I figured I'd post this once every 6 months and hope some new member to the list has information. . . . Anybody ever heard of Roland Emery (or Emory) Williams? We're told he was born in Massachusetts in 1877 or 1878, but he doesn't appear on the 1880 census. He was practicing medicine in Chicago by 1908-1910, and married Susan Edna Damon in 1910 and moved to California shortly afterward. Died in Los Angeles in 1919. I can't find any information on him anywhere -- he doesn't appear in the 1880 census, his name doesn't bring up any hits on any of the genealogy Web sites. I'm still waiting for California to send me a copy of his death certificate. All he left behind was a photo (no identifying info), my father and the Williams name (my father passed on, but knew nothing about his father -- his mother wouldn't even allow his name mentioned), a headstone with no information, and a bunch of medical stationery from Chicago. And a lot of rumors -- he may have been a bigamist. He may not have been licensed to practice medicine. My grandparents may not have been legally married. There's a lot of speculation. He was apparently a very colorful character before his untimely death. Many people have kindly pointed out that I should get his death certificate or contact medical schools that he might have attended -- so that advice has already been given and taken <s>. If you have any information about this most mysterious Williams, or have another trick up your sleeve that I can try, I'd really appreciate it! Thanks! Karen Williams Johnson kwj@lynxrobotics.com http://home.socal.rr.com/kjquilts