There has been a lot of speculation about Eli Michael's first marriage. He and Nancy Frazier had five children and they were on their way to Oregon with the Michael clan when they spent the winter in Missouri. She left with two children and nothing but rumors as to what happened. Some wonder if Eli had picked up with Jane Hodges or if Nancy ran off to be with with James, Eli's Brother. Someone found a Nancy Frazier in a Census later with a household of her father, a Melissa ( Daughter) and a James Michael. There is no proof that this was the same family.All we are sure of is that Jane Hodges and Eli Michael finially go married after some legal problems regarding a divorce. The following is copied from a letter from Marjorie Nichols who has fine records.-There was a James Michael, early settler of Caldwell Co. Ky. plus Samuel Fraziers in Ky Counties. Therefore that James Michael could have been an early settler there, Coincidence his wife's name was Nancy ect. The ages,dates plus no Martha does not match our Nancy's children . Elsie Browning ( Another Relative of ours ) learned from relatives in Oregon, plus the Harper papers, show Eli was at fault for his and Nancy's separation, plus he expected Nancy to divorce him when they got to Missouri. Elsie Browning told Marjorie Nichols personally that Nancy died fairly young in Missouri and never married. There was no proof that she and James ever fell in love or got together- That Mary Michael, her oldest daughter that went on to Oregon, and Melissa, who went back with Nany to Missouri, when older, did correspond with each other.When Nancy left Eli west of Missouri on the Oregon Trail, she really would have needed a male escort to help her get back to Missouri. When Eli did not take her back, James would have been the only logical family member to take her back. Then he would have had difficulty getting back to the trail or another train. He could have stayed in Missouri or gone back to Indiana. Personal note- I had always thought that the marriage broke up in Missouri but Elsie Browning should know as she lived there at Brownsville and had access to papers ect. Divorced 20 April 1853 two years after Eli had married Jane Hodges 27 July, 1951 ----------------------------------------------------------------- I spent several days in Clinton and Boone Co. Indiana trying to find a trace of her to no avail.