My grandfather, Richard WALKER and his family moved from Mecklenberg Co, NC (near what is now Charlotte, NC) to Madison Co, MO in 1819 (where they stayed for 4 years). They moved to Jefferson Co, Alabama in 1823 from Missouri. We believe they moved to Madison County to be involved with mining iron ore. Is this possible? I'd like to find proof that they actually lived there. Any suggestions? Could someone please share history of the area at that time? Did many people migrate to Missouri from states to the east during the 1810-1820 time period? Thank you! Grace

Its tough to prove MO residence around 1820. That census has been lost. There are some records of land grants http://www.glorecords.blm.gov/asp/queryMO.asp, but mostly later. That's about the time Missouri became a state, and there was a lot of traffic from the east, including the Carolinas to western KY and then MO from about 1803 or '04 on. It only became the Louisiana territory in 1803, before that immigration was somewhat restricted. There were lead mines in Madison CO a long time before 1803. Not so much iron mining except in the western corner, now Iron County. Lead and associated minerals have been mined for most of recorded history. I had relations in Madison Co MO beginning in 1803 (Whitener) and again about 1834 (Davis Johnson)... I still have relations there. Gerald J.