Sandi, I have made some corrections on the 1850 Census records below, to the birthplaces of the youngest children of Harrison, Sanford and Nathan REED, changing them from ME to IL. The census Enumerator wrote his Me(Maine) and Ill(Illinois), very similar. So, after careful census scrutiny, there were no children of the 3 REED brothers born in Maine. It would appear, based on the younger children's birth in Illinois, the families of Harrison, Sanford and Nathan REED (and James MERRILL), traveled from Montgomery Co., OH to Schuyler Co., IL between 1846 - 1847. As I said previously, on the 1860 Arkansas Census, John MERRILL, 88, is a widower living with his son A.B. Ammi Baston (Baston is AB's mother's maiden name/per rootsweb). Harrison REED named one of his sons AMI Reed. I would say the MERRILL and REED families are somehow possibly related, but I haven't figured out the absolute connection yet. Hannah BASTON MERRILL's mother's maiden name was WEARE, if this rings a bell(see rootsweb). Plus, I found a James REED, b 1802 NY, living in Rushville, Schuyler, IL onthe 1850 census, who may have a connection to your REED family. Perhaps he is a brother 10 years older to Nathan REED b NY, or maybe a cousin? I cannot find this James REED in earlier or later census records. And also, see below, for the family of Reuben REED, age 33, b KY, Race-BLACK, living in BEUNA VISTA, Schuyler Co., IL, as HOH, farmer. A black former slave of the KY REED family ? Although Reuben REED's family was in Buena Vista, IL in about 1841, so he did not travel with them from Montgomery Co, OH in 1846-47. I am adding the info for this family, just to have for your files. On the 1860 census, Reuben REED is still in Woodstock/Buena Vista, Schuyler Co., IL, but I cannot find any of his family on the 1870 census. It just seems interesting, the families of Sanford, Nathan, Harrison and James and Reuben REED are the only REED names in all of Schuyler Co., IL on the 1850 census. No other REED names are listed. And all five of these REED men have connections to their births in either NY, VA or KY. Hope this is helpful, Diana 1850 US Census, OREGON, Schuyler Co., IL REED, Harrison, age 34, Cooper, b VA REED, Eliza, age35, b VA REED, Presleyage 11, b, b OH REED, Marietta, age 7, b OH REED, Ami, (MALE) age 6, b OH REED, William, age 5, OH REED, Ann E., age 3, IL REED, Washington, age 1, b IL 1850 US Census, BROOKLYN, Schuyler Co., IL Sanford REED, age 28, Occ-Cooper, b KY Mary REED, age 27, b VA William W. REED, age 6(?), OH Elizabeth A. REED, age 5, OH Nathan REED, age 2, IL 1850 US Census, BROOKLYN, Schuyler Co., IL Nathan REED, age 38, Occ-Cooper, b NY Hannah REED, age 35, b ME Rufus REED, age 15, Occ-Cooper, B OH Harrison REED, age 13, b OH John F. REED, age1, IL 1850 US Census, BROOKLYN, Schuyler Co., IL MERRILL, JOhn, age 78, Occ-Shoemaker, b Maine MERRILL, Hannah, age 75, b Maine (Hannah's maiden name is BASTON) MERRILL, Rufus, age 37, Occ-Cooper, b Maine (wife)-MERRILL, Susan, age 35, b OH MERRILL, Rachael, age 9, OH James REED, below, age 48 lives in Scuyler Co. IL, is b in NY 1850 US Census, RUSHVILLE, Schuyler Co., IL REED, James, age 48, Occ-Shoemaker, b NY REED, Lucy, age 49, b OH REED, Mary J, age 9, b IL REED, Sarah, age 8, b OH REED, Susannah, age 6, b OH REED, John W, age 4, b OH REED, Sylvester, age 5/12, IL 1850 US Census, BUENA VISTA, Schuyler Co., IL REED, Reuben, age 33, b KY, Race-Black REED, Dorothy, age 26, b VA, Race-Black (Called "Dolly" 1860 Census, Schuyler Co. IL) REED, Charlotte, age 8, b IL, Race-Black REED, Jordan, age 7, b IL, Race-Black REED, Isabel, age 6, b IL, Race-Black REED, Eliza, age 4, b IL, Race-Black REED, Clara, age 3, b IL, Race-Black REED, Charles, age 1, b IL, Race-Black The family listed directly above Reuben REED is Samuel(53) and Charity LOCK(52), both b KY, with children ages10-15, b ME and a 91 year old Mary STEVENS, b NY living with them (possibly Charity's mother???), but her NY birthplace is interesting. And, above the LOCK's were Robert McCREERY, and Jacob DAVIS families, who also have connections to KY, OH and ME. I would suggest you look at all these records when you can.