Dale, I wanted to mention, after reading your story...my ancestor, James Wilburn Willis married Mary Posey in 1837 in Coosa Co. Al and was in the Hatchett Creek district of the census. At the time you mention after the civil war...he had about nine children, the oldest, William Sanders Willis was in the war, not sure about the other boys. I have tried to find exactly where his land was,but no luck yet.His father was in Shelby Co...in the Montevallo area...and we find him, in the Springcreek Cemetery, Shelby Co, I think there was a ferry across the Coosa River there...they might have lived in that part of Coosa, just across the river from each other.That Shelby land is under water now....does anyone know if the Hatchett Creek area reached that far up in Coosa Co? I have been to Rockford Al, and turning right out the new highway for a distance of about 7 miles puts you in the Hatchett Creek community, or at least I found Hatchett Creek Road.I traveled all out in the country, found no information as to where anyone had lived. The courthouse was closed so I had no map. Stella