Joseph is my brick wall. I know that he was born about 1800 but I don't know where or who his parents were. In the 1820 census he is living with his 20 year old wife in Gallatin County, IL. He died some time before the 1850 census. He was married twice. Not sure of the name of the first wife. Second wife was a widow named Elizabeth Mick Owen who was born in Sumner, TN and had lots of kids by her first husband. She had three children with Joseph, including my ggg grandfather, Edward F. Barnett born about 1834 and killed at the Battle of Ft. Donelson in Feb 1862. In the IL 1820 census, Joseph lives next door to an older man - David Barnett (also known as Luke)- and his known sons are also in the area. Family members of David say that Joseph was not a son according to family records. I do know that Joseph had a son named Elisha with his first wife. In the 1790 Rockingham NC census, there is a Luke Barnett and an Elisha Barnett listed as living near each other. David testified in an 1824 court case that he lived previously in Rockingham, NC. Also, he had sons born in NC, TN and KY before getting to IL. I am wondering if Joseph may be the son of Elisha who died and Joseph went west with David and his family? Then he named his son Elisha? I cannot find Elisha, David or Luke Barnett in KY or TN. There is an Elisha Barnett born in 1763 and David Barnett born in 1765. There is an Elisha Barnett enlisted in the VA militia during the Revolutionary War. And to make things more confusing, sometimes the family was listed as Barnard instead of Barnett. I am new at this so any suggestions will be appreciated!! Thanks. Laurie