Fellow Gibsonites, I got back home last Sunday. This is my first time to be able to sit down and let you know about my first ever trip to Gibson County. My Bottoms family split up about 1879. One family stayed in Gibson County, the others moved away; my great grandfather moved to Logan County, Arkansas. I discovered that when his first wife died in Paris, AR that he sent his children back to Gibson County and had his brother-in-law be placed as guardian over his children. This would be circa 1884-1886. This was the last time until Saturday night two weeks ago that our two families had physical contact with each other. I got to meet a large number of my Bottoms cousins, many had never met another Bottoms in their 80+ years of life with the exception of their own family. They shared their history with me and I took notes and learned a great deal from these individuals. I then went up to visit my cousin in Union City who took me to a large number of places in Gibson County and we spent one day going through the Gibson County Court House in Trenton. I went through the deeds and got a few more that I didn't have before and we looked through marriage information as well as other court documents. Later, I visited China Grove Missionary Baptist Church which my great great grandparents were charter members. I visited the Keas Cemetery which was started by their nephew, David G. I felt like I probably walked on the same land that my ancestors walked on. I felt like I better understand the locations where they lived and the relationship to the towns there in northern Gibson County. I traveled through Kenton which holds a lot of ancestral mysteries. I discovered that one of the Bottoms bought a half interest in a saloon for a short time in Kenton. Any way, I felt that my trip was very enriching to me. I have developed many friends that have Gibson County ties and I appreciate the help that each and everyone of them have given me. Your friendship has made my research much more enjoyable. I only hope that I can at least begin to repay the researchers of Gibson County for what they mean to me. Gibson County is a very large part of the Bottoms Family saga. I am currently writing a exhaustive book on my Bottoms Family and what I learned on my trip will become an integral part of that book. Thanks again everyone, Harvey