In my BELL research, Robert shows in 1866 as a single male, in 1867 he shows on the list of registered voters,in 1870 he shows with wife and child then 'poof' not a trace since.From his photograph he could easily blend into the non-Afri community. He did own land in 1870 BUT those records are not found. Courthouse lore is that a person who failed to be reelected to office was angered and "drowned" all records in the creek.