USA > Illinois > Effingham County > History of Effingham county, Illinois > Part 72
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85
THOMAS A. JACKSON, farmer, P. O. Montrose, Ill.
" Hope springs eternal in the human breast ; Man never is, but always to be blest."
Such seem to have been the actuating princi- ples with Thomas A. Jackson, in a very marked degree, for he has roamed about nearly all his life seeking blessings, yet never stopping long enough to receive them. He was born in Kent County, Del., in the year 1824, where he lived until he was sixteen years old, working on a farm and attending to school. In 1840, in company with his uncle, George W. Jack- son, he went to Logan County, Ohio, where he worked three years at the wagon-maker's trade. In 1843, he went to Maryland, and from thence went in company with his father to Philadelphia, where he finished his trade, working there sixteen months. In 1844, he went back to Logan County, Ohio, and worked at his trade there until 1850, when he went to Clay County, Ind., and remained there three years. He came to Cumberland County, Ill., in 1853, and engaged in farming, working at his trade only at intervals. In 1866, he was burnt out and came to Effingham, where he lived six months, then traded town prop- erty for a farm in Watson Township, where he
P
243
BIOGRAPHICAL:
farmed with good success for several years. He next moved to Lucas Township, where he farmed about three years. In 1874, he moved near Montrose, in St. Francis Township, where he owned a farm of sixty acres, and lived until 1876. In that year, he moved to Montgomery County, Mo. Again, in 1878, he went back to his native State of Delaware, where he re- mained about one year, working at his trade, when he again returned to Effingham County, Ill. At the close of the year 1878, he went to Kentucky and worked at his trade three months ; then returned to Illinois, moving on a farm in Bishop Township, Effingham County, where he has since resided. He was married in 1849 to Miss L. J. Westfall, of Ohio. Of this marriage he had twelve children. His wife died in 1876, and he was married a second time in 1877 to Mrs. Martha Tenny. They have two children.
PETER T. JOHANSEN, farmer, P. O. Veni, Ill. But few men have had a more remark- able life, so full of dangers and hardships, as Peter T. Johansen, who was born in the east- ern part of Denmark, on the Island of Zealand, of the Baltic Sea, November 21, 1833. His father was a farmer, but Peter loved better the wild, venturesome life of the sea, and when a mere lad learned to steer a boat and hoist and trim the sail. His unele was harbor master and pilot, and Peter would otten accompany him on short coasting voyages to trade with the people farther up the Baltic. His very , childhood was thus spent on the sea, and it is no wonder he grew up to like it better than the land. At the age of fourteen, he shipped on a coaster which was to trade with Norway and Sweden, and his education being better than that of the rest of the crew, he did the elearing of the vessel at each port. One year later, 1848, he made a trip to Iceland as sailor " be- fore the mast," and was wrecked on the coast of Iceland. After buffeting with the waves for several hours, he managed to float ashore, and was soon after carried back to Denmark in the
main vessel. Again, in 1849, during the Ger- man war, we find him super-cargo of several grain vessels bound for London, England. While in the North Sea, fifty miles out from the mouth of the Thames, he fell from the topsail-yard, a distance of fifty or sixty feet, breaking his right leg in three places, and erushing his right ankle and breaking his left leg, and causing the re- moval of a section of his spinal column. After lying several weeks on board ship without medical treatment, he was taken to London and recovered. He returned home and studied navigation with a view of becoming teacher in a maratime school. When the Australian gold excitement broke out in 1853, he abandoned his studies and went as passenger to the new El Dorado. He passed around Cape of Good Hope and returned five years later by Cape Horn, thus circumnavigating the globe. He worked five years in the mines of Australia with varying fortune, and returned to Europe on Christmas, in 1858. Tired of sea-faring and discouraged at bis failure to realize a fortune in the gold mines of Australia, he took passage for the United States in the spring of 1859. Landing in New York, he pushed on west to Illinois, first stopping in Old Ewington, Effiing- ham Connty, where he took ont bis papers of naturalization and signed for the county paper. In the spring of 1859, he bought lands in Bishop Township of the I. C. R. R. Co., which he improved and still lives upon. He estab- lishedthe Veni Post Office during Lincoln's first administration, and has been the first and only Postmaster. Besides being Postmaster at Veni, he is Town Clerk and Township Treasurer; the latter office he has held for twenty years. Mr. Johansen is a inan of good business capacity and has been prominently named for County Treasurer. He is now in his forty-ninth year, and the early hardships of his sea-faring life have left but few traces upon him, except to render him a little lame in one leg and slightly
243
BISHOP TOWNSHIP.
stiff in the back from the terrible fall he received in the North Sea. Our subject was married in 1870 to Miss Mary J. Layton, of this county. They have five children, all living.
WILLIAM T. MARRS, farmer, P. O. Die- terich, was born in Vigo County, Ind., in the year 1834. At the age of three years, he moved with his father to Edgar County, Ill., where he worked on a farm and attended the public school until the spring of 1847, when he moved with his parents to Effingham County. Here his father settled on Government land in Bishop Township, and William continued to attend school and work on the farm. Mr. Marrs has since bought land adjoining this purchase which, with his father's estate, constitutes his present farm. Mr. Marrs was married in July, 1857, to Miss Elizabeth Taylor, of Franklin. They have five children living-one daughter, Isabell, a school teacher, and four sons, Edgar, William, Frank and Archer. Edgar, the oldest, is engaged in the profession of school-teaching. William Marrs, the father of our subject, was born in Virginia in 1796, and came to Terre Haute, Ind., in the year 1808, where he farmed until 1837, when he came to Illinois. He died in Effingham County, in February, 1848. IIe was married to Miss Anna Ussery, in 1817, a native of Tennessee, born in 1798. They had eleven children, two boys and one daughter yet living.
JOHN HENRY METTE, farmer, P. O. Teu- topolis, was born in Hanover, Germany, De- cember 1, 1807. He came to the United States in 1840, and lived seven years in Cincinnati, Ohio. He was a farmer in his native country, and that has been his occupation all of his life. He purchased the place where he now resides while still in Cincinnati. It consisted then of forty acres, having a log house upon it, which can still be seen, it having been joined onto the new house which was creeted in 1860. Our subject made subsequent purchases until now the farm consists of 284} acres. He has been
twice married, his first wife dying in Cincinnati. He has six children living. (See names in sketch of Joseph Herman Mette.) One of the boys is in Colorado, and Joseph runs the home farm. Our subject is the oldlest living settler in his neighborhood, and though past seventy- five years of age is still enjoying good health, and looks well for his years; though as one of the old pioneers, he has been through the many trials incident to pioneer life. When he first came here, the country abounded in game of all kinds, and he has shot many a deer while standing in his own dooryard.
JOSEPH HERMAN METTE. farmer, P. O. Teutopolis, was born in Bishop Township, this county, March 18, 1850, son of John Henry and Maria Katharina (Ossenbeck) Mette, farmers in Bishop Township, she born in Oldenburg, Ger- many, in 1816. (See sketch of the father else- where.) Our subject received his early educa- tion in Distriet No. 2, Bishop Township, and started in life as a farmer, which occupation he has followed all his life. IIe was born and raised on the home farm which he now man- ages. It consists of 2843 acres of good land, containing good buildings and an unfailing sup- ply of water. Mr. Mette engages in general farming. He has two brothers and three sisters -Mary, Frank, Henry, Kate, Barney and Anna. Mary and Kate are married. Our subject is a member of the Catholic Church, and in politics is a Democrat. He has filled the office of Over- seer of Ilighways. Ile is unmarried.
D. W. RICHARD, blacksmith, Dieterich, was born in Brown County, Ind., April 26. 1838. He lived in Indiana for sixteen years working on a farm, and attended public school during the time but three months. In 1854. he came to Jasper County, Ill., with his father, where he lived and worked on a farm four years. when he married Miss Margaret Gibson, of Brown County, Ind., and removed to Richland County, Ill., where he worked at the earpenter trade for one year. In 1859, he came to Effing-
244
BIOGRAPHICAL:
ham County and remained there until Decem- ber, 1860, when he joined his fortunes with those of the Union and went as a volunteer in Thirty-eighth Illinois Infantry, Company K. He was sent to Missouri and served in the First Division of the Western Department, under Gen. W. P. Carlin, until the summer of 1861, when his company became a part of Gen. Steele's army, and marched into Kansas. His company was again put under the command of Gen. Carlin, with whom he marched to Pitts- burg Landing, reaching that place a few days after Grant's victory. He afterward took part in the battles of Murfreesboro, Perryville and Chickamauga, and the last day's fight at Nashville, at which place, after having served his country three years, he was honorably dis- charged, December S, 1864, and returned home. He then engaged in farming, which was aban- doned two years later for the business of saw milling, in which he engaged with his father, on the Little Wabash River. In 1876, he worked at the blacksmith trade, then moved into Christian County, Ill., and farmed two years. He came back to Jasper County in 1879 and opened a blacksmith shop at Latona, where he worked until 1880, when he moved
to Effingham County and set up a shop at Dieterich, where he has since worked at his trade. He now bas his second wife, to whom he was married in 1880. His first wife died in 1878. He has three children.
DR. C. A. VANDRE, Dieterich, son of Carl and Mary (Gensch) Vandre, was born in Niagara County, N. Y., September 30, 1849. When he was twelve years old, his parents came to Effingham County, Ill., and settled in Mound Township. He was educated in the common and church schools of New York and Illinois. In the year 1879, he entered the office of Dr. Yarletz, of Altamont, and began the study of medicine. He had, previous to this time, been reading while working upon the farm. During 1880 and 1881, he attended the Bennett Medical College of Chicago. In the fall of 1881, he entered the Eclectic Medical Institute of Cincinnati, Ohio, from which he graduated in January, 1882, and located in Dieterich, in August of the same year, for practice. Dr. Vandre is a man who has en- ergy and ability, and although but recently located at Dieterich he has made many warm friends and is growing into a fine practice.
ST. FRANCIS TOWNSHIP.
ARNOLD J. BUSSMANN, farmer, P. O. Tentopolis, was born in Teutopolis Township, this county, August 17, 1847, son of A. Joseph and Elizabeth (Buchhorst) Bussınann. (See sketch of Barney Bussmann elsewhere.) Our subject received his early education in Teu- topolis, this county, and commenced life as a farmer. He was married February 8, 1876, in Teutopolis, this county, to Mary Shleper, born in Teutopolis September 3, 1854, daughter of Frank and Kate (Neuhause) Shleper, natives
of Germany, he born September 18, 1818 ; she April 1, 1831. Mr. and Mrs. Bussmann have four children-Anna, born January 13, 1877 ; Joseph F., born January 12, 1879 ; Mary F., born February 4, 1881, and Clemens John, born December 10, 1882. Our subject enlisted in 1865 in the Sixth Illinois Calvary, Company C, Capt. Robert Bradley, and was engaged in many skirmishes, receiving an honorable discharge. He now has 145 acres of well-im- proved land, part of which is in timber. The
245
ST. FRANCIS TOWNSHIP.
farm is situated two miles from Teutopolis. He engages in general farming. He is a mem- ber of the Catholic Church, and in politics is a Republican.
BARNEY BUSSMANN, farmer, P. O. Tou- topolis, was born in Tentopolis Township, this county, April 27, 1853, son of A. Joseph and Elizabeth (Buchhorst) Bussmann, both natives of Oldenburg, Germany, he, a farmer, born October 13, 1801, and died December 3, 1855, in Teutopolis Township, this county ; she, born in 1817, and died in the same place as her husband, April 25, 1873. They were the parents of four children, three sons and one daughter. Our subject received his education in Tentopolis, this county, and started in life as a farmer. He has lived in this county all of his life, and now has a good farm of 105 acres in St. Francis Township, and forty acres of timber in Tentopolis Township. He carries on farming in its most important branches. lle was married in Tentopolis, this county, April 29, 1879, to Sophia Frichtel, born July 12, 1861, daughter of Joseph and Mary (Har- delmeir) Frichtel, natives of Bavaria. Germany, he, born December 25, 1835 ; she, Jannary 20, 1841. Mr. and Mrs. Bussmann have two chil- dren-William Barney, born September 19, 1880, and Mary Josephine, born April 14. 1882. Our subject is a member of the Catlı- olic Church, and in politics is a Democrat.
GEORGE W. EBBERT, farmer. P. O. Mont- rose, was born in Perry County, Ohio, July 20, 184I, son of Edward and Sena (Wilkins) Eb- bert ; he, a carpenter, born in 1807, in Mary- land, and died July 3, 1867. in Center Point, Clay County, Ind .; she, a native of Ohio, born in 1811, and is living in Jasper County, this State, with L. M. Ebbert. The parents had seven children-three sons and four daughters. Our subject received his education in Clay County, Ind., and at Center Point, same county, he engaged in the saw-mill business, which was his first occupation in life. He was mar-
ried in the same county, March 19, 1863, to Nancy J. Gibbens, born in Clay County, Ind., February 19, 1846, daughter of Nathan A. and Mary (Hicks) Gibbens ; he, a native of Virginia, she of Clay County, Ind. Mr. and Mrs. Ebbert had one daughter, Minnie Ida, born February 8, 1868, in Clay County, Ind. Our subject was married a second time, Novem- her 28, 1878, in this county, to Mary Frances Gibbens, born in Clay County, Ind., November 11, 1852, daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth Gibbens, of this county. Mr. Ebbert ran a saw-mill for many years, since which he has been engaged in farming pursuits. He served three months in the United States Army. He came to this county in 1875, having purchased, in 1872, eighty acres of prairie land, at $18.75 per acre. He has made many substantial im- provements on the place, and engages in farm- ing in its various branches. Ile is a member of the United Brethren Church, and is a Repub- lican in politics.
HERMAN ENGELBARTS, farmer, P. O. Teutopolis, was born in Oldenburg, Germany, January 30, 1837, son of Folkers and Gretke (Peks) Engelbarts; he, a farmer, born in Olden- burg, Germany, in 1794, and died in the same place in 1851; she, born in llanover, Germany, in 1800 and is still living in her native country, with Mr. Henry Engelbarts. The parents had four children, two sons and two daughters. Our subject received his education in Schort- ens, Germany. He came to the United States May 21, 1863, landing in New York City, thence to Indiana, iu which State he lived a year, and was then for six years engineer in a mill west of Effingham. Having purchased, in 1865, fifty-six acres of land, he moved on to it in 1870; improved it, and has made subse- quent purchases. He now has a farm of ninety- six acres, and he engages in farming in the various branches. In 1870, he donated the land on which the Lutheran Church now stands, this being the first action in the movement
246
BIOGRAPHICAL:
seeking the erection of a church of that faith Our subjeet has been married three times ; his first wife died, the second was accidentally killed by a tree falling upon her. His third marriage occurred February 26, 1871, in Island Grove, this county. He wedded Mina Diekel, a native of Mecklenburg, Germany, born in 1848, a daughter of John and Maria (Steinaker) Diekel, natives also of Meeklenburg, Germany. Mr. and Mrs. Engelbarts have had six children, of whom three are living - Louisa Carolina, born November 18, 1877; Johan Fritz, born De- cemher 29, 1880 ; and Herman Bernhard, born October 8, 1882. Mr. Engelbarts has filled the office of School Director. He is a member of the Lutheran Church, and in politics has always been a Republican.
NEWTON W. GIBBENS, farmer and stock- man, P. O. Montrose, was born in Winchester, Frederick Co., Va., May 2, 1833, son of Jacob and Mary A. (Pierce) Gibbens, he a farmer born in Frederick County, Va., in 1782, and died in Clay County, Ind., in 1846; she born in Harri- son County, Va., in 1790, and is still living in this county. The parents had seven children -five sons and two daughters. Our subject received his education in Clay and Vigo Coun- ties, Ind., and was a farmer in early life. He lived in his native State but three years, hav- ing removed with his father to Wayne County, Ind., where the family resided for five years. They then moved to Clay County, Ind., where they lived for the following sixteen years. Our subject came to this county in 1852, and entered 120 acres of Government land at $1.25 per acre. In 1857, he came here to live, and he rented a farm for two years, afterward moving on to his own place and improving it. From time to time he added more land, and now has over 1,000 aeres, the bulk of which, about 800 acres, lies in this county, the balance being in Cumberland County. He also has property in Effingham City. Mr. Gibbens was one of the incorporators of the Vandalia Railroad. IIe
is now one of the commissioners in this coun- ty. Our subject was married in St. Francis Township, this county, March 15, .1857, to Julia A. Rolph, born in Logan County, Ohio, October 21, 1838, daughter of James M. and Anna M. (Jump) Rolph, both natives of Kent County, Md., he born on Independence Day, 1814, and she, on Christmas of the same year. Mr. and Mrs. Gibbens have six children- Maria Isabel, Newton Edgar, Albert S., Percy and Earl and Pearl twins, born August 3, 1878. Our subject has served his county many times in an official capacity, having been Township Clerk, Road Commissioner, Justice of the Peace for about fourteen . years, Supervisor, School Treasurer eighteen years, and also a Trustee and a Director. He was also enrolling officer and Provost Marshal in this county. He is at present engaged in the various branches of farming, and handles and feeds stock in the winter. He is an A., F. & A. M., Effingham Lodge, No. 149. In politics, he is a Democrat.
THOMAS GILES, farmer, P. O. Montrose, was born in Cambridgeshire, England, in the month of June, 1819, son of James and Sarah (Maser) Giles, natives also of England; he was a farmer and died in Indiana; she died in her native country. They were the parents of two children, both boys. Our subject received his early education in Little Downam, Cambridge- shire, Eng. He came to the United States May 1, 1852, landing in New York City, and lived five months in Niagara County, N. Y., where he worked on a farm. Shortly afterward he be- came a section boss on the Evansville & Crawfordsville Railroad, in Indiana, and was thus engaged for twelve years. He was mar- ried the first time in 1855 to Ann Storton, and by her had one boy-Joseph, born June 30, 1856. His second marriage occurred in 1864, in Terre Hante, Ind. He married Mrs. Nancy Ryland, born May 2, 1819, in Bullitt County, Ky., daughter of Daniel and Elizabeth (Brown) Clark, he born near Glasgow, Scotland, in 1796,
247
ST. FRANCIS TOWNSHIP.
she in Bullitt County, Ky., in October, 1799. Our subject has three children deecased. Mr. Giles came to St. Francis Township, this coun- ty, in 1875, and purchased 200 acres of unim . proved land for $2,000. Ile has made substan- tial improvements upon the place and engages in general farming. In politics, is a Democrat.
FERDINAND HATTRUP, farmer, P. O. Teutopolis, was born in Westphalia, Germany, January 24, 1832, a son of B. H. and Katharina (Tuenskamper) Hattrup, natives also of West- phalia, Germany, he, a farmer, born April 8, 1801, and died in 1877, in St. Francis Town- ship, this county ; she was born in 1805, and died in 1372, in this county. They were the parents of six children, four of whom are liv- ing. Our subject received his schooling in his native town, and carpentering was his first oc- cupation, afterward giving his attention to agricultural pursuits. He came with his father to the United States in 1852, coming to St. Francis Township, where his father purchased 160 acres of land, remaining on it live years. Our subject then purchased eighty acres for $385, the land nearest the timber being the best. All kinds of game were plentiful at this time, and Terre Haute, Ind., contained the nearest mill. Mr. Hattrup afterward added three more eighties, and now has a farm of 320 acres of good land, containing an orchard and a sub- stantial frame house, two-story, 36x36, with cellar. Mr. Hattrup engages in farming in its various branches. Ile was married, February 11, 1857, at Teutopolis, this county, to Anna Mary Beste, born in Germany March 5, 1835, daughter of Bernhard and Katharina L. (Boch- trup) Beste, natives also of Germany ; he was born in 1803. Mr. and Mrs. Hattrup have six children-Henry. Katharina, Ferdinand, Hu- bert, John and George. Our subject has been Township Treasurer for four years, and is now Township Tax Collector, and has filled several other offices. He is a member of the Catholic Church, and in politics is a Democrat.
II. B. HEICKEN, farmer, P. O. Montrose, was born in the Grand Duchy of Oldenburg, Germany, on Christmas Day. 1817, son of H. B. and Talke Maria (Pierstick) Ileicken ; he, a farmer, born in 1763. in Oldenburg, Germany, and died in the same place ; she, born in Han- over, Germany, in 1778, and died in Sehoost, Oldenburg, Germany, in 1858. They were the parents of eight children, of whom three are now living. Our subject received his education in Schortens, Oldenburg, Germany, and car- pentering was the occupation in which he was first engaged. He was united in marriage, March 24, 1842, in Schoost, Germany, to Rexte Margareta Willms, born February 10, 1819, in Sangewarden, Germany, daughter of Johan and Hieme M. (Heicken) Willms, natives of Olden- burg, Germany ; he was born in 1789, she in 1793. Mr. and Mrs. Ileicken have had seven children, of whom there are four living-Talke Maria, Johan Willuns. Herman Behrens, who are in Washington, and Henry Jurgens Harms, who resides in Kansas. Our subject was in the Oldenburg army for six years, but was not act- ively engaged. He came to the United States in June, 1875, landing in Baltimore, Md. Dur- ing the first year, he visited his friends and rel- atives, and three years following he lived in Green Garden, Will Co., Ill., and then removed to St. Francis Township, this county, where he purchased sixty acres of prairie and ten acres of timber land for $1,300, on which he carries on general farming. lle is a Lutheran in re- ligion, and a Republican in politics. Mr. Heicken's grandson-Eilert Jansen Reents-is living with him. He was born February 27, 1867, in Wiefels, Oldenburg, Germany, a son of Lubbe and Hieme C. (Hcieken) Reents natives also of Oldenburg, Germany, where the father still lives. He was born March 5, 1836 ; the mother was born June 14, 1847, and died in her native country August 22, 1877. They were the parents of two children-Herman Behrens, and our subjeet. Herman was born
248
BIOGRAPHICAL:
June 11, 1873. Our subject went to school in his native town, and also in Jever and Schor- tens. He has also attended school since com- ing to America. He arrived in this country in October, 1881, landing in New York City. He learned to read the English language in four months. He is a bright and promising young man, and belongs to the Lutheran Church.
GERHARD SIEFKEN, farmer, P. O. Teu- topolis, is a native of Hanover, Germany, born March 28, 1835, a son of Tobias and Marguer- ette (Pierstick) Siefken, natives also of Han- over, Germany, where they also died. They were farmers, and the parents of eight children, six sons and two daughters. Our subject received bis education in the old country, going to school at Etzer, Hanover, Germany. He came to the United States in 1834, landing in New York City, and thence to Michigan, where he was foreman on the Michigan Central R. R. for ten years. He returned to his native country in 1860, via New York and Bremen, and, after visiting his friends and relatives, he came back to this country in the following year. In 1863, he came to this county, and purchased 160 acres of land, at $10 per acre, in St. Francis Township. His subsequent pur- chases have increased his place to 200 acres, which contains good buildings, etc., and he carries on general farming. Mr. Siefken was married in Chicago, Ill., in June, 1863, to Mary Heicken, born in Oldenburg, Germany, in 1842, daughter of H. B. and Rexte Margareta (Willms) Heicken, he a native of Oldenburg, and she of Sangewarden, Germany. Mr. and Mrs. Siefken have seven children-Henry, John, Johanne, Helena, Margareta, Friederich and Gerhard. Mr. Siefken has filled many offices in his county. He has been Commis- sioner of Highways six years, Tax Collector a year, and is at present filling the office of Township Supervisor. He is a member of the Lutheran Church, and in politics is an Inde- pendent.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.