Chuck,
If you are just beginning to look at census records, perhaps you are not
aware of the many mistakes in the entries. My family name (Bahr) was
misspelled in the 1860, 1870 and 1880 Michigan census records -- as Baer,
Bear, and Baher, and finally correctly in 1900. One daughter was listed as a
Male, birthplaces were not always listed the same, and ages do not always
appear correctly. You just have to be patient, and compare the information
with other existing documents. Be sure to note the date of the census records
-- sometimes as early as April, or as late as September -- that will affect
the age listing.
Happy hunting,
Donna