To recap the labyrinthine journey, 2F#2 Osborne W. Bosley's application for marriage to Donna Lenora lists (2F#4) Charlie V. Stout and (2F#5) Gertie M. Bosley as his parents.

The 1910 U.S. census lists Gertie M. and Osborne W. with William A. and Phoebe J. Bosley, as niece (26 years old); and "GN-NR" - grandnephew. The 1900 census lists in William A. and Phoebe J. Bosley's enumeration, Gertie M. as niece (17), and Charles V. Stout as nephew (14). Charlie V. Stout (23) is then found in the 1910 census, enumerated with John W. and Sarah A. Knight as "S-S" -step-son; obviously the natural son of Sarah A. Also listed is "S-S" - stepson Lonnie E. Stout, Charlie's brother.

Thus far, Charlie V. Stout is Osborne's father; Gertie is his mother. Sarah A. Bosley (Charlie V. Stout is William A. Bosley's nephew) is his mother, and Lonnie E. Stout is his brother. Who was the Stout father?

Sending for Gertie M. Bosley's birth certificate (born November 1882) gave her parents as Cornelius H. and Charlotte Bosley, son of Peter L. and Malinda Bosley. Finding Stout was much tougher.

Looking for Sarah Knight in the 1920 census, she was enumerated with son Lonnie E. Stout and wife Gertrude- Perkins (her brother Milford Perkins resides with them). Sending for Lon and Gertrude's marriage license did not provide their parents' names.

However, Lon's name came up on the Social Security Death Index, giving his birth date as 1 February 1982. His birth certificate was sent for (he needed to have one for Social Security benefits) and on it were the names of Tom Stout and Sarah A. Bosley.

Reviewing my voluminous notes on the Braxton County Stouts for 1900 showed listed only sixteen-year old Thomas W. J. Stout, enumerated with brother John M. Stout. This Thomas was born May 1884 -- just three years before Charlie V.'s birth.

However, in the 1870 stack of census notes was 10-year old Thomas B. Stout enumerated with mother Nancy, age 55. Thomas B., who would have been 26 when Charlie was born, at this writing has not yet turned up in 1880 or 1900 census.

But Sarah A. Bosley and Lonnie Stout have yet to be found in the 1900 census also. Also listed with Thomas B. and Nancy in 1870 is sixteen-year old Martha M. Stout.

In 1860 Nancy and Martha M. are listed with 45-year old Thomas B. Stout, who is obviously Thomas Sr. Now, to find the connection between the Thomas B. Stout family and the Peter L. Bosley family, beside the fact that they both live in Braxton County!?!

In 1850 in District #4 of Braxton County, Thomas B. and Nancy Stout are listed as enumeration #(337-337). Peter L. and Malinda Bosley are listed as enumeration #(343-343). So they'd been neighbors since 1850. However, in 1880, Peter lived in Otter District, and Nancy Stout, widow of Thomas B., Sr., lived in Salt Lick District (minus now 20-year old Thomas B., Jr.). However, among Thomas B., Sr. and Nancy Stout's at least ten offspring, is son Johnson Stout, born in 1840.

In 1880, Johnson Stout, wife Martha Ann and family are found in Otter District, enumeration #(201-201). Peter and Malinda Bosley, and daughter Sarah A., are listed at enumeration #(215-215); Cornelius H. and Charlotte Bosley and family (Gertie was not yet born) in enumeration #(216-216). In 1886 Tom was 26 years old, Sarah A. was 30. And Charlie V. Stout was born.

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