That is my conundrum. On the 1870 census in Amite County, Mississippi census, Winnie Anderson is living with Oscar Dears and her four children: Hiram, Richard, Napoleon and Elizabeth. I haven't been able to locate anyone on the 1880 census except for Winnie who is now married to Oscar. However, I found an Elizabeth Cotten marrying Sylvester Ames in Amite County.
In 1900, I find my great grandfather Napoleon who is now a Cotten. Down a few lines is his brother Richard who is now a Cain. He is living with his widowed mother Winnie Dears. I still can't figure out where Hiram is but according to the 1900 census, all of Winnie's children are alive. He could be going by the surname Cain, Cotten, Dears or Anderson.
Also living in the neighborhood is Sylvester and Elizabeth Ames giving credence to my theory that Elizabeth is my great aunt.
So I'm checking Cotten, Cain, Anderson, Dears and Ames to get more info about my great grandfather Napoleon.
