I have previously posted here on my difficulty locating information on my Great Grandmother, Martha Jane Walker.  I did not know her birthdate, other than 3 December, and had censuses telling me she was born in three different years in three different states!  I knew who she married (Andrew Baker Simpson, on 10 October 1874, place still unknown), and where she is buried (Tucumcari, Quay Co NM).  And my grandmother's notes said her grandfather was named James Walker.  Well, Gramma was wrong, thank goodness!

On Facebook, I saw that Tucumcari Historical Museum has a page, so I immediately Liked it.  Then I wrote a nice little note, asking if they do look-ups?  Well, one person there certainly does!  She has been sending me goodies, and from those, I am learning all kinds of stuff.  I also have a couple of new step-cousins to chat with!

And I now have a DC for my great grandmother!  No wonder NM could not locate it - she died in CO.  And her tombstone is off by a day, as Martha J. SImpson died on the 15th rather than the 14th of July, 1927.  And she was born 3 December 1853 in IL.  Her parents' names are given as L.B. and Sally Walker.

So, I look for L. B. and Sally Walker, and find them in the 1880 census in Barton Co MO -which is precisely where Martha Jane's husband grew up.  And I found the names of three siblings, so started chasing them around.  The boys were easy, the girls, not so much.

I found Lawrence Walker's DC in the MO Archives.  Says his parents were Elizabeth and Sallie Walker.  What?  That Elizabeth must be a typo, right?

I found James Henry Walker's DC.  Says his father was Elizabeth, his mother Unknown.  So, I am wondering, just who lost a bet to whom?  I guess if I were a guy named Elizabeth, I would go by L.B., too.

I may have found Elizabeth "L.B." Walker's parents, a Lawrence and Nancy Walker in Assumption, Christian Co IL.

The whole point?  Make a friend in Gramma's (or Whomever's) hometown, ask politely, thank profusely, and follow-up on the clues that come flooding in.  Pardon me, I am off to chase I great aunt I knew next-to-nothing about until I got her Obituary yesterday!