Wanda wrote: > I am looking for William Smith born 1845 Union Township Shelby County > Indiana. I would appreciate any help you can give me. Thanks Wanda Well -- After asking some questions, I continued researching -- having a slow day here -- and in the 1850 IN census, I did find a Wm. Smith b. 1845 in Shelby County. His father was James M. SMITH, a "R. Baptist Preacher" age 30, b. in Kentucky. His wife is Elizabeth J., age 27 b. Indiana. They have two children, WILLIAM E. SMITH, age 5, b. IN, and Joseph C., age 2, also b. IN. They are living in Union Township. So this does seem to fit your parameters -- or does it? I could NOT find this family in 1860. Not anywhere. But since James M. Smith was a preacher perhaps he was transferred to another church in another state. Let me know if this seems to be the right direction. I also found found two William Smiths about the right age, in IN the 1860 census. One was 15-year old William T. Smith, born Shelby County Indiana. His parents were ADAM SMITH (b. Clermont Co., O) and Elizabeth who was b. in Kentucky. There were 7 children in this family. (William, Susan, Mary, Stephen, Amos, Eliza, and Fletcher.) William was the oldest. This family was living in Sugar Creek Tnp. in 1860. I looked for the Adam Smith family in 1850 and found them in Sugar Creek Tnp., Shelby County. William is 6 years old at that time. His name is almost illegible on the census, written as "Wm. F" and if one didn't know it was William and that the middle initial was "T" in 1860, it would look like, perhaps, Tom F. His younger sisters at that time were "Susan, Frances, and Margaret." Either some names were changed, or the family lost two children. Then there is the family of J. JONES SMITH Smith, age 43, a Presbyterian minister, and his wife Rebecca. Both were born in IRELAND. They also have seven children ages 4 to 18, including a 16-year old boy named William R. Smith. William was born in Virginia, as were all 4 older children. The three youngest were b. in North Carolina. So if your family history includes Ireland, and a Presbyterian minister, then perhaps he is yours. So with this family, there are now two Smith ministers in IN with sons names William who are about the same age. Let me know if I'm on the right track here. Hope this helps. Jeanne Surber