Isaac? 1854? This is interesting! It may be coincidence but I have a hunch . . . My Margaret lived in the "City of Wheeling" on the 1850 census. I believe she was a widow (for the second time) but can't be certain. Here's the data and my additional finding: 1850 Federal Census, City of Wheeling 1st Ward, 44th District, Ohio County, Virginia, 24 September, B. F. Killey, page 185; (M432 Roll 966 Page 93 Image 37) 39 1343 1394 Margret Farnsworth 46 F Pa Malissa do 8 F Ohio Rebecca do 6 F " Jesse Lambert 18 M Chair Maker " Continued on M432 Roll 966 Page 93 Image 37; Page 186 1 John Lambert 15 M Laborer Ohio Isaac Farnsworth age 50 born NY and family are in Richietown "a suburb of Wheeling" in the same district; household 868, page 123. Could this be your Isaac? The LAMBERTs are her sons from her first marriage to Jesse LAMBERT. Her second husband was John H. FARNSWORTH, probably born about 1800; in NY according to the census of daughter Mattie; or in CT from census of son Henry (both from 1880). If John was alive in 1850, I haven't been able to find him. Margaret is shown as a widow in 1880, which was the first census where the question was asked. I have a family letter dated August 13, 1854 that states Margaret and her children were living at "Rockiland" (I assume Iowa) and that her son-in-law, John KING, had died in July 1854. It was written by Margaret's brother Preston ROBERTS in Pee Dee, Cedar County, Iowa to their sister Martha in Ohio. Preston went to Iowa about 1852. The date 1854 in your post made me take notice! Perhaps John H. and your Isaac were connected in some manner and Margaret took her children west with Isaac after John's death and instead of going to Liberty, went to Iowa to join her brother. Perhaps John was scouting the territory during the 1850 census and went back for her, or her and Isaac, died along the way back west also . . . lots of possibilities. My John might have even been in the California gold rush for all I know. Another item: My Martha's (Margaret's sister) second marriage was to Thomas McCONN in 1862. He lived in Wheeling at the time, and in 1870 they are on the census at Claysville Post Office, Donegal Township, Washington County, Pennsylvania, which is very close to Wheeling. Obviously there was more than one tie to the Wheeling area. Do you see any possibilities? Vanette In a message dated 1/11/2009 4:23:31 P.M. Central Standard Time, frankw@harbornet.com writes: My FARNSWORTHS came to Liberty, MO, from Wheeling, VA, in 1854.