Hi

I have read of the Mary Ann you speak of and suspect that there could have 2 maybe 3 of them. I am wondering if my Mary Ann was adopted - could her existance not be made known to census takers because of her heritage. The Mary Ann Hileman that I am looking for is gr-gr-gr-grandmother of my husband. I have the a picture of her at an elderly age as well as the obit for her daughter (our gr-gr-grandmother) plus before my mother in-law passed away, she would tell us stories, but always end with "family always tried to keep Grandma's heritage a secret'. I also have her death certificate. I do know that Mary Ann and Alexander are buried in Surgar Grove Cemetery, Aleppo twp, Greene County and the records state that she is from Armstrong County. As for my Alexander, the census notes that he was the son of George William Cook and brother to a Thomas and Andrew Jackson Cook. In at least 2 census' each brother can be found living with Alex and Mary Ann. I have seen some records that this COOK family were Indian traders, thus, could this be how my Mary Ann (family lore-Native American) had a German last name??