This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Roper, Brown, Brasher, McQuillen, Vie, Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/kgDBAEB/701 Message Board Post: I am searching for a pair of my great grandparents in 1900. They would be, Septimus Brown and Josie Roper. The one I am most interested in would be Josie Roper. Here is what I know about them: Septimus Brown Married Josie Roper in Ellsinore, MO, Carter County; July 25, 1897 according to their marriage license. They were married at her residence by Johnathan Wood. There would be one child born of this union, my grandmother Betty Mae Brown on July 6, 1899 according to her death certificate of 1953. It is believed in my family that Josie Roper Brown died in childbirth at about 24 to 26 years of age, their marriage certificate simply says she was over the age of 18, but I can not prove it as I have not been able to find Josie's grave site in Carter County, MO or any history of her. I traveled to Carter County in 2002 and had no luck at Van Buren the County seat or Ellsinore, I have also had no luck with the State of Missouri, but was allowed to donate over $30.00 for a search. Josie Roper Brown's husband, Septimus Brown, was a railroad man whose retirement papers I have copies of, in them it says that Sepitmus began work for the railroad in Poplar Bluff, MO in 1899. I have not been able to find Septimus in the 1900 census but I believe he was living in Poplar Bluff, likewise I could not find one year old Betty Mae Brown, my grandmother. I did, however, find an eleven year old Josie M Brown living with James W. and James C. Roper in the 1910 Census of Butler County, MO Blackriver TWP. I believe this is Betty Mae Brown living with her 69 year old grandfather Roper and her 39 year old uncle under her mother's first name. Her father Septimus Brown was going through a divorce at this time from his second wife, Mamie Goodrich, which became final in 1911. Septimus finally got it right when he married Mary Berry in 1917 in Poplar Bluff and died in 1966 married to Mary Berry Brown. Septimus died in a St Louis hospital and was returned to Poplar Bluff to be buried in the Poplar Bluff City Cemetery where he lies at rest today. The 1910 census also says that, both, James Ropers were born in NC. The Father, James W. was born about 1841 near Franklin, Macon, NC. according to "Family Search.com." In 1897 when Septimus and Josie married, I believe Septimus was living with his father, Edward Brown in Carter County, Ellsinore, MO, Jackson TWP and Josie was living with her father in Carter County, Ellsinore, MO. I can not prove this and am asking for help. I am asking for HELP with this LIFE and DEATH situation. 1. What day did Josie die? 2. Where is she buried? 3. Where did everybody disappear to between 1897 and 1901? 4. Who were Josie's siblings? 5. Are there any tax records that would show any information and where are they? All mysteries that need solving.