Thanks again, Bruce.
I always suspected these guys might have disappeared on purpose. I can't find them or their wives and they each had one young daughter who disappeared. Luckily they're only brothers of my direct ancestor. The only clue later is a note in the newspaper that A.J. Wilson died in 1882, but I don't see him in any of the censuses in between. Could be him, maybe not.
In fact, most of the 10 or so children in this family have proven very elusive in adulthood. At least now I have a better idea of which directions to go.
Thanks,
Richard