The last I had found my Hughes family was in a Sangamon County census for 1870, then I couldn't find them again. >From a search on the IRAD, I found a "letter of guardianship" for John Hughes in Sangamon county so I sent for it. I received it today and it is the same family! What this tells me is apparently John A. Hughes died on or before Sept 21, 1875, and his 15 or 16-year old son John petitioned for guardianship for the minor children (his brother Charles Henry and Edward Hale.) Joseph D. Roper was appointed. What puzzles me is: What this a common thing in those days because the mother, Isabella was still alive and signed the papers? What was his role in this guardianship? Since I haven't been able to find either Isabella or John Hughes in a later census, would they have listed Joseph Roper as "head of household?" Does anyone know if there is a place where I can find a death certificate for that time frame or was it probably gone in the fire? Or where else I could find death information in Sangamon county? Thanks for all the great help this list has given! Marilyn Hughes Oregon