- Harrison Co., Ohio to Union Co., OH -
Nathaniel was born in North twp, Harrison Co, and moved to Union Co. about 1838 with his parents.
- Union Co, OH to Whiteside Co., IL -
He was a young single man of 23 when the family group started west about 1853. There is no record of his presence in IL, but it is assumed he was with the family group.
- Whiteside, Co., IL to IA -
Nathaniel's movements and the names of his sons indicate he was close to his sister, Elizabeth Wilson. He may have moved on to IA with the Wilson family after only a year in IL.
On the 1860 census for Leroy twp, Bremer Co., IA, Nathaniel was next door to his sister, Elizabeth Wilson, with his new wife, Jane. Jane Palmer was 16 years old, thought to have been born in MI, but later corrected to IN. They had been married for less than a year.
In 1866, his sister Elizabeth & family moved to MO. That may have been a factor in Nathaniel's move to Benton Co., IA.
By 1870, Nathaniel & family had moved south to Cedar twp, Benton Co., not far from La Porte City, Black Hawk Co. His sisters, Christina Herd, Telitha Bruce and Cassandra Cushman were all in the area. Nathaniel & Jane had three sons, Orris F, James Pearl and Berty.
- Benton Co., IA to Nodaway Co., MO -
The 1880 census found Nathaniel and son, Pearl, at the home of his sister, Elizabeth McIlroy Wilson, in Nodaway Co., MO. It might be noted that Elizabeth also had sons named Orris F and James Pearl.
- Michigan -
The 1880 census noted Jennie McIlroy, w/sons, Frank & Berty, in Branch Co., MI, just two doors from her mother. She was listed as married, but no husband was in the home. She was noted as b. IN.
By 1884, son, Pearl, was in Branch Co. where he married Emma Hanks. Nathaniel died in Quincy in 1899.
Nathaniel is listed in lot 864 of the Lakeview cemetery in Quincy, MI, along with his daughter-in-law, Emma Hanks McIlroy & grandson, Pearl, but there are no headstones in the lot.