Linda, I am also a descendant of John W. Merchant, the father of Frances Virginia. He was married first to Ellen Catherine Allemong, and I am descended from their daughter, Melissa Belle. I have done quite a bit of research on Merchant and am happy to share. Stephen Stec email: sstec@rec.org www.rec.org > -----Original Message----- > From: Linda Hayes [mailto:cjsgaby@yahoo.com] > Sent: Friday, May 19, 2006 5:41 PM > To: WVMORGAN-L@rootsweb.com > Subject: Joseph A. Smith,Frances Virginia Merchant,Elizabeth Speelman > > Hello everyone,I am new here,I am searching for information > on Joseph A.Smith,born about 1850 Morgan County,He married > Frances Virgina Merchant,whose Mother was Elizabeth > Speelman(I am not sure of the spelling,I have seen it spelled > 3 different ways).Joseph and Frances had several > children,Statton (Eutaw?),Bertha,Odessa?,Joseph,and some > more.Also Fannie Pearl Smith,who was my Grandmother.Fannie > married Lee Edward Snyder,and they had 3 children > Eva,Frank,and my Mother,Hilda Irene.Fannie Pearl died when my > Mother was just a baby in 1932.Any information would be > greatly appreciated.Thanks.Linda L.Hayes >