I am doing research on the family that came from Germany to Pennsylvania to Ohio to Ringgold Iowa. I descend from John Walter and Susan Swigart, their daughter Catharine(this name has been passed down for generations, although spelled differently). I am so confused right now its not funny. I have run across trees that say John's (1826) father is John (1798) and mother is Sarah Gnagy(1800). I was trying to track down on the US 1850 census John(1826) family and John (1798) family. I have found both but I now believe John (1826) is not the son of John(1798). My reason being is that John (1826) was married and living with his wife Susanah(Susan) and their daughter Harriet who was born in 1848, they lived in Springfield Lucas Ohio. I found them under ancestry.com under the last name Walters. Now for John (1798) his family I also found on ancestry.com under the last name Watters, but they have a John listed as living there same birthdate as my John. What I dont get is how my John can be included as living in 2 places at once. They also have his son Christian (Watters) born in 1840 in Ohio living with the Rickman family(I don't get that either). My John (1826) died at the early age of 37 around 1864, his wife died 2 years before that which left his 3 daughters orphans. My G. G. Grandmother Catharine was very young at the time and I found her living with Catharine and Edward Stuck in the 1870 census in Lotts Creek Ringgold Iowa. I believe Catharine Stuck to be John's(1798) daughter. I have not located Harriet or Mary Elizabeth in the 1870's census to see who they were living with, I assume they were married though. They both married Harrows from Iowa that resided between Iowa and Missouri so I assume they stayed with someone in those areas.

I will now give a breakdown of familys

John Walter/s born 1826 in Ohio married Susannah Swigart born 1831 in Ohio

Thier children:
1.Catharine Ann born Oct 10 1860 in Iowa married William Shackelford. died in Sept 26 1919 in Omaha Nebraska.

2.Harriet born Aug 26 1848 in Ohio. Married Francis(Frank) M Harrow. I dont know where she died.

3.Mary Elizabeth born Aug 30 1852 in Ohio. Married James S Harrow, They divorced sometime before 1900. She died in Souix City Clay Iowa. I also dont know if she remarried.

John Walter/s born 1798 in Pennsylvania married Sarah Gnagy born 1800 in Pennsylvania.

Their Children:
1.John G born 1826 in Ohio. Married Susan Swigart

2.Michael born 1823 in ohio died at the age of 21 died in Ohio.

3.Peter born 1825 Ohio died at the age of 34 in Iowa.

4.Catharine born 1828 Ohio married Edward Stuck died 1903 in Iowa.

5.Frances(Fanny) born 1831 in Ohio. Married Isaac Swigart. Died 1921 in Iowa. I know for sure she is Johns kid.

6.Elizabeth born in 1833 in Ohio. Married Peter Andrews. Died 1924 in Iowa. I know for sure she is Johns kid.

7.Ann*Anna*Annie*Anne born 1838 in Ohio. Married a Rearick. She died in 1888 in Ohio. I know for sure she is Johns kid.

8.Christian born in 1840 in Ohio. Married a Strayer. Died 1891 in Ohio. I know for sure he is Johns kid.

Any one who has been researching this family please help me with this. Also is there any way it could be a mixup on the 1850 census and they accidentally added John cause they were use to him being there since he had recently moved on with his family?

Thanks,

Margie