I need help with a brick wall and would appreciate anyone looking over what I've done and see if I'm missing anything. I've been searching for one of my husband's ancestors, Ira Isaac Johnson, born in Alton on 28 Sept 1860. The family story (couple of generations removed) was he might have raised by a relative, possibly a grandmother, and that his original birth name might have been E. Reed. We couldn't make any connection for him to any family for a long time. A few years ago I broke the brick wall and found him in the 1880 census with Matilda Johnson. Unfortunately they were both in another household so that there was no relationship listed. She would have been in her mid- 40's so she could be his mother or grandmother. I was able to trace Matilda and Ira back to the 1870, where they were with other children. Matching names and/or ages sexes, I was able to trace them back to the 1840 census, finding Matilda's husband and then eventually marriage to John Johnson. Since Ira was shortly born after the 1860 census, I can use that to see that all children in the 1850 census were still living with the family. Neither daughter, Ellen (17) and Lucy (16) were married by June when the census was taken. William, the oldest son, (20) was still at home. Those three are the possibilities from this family if Ira was being raised by a grandmother. One of the girls appears to still be at home in the 1865 state census, but it didn't list names. Beyond that, they both disappear completely. I've looked through the marriage records, cemetery records, and searched through census records by first names trying to match possibilities...all without any luck. William fought in the Civil War and I got his pension record filed by his mother, which states that he did not have a wife or children at the time of his death. (Of course, if Ira was his illegitimate son perhaps the family wouldn't acknowlege it.) I have traced the two other brothers in the family, but can't find anything that helps to establish if Ira was a son or grandson in the family. The family is: John Wesley JOHNSN, b. abt 1816 in Virginia. Died "early part of late war" (according to mother's pension record for son Williams) and before the 1865 based on state census records. Married in Albermarle, Virginia on 22 Sept 1836 to: Matilda Jane CRADDOCK, b. abt 1815 in Virginia. Lived in Alton/Upper Alton most of adult life, but was in Mt. Olive, Macoupin, Illinois in 1880. Died. 9 June 1902 in Alton. Buried in Upper Alton. Children: William Craddock Johnson, b. abt 1838 in Illinois. D: 22 June 1872 in Memphis Tennessee. Ellen Johnson, b. abt 1841. no definite record found after 1860 census. Lucy Johnson, b. abt 1843. no definite record found after the 1860 census Ruben Johnson. b. abt 1845. Marries Mattie Hoffman. Traced through the 1880 census. Three children: M. C. Johnson, Nellie Johnson, U. B. Johnson. John Wesley Johnson, b. 29 Feb. 1858 in Alton. Married Louise Ehrler on 5 Nov 1879. (Four children: E. L Johnson, Benjamin Johnson, Bessie Johnson, Louisa Johnson.) John died 27 Aug. 1926 and is buried with his wife and mother in the Upper Alton (Oakwood) Cemetery. ??Ira Isaac Johnson (Is he a son or grandson?) b. 28 Sept. 1860 in Alton. 1880 Census is in Mt. Olive, Macoupin, Illinois with Matilda Johnson. In California by marriage in 1888. Lived in California, New Mexico and Arizona. No records there list his parents. I'm hoping there are bastardy bonds I can check. Can anyone see anything I'm missing that would help me determine who Ira's parents were? I'd appreciate any ideas. Thank you, Gaye Willis