>From what one of my great aunts put together many years ago, what we had on this family was: Elijah Downing's name and birthplace. His fathers name as Robert Downing, and that there was a family story that he died hunting bear, but in Kentucky and not Iowa. His mothers name was believed to be Isabel (now we know it to be Ursula), and that he had brothers Alec and Bob, at leas tone of whom was supposed to have lived in Dallas Co. MO at one time. Elijah called Hugh Chambers his stepfather, was sent to live with Hugh's brother Jerry, but ran away about age 14. We then have a story in our family that he married someone named Melvina Pine in southwestern MO, they had a son named Charley, and then Melvina died. Elijah is supposed to have gone to see his brothers at that time, and left the baby with his inlaws, and when he came back they were gone and he never saw that son again. After that, he ended up marrying Josephine Chambers, the niece of Hugh and Jeremiah (Jerry), and daughter of Aaron Chambers. Elijah and Josephine's daughter Emma was my great grandmother. It has been a while since I saw that 1856 census. I have also met a descendant of Hugh Chambers, and the wife he was married to in 1860. We did a lot of research on the Chambers family, from around 1800 through 1930. ____________________________________________________________ Woman is 53 But Looks 25 Mom reveals 1 simple wrinkle trick that has angered doctors... http://thirdpartyoffers.juno.com/TGL3131/50b4e30a880e0630a7bbast01vuc