Hello All, I am back in school to get my New York teacher certification and one of the courses I'm taking requires me to do something to "expand my own literacy". Since the time my family spent in Wisconsin in the late 1800s has always intrigued me and I am resistant to writing fiction, I am planning to force myself to write some fiction in the form of a series of "letters home" from my great grand mother in Merrill to her mother and sister back on Long Island. Now, all indications are that the family had a tough time of it and that Olive Ryan, my gr grandmother never stopped considering herself a daughter of Long Island (where the family goes back to the 1600s). This is not a happy story but I want to avoid having Olive paint too bleak a picture of Merrill. Sharon has been good enough to send me a bunch of material on Merrill and Lincoln which I have been using for general background but Feedback from others interested in Lincoln Co. during that period would help keep me honest. It would also be interesting to include comments from listers in my final report on the project. Anyone who is interested in reading and commenting on my work can email me directly for details at either <[email protected]> or <[email protected]>. As always, I am looking for any info on PROTESTANT RYAN families in Lincoln Co between 1880 and 1920. Thank you all, Margaret