Thanks for responding. My John W. was born in Ohio (1898) and lived in Chicago. However, I have a very one dimensional view of the family. I have traced back and forward for one line only. There are certainly other lines directly connected and a number of children in each generation that I have not researched at all. Regards, John -- John Middleton, Leawood, Kansas, TVFHS #4418 Middleton, SCT>Liverpool, Eng>Chicago, IL, 1700-1920; Neely, IRL>PA, 1759-1900; Chid(d)ester, WV>OH, 1800-1900; Som(m)erville, Grasmere, Eng, 1700-1850 Web Page: http://www.planetkc.com/jmcpa GenSaf - Genealogical Data Backup Service "Google to gensaf.com" >My grandfather was John W. Shaffer.  He was born in 1852 in Ithica NY > and died in 1921 in Cabool Missouri.  He was married to Grace > Myrick in 1884.