Dear Harold:

 Enclosed is a collection of family tree materials sent to me by Charles Finson, Bertha Danford Finson's son who lives in Monticello Ill. I don't know why he hasn't contacted you, I hope he is well. As you can see from his enclosed letter he was happy to correspond. I'm not sure how the family tree paper he enclosed fits in but you may be able to sort it out.

 I am still amazed by the good fortune of meeting you through the interned Our family has learned so much about the family history from your efforts. It is still very hard for my mother (and her remaining siblings) to comprehend. The funniest thing ever is the fact that they thought they were Irish. Why? Well through a search of the local library's vital records I found the Irish. Malcolm M.'s wife Laura remarried to John Costello, and his mother was Irish! so, we are not Irish at all!

 My maiden name was Tiska, my father's (Edmond Tiska) parents were Polish immigrants (Joseph & Stella Serovick Tyzska) and we know little about their families. His father (Joseph) was killed in 1926 by a car while walking to work. This left my Grandmother with 5 children and she could speak no English. She remarried and had 3 more children before she found out her second husband had a wife and children in Connecticut which he promptly went back to. she was a very serious person because of all the tragedy in her life. she lost her parents young so at 11 yrs some people put her on a boat and sent her here to find her brothers. They didn't know what to do with her so she ended up in an orphanage in Chicago I have been told. she found some cousins in Pittsfield who took her in. she was not very easy to get to know and would not speak of family history. She had a small farm in Pittsfield near Onota Lake.

 My mother's father Stanley Charles Danford married Della Mae Rhoades in Pittsfield, MA. Della died when my mother was 9 years old leaving Stanley with 6 children to bring up. He depended heavily on his wife's family to care for the children and in the summer they were sent to live with family members in Sheffield, MA which is near the Connecticut boarder. Stanley was a police officer in Pittsfield and was very well known. He passed away when I was less than a year old. I do remember seeing a picture of Malcolm McIvor when I was young. He was wearing a suit and sporting a handlebar moustache. The picture has been lost since the 1960's nobody knows where it went.

 Stanley's mother Laura Eliza Adams was born in Michigan. Her parents were Dr. C.O. Adams, and Sophia. She had one older brother Charles and a younger sister Em. Her parents were born in New York. Supposed to be related to John Quincy Adams.
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 Both of my mother's brothers have passed away young. Malcolm was a very popular City Policeman. He worked all the high school dances and sports events when I was growing up. Some people say he was priest like. His sons both became police officers too. His oldest Gary, is a Sargent and will be retiring soon. Mark lives in Florida and works in probation now. Uncle Jim's son Joseph is in the Air Force and is returning from Italy with his wife and son to take a post at the Pentagon in Washington DC. Both Stanley and Malcolm had the nickname "Pinky Danford" because of their ruddy complexions.

 As I said before Stanley was a boxer. I saw a picture of him in boxing clothes striking a pose. It is unknown where that picture is today. Mom says he sparred with Jack Dempsey in New York City.

 Della Mae's parents were Irving George & Sarah Jane Markham Rhoades. Della had a brother George who lived in California. His son Donald still lives there.

 I remember Irving, we called him pa and he died when I was 9 or 10 yrs. Irving's siblings were Harley, Edward, Mattie, Carrie, Alice, and Arthur. Irving worked on the railroad. He told my father he used to drive spikes from sunup to sundown. I do have a picture of him. He said he was part Indian. His parents were George & Mary Billings Rhoades. I have found the Billings name among the Mohawk St. Regis reservation in New York.

 George's parents were Harlow & Sabrina Mason Rhoades. Mary's parents were Nelson & Pheobe Billings. Sarah Jane Markham Rhoades was the daughter of Franklin and Mary Jane Woodbeck Markham. Mary Jane Woodbeck was the daughter of John P. Woodbeck & Clarrisa Winchel (who was 1/4 blood Mohawk).

 If you would like I could send you a copy of all the dates of birth, death, and marriages when I get it together. It may take some time. I have also enclosed some copies of census records for you on some Danfords.

 I married my husband Richard A. Lucido Sr. on August 9, 1969 we just celebrated 31 years together. We have one adopted son, Richard Jr.

Sincerely,

Mary Jane Lucido