Hi Donna, Black Hawk County, IA Marriages - A on their genweb site lists a marriage of Edward Avery, Minnie Dodson 10-7-1912. Named in the list of Settlers Between 1855 and 1856 for Black Hawk county is Jesse Dodson. There are some Cotton burials listed on site as well though I don't know if any of those relate to your Lydia. Ancestry has Indiana Marriage Collection, 1800-1941 listing Lydia Cotton, Jesse Dodson 23 Jun 1852, Boone County. 1850 Indiana, Boone County, District No 7 enumerated 24 day of Sept 1850 H G? Hazelrigg? Ass't Marshal 1539 - 1536 Cyrus Cotton 55 M Farmer born Va Polly Cotton 53 f Va Lydia Cotton 19 Ind Noah Cotton 16 m Farmer Ind Martha Cotton 14 f Ind Allen? Cotton 12 m Ind John Leonard 2 m Ind Isaac? Hague? 18 m Laborer Ind 1860 Iowa, Benton, Taylor 897-807 Jesse Dodson 29 M Artist Ind Lydia Dodson 29 f Ind Mary E Dodson 8 f Ind Caroline Dodson 4 f Iowa Leah E Dodson 1 f Iowa 1870 Iowa, Black Hawk, Big Creek 82-93 Dodson Jesse 37 m w Barber? Ind Dodson Lydia 37 f w Keeping house Ind Dodson Mary E 17 f w Ind Dodson Caroline 13 f w At Home Iowa Dodson Minnie B 9 f w At Home Iowa Dodson Charles W? 13? could be 3? Iowa There appear to be a number of others in this same household, but none that appear to me to be related? I think you have this census. 1880 Iowa, Black Hawk, La Porte City 200-215 Dodson Jesse w m 49 md. Restaurant, Ind, parents Ken Dodson Lydia w f 49 Wife md Keeping House Ind, parents Vir Mug?m? Carrie w f 23 Daughter NOTE, there is something in the single col, but also in the md col, keeping house Iowa Lamb? Andrew? w m 23 Son in Law md Painter Ill Lamb? Minnie w f 18 Daughter md Iowa Dodson Charley w m 12 son single at School, Iowa NOT sure on the Lamb, is indexed as such. Odd to later find her as Dodson again though. Carrie, who I assume to be Caroline, I wasn't able to read that surname. Finding more on the kids might allow more to be found on Jesse and Lyndia. 1900, Iowa, Black Hawk, La Porte Dodson Jesse Head w m Apr 1832 68 M47 Indiana, father Kentucky, mother Virginia, Garden Laborer Dodson Lydia wife w f Feb 1831 69 M47 6 kids, 4 surviving, Indiana, parents Virginia Dodson Minnie B. Daughter w f Feb 1862 38 W 1 child, 1 surviving, Iowa, parents Indiana, Hair Dresser 1910 Iowa, Black Hawk, Big Creek twp Dodson Lydia Head? f w 79 W? could be M?, 6 kids, 4 surviving, Indiana, parents Virginia, none for occupation Dodson Minnie Daughter Head? f w 42 WD? 1 child, 1 surviving, Iowa,parents Indiana, none for occupation. Hope I have everything in those without error, at least as I saw them to read. I couldn't remember what it was you had and didn't have. Hope it helps even a touch. Barb