My many brick walls.

As with so many other people who are researching their family tree I have hit that dreaded brick wall. So far I have hit that wall for at least four people.

My grandmother Elise Sally Howard ~ she was born 1913 in Eastover, Richland County, South Carolina to Tom Howard and Sally Borden.  She moved to Sumter, South Carolina married Isaac Ballard had several kids with him. After Isaac passed away she had several children with Paul Smith. I cannot determine when she married Isaac nor can I locate her parents. I know she had a sister named Rosa Lee but we called her Aunt Honey.  

My grandfather Paul Smith ~ I know nothing about him other than that he lived and owned property in South Carolina in the 1930’s and 1940’s and had at least four children with Elise Ballard. I am also told that he died prior to 1975 but my dad could not remember exactly when.

Harry Walker ~ He seemed to have just appeared from nowhere.  Harry married a lady then divorced and married Harriet Rorabaugh in 1914. He listed his birth date at 1881 / 1882 / 1883. I believe that I have found his family but so far I cannot prove the connection with any records as of yet.

Ida Ketton Heinonen ~ she was born in Finland and moved to Minnesota to be with her husband Mike Heinonen. She is believed to have died between 1906 and 1910 but I cannot find a death certificate. I believe that she came to the United States around 1894 but so far have not located her in any ship records.

These brick wall people give me the blues, they just seem to either appear or disappear without a trace. With these few people it seems as if they don't want me to find them but I will contuine to shake the tree they are attached to until something shakes lose. Over the next few days / weeks I will discuss each one of these individuals a little more indept. Check in later to learn more about them and many other family members.