Your Bales b. 1850 would have put him 7 yrs older than my grandfather Joel. Search has gotten to the point of wondering if he was orphaned, illigetimate, ??? Can't find any siblings...It would be possible to have been an older brother born in Ohio if both Joels parents were from Ohio and relocated to Illinois. Joels kids were born in Iowa, Nebraska and definitely had traveling feet. Sounds like we're both at a dead end. Thanks for answering and good luck.