Dave: Thank you very much for your response. It was extremely informative and interesting. I've no doubt my Strong ancestors would fall into the category of poor Irish immigrants. I guess that makes the search that much more interesting--albeit difficult to impossible. I'm seriously considering a trip into Indiana and Illinois in the next several months to work on this issue, and maybe I'll find my way over to W. VA, PA area as well. I do wish they had been a little more literate...at least about geography. In the ten years between the 1850 and 1860 census, two of the people listed as having been born in Penn. changed to MD and VA...... or perhaps they WERE covering tracks! Thanks again for the information. Rene'