Pat, the following is info I have from various Dees sources: He is a cousin to me. William DEES, b 1828, d 1898; m 9/9/1852 in Monroe or Conecuh Co, AL, Clarissa Harlow WATSON, b 1833, d 1882 Don't know anything about her heritage--do you have anything? He is son of James DEES, b 1788 or 1792, d 7/7/1866, Baldwin Co AL and Martha INGRAM, b 1794 or 95 Edgefield Co SC, d 6/7/1867 Baldwin Co AL (info from Historical Southern Families, edited by Boddie) Children of William and Clarissa: 1) Richard, b 1853, d 1923 2) Francis M "Fanny", b 1858, d 1904, m James A BRADY, b 1848, d 1917 3) William J, b 1861, d 1931, m Jeanette L ______, b 1869, d 1936 4) James T, b 1862, d 1899, m Oct 1883, Elizabeth BIGGS 5) Mary S, b 1864, d 1932, m J V PATE, d 1930 6) Henry Lee, b 1869, d 1945, m Roena MARTIN, b 1877, d 1959 7) A R , b 1874, d 1875 8) Georgia Ann, b 1876, d 1954, m H V POLK James Dees is son of Joel DEES, Sr and either Mary or Tabitha, depending on which reference you follow. Joel Sr is son of Emanuel Dees, the son of Emanuel the immigrant. There is much difference of opinion on some of the lines here, but this at least gives you some bearing on the family. James and Martha had at least 9 children and I have some detail on those families. Hope this helps Gary