This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/WFC.2ACI/3133.1 Message Board Post: Cornelia, As far as I can tell William Benjamin Golden was the son of Job and Sarah Cooley. These folks are in Ancestry.com's family trees and you should be able to find them. In 1870, William is living at home with his father and mother making tombstones. His wife is Francis 25 b. VT. They have daughter Francis P. 5, William H. 3 and Richard V. 5 months. In 1880 Federal Census, William is alone in WI and has 4 children with him. No sign of Richard. Later that year he married Dian*a Day South. In the 1880 Federal Census, Dian*a is living with her folks and without her children. (I didn't look for them.) William B. Golden married Sarah Emeline Cowles in 1883 in IA (per trees Ancestry.com) They are together until William's death 1920-1930. In 1900, they are in Boone Co. IA and they had 8 children with 6 living. Interestingly, there is another son of William and Francis listed: Nathan M. b.1877 WI. This Nathan Martin is also in a tree in Ancestry.com's database, but without listed parents. He ends up in TX like his dad. (And just where was he in the 1880 census, hmmmm?) In 1910 William and Sarah E. are in Fulton Co. IL. Sarah reports 9 children with 7 living. In 1920, they are in Harris Co. TX. By 1930, Sarah is widowed and living with her divorced son Clarence Glen. So what happened to Dian*a? Died or divorced? Can't find anything online. You need an actual person to check the County records as I believe you requested in your query. Hope this helps. Deb :)