Angel - Soundexes may be the item of worth in the search for your elusive Jesse HATHAWAY. Since he was born 1884, and the 1890 census does not exist for the most part, I think concentrating on finding him with Soundex microfilms for 1900 is a good bet. You can search a whole state at once, I would start with Minnesota. I think the 1900 census gave a bit more information that other years, it might be very helpful to search the surrounding states also, should he prove not to be in Minnesota. You say you have searched the 1900 census - was this the Brainerd census ? Or was this the Soundex for Minnesota ? He might have been in another city nearby, but not included in the Brainerd enumeration. He might have been at a relatives home for a bit, or employed elsewhere. At 16, this is possible, especially as he was a male. Looks like the only male of the family ? Perhaps there was an uncle he stayed with - unknown to you. If and when you find him, it will be of note to see who he was living with, and see if there might be a relation, even if it just says 'Border' for his relationship. I take it there is a Family History Center nearby - you ordered these films from there ? I am searching for a GREENWOOD, born 1882, but we know where the family was, we just don't know where HE ended up. He was the father of my husband's dad, there in Brainerd, 1923, but he disappeared after the birth, and only surfaced once or twice again. I have to wonder if he fathered other children. So, I am searching for his death site and hopefully an obituary. So, I am searching for Death records, you for Birth records. Something I have advised people to do when they request Obituaries from the cities I am registered with here in Oklahoma, is for them to CALL the individual cemteries in the target city, and ask for all the listings for the surname you seek. You never know what will come of it, and the folks at these businesses, are usually the most cordial, helpful people you could imagine. They are just short-handed there at the business office, and if a service is in session, or some crisis, you will have to call back. Brainerd is large enough to have several, but one or two calls will let you know which are the oldest, and likely to be burial sites for your HATHAWAY or possibly WADSWORTH surnames. Sounds like an overwhelming task, but I think it worthy of a call or two at least. That is how I located my GREENWOODs in Bernice, Nebraska last year, found nearly all the family but my target. When the 1930 census comes out, I will be ready to order Soundexes for about 10 states surrounding Minnesota if I haven't lucked into him by that time. I think Illinois, California and Texas have BMD records online. Might as well search them. Did you get lucky with the Social Security Death Index ? Sounds like perhaps not. I actually found about 3 relatives, distant, but related, at <www.findagrave.com>. Will never forget my astonishment ! Do you know where he was married ? There is surely a microfilm for births, marriages or deaths for Crow Wing county, in the early years. Try searching at <www.familysearch.org> placename search for Crow Wing, Minnesota records. Maybe even Brainerd ? Another project I would attempt is ordering the Soundex for Minnesota for 1920 for WADSWORTH. Possibly even HATHAWAY. That was the last place you knew Maude WADSWORTH existed, and you never know who might show up in the household ! Maybe an unmarried sister,living with Maude, with an age, and birthplace of her father, and mother. Enough to chew on - LMKnow how it is going - Meg GREENWOOD / Oklahoma, USA