Benton Pruett was born to Elizabeth Russell and Elisha Pruett in 1841 in Morgon Co TN.Sometime before 1849 they moved to Fayette Co IL. Elisha died 5 Sept 1849 Elizabeth died sometime before him along with one of their children of cholera. Their ch: Nancy b 1837 in TN --nothing more known. Mary Annis --nothing more known Squire Luna--nothing more known Sarah Jane Pruett b 1844 m Eli Headley Elizabeth Ann "Betsy" b 1844 m Noble Cruse d 19 Jan 1923 in Marion Co IL. Thomas was raised my his father's sister's family Ellender Pruett and John Wilkins. It is with them that he moved to Lyon Co KS sometime before 1860. In 1864 he married Mary Branson in Lawrence KS . He was still using the Pruett spelling. He and Mary had 4 ch: Estella Pruit b 25 Jan 1865 d 29 Apr 1890 Oswego KS Perl Preston Pruitt 2 April 1868 m Gertrude Thompson 1892 d 11 Apr 1914.. Thomas Benton b 8 Jan 1874 m Annis Martin 1895 d 19 Sept 1907 Maudie Pruit b 11 Jul 1880 d 6 Aug 1881. Maudie and Estella's head stone both have the last name of Pruit. Thomas and Mary's marriage is the last record that uses the Pruett spelling. Thomas himself used the spelling Pruit in the military and that is how he was known up until 1900 in Oswego when the spelling changed to Pruitt. Perl and Thomas Benton's names always appears as Pruitt as it is today. Thomas Benton Pruitt Jr. was my great-grandfather. He and Annis Martin had two Children: Otto Perl Pruitt and Stella Ellen Pruitt. I am Otto's grand daugher. After Thomas death Annis married Emory Prewett on 6 March 1918. They moved from Oswego sometime after 1920 first to Hagerman ID then to Klamath Falls OR. I have yet to find out where and when Em Prewett died. I hope this helps someone. Nora