I am tracing my wife's family history, and have hit a wall of sorts. We were able to trace our BRAY family from Peach County, TX, in the 1940s back to Arkansas around 1860. My wife's g-grandfather was Columbus N. BRAY and is listed in the 1880 census with his wife and children living in Sharp County, AR, and, according to the actual census schedules, he is living next door to an older woman by the name of Avarilla (sp?) BRAY with some other children / hired hands but no husband. She is listed as a widower. In the 1870 Census, Columbus N. BRAY is listed as living in the one household with his mother (I assume) Avarilla. The additional information listed on the 1870 and 1880 censuses indicate that Columbus N. BRAY was born in Missouri (no place given) in 1858 or 1859. Since there aren't that many people with a first name of Columbus, it has been fairly easy to track him so far. But, in the 1860 census records, there is no listing. I can assume (maybe) that his family was living in MO somewhere, but where? I have a record from an online search of AR land records that there was a purchase of a tract by a one John BRAY in 1859 in Arkansas. I am wondering if other people have hit this sort of a wall. I have the following questions if anyone would like to ponder over them and provide a response: 1. How could I locate the birthplace of Columbus BRAY in Missouri, not knowing the city or county? 2. How can I find out Columbus' father's name? I assume that he fought and died in the Civil War, because he was around in 1858 or thereabouts and was not living in 1870. His alleged wife Avarilla was old (56) in 1870 and was not listed in the 1880 census, so I assume she had died and therefore there is no record on the Confederate Veteran Pension List for AR.