RE my gg-grandfather: at the time of his residence in Looney, Polk County, he was 65 years old (1860 U.S. Census) living with his wife Cynthia (number 3) and several children (the oldest one from marriage #2). His name is given as Benjamin McFarland (in other censuses he is McFarlin). He was born in Virginia (later identified as West Virginia) c. 1785. The problem I have with Benjamin is that I haven't been able to find him, his wife Cynthia or his younger children anywhere after the 1860 Census. I did find his older son, Samuel back in Indiana in 1870...Indiana was where Benjamin was in 1850 with the children from marriage #2. In the Missouri State Archives online records I find the names Benjamin and Samuel McFarland enrolled in military service but when age is given (rarely) it is the wrong age or no age at all...so it's hard to match the names to my guys. This does raise an interesting question though...would there be any 65 year-olds in any of the services? I don't know if Benjamin sympathized with the north or the south. I have found one of his children from the 2nd marriage in the Union army from Illinois.
My latest search that brought me to this website is just interesting in itself. Of course, I had a bit of knowledge about Kansas and Missouri history from high school and college, but I am getting so much more and it is fascinating. Thanks again for your help and anyone else who might want to join this conversation. Makes me want to come to Missouri.