Thank you! I might have to make a pilgrimage to Smith River, CA to see what the historical society might have. My ancestor's brother had a family bible that documents his line, I'm hoping their mother also had one. She was one of the original pioneer families to settle there in the mid-1800s, so I would think somebody would have some documentation.
I have an ancestor who literally disappeared from North Carolina right around 1849. No will, no probate, no death announcement, no court record, no land division, no trace. The only record I have is his wife, acting as “femme sol,” purchased a tiny piece of land that was recorded in early 1850. So whether she was widowed or abandoned, I have no record of what happened to him. I have this wild fantastical notion that he became a ‘49er and ran off to California to pan for gold, but aside from my ever-abiding hope and research, he has been my brick wall for 25 years.