This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: rkent Surnames: Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/surnames.shelton/3335.1/mb.ashx Message Board Post: I don't know whether this will help you and you may already have the information. I looked for a young Nathaniel and like you, did not find anything concrete. This census may give you some other hints. 1870 United States Federal Census > Illinois > Hancock > Township 4 Range 9 Shelton, Nathan, 27, Illinois Sarah Ann, 22, Indiana Cora, 6/12, (Nov.) Illinois Note that the location of birth for Nathaniel here says Illinois, but in 1880 it shows Indiana. Sarah's birth place says Indiana, but in following years, it is Iowa. This makes me wonder if the Sarah in 1870 died. Espcially because Sarah in 1880 is shown as 24 and Cora as ll -- so the 1880 Sarah is probably not Cora's mother. 1880 United States Federal Census > Missouri > Scotland > Union > District 87 Shelton, Nathaniel, 35, farmer, Ind, Ky, Ger Sarah, 24, Iowa, VA VA Cora, 11, Ill, Ind, Iowa Thomas, 6, Mo Ind, Iowa Viola, 2 Mo, Ind, Iowa Brown, Kate, 18, boarder, domestic servant, Mo Mo Mo 1900 United States Federal Census > Missouri > Scotland > Union > District 149 Shelton, Nathan, 1843, 57, Indiana, Kentucky, Pennsylvania Sarah, Dec 1855, 44, children 9/7, Iowa, Unknown, Unknown Hettie S., Jan 1882, 18, Mo, Ind, Iowa Molly, Nov 1883, 16, Mo Ind, Iowa Ira, Feb 1888, 12, Mo Ind Iowa Samuel, Dec 1889, 10, Mo Ind Iowa Lloyd L., Oct 1891, 8, Mo Ind Iowa Bennie, May 1895, 5, Mo Ind Iowa Ruth L., Aug 1899, ?/12, Mo Ind Iowa Next family Antemis (sp?) Dean, female, 81, Va., Mass, New York Barrie L., daughter, 32, Mo, VA VA 1910 United States Federal Census > Missouri > Scotland > Mt Pleasant > District 154 Shelton, Nathaniel S., 68, m3, age 30, Indiana, Kentucky, Pennsylvania Sarah F., 55, m2, age 30, children: 10/7, Iowa, VA VA Samuel, 19, Mo Ind Iowa John B., 14, Mo Ind, Iowa Ruth Lu, 10, Mo, Ind, Iowa My own interpretation of the census makes me think Nathaniel was married once (or twice) before he came to Scotland, Mo when he married Sarah Dean. The 1910 census looks like Nathaniel was married 3 times and Sarah 2 times. You probably will want to look at that census to see if you come to the same conclusion. Good luck. Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board.