Thanks to everyone for your helpful information. I'm trying to discover the identity of the family of my Great Grandfather John A. Stout. He was an orphan b. about 1863-64, and he grew up in Randolph and Wayne County, Indiana and was raised by an Elisha and Elizabeth Toney Spencer. I have this old journal that John A. Stout kept in 1893 in Richmond, Indiana. In one entry he writes, "Matt Stout and Heiss came over to eat supper." The only name that I can find that is close to Matt Stout is a Matthew Stout born circa 1846 who lived in Richmond, IN in 1893. I was able to trace his family to a Quaker Stout family who lived in Fountain City, Indiana. Matthew's parents' names were John and Mary Byrum Bailey Stout. I also have this 1883 entry from the Quaker meeting minutes at New Garden Whitewater M.M: Matthew Stout and family received on 4-19-1873. In these Quaker records, their names are listed as Matthew Stout and wife Jane, & children Oliver, George, William, and Alfred. My great grandfather also wrote the names Aunt Jane Stout, George Stout, and Oliver in his journal. Also, Matthew Stout lived in Randolph Co., Indiana in 1870 with a Pyle family. I am wondering if the Heiss name in his journal might be connected to the Heiss family in Randolph Co., IN., and in some way connected to the Quaker Matthew Stout family. I do not find any other Heiss families in the 1880 or 1900 censuses for this area. Does anyone know if any of the members of the Heiss family married into that Stout family (or collateral families, or whether they may have been friends? Any clue to the identity of this Heiss would help. Thanks again, Susan E. Davis