James Earls married America "Mary Nina" "Nearcy Sinkhorn" in Kentucky and they had 5 children there Sarah who married Easom Taylor and stayed in Kentucky, Amanda, Margaret who married Issac Elifritz, Mary F, George W, William B, and Stephen D. all of the children except for Stephen were born in Kentucky Stephen (my grandfathers dad) was born in Illinois in 1861 The family is listed as being in Kentucky in the 1850 census and in Illinois in the 1860 census. After 1860 however I can't find anything on any family members except my great grandfather Stephen and is sister Margaret Earls Elifritz. Family gossip said that something had happened and the kids were placed with relatives. Due to a fire in the town hall in Washington Irvington Illinois records were lost. The people at Washintong Irvintgon also said there was also an epidemic of some sort in the area in the 1860's Stephen Earls married Armitta Caroline Faulkner the daughter of Abner Faulkner and grand daughter of John Bear Faulkner If anyone can help with this mystery please contact me