To Peggy in particular, but others who may have Wells ties to Missouri, some of these records are online: http://www.sos.mo.gov/archives/resources/birthdeath/#search1 I've actually solved several unknowns/brick walls because of records I've found here!  a GREAT resource! :) Try the "real" first name first.  If no hits, then leave that part blank.  You'll get a ton of matches to go through, but it has been fruitful for me.  Also, once you get that list of matches, don't forget to click on "images" to the right.  That's where the ACTUAL image will come up. Peggy, there were several William Wells that came up in the search, but I couldn't be sure as I'm not as familiar with your line with other names/etc.  BUT...I will say that I found a "BILL WELLS" that died around 1916 that might be a match. Once you get an image, pay close attention to birth/death dates, places, all the people listed.  Also keep in mind that sometimes people filling out the death certificate may not know the answers, or write down the wrong answer.  This has been the case a few times in my family.  The "informant" was a younger child, and "thought" their father was born in the same town they had lived most of his life, not knowing from where their parents came. I couldn't get a hit for "Monroe" at all.  My guess is that perhaps they didn't stay in Missouri.  I don't think we're connected, but many of those names do copy names of my Wells family that came from KY.  Some of these ended up in Texas.  So...you might check the Texas Death records found on ancestry.com and familysearch.org (libraries usually have access to these websites. Hope this helps! Melanie PS...Peggy....if you want to contact me off the Wells board, my other line is Riggs.  They are Riggs originally from CT 1700's-1810....then New York to 1840....then MD to 1870's...then Texas to present. ------------------------------ Message: 3 Date: Sat, 10 Sep 2011 18:44:51 -0000 From: "gc-gateway@rootsweb.com" <gc-gateway@rootsweb.com> Subject: [WELLS] Monroe WELLS, b. 1908, MO To: <WELLS-L@rootsweb.com> Message-ID: <1315680293.403989@rootsweb.com> Content-Type: text/plain; This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: PeggyRiggsKopp Surnames: WELLS Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/surnames.wells/5530/mb.ashx Message Board Post: The attached photo of Monroe WELLS, found on AncientFaces.com, bears a strong resemblance to a member of my Charles WELLS, b. 1830, line.  Monroe also looks like a postcard picture of an unknown, seated man, which is also attached. I have found Monroe WELLS on 3 censuses: 1910 United States Federal Census Name: Monroe M Wells Age in 1910: 2 Estimated Birth Year: 1908 Birthplace: Missouri Relation to Head of House: Son Father's Name: Wiliam Wells Father's Birth Place: Kentucky Mother's Name: Louise C Wells Mother's Birth Place: Arkansas Home in 1910: Beaver Dam, Butler, Missouri Marital Status: Single Race: White Gender: Male Neighbors: View others on page Household Members: Name Age Wiliam Wells 38 Louise C Wells 36 Belle Wells 18 Cordelia Wells 16 Laura Wells 14 Pearl Wells 11 Monroe M Wells 2 Both Monroe and his mother, Louisa are shown as born in MO on the 1920 census: 1920 United States Federal Census Name: Monroe Wells Home in 1920: Poplar Bluff, Butler, Missouri Age: 12 Estimated Birth Year: abt 1908 Birthplace: Missouri Relation to Head of House: Son Father's Birth Place: Tennessee Mother's Name: Louisa Wells Mother's Birth Place: Missouri Marital Status: Single Race: White Sex: Male Able to read: Yes Able to Write: Yes Household Members: Name Age Louisa Wells 46 Monroe Wells 12 Dave Hayes 21 Joe Hays 18 Mattie Hays 16 Ellen Kearby 18 On the 1930 census he's in Little River Twp, Pemiscot Co.   My WELLS line also lived in Pemiscot Co.: 1930 United States Federal Census Name: Monroe Wells Home in 1930: Little River, Pemiscot, Missouri View Map Age: 22 Estimated Birth Year: abt 1908 Birthplace: Missouri Relation to Head of House: Brother-in-Law Race: White Household Members: Name Age Orley Mcnealy 42 Della Mcnealy 40 Monroe Wells 22 I have not found a birth, marriage or death record for him yet. If anyone connects with the family line of Monroe WELLS or has further information, I would greatly appreciate hearing from you. Peggy Riggs Kopp artnpeg@ptd.net http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~peggyriggskopp/