Carl, First, he may not have changed his last name. Those differences may just reflect how whoever wrote it thought it was spelled. Or if you are using transcriptions of records it may just be how the transcriber read it. You may already realize that, but thought I would mention it just in case. The census takers usually did not ask people how to spell names. They usually wrote down what how they thought it was spelled. Courthouse clerks and ministers did the same. Many spelled phonetically or spelled it like a name they already knew. However, some people did intentionally change the spelling of their name or even unintentionally spelled it differently at different times because they were not well educated. I have examples of these among my own ancestors. And there are also many documented cases of people who were missed in every census. For example, I know of several Lawrence countians who were omitted in the 1850 Lawrence county census. So you may not find him because the census taker didn't find him. There are not as many records of this time period for Lawrence County as there are for later years. I did not find any mention of him in Judith Johnson Reustle's "A View from the Courthouse: Abstracts of Lawrence County, Mo., Circuit Court Documents, 1858-1869." But other unpublished court records might be worth checking. There are also land deed records for this time period, but he may not have been in Lawrence County long enough to buy land. The name does not appear in the published index to Goodspeed's 1888 History, but then many names do not appear there. I am in the process of trying to locate surviving records of Baptist churches in the county because many of my ancestors and relatives were Baptists. A photocopy of the records of Sycamore Baptist Church which was organized in 1856 are in the Ozarks Genealogical Society Library in Springfield, MO. I found some of my ancestors and relatives in them. You probably should check out that library and the Genealogy & Local History section at the Springfield - Greene County library while you are in the area. There are no known surviving copies of the newspapers published in Lawrence County in the late 1850s, but there are some for Springfield and other nearby towns which include mention of news and people from Lawrence County. There are published abstracts of these at the Springfield and/or OGS libraries. Incidentally, I have several ancestral lines, including Cameron, which came from Grainger County, Tenn. I, also, have the given name Deadrick in my family. My great grandmother Cameron's father was William Deadrick Lee, born 1822 in Hawkins Co., Tn, mar. 1841 in Grainger Co., and died 1889 in Grainger Co. That middle name has been carried down through my grandfather, an uncle, and a cousin. There was a Deaderick family in the area at the time, but I have not found any connection to it. Hope this helps. Ross Cameron >>> carl_coffman@hotmail.com 08/03 8:44 PM >>> Thanks guys, And Gayle, I didn't mead to mis-lead you, I meant hunt as in rabbit hunt. And Gaw2 I didn't mean to keep the name form you, I will gladly give it, but don't take it to the bank so to speak. He was born in Grainger, Tenn. in 1824 as Andrew David Coffman and had a twin, John H.B. They were #3 and 4 0f a family of 9-11. Their father, A Baptist preacher came to Polk Co. Missouri to start a Church/School along with all his children in abt. 1835. Preacher name was David Coffman,1787-1938 and was killed in polk in 1838. Mothers name was Susan Bunch Coffman., This Andy (Andrew)as he was called by family. married Elizabeth S. Sanders in Polk in 1849, Was in the 1950 census also in Polk. And this is were facts start to break down, except for the item listing in his mothers probate court records in Polk listing Andy in Lawrence Co. in Feb. 12/1859. I didn't give the list this data in my first message because i've chased this rabbit across Louisiana, and 4 counties in Texas with his 4 different marriages and ever time a new name. And didn't want the list to have any part of him because his history is subject to change. For first names he has used D.C., Dedrick, Andy, A. D. and Andrew D., and for last name he has used Coffman, Haufman, Kaufman, Kauffman, Koufman. I hope the list sees what I mean in not involving them in this mess. I really need a list of all search resource's in Lawrence Co. And any others ideas for the time period of 1850-1859. For us to get this far in finding out about him has taken 60 years and I'm the third researcher, to work on this line. I have searched "ever County in Missouri" on Census using his correct name and have came up dry. We have wrote up this story and it was printed in Harrison Co. Texas gegealogist Socy news letter. When The snows falls this winter and you don't have any thing to do, e-mail me and I'll print it to your e-mail, to read. Harrison said of it, a search de-lux. Most of it was handled like a police crime case, as everybody name we could find was searched, and it paid off, all except these missing 16 years and first marriage, and children or not. I feel the answer is in Lawrence Co. now, as I don't really have anymore leads to pursue. I just need to know where to look and I'll take all the Baptist church records I can find and to read for this time period. Warm Regards Carl Coffman and bye and watch for me in Lawrence Co. this month Yes, I would also be interested in knowing, since my paternal grandmother was a Hunt from Lawrence CO. (born at Round Grove in 1898) Gayle Cameron ________________________________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at http://www.hotmail.com