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Message:: [QUOTE="BRandM, post: 1853463, member: 22729"]Although I didn't find anything linking John H. Loveless directly to the L.S.& M.S. Ry. (except the counterstamp of course) there's a pretty convincing amount of circumstantial evidence that tells us he's the issuer. This scenario is very common in these types of investigations. It's fairly uncommon to find evidence that tells you for sure you've found the right issuer. Having said that, I'm very comfortable that this man is the correct one. John H. Loveless was born in Lysander, Onondaga Co., NY in November, 1838. His father was a farmer named Erastus (born 1800) and his mother was Eliza E. Pulsfer (born 1801). John had 3 sisters named Clara, Melissa, and Maria and a brother Sylvester A. By 1855 the family had moved to Ira, Cayuga Co., NY where John was listed as a farmer in that year's New York State census. John was married  on July 4, 1858 to Hannah Maria (Mariah) Mead in Kent County, MI The 1860 Federal Census listed his father, mother and sister Maria living in Gaines Twp., Kent Co., MI and he and a female named Mercy in Monterey, Allegan Co., MI. John had no children at the time. I don't know who Mercy was since his wife's name was Hannah, but the couple's ages match other records and John is listed as a farmer as in past listings. It may have been her nickname or just a transcription error which was very common in those days. In June, 1863 John registered for the military draft and was still living in Monterey. As far as I could tell he never served. I found nothing else until 1872 when the family lived in Manlius, Allegan Co. The couple's two children were born there. Fred Sylvester in December, 1872 and a daughter Daisy in 1878. No occupation was given for John. To make this a bit shorter I'll summarize.1880- U.S. Federal Census / Mayfield, Grand Traverse Co., MI   Occupation: Farmer 1882- He was listed as a Freeholder with his brother Sylvester in Gaines Township, Kent Co. No other details. 1896 / 1906 - Appeared in Grand Rapids, Kent Co. city directories. Apparently, he still lived in Gaines Twp. in the city of Dutton, a suburb of Grand Rapids.    1896 - No occupation    1898 / 1899- Occupation - "Trucker RR - D.G.R.& W.RR" (Detroit, Grand Rapids & Western Railroad) A trucker would be more commonly known as a drayman or teamster in those days. Someone who picked up and delivered freight by wagon.    1900 - "Laborer"    1900 U.S. Federal Census - "Trucker RR"    1901 / 1906 - Listed as a "Flagman" 1904, 1906 and a "Flagman, P.M. RR" in 1905. "P.M. RR" stands for the Pere Marquette Railroad. Unfortunately, between 1863 and 1880 and 1880 and 1896 John Loveless was pretty invisible in historical documents. What really caught my attention was his employment in Grand Rapids with two different railroads as a flagman and trucker. There was a depot in Grand Rapids for the L.S.& M.S. Railway starting in 1869 but evidently he didn't work for them during his years in the city. I believe Loveless may have hauled freight for the railroad out of the Allegan depot as a means of supplementing his farming income c. 1870s. It's possible that Amanda's coin was used to identify himself when he picked up freight at the depot. The hole in the coin shows signs of heavy wear, so it was definitely worn for a long period of time. One last thing. Although there's no definitive evidence showing that this man is the J.H. Loveless who counterstamped the coin, I didn't come across anyone else who could have even remotely been the issuer. I feel confident that this is our man. Thanks again for everyones help. I had a lot fun doing this. Bruce[/QUOTE]

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