My father's name was Kenneth G. Vansell
His family was from Muscota, KS -- I know the
spelling is different, however, it's not that
common of a name and thought possibly there
could be a connection somewhere. I know
there are Vansels in MO. which is also a
different spelling. Can you help? Am I barking
up the wrong tree?

Vansell, Vancils...they are of the same family lines. I know your ancestry as I have traced a line of the Vancils to your area. Can you give me some dates of your Kenneth and do you know his father?? I can help you but need to know that much. Your Vansells came from Union County Tenn. I have all their information but need to know how you fit in. Mary England

Your querie said that your father was Kenneth G. Vansall and his family was from Muscatah Kansas. There were 2 brothers who came to Muscatah Kansas. One was Martin Cleveland Vansall and his bro. Samuel. Martin and most of his family are buried in the Muscatah City Cem. Samuel was there for awhile and went to parts unknown, however his dau. is also buried in that same cem. They were from Union County, Tenn., the sons of Elias Vancil and Talitha Willis, his 2nd wife. Elias Vancel was the son of Jonathan Vancel and Mary Penrod. There are many des. of the bros of Elias in Union, Illinois. Since Elias came to Tenn. and not Illinois, many researchers of the family of Jonathan Vancil and Mary Penrod assumed wrongly that this son had died young. I des. from Pleasant Vancil who marr. Mary Cantley, the only son of Elias Vancil and his 1st wife, Fanny----? She was born in Ireland. Currently I am trying to locate any des. of Elias. He had 5 sons by Talitha and 1 son by Fanny. Mary England

I have exhausted most other means of research. It is unfortunate that I began my search after my father and mother had both passed away -- probably a catalyst for my curiosity. Following is the information I know to be fact:

Tandy Collingsworth VANSELL
Born 1882 – Place: Unknown
Died approximately 1952 – Place: Unknown.
Occupation: Farmer.
Tandy married Rilla Eva REEVES
Born 1888 – Place: Unknown.
Rilla Eva died in 1939
Place of death and/or burial: Unknown (Birth and death information obtained from a picture of her gravestone.)
Tandy and Rilla had the following children:
Kenneth Gale (1905-1975)
Carl (1907-1993)
James Glenn (1909-1965)
All three sons were born in Muscotah, Kansas -- I have copies of their Social Security applications to verify this. Further, I have a copy of my father's (Kenneth Gale) birth certificate. This is how I came to know the approximate year of Tandy's birth. His age at the time of Kenneth's birth is listed on the certificate. I also know that there were cousins to my father living in Muscotah during the 1960's as we stopped there on our way to MN one summer.

My father and his 2 brothers are dead now. I do not know of any living relative on the VANSELL side of my family who knows even as much as I do. If you can help it would be greatly appreciated as I have come up against nothing but block walls. Please advise. Cheri VANSELL Gray

Dear Cheri Gray,
I sent you a very long email last night about your line. Your Tandy was the son of Samuel Vancil/Vansell and Barthena Savage. If you didn't get it let me have your mailing address and I will print off what I sent and mail it to you or better yet your email address and I will forward it on to you directly. Your long lost cousin, Mary England
email was too long to retype.