This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/Qk.2ADI/2030.1.1.1.2.1 Message Board Post: The best place would be right in the courthouse in Clinton county. The next best thing would be the Iowa State Historical Society in Des Moines. They have tons of records. The next best thing, especially if you can't get to Iowa is the nearest Family History center. From there, ,they will help you find what you need to look at, which would be land records, church records, etc. Of course, they won't have the records themselves right there, but they will most likely have some sort of index to the recors that have been microfilmed and stored in Salt Lake City, Utah. You'd be able to order what you think you need. I think the cost is about $2.75 per microfilm. It'll take at least a week to get the film. Sometimes longer, depending on how many copies they have and if someone else has ordered it and using it. They should have more than one copy. You might not find what you need on one microfilm. You may have to eventually order others, but their index is good. I would start there if you are unable to get to Des Moines at least. Be sure to check wills and or probate records. Any record you could think of that might give some sort of clue. There could have been a copy of a will from another state leaving him or another family member something, which might give a clue. I'm looking at the 1850 census now. I'm assuming the family your're talking about is Sarah A., John R., Henry, Nancy, and a James Scott enumerated with them? Who is James Scott, do you know? Maybe you should email me direct. Might be better than a hundred posts on here. [email protected]