Dear Paula, thanks so much for your help! I believe I can identify at least five more children of my ancestor James helmer. I am a bit confused about Loren Helmer, however. In the 1870 census, it lists a Loren Helmer in his 80's. In the 1880 census, it lists Loren as James's son, and that he was in his forties. would you say that these are different men, based on the info, or the same person , whose age was in correctly registered on the first census?