Hello, everyone, A few days ago I asked for help re: the 1900 census I'm transcribing. Several Davenport 2d Ward, people were listed as living on the "Mississippi River Front", and their house numbers listed as "Boat House". After a little digging, I found some good websites and had some informative discussions with folks who are quite knowledgeable of river folk-life. For anyone researching in counties bordering any of the navigable rivers of the east and Midwest, if an ancestor "goes missing", it is possible he found himself, and maybe the whole family, living on a shantyboat, floating up or down the river as the seasons and employment permitted. Many of these folks were poverty-stricken itinerants, who could not afford to rent or own property. Some were skilled laborers who liked life on the river and took their families from town to town to find employment. Not a few were criminal types, but surprisingly, quite a few were educated, adventuresome men, who simply wanted to experience the sights and sounds offered up by the river's course. Apparently, numberless folks lived this way, and record-keeping being what it was, many will never be found. If anyone would like to read more, http://www.rtpnet.org/robroy/books/nhb/SB.HTM#toc, has a great online book, "Four Months in a Sneak-Box" written in 1879 by Nathaniel H. Bishop. It is loaded with information on shantyboats and the people who lived on them. Another good site to peruse is http://www.greatriver.com/links.htm. ~~~~~~*~~~~~~ Elaine Rathmann ACC Scott Co, IA USGenWeb Project List Adm: *IA-CIVIL-WAR *IA-DANES