Hi Rich, My interest in Van Buren County stems from my Grandfather and Great grandfather. Grandfather James Arthur Gardner b. 1881 and all of his siblings were born in Vanburen county, Iowa. His Father was listed in the 1880 Iowa census as RJ, Mother as Sarah. Another census (Missouri 1900) lists him as Robert. An older family member told me that her records show him as Thomas, although she would not send me copies of those records. I am assuming his name is Robert Thomas and the 1880 census just got the initial wrong. Mother in law, Mary Campbell, was living with them in Iowa in 1880, so again I am assuming Robert's wife was Sarah Campbell Gardner. I believe the Gardners are the only one of my families that came from Iowa. Other surnames on my side of family are: Cardwell, Moore, Brown, Gibson, & Burlingame. I have been working on this family for several years and have no luck at all on getting any further back than Robert. Robert was born 1846 in Iowa, but have not found a Robert with a family in any of the earlier census'. If I can find a connection out there somewhere, I have lots of information on the generations down from these men. I live in Missouri not to far from where my ancestors settled when they left Iowa. Thank you for your inquiry. I hope some one can give me some help. Pat ________________________________________________________________ GET INTERNET ACCESS FROM JUNO! Juno offers FREE or PREMIUM Internet access for less! Join Juno today! For your FREE software, visit: http://dl.www.juno.com/get/tagj.