to the reb i thank you from the bottom of my heart. i knew some info but not this much. i will check with the the people you suggested. i was born and raised in mcdowell co.still have a few kin there and in mercer co were most are buried,bluewell. i went to smyth co as a boy with my grangmother to her sister,s home at sugar grove essie and press martin,s farm. those were good days. i know some of the martins still live in the area and iam kin to alot of people in the area. my great grand father was alvin richerdson he married catherine louisa surber.he was from n.c.alleghany co. thank you very much the s.c.v in richmond helped also and told me they would mark his grave if i could find it. i sure mean to give a whirl.i live in grant co wva at the present. should have moved south instead of north