HAYDE WALDROP/WILLIAM WALDROP I would like to say "Thank you," to all. I think it is amazing that so many people are willing to take their time to help one another in searching for relatives. This is particularly dear to me, as it is not only a link to my past. I have just recently found out that I was born "baby girl Waldrop." My mother's maiden name is Waldrop. We have only corresponded once. I have been talking with an Aunt and Uncle who wanted tried raise me, as well as with other family members but my mother refused and put me up for adoption. According to my Aunt & Uncle, the Waldrop's were kind of "lost" people many, many years ago. I guess that means "poor" or due to the early death of my great grandparents, not much in known about the family. My grandfather, Lester Melton Waldrop - 3/25/1915 - 10/20/1974 was orphaned at six years of age and raised by his maternal grandparents. ( see The Stephenson's)He was born in Knox County, TN and died in Hamilton County.(aka/Chattannooga) He is buried in Ricetown or Riceville, TN, Spring Creek Cemetery? He and his wife, Edith Kate Dinsmore, 4/13/1916 -- 11/09/1982 ; have seven children, all living throughout the country. ( I have info on Edith's father's side, the Wilhoit's, men are all accounted for and date back to the 1500s. They immigrated to America in 1718 from Germany. ( From Strunk and Chambers Web site) His father, Hayde Waldrop, died in 1918, (not confirmed) when Lester (Lech) was two years old. I'm not sure of spelling or if "Hayde" is a nickname. Lester's grandfather was William (Billy)Waldrop from the eastern Tenn.or North Carolina area. (NC was part of Tenn. in the early years) I am told his wife was a Cherokee Indian. His mother was Imogene Stephenson Waldrop Wade 9/24/1897 -- 3/24/1921. She remarried and had another child, with the last name of Wade. Nothing else is known of the 1/2 brother. Imogene's parents, William Stephenson, (died 1935) and Sarah Davis 1/05/1869 -- 3/14/1948 raised Lester after his mother's death. I received a copy of the handwritten 1940s request for social security application put in by my grandfather, Lester. However, is was inconclusive to the information I received. Some of the handwriting was different, probably from a women who helped him fill out the required info. Discrepancies were: Waldrop was written as Walbrop, but signed as Wadldrop. Hayde was spelled Hade. Imogene Stephenson was spelled Imogine Stevens. If you have any suggestions I would appreciated your knowledge on how to proceed. Best Wishes, Sheri