Some of you are interested in old county and family histories, which can be useful in untangling your roots. Some of you want to purchase these. Because books, even used ones, cost a lot of money, which you may prefer to spend for copies of deeds, probates, etc., I suggest that if you are near an LDS family history center, you check out the FHL catalog at <A HREF="www.familysearch.org"> www.familysearch.org</A> (link is on lower right, as is a link to a list of over 3,500 family history centers around the world) for any county or family history in which you are interested. WHY? Because, many of the older county histories (not those hot off the press) have been filmed by LDS and can be borrowed through your local LDS center for a small fee and for a limited time. Be aware that many of these histories are called "mug books" because the compiler of the history charged money (just as they do today) for you to insert a story and your "mug" about yourself or your family. However, do not overlook these county histories, faulty as they may be. In one case of my searches in a burned county in Illinois, I found the ONLY link of a long-time (and long-winded) citizen of that county to my great-grandfather who lived in Texas. It seems that the first of three wives of that citizen was a sister (now deceased) of my great-grandfather, who had been born in Kentucky. This [long-winded] citizen is mentioned in at least two surviving letters to my great-grandfather. And that is how my southern ancestor is linked to Illinois! At least two county histories of that burned Illnois county have been filmed by LDS and therefore are useful in getting some facts about some of the people who lived there. In another county history of a county in Kentucky, I found that one of the citizens linked to my extended family had largely distorted his genealogy, but at least he had his parents correctly outlined. Through further research of censuses, deeds, tax lists, court records, etc., I was able to get his genealogy (and some of my own) straightened out. So--use with caution but do not ignore those county histories. The same with family histories. Just because it is in printed form does not make the history truthful. As my genealogist-librarian friend says, PROVE IT! Edgar Woods book on Albemarle Co. is on film 924674, Item 2. I did not check the indexes for the county history. Someone may have indexed Woods's book, and it may have been filmed. Do not overlook discussing with your public librarian the possibility of interlibrary loan of some of these coveted books. Many genealogy books do not circulate, and lately I have had to read my ILL in the borrowing library--I cannot check it out. But, the price was right!!! And I was able to photocopy the pages (plus the Title Page, of course) I needed for my research tasks. E.W.Wallace who has colonial Albemarle Co. roots - along the Blue Ledge