Well, I'm trying to get all my ducks in a row -- I'm headed to Salt Lake City for a whole WEEK on the 21st of this month! So naturally, I've been feverishly trying to whip my personal research (sadly neglected) into some sort of shape, in order to make best use of my time at the Family History Library. I think I now have enough films, fiches and book titles printed out to keep me busy for a month! I've posted this query a couple of places tonight: Mary Ellen ROBISON b. c1830 m. c1850 William Bunch McBEE b. c1825 TN, son Samuel b. 1852 MO I'm trying to locate Mary Ellen ROBISON who married William Bunch McBEE around 1850. She was probably born around 1830, and family stories say she was of Irish birth ?? If so, it's odd that she was in Harrison Co. MO! She and William had a son, Samuel Bunch (or Samuel E.) McBEE born in 1852 in Missouri, according to the 1900 Census. One story has both William and Mary Ellen dying young, and Samuel being raised by Jim WOODWARD in Harrison Co. MO. The other story has him remarrying after Mary Ellen's death, and the 1880 Census for Clay twp, Harrison Co. MO shows Samuel aged 29 married to his wife Nancy, and down the road, William, aged 55, born in TN, and his wife Mannilia, age 47, also born in TN. The census leads me to believe that Mary Ellen Robison was also born in Tennessee, and was in Missouri by 1852, and died by 1880. Hopefully, some Robison researchers will know if this person ever existed! I decided to look at the 1870 Census images online, and see what I could see. First I looked in Harrison Co. MO, where supposedly (according to the AIS Index) no McBees resided. They just didn't look hard enough! 1870 MO Census, Harrison Co. Clay Twp, page 52 (Image 103 Ancestry) Line 18 Dwelling #153, Family #155: Stephen McBee 36, M W Farmer 250 425 Tenn. Can't read or write, male citizen Permelia " 30 F W Keeping House Ky Marsha J. 10 F W Mo George H. 8 M W Mo Mary E. 2 F W Iowa Harriet? D. 10mos F W Mo born Aug None attended school within the year (there are 2 Dwelling #153 - Family # 156 - Farm laborer Thomas Whillio?, his wife Nancy and son Seth, age 4) Line 27, Dwelling #154, Family #157 Williston McBee 44 M W Farmer 2500 118 Tenn. Can't read or write, male citizen Mahulda 35 F W Keeping house Tenn. Francis M. 8 M M Mo Elijah M. 5 M M Mo Sarah A. 3 F M Mo None attended school within the year. Hmmmmm. Harrison Co. MO - but these don't look like MY McBees. Anybody else claim them? According to the AIS, there are 2 Samuels in MO 1870: One in Schuyler, not too far away: Schuyler Co., Salt River Twp, page 390 (Image 220 Ancestry) Line 14, Dwelling #170, Family #120 Samuel McBee 39 M W Farmer 5400 900 Tennessee male citizen Louisa " 35 F W Keeping House 1000 Tennessee Sarah E. " 27 F W Tennessee James V. " 25 M W Farmer 325 Tennessee male citizen Prior " 21 M W Tennessee male citizen Riley " 18 M W S Tennessee school this year Esther " 17 M W Tennessee school this year, can't write Samuel " 16 M W S Tennessee school this year Anne " 14 F W " Missouri school this year, can't write Marg. J ?" 13 F W " Missouri school this year, can't write Nancy Lay 15 F W " Missouri school this year, can't write Louis G. Lay 13 M W " Missouri school this year, can't write Well, there's the Samuel who married Louisa Lay. Not mine, I think. <sigh> The final Sam: Jasper Co., Centre Creek Twp. Page 6 (Image 11 Ancestry) Line 30, Dwelling #79, Family #84 A. J. McBee 34 M W Blacksmith - 400 Tenn. male citizen Sarah E. " 18 F W Keeping House Tenn. Laura G. " 1 F W Mo. William T. " 6 mos. M W Mo. Born Dec. Dwelling #80, Family # 85 Samuel McBee 39 M W Farmer 1500 - Tenn. male citizen Nancy J. " 38 F W Keeping House Tenn. Can't read or write James H. " 17 M W Farm Hand Tenn. George W. " 14 M W Mo. This looks more like him, as he is married to Nancy J, but both of them are so danged OLD! They should both be around 20, but instead are almost 20 years older! And who are A.J. and Sarah, living next door? The more I dig, the deeper the hole/mystery. Valorie