Skaggs Mystery in Arkansas

A Scaggs family has an enduring mystery involving their ancestors.  Three Scaggs brothers were born in Hempstead County, Arkansas between 1860 and 1870.  The parents apparently died in 1870 because the three boys, Elias, Henry Clay and  Ambrose Brice were adopted.  Their descendants would like to know who were the parents of these three boys.
The eldest brother, Elias, went out on his own and made a living working for farmers.  Henry Clay Scaggs was raised by the Simon T. Sanders family of Hempstead Co., AR.  and Ambrose Brice Scaggs was raised by the J. R. Ferguson family of Hempstead Co., AR.  None of these brothers has been found in the 1870 census, however, they have been identified in records below.  Who were the parents of these three Scaggs boys?


1840-1841 AR Census, Hempstead Co., Ozan Twp. p.163
Sanders, S. T.
Note: Also in Hempstead Co. Census, Saline Twp. is James M. Scags. (James Moredock Scaggs, from the Scaggs family of Warren Co, KY).

1850 AR Census Hempstead Co. Washington
Sanders, Simon T. 53
Sarah V. 15 (by other info. her middle name was Virginia)
Isabella W. 13
Zenabia H. 8

1860 AR Census Hempstead Co. Washington 688
Sanders, Simon T. 63 NC Clerk, Circuit court
Isabella W. 21 AR
Zanobia 17 AR
Simon T. 4 AR
Jesse A. Ross 22 AL Lawyer

1870 AR Census Index has this:
Sanders, S. T. Hempstead Co. Ozan Twp 394 1870 <= this is Simon T.
S.T. age 73 real estate agent NC (based upon marriage info, Simon T. would be 73)
S.T. Jr. 15 (his mother is Martha D. Cook, 2nd wife of Simon)
Meredith Cary a black woman age 75
Lucy Shepperson servant and her 4 month old son Charles.

1880 AR Census Hempstead Co. Ozan Twp Page 483
Sanders, Simon 83 postmaster widow, living alone NC NC NC

1880 Hempstead Co. Springhill TWP <=Elias Scaggs last three children were born here!
Henry Sanders wm 18 AR AR AR farm laborer <= our Henry Clay Scaggs Sanders!!!
living with:
Albert C. Hanson 53
Caroline M. 53
Sarah C. 21 dau
Coley P. 19 son
James House 22 son in law
Mary A. 16 dau
Jesse Wiley 30 laborer

Scaggs in the Census & Marriage

1900 Hempstead Co. Springhill TWP <= brother Henry is in Springhill Twp in 1880 census!
Elias H. Scaggs Sept 1860 39 m/16years AR GA GA <= our Elias Scaggs!
Effie E. Sept 1866 m/16 years-10 ch. born/5 living
Paralee D. Oct 1886 13 LA AR AR
George A. July 1891 8 LA AR AR
Carl A. Feb 1893 7 LA AR AR
Silas H. Sept 1896 LA AR AR
Guy W. Aug 1899 LA AR AR

1850 AR Hempstead Co Saline Twp. Dwelling 31 (Census Index=254)
MATINGLY, James 54 KY
Bradford 26 AR
Valeria 23 AR
Mary 21 AR
Harriet 18 AR
George 12 AR
SCAGGS, SARAH E. 7 AR {daughter of James Moredock Scaggs)

AR 1860 Hempstead Co, Saline Twp, Census. On page 860:
James H. Walker 63 farmer born NC
Lucetta 59 KY
Robert W. 15 AR
Sarah SCAGGS 17 AR (Daughter of James Moredock Scaggs)
(note: the box for "married within last year" is not checked)
Bertha Walker 5 AR
Julius Y. Johnson 14 AR
T.A. Caudle 45 mech MC
Note: Simon T. Sanders wife (Martha D. Cook) has a sister who was 1st wife of Dr. Robert Walker.

1870 census AR HEMPSTEAD CO. OZAN TWP 423
Fergerson, J. R. 29 farmer AR
M. J. " 20 (female) AL
J. H. " 24 clerk AR
{Note: Ambrose Brice Scaggs adoptive family. He is not with them in 1870, where is he?}

1880 Hempstead Co. DeRoan TWP
E.D. Brown 32 farms TN TN TN
Emily 28 wife
Alice M. 10 dau
Zilla 7 dau
Eddie 5 dau
Franklin J. 3 1/2 son
J. Butler black male 50 laborer
Milly black female 40 wife
J. R. Furguson wm 40 farms
Mary S. 31 wife
Ambrose B. 10 son AR AR AR <= our Ambrose Brice. New!!!
P. F. John black male 50 farms

MARRIAGE: A. B. Ferguson 24 of Hope to Mollie Eason 17 of Washington on 28 Feb 1894 by E. D. Turner, JP book L page 22 {Hope and Washington are nearby towns in Hempstead Co. AR}

1900 census, DeRoan Twp page 136, Hempstead Co. AR
born age marr'd
Ferguson, J. R. Apr 1840 60 33yr AR KY AR farmer
Mollie Feb 1849 51 no child AL NC NC {Mollie J. unknown maiden name}
Brice Feb 1870 30 6Yr AR AR AR farmer adopted {our Ambrose Brice Scaggs}
Mollie O. Feb 1877 23 2 child AL AL AL daughter-in-law {Eason is maiden name}
P.L. Jan 1895 5 AR AR AL grandson {Penn}
A. A. Apr 1897 3 AR AR AL granddaughter {Alma}