This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: RPokorny Surnames: Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/localities.northam.usa.states.wisconsin.counties.lacrosse/2738.1/mb.ashx Message Board Post: Hello, I am not related. Is it possible that Ben was a son of William and Mary J. Thorp? This family started out in Sparta, Monroe County, then on to Onalaska, La Crosse County. Is it possible that Ben's parents were too old to take care of him as a baby, so gave him up? Ben stated that his parents were born in Ohio. William and Mary J. were both born in Ohio. Benjamin was living with Frank D. and Eliza Austen in 1880. He attended school at this time. Have you considered looking for a baptism record for Benjamin? Writing to the churches in Onalaska may help. I don't know what religion Ben was, but you can check different churches there. How about school records? Maybe these records are at an archive. They may have some notes written as to what happened to Ben's parents. Have you found a marriage record for Ben & Laura? Maybe their marriage record will have his parent's names. It seems to me that he must have known something about his parents because both the 1880 & 1900 census state that his parents were born in Ohio. If you can't find a civil marriage record, then look for a church record. Hope this helps. RP ----------- 1860 United States Federal Census Home in 1860: Sparta, Monroe, Wisconsin William Tharp 44 Born Ohio Mary J Tharp 33 Born Ohio Charles Tharp 15 Born Indiana Hannah C Tharp 7 Born Indiana Clarisa J Tharp 5 Born Wisconsin Wm A Tharp 3 Born Wisconsin Alfred A Tharp 8/12 Born Wisconsin Joana Lee 19 domestic Born NY ---------- 1870 United States Federal Census Home in 1870: Onalaska, La Crosse, Wisconsin July 26, 1870 Wm Thorp, age 50, born about 1820 Ohio Mary J Thorp, age 48, born about 1822 Ohio Clarissa Thorp, age 16, born about 1854 Wisconsin Alfred Thorp, age 11, born about 1859 Wisconsin ---------- 1880 United States Federal Census Home in 1880: Onalaska, La Crosse, Wisconsin Wm Thorp, head, age 65, married, born about 1815 Ohio, parents born Pennsylvania Mary J. Thorp, wife, age 55, married, born about 1825 Ohio, parents born Virginia Alexander A. Thorp, son, age 20, born about 1860 Wisconsin, parents born Ohio William W. Barr, grandson, age 11, born about 1869 Wisconsin, father born Scotland, mother born Wisconsin ---------- 1880 United States Federal Census Home in 1880: Onalaska, La Crosse, Wisconsin Frank D. Austen 34 Eliza Austen 26 Archie Austen 3 Benjamin Thorpe, Something other than a direct relationship (Other), age 9, born about 1871 Wisconsin, parents born Ohio, Occupation: At School 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.