Hello, One invaluable resource for all Texans is a copy of the Texas Almanac, which is published by the Dallas Morning News and available just about everywhere. According to my copy of the Almanac, Callahan County was "created" in 1858 from Bexar, Bosque and Travis Counties and "organized" in 1877. (I've never been clear as to the meaning of created and organized in regard to Texas counties- perhaps the first is formed on paper and the second refers to formation of a county government. Just speculating on that, however. Therefore, you should look in these counties if you are searching for folks who, prior to 1877, were living in what was to become Callahan County. A good library should have a copy of Everton's Handybook for Genealogists. I think that the Handybook goes into greater in regard to the breakdown of counties. In the interest of thoroughness, I would check all three counties listed above, however. Once, quite by accident, I found one of my gr granddads in Parker County on the 1880 census. I have no idea what he was doing there, and had never known that he lived there. The lesson I learned was to check the surrounding counties! He was "supposed" to be in Palo Pinto County, but apparently he didn't know that at the time :-) The Texas Almanac website: http://www.texasalmanac.com/ Everton's website: www.everton.com By the way, other items in my bag of tricks include: 1. A highway map from the Texas Dept of Transportation (formerly the Highway Department) and available, free for the asking, from any TxDOT office or from their website: www.traveltex.com Click on "free stuff" then on the Texas State Travel Guide to get a free guide, while you're at it, as well as a free highway map. I keep my highway map on top of my computer monitor so it's always handy (I make sure it's not blocking the ventilating holes in the housing, however). 2. A copy of The Roads of Texas, which is a highly detailed map book that even shows cemeteries. This book is invaluable. Their website: http://www.shearerpub.com/ Other info, copied from their website: Shearer Publishing 406 Post Oak Road Fredericksburg, Texas 78624 Toll Free Number 1-800-458-3808 E-Mail: shearer@shearerpub.com Many bookstore also carry this work. 3. A US and Canada road atlas. I got a Rand McNally road atlas for 4 bucks at Wally World, oops, Wal-Mart. 4. The Handbook of Texas. The website for their online version: http://www.tsha.utexas.edu/handbook/online/ The handbook is actually a set of volumes, much like encyclopedias (12 vols, I think) and is available for purchase for $395 (this price is discounted for members of the Texas State Historical Association). This price is too much for me, so I consult the online version. (Actually the price isn't bad for what you get- printing is terribly expensive.) Check your local library- it might have the Handbook. If not, ask the librarian about getting a set, because every library in Texas should have this reference work, in my opinion. Hope this helps. Happy hunting! Brit Ferguson Stephenville, Texas -----Original Message----- From: Jo Ann Robinson <wordepot@erols.com> To: TXCALLAH-L@rootsweb.com <TXCALLAH-L@rootsweb.com> Date: Friday, November 19, 1999 5:19 PM Subject: Missing Census info >Was Callahan County ennumerated under another county name in 1860 and >1870? I know that it was formed in 1858 but not really organized until >the mid-1870s. So was it ennumerated under another county name or just >ignored until 1880 by the census takers? > > - Jo Ann Kendrick Robinson >