This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/an/FO.2ADI/154.1 Message Board Post: You asked: I have found a few papers in local history books saying that my ggg Elijah Sortor Gurney is a descendant of Francis Cooke but I don't know if this is true. If you know anything I'd appreciate your help. This line has got me stuck. I can't find anything on Elijah Gurney's parents. I do know that Elijah was a state rep. for Missouri in the 1880s. Thanks, Cassie I don't know if Elijah is a Cooke descendant, but perhaps some census information could help you work back. In the 1920 census Elijah is listed in Caldwell Co., Kidder Twp., MO. He is 77, and has son Elijah, 46 in the household with him. I cannot read the name of Elijah S. Gurney's wife--it begins with M. Elijah and both his parents are said to be born in Ohio. In the 1850 census, Cuyahoga Co., Mayfield, OH is Elijah Gurney, age 8, in the household of A. H. Gurney (A.H. was there in 1840 as well) A. H. Gurney's name is almost unreadable in the 1850 census and he is not indexed at Ancestry--but he's there, age 37, born in Ohio. I don't know with certainty that this is your Elijah. There are also Reed, 13; Rebecca, 11; Isaac, 5; Charles, 2. There was an Elijah S. Gurney in C Company, 1st Ohio Light Art'y in the Civil War--enlisted 9 Sep. 1861--maybe there are records showing something useful.