Laws Family Search in SE Missouri

I am attempting to research the LAWS name and having little luck. I have located my great-grandfather NEWTON CARROLL LAWS (born 6-11-1870 in Pemiscot County, Missouri), however, I am looking for his parents. No luck with a locating a birth certificate and parents are not listed on death certificate. Census records for 1880 show him living in New Madrid County, MO, with another family, WILLIAM MEATTE, at age 10, but my family does not know who this is. As far as I can find out, he did not own property or serve in the military and no family is alive who knows the info I need. SO ... I'm open to suggestions and interested in anyone else who may be searching the LAWS name in Missouri (bootheel area).
I am also working on the surnames of HARPER (Missouri, Kentucky & Tennesse), FORD (Tennessee), ROTH (Missouri), HELLRUNG (Illinois & Missouri), DYKSTRA (Dorecht, Holland & Illinois), and RUDINGA (Holland & Illinois).

If anyone has any suggestions on what else to try, I'd appreciate it. Feel free to e-mail me your ideas or questions about the surnames I'm researching.

Family Tree Maker Reports and Trees

• Michael E Laws - InterneTree