Stumped

I really don't know what to talk about today. Should I even attempt to type on here if I can't come up with a topic?

Probably not.

It's pretty similar with a lot of the things we decide to tackle for whatever reason.

What's important? I've been asking myself that question lately. Is it important that I tie every loose end together when it comes to genealogy? A large part of me says it's very important.

I see so many who don't bother to tie anything together. It's like they see a surname and first name combo they want to  use and there it is, proof that their hypothesis is correct. Except the woman who supposedly gave birth to that person died 10-100 years prior to the birth. Oops. Let's not let a little thing like that FACT get in the way, right?

My problem relatives: The newly found brother is not where he is supposed to be if that's the same person in the 1860 census. Not only is he not where he's supposed to be, I can't find any of his four children that should have been in the 1860 census yet. I can follow them prior to 1860 and after 1860, but I want to know if that is them in 1860.

The known brother can't be found in the 1860 census either. Without finding him in 1860 I can't prove he was the same one who was married in 1858 in yet another state. Nor can I tie him to the 1870 and 1880 census where I THINK I've found him. Nor can I tie him to the death certificate that I've found for him. Why is 1860 so important? Because in the 1870 and 1880 census his birth year is correct, but his place of birth is wrong and not consistent on either one of them. The death certificate has date and place of birth as it should be.

If it's not the same brother then that means there's one more death and burial record that I can't find in Ohio. Which is a likely scenario. Sigh.

I'm stumped. Do I keep pursuing this line? Or do I let it simmer for a bit and work on another line?

I should probably work on another line. That would be the smart thing to do. After all, there are plenty of lines to work on.

For some reason, this line refuses to let go of me. I keep thinking/hoping/obsessing that if I do enough research something will show up. I'll have one of those AHA moments. Things will click into place.

So, off to browse the 1860 federal census in a few more counties. As I do this I'm also aware there is a possibility that my missing people for whatever reason just didn't get enumerated for that census. If the one brother happened to be taking the four missing children to visit their parents who aren't were they should have been, then I'll never find any of them for 1860. I'll never know for sure if the one brother is the one that appears to be misplaced for that year.

For each question that is answered, ten unanswered questions pop up. It never fails.

It would be lovely if a family Bible were to fall into my lap.