I am researching a great uncle, Charles Cottrell, born abt. 1864 in Virginia. I find who I think is him in Mingo County in the 1910 census married to a Nannie Cottrell. After this date, Charles disappeared. I suspect either he died or he and Nannie divorced because in later censuses, she is married to a Robert Thomas and the Cottrell children are living in the household. In a later censuses, the children have the surname of Thomas and then in the next census their surname is back to Cottrell.

Charles was an older brother of my grandfather who left the family after a dispute with his father, Granville Cottrell.

Charles was African American. An older uncle told me years ago that one of the brothers had traced Charles and discovered he was a minister in the Methodist Church. I am hoping to perhaps discover the church which may provide some clues as to what happened to Charles.

I have been unable to find any of his children once they are adults.

tia