What a terrific idea! My brick walls are two brothers: Charles Hamilton PATTERSON (my gr gr grandfather) - b. in 1815 in Cortland Co, NY AND his brother, Walter J. PATTERSON b. 1810 in Cortland Co, NY. Charles married Alethsea (Alethia) BARKER in 1847 in NY, probably Cortland or Tompkins CO. They had one daughter, Marietta, b. 14 Jul 1848 in NY. This family is in the 1850 Ithaca, Tompkins Co, NY Fed Census. In 1856 the family moved to Jackson Co, IA, where Alethsea died a year later. Charles married Lorinda PATE, my gr gr grandmother. Walter married Sophia FLANDERS in NY (I believe) She was born in Cattaraugus Co, NY in 1816. Walter and Sophia are found in Perry Twp, Stark Co, OH in the 1840 census. They are back in NY for the 1850 Dryden, Tompkins Co, NY Fed Census along with 4 children: Alzina, Zera, Ellen, Lydia and Walter, Jr. They, too, leave for Jackson Co, IA in 1856. I believe their father to be James PATTERSON, and perhaps the James PATTERSON listed in the 1850 Dryden, Tompkins Co, NY Fed Census. He is living with the Pardon Tabor family and is a currier. A James PATTERSON also received Bounty Land in Homer, NY. Thanks for any replies. Carol