This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: reelsman Surnames: Davis Hampshire Classification: lookup Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/localities.northam.usa.states.ohio.counties.licking/4605/mb.ashx Message Board Post: I need a lookup on the marriage of Wilbur S. Davis and Lucinda M. "Lucy" Hampshire in Licking County, Ohio, about 1905 or so. Lucinda M. Hampshire was the daughter of Arthur Butler Hampshire and Anna E. Harris, who lived at the edge of Newark in Madison Township. Thanks in advance. Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board.

Good Day Everyone, I posted a message to several message boards that surrounded Coshocton and Tuscarawas Counties in early August prior to my trip from California to Ohio. I wanted to thank everyone that replied with information on the Finney family. I was asked from several to let them know how my trip went and that is the reason for this post. I flew into Columbus and then rented a car and drove to Zanesville where I had room reservations. I made the journey with a co-worker who was going to be researching in Circleville so we decided to stay in Zanesville so we each would have a fairly equal distance to drive to our research locations. All the way to Zanesville I was in awe of the beauty of Ohio. There were so many trees and everything was green, it was beautiful. It is nice in California where I live but we get temps that average around 110 in the summer and everything turns brown so it was a great pleasure to see so much green. The next morning we drove to Gilmore, Ohio to visit the West Union Church. I was pleasantly surprised to see that the church was still in use. I began to take some pictures of my ancestors headstones while church was in service. It was a touching personal moment for me when I found the headstone of Isaac B. Finney, my great great grandfather. Not far away I found my great great great grandparents, William and Ann Orr. I praised God for allowing me to visit the resting place of my ancestors. When church services concluded I went inside and spoke with the Pastor. She told me that the Church has been in continuous service for 139 years. She was very kind and allowed me to photograph inside the church. Prior to my visit to Ohio I had written Letters to the Editor of the Bargain Hunter newspaper in Tuscarawas and the Coshocton Tribune. On Friday August 28th, 2008 the Bargain Hunter ran an article on my visit that included a picture of my great grandfather Lewellis Finney. The story told about my visit and what I was looking for. It briefly mentioned my families history and a little bit about how the children of Isaac B. Finney and Rachel Orr Finney were taken in by Josiah Murphy and was appointed guardian of the Finney's minor children, this was in 1885. To my great pleasure a man who currently resides in Tuscarawas read the article and came to the cemetery with his wife. His name was John Murphy and he was a descendent of Josiah Murphy. Teri Stein and her husband also was in attendance at the cemetery. Teri is a free lance writer who writes stories for the Bargain Hunter and she wrote a follow up story that appeared in the Bargain Hunter on Friday, September 5th. A reporter from the Coshocton Tribune was supposed to attend but she went to the wrong cemetery. She went to West Lafayette and we were at West Union. Her photographer did find his way there and he took several pictures and the Coshocton Tribune ran a story of me on the front page with a pic of me at the gravesite of my Civil War ancestor, Isaac B. Finney. The story ran on September 02, 2008. We compared notes on our families and then he offered to provide me with a personal tour of Washington Township in Tuscarawas. He showed me the homes of Josiah Murphy and James Finney. I had the pleasure of meeting with the current owners who allowed me to take pictures of their property. I later found out that a local group of people mostly children from the FFA had went to West Union Church the night before my visit and mowed the high grass down around all five acres of the cemetery. They did not know which headstones I wanted to view so they mowed it all. This was the most touching part of my visit. I have written letters since my return attempting to find out who mowed the cemetery so I could personally thank them. The people of Ohio are AWESOME!! My good luck continued when I had arrived to the Tuscarawas Genealogy Society. When I signed in I noticed the signature of a man named Lloyd Kail. I immediately went to talk to this man as we are related from a marriage between Anna Finney and Leonard Kail that occurred in 1880. I really enjoyed the time I spent talking and comparing family notes with Mr. Kail. This man was just like everyone else I had met so far, kind and open to share. Everywhere I went to research I found people who took a genuine interest in my visit and offered to assist me without any solicitation. During the entire trip I was overwhelmed by how nice everyone was. It made me proud to have ancestors that came from Coshocton and Tuscarawas Counties. I found birth records for three of my great grandfathers siblings as well as found a book that contained information on the Miller family of Tuscarawas that Lewellis' sister Mary married into. This find will save me hours of research and I thank the Miller family for donation of the book to the Tuscarawas society. I found death dates for two of the four James Finney's that lived in the area. I did not find Isaac's parents as hoped but perhaps got some new leads on who they might have been. With the assistance of John Murphy and his wife Gracie I was able to locate the land that Rachel Finney owned near Gilmore. Once again the owner of the property was nice and allowed me to take pics of her property. She showed me where there was an old basement on her property when she bought it in the 1940's. The basement was long since removed and replaced with a tractor shed but at least I knew the location where my Finney's lived in Tuscarawas. I will never forget the kindness of John and Gracie Murphy and their relentless assistance. May God Bless them. I discovered the name of the wife for Joe Finney, which was Nellie Matthews. I found from a obituary a couple of other new names that will require research. I found out that Robert E. Finney passed in 1974 and left a step daughter named Mrs. (Wayne) Pat Graef. I will also be looking for a granddaughter named Mrs. James Doolan. I made about 80 photocopies of documents and I haven't even begun to sort them out yet. I took 496 pictures on the trip that I hope to eventually get on the net for everyone to see. I did not get to visit the Finney family cemetery in Muskingham County due to its difficult terrain and it being on private property. I have found a cemetery list and a list member who has pictures of the Finney Headstones but it appears they are not willing to share. I am hopeful when they read this they will reconsider and send me the pictures. It was also a great pleasure to finally meet a very nice lady that I have been corresponding with for years. Peggy Brown of the Tuscarawas Genealogy Society was an angel and helped me with great patience when I was researching micro film records. I want to thank Peggy and all of the volunteers who work at the Tuscarawas Genealogical Society for all of their assistance. I know I am repeating myself but everyone there was so nice and friendly. I was touched by there willingness to stop what they were working on to assist me. Once again I was proud to have Tuscarawas ancestry. My wife was not able to join me on my journey this time and I have been advised that I wont be able to run off like that again so we will be returning someday as I want my entire family to see the beautiful counties of Coshocton and Tuscarawas and meet my new found friends. That is all for now. If you ever get a chance to visit the Ohio county you are researching, take it. The state is beautiful and the people are nice. Even after my return I was mailed something from the Tuscarawas Historical Society. I received obits for a couple of Finney's and death record. There was no letter included with the records and I don't know who mailed them to me in California, but God Bless you for your efforts. I LOVE OHIO!!!! Gerald Finney Fresno, California