Help with my brick wall.

Glenn Rutz

Hello, I've been stuck on my brickwall for a number of years now. Having other eyes looking at this would be much appreciated.

I'm trying to find the parents of my 3rd ggf, John W. Story/Storey, family tree person ID: LS4P-ZWY. John was born 27 May 1820 in an unknown county in Tennessee, per census records. He was married to Elizabeth Smith, on 23 August 1840 in Lauderdale co., Alabama. He and his wife and children are in Lauderdale co in 1850 census. About 1855 this family migrates to Milam county Texas. The family is recorded on 1860 & 1870 census of Milam county. John died 12 Feb 187, Elizabeth died abt 1880 and both are buried in Milam county. The known children of John and Elizabeth Smith Story are:

Richard D. Story, born 1844 in Alabama

Sarah J. Story, born 1846 in Alabama

Martha E. Story, born 1848 in Alabama

James A. Story, born 1852 in Lauderdale co., Alabama

John W. Story, Jr, born 1855 in Milam co., Texas

George W. Story, born 1859, Milam co., Texas

Now, John Story is the eldest of 3, possibly 4 siblings who migrate to Milam county and are as follows:

Sarah J. Story was born 25 Sep 1823 in unknown county in Tennessee. She married to William J. Pratt, 14 July 1846 in Giles co., TN, however there is no known proof of this. William and Sarah Story Pratt are in Lauderdale county Alabama on 1850 census, 1860 census in Giles co., TN, unable to locate them on 1870 census, and are in Milam co., TX on 1880 census. William died 1872 and Sarah died 1888, both of whom are buried in the same cemetery as John and Elizabeth Smith Story. Their know children are:

Mary E. Pratt, born 1847 in Tennessee.

Rebecca Pratt, born 1850 in Alabama

Nancy A. Pratt, born 1854 in Tennessee

James M. Pratt, born 1857 in Tennessee

George W. Pratt, born 1859 in Tennessee

John W. Pratt, born 1862 in Tennessee

Martha J. Pratt, born 1864 in Tennessee

David R. Pratt, born 1868 in Tennessee

William M. Story was born 15 Dec 1824 in unknown county in Tennessee. He married Martha Young about 1844 in unknown county in Tennessee. William and Martha are in Lauderdale co. AL on 1850 census and in Milam co., TX in 1860, 1870, 1880 census. William died in 1880 and Martha died 1875, both of whom are buried in Milam county Texas. Their known children are:

John W. Story, born 1845 in Tennessee

William J. Story, born 1847 in Tennessee

Mary Story, born 1849 in Tennessee

Charles D. Story, born 1853 in Alabama

Dick R. Story, born 1854 in Alabama

Alonzo B. Story, born 1857 in Alabama

Burris Story, born 1859 in Alabama

Edward B. Story, born 1860 in Texas

Thomas L. Story, born 1863 in Texas

I have found the following widowed mother and two children in Lauderdale co. AL per 1850 census. They are Mary A. Story, born 1802 in South Carolina and died 1889 in Lauderdale co., Alabama. Her known children are:

Parilee Story, born 1831 in Illinois, died 1911 in Lauderdale co, Alabama. Per 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880, and 1900 census she was born in Illinois.

Thomas F. Story, born 1837 in Tennessee and died about 1897 in Texas. Thomas is in Lauderdale co, AL in 1850 census, Milam co., TX in 1860, 1870, and 1880 census. Thomas was married twice and had 12 known children all having been born in Texas from 1856 -1887. I have no further information prior to 1850 on this family group.

There must be a relationship between the family group of Mary, Parilee and Thomas Story to John, Sarah and William Story which I believe that Mary is an aunt and Parilee and Thomas are cousins.

I have found that there is a James Story, born 1770 in NC and died aft 1835 in Morgan co., IL. He married Hannah Self abt 1794 in North Carolina. This family group appears to be well researched and none of my Story siblings would appear to fit in.

They are found in census records as follows:

1810 Chatham co, NC

1820 Maury co., TN

1830 Morgan co., Illinois

Their know children are:

Vincent Story, born 1794 in NC and died 1870 in Morgan co., Il. He was apparently married 5 times, however none of the five wives were named Mary.

Parrish G. Story, born 1799 in NC and died 1863 in Morgan co., Il.

John Story, born 1801 in NC and died 1877 in Giles co., TN

Margaret Story, born 1805 in NC and died 1883 in Nebraska

James Story, born 1808 in NC and died 1881 in Giles co., TN

William Story, born 1811 in Alabama and died 1866 in Macoupin co., Il

Nancy Story, born 1813 in Tennessee and died 1858 in Morgan co., Il.

Elizabeth Story, born 1815 in Tennessee and died abt 1880 in Morgan co., Il

Porter Story, born 1817 in Tennessee and died 1890 in Morgan co., Il.

I apologize for the length of my post but I wanted to put in detail to give context. I've tried researching Giles county but it is a burned county so I haven't had any luck there. Thank you in advance for any help or suggestions.

Glenn Rutz

PABulfinch

Thank you so very much for the information. Do you happen to have an Ancestry account? I looked under "Search," put in "John W. "Story," his birth year and death year, along with "Elizabeth Smith". It came up with several public trees that could be searched. The very first one had his father and grandfather at least. I did not look further. Of course, I do not know your family well enough to know if this is correct, but I bet you will. I hope this helps. PaulaAnn :) Family History Centers do not have this feature, unfortunately. So, if you do not have an Ancestry account, you will have to find someone who does. :)

Glenn Rutz

Hello PaulaAnn!

Thank you for taking the time to read and respond to my rather lengthy post. I do have an Ancestry account and I also have my dna profile there as well. I too have reviewed the public trees for my ancestor(s) but unfortunately most do not have sources. I've also tried using naming patterns to help find the parents of my John Story, but to no avail. Thanks again for your input.