Roll 50, Gibson County Court Minutes, page 174 (I don't have an exact date, but I believe it's 1859) "On motion James T. Swindle was this day chosen and appointed guardian of Ledufsia, Nancy Jane & Jesse G. Butler minor heirs of John Butler decd. Whereupon entered with court in the sum of Five Thousand Dollars with F. G. Goodman, ?H. Holt his securities which bond was duly acknowleged in open court recd by the court & ordered to be recorded." John Butler died leaving a wife and ten children, three of those children minors. I don't understand why a guardian was appointed for the minor children. There was land and property to be sold. The minor children were to receive their shares equal to the shares received by all other siblings. I haven't seen a value assigned to the land and property. I wondered if a guardian was appointed to ensure that the children received their fair share, but why would someone assigned to protect the rights of the children be required to post bond of $5,000? I've seen instances when orphaned children were appointed wards of certain individuals, to be reared and cared for by these adults in exchange for work. Surely this wouldn't have been one of those situations? If I total the real estate and personal property of the Butler heirs living very near each other in 1860 (assuming they are living on the divided land) the value is $8,250, so John did not leave his minor children pennyless. By the 1860 census, at least two of the children were living with family members. None of the children were living with James T. Swindle. Can anyone explain this situation to me? Thank you Karla Butler Everett Bakersfield, CA