19th century migration in the United States is not always about heading west. Some families headed west only to return from whence they came. Some immigrants did not like the new area or found the connections to home strong enough to take them back.
One relative of my wife moved to Illinois in the 1840s with all his adult children and their families. After the Civil War, two of his sons returned to Ohio where they remained until their death.
That's what happened with my family in the 20th century. I just happened to see them in the new state in the 1920 census. They didn't stay long and moved back to the same town. I never knew they left!
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