I have a Moss family, James & Margaret (maiden name unknown) who were living in Barry County, MO, in 1870 and 1880. It was their daughter, Emma, aged 1 year old in 1870, that I first began looking for. In 1870, she is listed along with a brother James, age 3. I now know when and where Emma was married, and when and where she and her husband died and are buried. It's her parents, especially her mother (who likely was Cherokee) that I'm now trying to track. In 1880, the family is still there, in Barry County, and a few more children have been added, but I also found out that brother is named James Troy, and is a half brother, meaning that the mother Margaret, was married before. (I already know that father James, was married twice before and I have a record of his earlier wives.) My problem is that now I not only have to find Margaret's maiden name.....probably before I can find that, I have to find her first married name. Added to the complication is that she likely was married in Illinois both to the first husband and secondly to James Moss, although from the census records, she was born in Missouri. I've already checked marriage records on the Illinois database and have come up empty. Anyone have any ideas on where I go from here? Myrna