I have spent the this afternoon and evening reading a stimulating correspondence between my late father, Burrell C. Lawton, and Margaret Ann Spiry from 1988.  The inch-thick collection of correspondence explores a variety of families and their histories in Switzerland County, Indiana -- Webbs, Allens, Sullivans, Cottons, etc.  They obviously enjoyed the exchange, and it is amazing what they accomplished in mining obscure sources to refine their understanding.  I did not know Margaret (as my father addressed  her), but from the correspondence it is clear they were both at the finest!  The last line in her last letter to my father reads, "We have just gotten and IBM PC, upgraded to 640 K memory, from our daughter, and are looking at genealogical programs with a view to making a choice...."  June 10, 1988.

With affection for a person I came to know only indirectly, I offer condolences to the family.

Steve Lawton, Phoenix, AZ