Paul,

Maybe you can help me with something. My wife's g-grandfather was one Wiley Lonzo "Lonnie" Brown and he was a railroad engineer, apparently working on the old Memphis & Charleston line and the railroad companies that came afterward. He is a strange fellow, in that in his early life the census information for him lists the birthplace of his mother and father, but in later life and on his death certificate (he died in Columbus, MS), the parents' and their places of birth are listed as unknown. I don't know why he became forgetful or perhaps he was adopted or maybe there was some shame attached to his parents that he was trying to bury? I just don't know.

Paul, what I wanted to know, or perhaps you have connections who might know, do railroad companies, generally, keep archival records on their employees? I'm thinking of writing to the railroad companies to see if they might have some record on this man.

Any recommendations or guidance would be appreciated.

Jim