From an email sent by LINDA WOLLAM , August 21, 2008. MARY ELIZABETH KELLEY, d/o DAVID KELLEY & REBECCA BOLINGER Mary Elizabeth Kelley, born July 1846 (per 1900 census) 1850 and 1860 she is on the Farmington, Marion co., WV census with James Reese and his wife Hannah(Talkington)Reese and their children. 26 March 1865 in Marion co., WV, she marries Leonard Metz Talkington (b. 24 Sept 1843 in West Union, Doddridge co., VA to John Talkington and Mary "Polly" Metz). Jan 1866, her son John Bert Talkington is born in West Virginia. 1870 census in Diamond Creek, Chase co., KS, she and Leonard and their son John Bert are listed. I found Leonard's brother, Benjamin Franklin Talkington, on the 1865 census in this area and then later several other Talkington brothers and Talkington cousins move to KS, as well. 2 Jan 1873 son Ira Oan Talkington is born in KS. The spelling of his name and the birth date were written by him on his WWI Draft registration. Feb 1875 daughter Flora Mae Talkington is born in KS. 1 March 1875 census Diamond Creek, Chase co., KS. Leonard is listed as a farmer. F.M. is listed as 1 month old. 13 May 1877 son Thomas Wayne Talkington was born in KS. 1880 census Diamond Creek, Chase co., KS. June 1886 daughter Cleo Ice Talkington was born in KS. Sometime between August 1887, when their grand-daughter Cora M. Talkington was born in KS (daughter of John Bert), and 14 Jan 1890 when their grandson John Leonard Talkington (son of John Bert) was born in Puyallup, WA is when Mary's entire family moved to Puyallup, WA. Imagine them going by wagon with their five children (there were 2 others who died before the 1900 census that I know nothing about). Bert was married and had two children by that time, so that was at least 10 people who traveled together, across mountain ranges, rivers and uneven surfaces in wagons or on horseback. The food supply probably ran short and the wagon probably broke down sometimes, and the children probably complained and cried. Probably not many roadside outhouses. What a long trip it must have been in all kinds of weather. 1891 Leonard's name is listed in a Pierce co., WA directory. 1900 census and 1910 census Puyallup, Pierce co., WA 12 September 1918 Leonard is listed as next of kin to Ira on his WWI draft registration. It lists Leonard's address as Rickreal, Polk co., OR. 1920 census McCoy, Polk co., OR Leonard and Mary and their son John Bert live together. Bert's wife had died. 13 October 1922 OR death records show the Leonard dies in Tillamook co., OR. I don't know yet where he is buried. 1930 census Mary E. Talkington, age 85, lives with her daughter F. Mae LaPlant and granddaughter Rosa M.LaPlant, age 10, in Eatonville, Pierce co., WA. 23 June 1931 Mary dies in Eatonville, WA at the home of her daughter F. Mae. Mae gives up her cemetery plot to her mother in Woodbine Cemetery in Puyallup, Pierce co., WA. I traced all the census records for all Mary's children and some of the grandchildren. I searched birth and death records, etc. The clincher was when I found Rosa M.LaPlant married Jack Duane Hibbard. I typed "Rosa M. Hibbard and Eatonville" in the Google search and I came up with the Eatonville Dispatch newspaper story of Rosa being a charter member of the South Pierce County Historical Society and a trustee of the same. I found several pictures of her and her address and phone number. One picture had her daughter Charla Toulouse pictured with her. I then found an article about Charla and her husband Lamar and their son, Chuck, who started a meat market in Eatonville. I added all my research information into our Legacy program, then on Tuesday (of this week) I called Rosa with great excitement. She was Mary Elizabeth's grand-daughter and "Grandma T." as she called her, had lived with her for many years. Mary died when Rosa was 11 years old. Just thinking about talking to someone who actually knew Mary, after I had spent so much time working on her family....it was overwhelming. Rosa is my second cousin, one time removed (I am glad Legacy figures it out). Rosa will be 89 on the 4th of Oct. She remembers many things. She hadn't looked at her photos recently, but said she knew she had at least one photo of Mary. I am hoping Charla will make copies of all photos they have of Leonard and Mary. Rosa was eager to talk to me and she filled in some of the gaps I had. We talked an hour and I didn't want to wear her out, so I told her I would call her again. I asked her to write down any memories that came to her mind about Grandma T. and her children. I hope she can think of some things. The only thing that readily came to her mind was that Grandma T. had picked tobacco in WV and she would roll some for herself. Chewing tobacco was a habit that carried through her life and she remembers her mother Mae getting mad at Grandma T. because she would spit the tobacco into her plants in her old age. I hope they have kept obituaries and the like. Rosa sounds quite frail, but I am so glad that I got to speak with her.