In a message dated 3/16/05 10:12:31 AM, elaine.is@juno.com writes: > Another idea is to check sign-ups in <<Leavenworth, Kansas>>.  My BENTLEY > went from Decatur Co down there to sign up for the Cavalry and came back > to Decatur after he was discharged.  I suppose others could have gone > over down to Leavenworth to sign up for many other reasons.  On today's > map it's about 130 miles travel. > An excellent idea. I had an Ellis ancestor from Maquoketa, Jackson Co., IA who went all the way to Fort Leavenworth, KS to muster-in with Co. H of the 5th US Infantry Regiment for Frontier Service in 1866, so perhaps that was a major induction center in those days. Rick