This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/an/lEC.2ACE/1015.2.1.1 Message Board Post: Diana, the fee for the SS5 is a bit hefty, but if that's not a consideration, I wouldn't hesitate for a moment. Within a matter of a few weeks you will know who Leroy considered to be his parents and where he believed that he was born. Do you know what became of Leroy's brother Clarence? If it were my own research, I would also get his SS5 to see if parents match up. There's no reason to assume poor handwriting--in fact, the document might be typed. Since there doesn't seem to be a birth record for Leroy in Grant County, you might check adjacent Rock County (that's where Milton Junction is). Just do a google search for the courthouse and call or write to arrange for a birth lookup. You might also contact the Grant County courthouse and inquire about how they have their divorce records indexed. If the Emeline CHASE who is in Beetown in 1900 is Aaron's first wife, there may be divorce records in Grant County. Do you happen to know what religion the family practiced? Once you more or less determine where Aaron and Emeline were circa 1889 (and ditto for Mary PATRI*), it might be worth some inquiries to churches to see if there are baptismal records for Leroy and Clarence, and maybe marriage records for Leroy and Emeline &/or Leroy and Mary.