In a message dated 98-06-15 10:41:56 EDT, you write: > Joan has also suggested that I try to get the Civil War record of Lewis > Kiger from the NARA and his pension records from the N.C. State Archives, > which I will do. What else? My guess is that I must check the 1870 Census > to see if great-grandfather Nathaniel, age 9, is living with Lewis, Jr.; > and I should look at the 1850 to see if Lewis, Jr., is living with Lewis, > Sr., and the 1840 and maybe 1830 to see if Lewis, Sr., is living with a > woman other than Paulina. Right? Mike, did you say you are NEW to genealogy? With reasoning powers like yours you don't need much help--you are doing GREAT! I agree with all your conclusions. Actually you are too kind to me--I had suggested you try for pension information from NARA--ooops! I forgot he served with the Confederacy!! Of course you would go to the state archives for that. But the military records would still be held at NARA and you would note that he served with the Confederate Army in the Civil War or as Bob Kiger (of North Carolina) called the war in his files "The War of Northern Aggression." Guess we STILL have brothers fighting brothers and cousins fighting cousins. OK--now for the 1850 census: we only have ONE Lewis Kiger listed in NC on the Index--Lewis Kiger-Forsyth County, Amanda Township, page 297. If you need the list of the rest of the 1850 Kigers in NC just let me know. Now the problem comes with 1870--there is NO Lewis Kiger in NC at all. Paulina (if it is the same one--which it could well be) is listed in Bethania in 1870 on page 309. Levi is there in Bethania also on page 310. There is a John A. on page 314--also Bethania. There is no listing for a Mary Kiger in NC. I also tried Texas since I know that is where the family ended up--nothing--no luck. But surprisingly there are a few Kigers in Texas by 1870. We have: Robt. H. Kiger, Burleson Co., Brazos Bottom P.O., page 213; George W. Kiger, Cherokee Co., Alto, page 186; John C. Kiger in Hunt County, White Rock Prect. on page 341; Enoch Kiger also same county and Prect. as John C. on page 344. In addition there is a Mary Gerger in Fort Bend Co., Richmond P.O. on page 580. Your next problem is that the 1840 and 1830 census records are NOT going to tell you the name of the person Lewis is married to at that time--BUT it will give you a rough idea of her age and the ages and sex of any children at home in those years. In 1830 there is NO Lewis on the census in NC--but Simon is on there in Stokes Co. on page 229--perhaps he will have a son of Lewis' age still living at home--perhaps even with his wife and children? Then in 1840 we still have NO Lewis listed but we do have John Kiger in Stokes in Bethania District on page 142--is this Lewis' brother? Then on page148 we have Simon P. Kiger in Bethania District. Sorry I didn't find anything more helpful. Maybe tax lists and deeds would help. You also need to get a look at NC wills. Joan