This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Ralston, Gow, Gardner Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/FCC.2ACE/1942.2 Message Board Post: Hi Thomas& Julia, Just wanted to throw in my 2 cents also. I've seen the Gardner's name on a deed map of Hancock/Brooke, seems their land was right in the SW corner of Hancock & the line dividing the county to Brooke, right by the PA state line near my Ralston bunch. I'll check some of the deeds but I have them buried in a pile while I repainted the bedroom & have a file cabinet to clean out before I can get to sorting thur the Ralston stuff- I'm sure one of the land deeds mentioned a Gardner who owned land, just don't remember off the top of the head who it was- maybe a James? I also have a Belinda Ralston who's father listed her as Melinda, Malinda in his will but census listed her as Belinda, she married William Hays as his 3rd wife & buried at Three Springs. BUt what I'm looking for info on is my GG grandfathers sister Barbara Gow Gardner. So while your searching- if you run on anything about her- I'd love to find out more. What I have- 1850 census list her as 33 yrs old, living with parents Samuel & Elizabeth Ralston, only year I've found her in census so far so est her birth year about 1817 by the census info.. Samuel would have been abt 16 yrs old ? born abt 1801 & his next child wasn't born until 1825 so quite a gap of years between kids i think.. Her father Samuel's will in 1881 listed her as Barbara widow of William Gow. A cousin had info on her obit- but no date when it was in the newspaper- it reads & i include the mistakes for you- they spell the Ralston name 3 different ways- Dawlston takes the cake? ha, Harvest Cove ? should be Hollidays Cove- & she did have a brother named James Ralston b. 1836 & alive in 1881 will but I don't know what happened to him-but I'm wondering if the James listed could have been maybe a brother in law named James Gow? info in her obit says; Barbara Gow Gardner died at the home of C.Caleb in Bellair at 9 o'clock Sat evening in the 87th year of age, death being due to infirmities of old age. Mrs. Gardner was born in Hancock co later removed to Steubenville, she lived in this city about 6 years living in the Patterson addition to Elm Grove and 3 months prior taken to home of relatives in Bellair. Mrs. Gardner was the daughter of Mr. & Mrs. Samuel DAWLSTON of Harvest Cove (?) her husband having proceeded her death about 4 yrs ago. The following brothers & Sister survive, Mrs Margaret SMITH of Harvest Cove (?), Mr Alexander RALSTON of Kings Creek (my GG) Mr. George RAWLSTON of Toronto, OH & William & Francus RAWLSTON both of Harvest Cove (?), one brother (? think it could have ment Brother in law?) James GOW of this city. No arrangements have been made for the funeral but the remains will be laid at rest near the old Homestead at Harvest Cove WV.(?) She had a sister Martha Jane who died in Oct 1910 she married Robert Osborne & was not listed in the obit so maybe the obit was written after 1910? Barbara isn't listed in the Three Springs cem list that I've seen so far so I can't confirm death date- maybe I should try for d cert in Jefferson co OH? I've been trying to find her in census but no luck so far. She was Barbara widow of William Gow in 1881 father's will so had to marry the Gardner man after that maybe in Jefferson co OH as I've not found a marriage record in Brooke or Hancock records yet. Will dig out the land deeds as soon as I can check for them & post it here for you when I can. Thanks, Good luck & Happy Trails in your searching, Kim Ralston Dresser