Okay, here's the story from my friend: His great grandfather, Obadiah Barnes, was orphaned when the family was struck by a flu epidemic. He was taken in by a neighbor's family - name of Davis - and carried the Davis name thereafter. The family was apparently settled in eastern Ohio, along the river. They are now in Bridgport and Lansing. They were farmers and coal miners. Obadiah married and they had a little girl. He then went into the Union Army and became a captain in the Civil War. When he returned home, he found that his wife and daughter had died. He married again and I don't know the extent of the children from that marriage. There were at least Ira and Cloyd (both sons). One of Ira's sons was Robert Dale Davis, who was the father of our friend, Robert Raleigh Davis. Since Obadiah was in the Civil War, I presume he was born approximately 1840.(?) I have not looked up any of this information - only got it word-of-mouth from our friend. Janice

Hello Janice, Here is the census info from 1850 forward which seems to match your info. The following info was found on ancestry.com and familysearch.com . I have no Barnes info as Obediah moved in the Davis household before 1850. Ohio Marriages 1803-1900 Davis, Obediah M. married Coss, Darcas Ann 30 Mar 1854 Belmont Co, OH Davis, Obediah M. married Morrison, Mary B. 2 Jul 1867 Belmont Co , OH 1850 OH Belmont Co Pease tsp census Nathan S. Davis 36 minor Amanda Davis 36 OBEDIA DAVIS 18 laborer OH Syntha Davis 6 OH Robert Davis 11/12 OH 1850 OH Belmont Co Pease tsp census Abraham Coss 35 Miner Nancy Coss 34 James Coss 17 DARCAS COSS 12 OH Rebecca 11 Westley 8 1860 OH Belmont Co Pease tsp census Abraham Coss 47 minor Nancy Coss 35 Westley Coss 19 minor James McDaniel 13 (living with this family) I could not find Obediah in the 1860 census 1870 OH Belmont Co Bridgeport tsp census DAVIS OBEDIAH 35 laborer OH Davis Mary 25 keeping house Ireland Davis Amanda 13 at school OH (she must be daughter from 1st marriage) Davis Kirby 5 at home OH Davis James 2 at home OH Davis Franklin 9/12 at home OH born in Oct 1880 OH Belmont Co Bridgeport tsp census DAVIS OBEDIAH 43? coal minor OH OH OH Davis Mary 33 wife keeps house Ire Ire Ire Davis Curby S. 18 son working glass fact OH OH IRE Davis James M. 12 son scholar OH OH IRE Davis Frank M. 11 son scholar OH OH IRE Davis Mary M. 9 dau OH OH IRE Davis Carl S? 4 son OH OH IRE Davis Ira D. 2 son OH OH IRE Obediah M. Davis Comp A 43 OH Inf inducted as "1 Sgt" released as "Capt." Union The above info seems to match your story. I hope this is helpful. I am not related nor researching this family. Mary in CA *********** ----- Original Message ----- From: "Janice" <bates.gg@gte.net> To: <BARNES-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Monday, January 19, 2004 9:59 PM Subject: [BARNES] Barnes in Ohio > Okay, here's the story from my friend: > His great grandfather, Obadiah Barnes, was orphaned when the family was struck > by a flu epidemic. He was taken in by a neighbor's family - name of Davis - and > carried the Davis name thereafter. > The family was apparently settled in eastern Ohio, along the river. They are > now in Bridgport and Lansing. > They were farmers and coal miners. > Obadiah married and they had a little girl. He then went into the Union Army > and became a captain in the Civil War. When he returned home, he found that his > wife and daughter had died. > He married again and I don't know the extent of the children from that > marriage. There were at least Ira and Cloyd (both sons). > One of Ira's sons was Robert Dale Davis, who was the father of our friend, > Robert Raleigh Davis. > Since Obadiah was in the Civil War, I presume he was born approximately > 1840.(?) > I have not looked up any of this information - only got it word-of-mouth from > our friend. > Janice >