Ernie, I have read just about every one of your messages in your hunt for your Lunsford’s and collateral lines and it has been an informative adventure. I am a descendant of the James and Rachel (Moore) Martin family of early Putnam County, Indiana. Their eldest son Wm married Rachel T. Denny there in 1839. I have been trying to place the other Denny marriages into their family groups. Wm and Rachel Martin and James and Rachel Martin moved to Wapello County Iowa between 1840 and 1842. I tracked your Sarah and Alfred to Davis County as well as the Isaac Storm who I found in Putnam as having married a Partheny (not Susan) Denny in 1837.

The Denny marriages in Putnam County include a Martha Ann Denny who married Christian Nosler. They also went to Wapello County and were neighbors to Wm and Rachel (Denny) Martin. I suspect that Martha and Rachel were sisters. A “R.S. Denny” was in Wapello 1870 census and appeared to be a widower. He may have been the Robert Steers Denny who married an Emily.

James and Rachel took or were followed by at least 9 of their 13 children. I am trying to trace my Martins and the (Rachel) Denny families. Can you help me with more on the family group of Wm Denny who you have said is the father of your Sarah Denny?

My James Martin (b. about 1797) and Rachel Moore (b. about 1798) are given as born in Va and raised in Kentucky, married in Kentucky and then went to Putnam County about 1817/1819. I do not recognize your Alexander Martin of Van Buren Co, IA as “fitting” in with what I know about my James Martin family (although I have seen and “watched” that Martin group of Van Buren County, IA during my years of researching.) But I noticed that your Martin’s seemed to be of VA, KY, and IN (then to Iowa) which closely mirrors my Martin’s migration pattern. Supposedly my Martin’s were originally from Holland. Does any of this sound familiar to you? Thank you for your time and any suggestions you can offer. I am happy to share with you what information I have.