I am truly, truly sorry that you took my joke the wrong way. I have been the bane of my family and friends my whole life in that I cannot help but to make jokes all the time.

I was simply trying to point out that we tend to want our relatives to always be on the side of the angels. Sadly, this is not always the case. I would point to myself as proof that you cannot pick your relatives, as MY relatives probably wish that they could.

Your assistance with my research has been MOST HELPFUL, and I am grateful.

Truly!

I can only apologize so many times for my failures to choose the proper time to make a quip. But I will apologize to you as openly, clearly, loudly, publicly, etc., as you deserve. I hope to burn in Heck before I am ungrateful to people have have helped me with my research over the years.

I e-mailed Bledsoe's relative in the search string that you very kindly pointed out to me. No reply has as yet been received. From the information that was on the web site, though, I am not positive that this is the same man. But the information that was there seems to indicate that there is a familial connection, however.

Hoping that I am once again in your good graces, I once again Thank You for your assistance.

Jim
JAMES D. DREES