Do any of you know this family? I think they are very interesting.  They certainly moved around a lot.  I was thinking that if you are searching for them you might have a hard time finding them on the census.  I did.  So, I thought I would pass this info along to you. While transcribing the 1860 census for TX last night, I had another family whose members had only initials for the names.  The family interested me because they were born in many different state, NY, OH, MS, Indiana, TX.  That did help when I did a search for them on other census.  I looked at the AFAOA index and found the Norman R. Austin of NY son of Aaron Austin and Mary Kellog of Onandaga, NY. The 1860 census ref for Fannin, TX made by JanetCurtis was a match. However I saw some differences and I thought you might want to make note of it, in case you were looking for Norman in Michigan and not in Mississippi.  I do not think he would have died in Michigan, but the family did move around frequently. Here is some info that I found: 1850 census, Rankin Co. MS, page 226, Dw 294, fam 254. N. Austin. Has wife Eliza, born in Ohio, ch: Frederick, Franklin, Martin, all born in MS 1860 census Bell co, TX, Belton, p 296, 1 Jun; Dw 6, Fam 5;  N. Austin 48, m, merchant, $5,500., pp $21,000. NY owns 6 slaves. wife E.A. OH; F. H. 15 MS; F. K.13 MS; M. L. 11 MS; G. N. 9 IN; C. H. 7 TX; H.A. 5 TX; W. T. 9/12 TX.  All sons.  You might find some info on USGENWEB for Bell Co, TX about the Dry Goods Store or other store belonging to an Austin. If I had not looked at the AFAOA site with the full names, I probably would not have found Norman in 1870.  He moved to California to learn how to raise sheep!  Then he returned to Belton Co, TX by 1880.  The grown sons were all raising sheep except for one, who carried on the tradition of working as a clerk in a store. 1870 Census, Santa Barbara, CA, Twp 2, 24 Aug p 471; Dw 431, Fam 431. Norman Austin 58, m, w, sheepraiser; $3,500.00. pp $4,550.00. b NY. Eliza A. 47, f, w, keeping house, b OH. Fredrick H. 25, m, w, dry goods clerk, $600.00. $250.00. b MS; Frank K. 24, m, w, stockraiser, $250.00 pp, b MS; Luther 21, m, w, stockraiser, $275.00 pp, b MS; John, 19, m, w, at home, b IND.'  *(should this be Greg Norman?) Charles 16, m, w,at home,  b TX; Hugh 14, m, w, at home, b TX; Willie 11, m, w, at home, b TX 1880 census, Bell Co, TX, Belton, Dist. 1, p 255, 1 Jun, Dw 10, fam 10. N. Austin 68, Ann age 56; Chas. H. 25, sheep raiser; M. L. 31, sheep raiser; Fred H. merchant. Also Franklin K. in another dwelling Happy hunting, folks!