Two newspapers — published miles apart in separate counties — announced the baptism of Louis White Strickland in the Congregational church in Cold Spring,
Massachusetts.

The notice named Louis’s parents as Mr. and Mrs. Warren Strickland, and local records confirmed that the church and minister were correctly identified. Yet a thorough search  of vital records turned up no birth record for Louis, nor any evidence that his parents ever lived in Massachusetts.

Who were Louis and his parents? And where, exactly, was Cold Spring? WMGS  member Ed Strickland unraveled this intriguing genealogical mystery. At our August  meeting, he will share the twists and turns of his research journey, including the false
leads and unexpected detours.