Yup, Missouri was an interesting place to live between 1861-1865 (and along the KS-MO border during the 1850s...).

I escaped from LA in 1991 (lived in Alhambra and worked at U$C) and moved here to Indy; a bit slower and put me in proximity to learn about my ancestors in Missouri, Arkansas, and Tennessee. See:

http://www.civilwarstlouis.com/gratiot/robertpaynebyrd.htm

http://11arkansas.com/yank/robert_byrd.htm

have fun,

Ken