Serious Question, that I'm certain all of Us who attempt Genealogy research of Our Tennessee Ancestors, in Overton County, confront. How should YOU perform Genealogy Research of Overton County, Tennessee, Ancestors? The loss of significant records, with the Courthouse fire of 1865, no US Federal Census records until 1820, the loss of the 1890 US Federal Census, the mysterious disappearance of families in the 1850 US Federal Census, and the creation of Dale Hollow Lake (which swallowed up towns, churches, family lands, family cemeteries, etc.) I know for my own research, of the ARNEY family, though their family cemeteries were "moved", virtually all were useless, genealogy wise, because they were marked simply with metal crosses painted white, which as you know, doesn't tell who was actually buried in those graves.  Unfortunately, no family records exist that may have revealed answers (since illiteracy was prevalent). So, how should YOU research these Ancestors? I have no idea, how any Genealogy researchers, could piece together, any families. My Tennessee ARNEY family Patriarch was Peter ARNEY (1772-1845). (Hmmm, he died just before the mysterious 1850 US Federal Census, where almost all my ARNEY Ancestors disappear.  Except Hardy Arny, in Overton County, Tennessee, and Adam ARNEY, in Cumberland County, Kentucky.)  Mysteriously, the ARNEY families "reappear", in the 1860 US Federal Census, of Overton County, Tennessee. So, with birth records, marriage records, death records, family cemetery records, possible tax lists, and more, LOST, how do we find answers? I have to admit, much of my "Family Tree" construction of my ARNEY Tennessee Ancestors, is based solely on old research.  Research probably done around the 1950's or 1960's.  How these people "pieced together" our family, I have no idea. I have no idea how they "pieced together" who Peter Arney's children were.  After all, marriage records were lost, birth and death records were not required, and he died before the 1850 US Federal Census (as we know, was the first to identify individuals, in families), but then again most my of Arney Ancestors disappeared from the 1850 US Federal Census. What do I know about my Tennessee ARNEY Patriarch? He arrived in the Cumberland area, between Kentucky & Tennessee, around 1799. 1. His name appears on the 1801 Petition to halt the annexation of Smith & Wilson Counties, in Tennessee, to create a new County (he was in Smith County), which evidently failed. 2. His name appears on the 1802 & 1803 Tax List of Jackson County, Tennessee. 3. He purchases 300 acres of land, in Overton County, from John Sevier, in 1814. 4. His name appears on the 1820-1840 US Federal Census, Overton County, TN. 5. His death date is found (16 August 1845), in Court records, due to contesting of his Estate, since he left no Will.  He actually gave his property to three mentioned sons, Henry, Hiram, & Matthew, prior to his death. [Note: Henry & Hiram disappear, from the US Federal Census completely, after the Court battle, i.e. prior to the 1850 US Federal Census.] With this information, how did those early Arney family researchers piece together, Peter Arney's family?   Stan Arney www.simplyfollowme.com