"Dianne Jones" <jonesn8@attbi.com> writes: > Trying to trace grandfather through the census. > > Known facts: b. 1862, Clinton Henry Co MO > 1870 Census - Dallas Co TX with parents/siblings > 1880 Census - not found, parents/siblings found in Hill Co TX. Older > sister not listed with parents/siblings at this time either > 1883 - marries, place unknown > 1900 Census - Johnson Co TX > 1910 Census - Hill Co TX > 1920 Census - Johnson Co TX > d. 1926, Ft Worth Tarrant Co TX > > What types of records should I search to find an eighteen year old > single male? I have done a page/page search of the 1880 census > records for Dallas Co, Hill Co, and Johnson Co TX. Dianne - You have no trace of him between 1870 and 1900? You probably figured out that randomly reading the census page by page is not the way to go until you have reason to believe he was at a certain place. I just spent the better part of the weekend trying to locate two families in the 1930 census. I knew exactly where they were, but still had trouble finding them. In a case like this, you need to research the other members of his family to see if he is mentioned in any of their records. What became of his parents and other siblings? You should track them all down and see if the missing brother & sister are mentioned in their obituaries or probate records. This is how I learned that my 2nd great grandfather from RI had a brother in Illinois. You say he was married in 1883. Where does this information come from? Have you traced his wife's family? Where was she from? Again, maybe you will find some mention of him in the probate records of the wife's parents. You could ask for a lookup in a city directory for Hill Co Texas if any exist for 1880 or so. There is a mail list at rootsweb for these lookups. I don't know any specifics about Texas research, but you might want to join some Texas lists to see if there are some historical events, or migration patterns which might give you a clue. Lisa llepore@juno.com