From: "Roy Silfven" Date: Friday, September 26, 2008 3:16 PM Hi To All: Thanks for your good works in a wonderful website. I have collected lots of research information about my wife's mother's Berry kin who once resided in the Lincoln and Garrard Counties areas (1850's to about 1906) But I have a puzzle based on a family tradition that I would love for you to help solve. My wife Ellen's great grandfather John Thomas Berry is reported to have been born (WWI draft Registration) 7 Mar 1891 in Stanford, Lincoln Co., KY. He died 1953 at Portland OR. John's father Thomas Berry is reported to have been born 8 Apr 1853 at Gilbert Creek, Garrard Co., KY (I note present day maps have Gilbert Creek in both Garrard and Lincoln Counties). Thomas Berry married Mary Jane Stewart (b. 1 Jul 1860 in Missouri - d. 1938 at Portland, OR) 5 May 1881 at Lancaster, Garrard Co., KY. From the 1900 US Census of Magisterial Districts 1, Stanford, Lincoln Co., KY, 5 Jun 1900, lines 38-43: Mary Berry, head., b. July 1859, age 40 widowed, 5 of 5 children living, b. KY, not employed. She has 5 children living with her: Lee age 18, Joseph age 15, Lucy age 11, John T. age 9 and Grover C. age 7. Because of other research, I'm certain this is my wife's great mother Mary and grandfather John Thomas. Family tradition has it that sometime after the last of Mary (nee Stewart) Berry's children was born, Mary murdered her husband Thomas Berry. The story is that after the last child Grover was born 12 Apr 1893, Thomas (Mary's husband) ordered her to go "back" into the crop field and finish the plowing. For that reason (possibly others too) she poisoned the pickle crock from which he ate some pickles. This is the story that has been passed down. My questions are: (1.) Did Thomas Berry die about 1893 in Lincoln Co., KY? (2.) Where is Thomas Berry buried? (3) Where in Lincoln County did the Berry family live in 1900? My wife and I are about to embark on a cross-county driving trip and plan on stopping in Stanford. But our timing places us in Stanford on Saturday 4 Oct. and it's likely your facility will not be open. Do you have any suggestion where I might be able to do some research that day? Thanks in advance for any assistance you might be able to provide. Roy Silfven, Bend, Oregon