This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Davis, Owens, Rainey, Ellis Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/CFC.2ACI/935 Message Board Post: Does anyone out there have an Isaac DAVIS married to a Mary RAINEY? Or maybe an Isaac Owens married to a Mary Rainey? I do not know ages, but the'd have had a son born to them in West Virginia about 1853/1854...and that son would be, to the rest of you, a "mystery man" who disappeared between 1870 and 1880. His name could be John J. DAVIS or OWENS. Here's the story: Nov. 19, 1876 in Washington County, Ohio, John J. DAVIS married Salina "Jane" Ellis. He'd magically "appeared" on teh ELLIS farm looking for work sometime in the recent time before the marriage. Mr. David ELLIS agve him work..and John then married his daughter. No big mystery from then til present time.... BUT, according to his grandaughters, (My great-aunts) his name was NOT really DAVIS...it was OWENS..and he'd fled WV to avoid the law. They think he might have stolen a horse and that's why he was running....and why he changed his name. These same women also say he visited a sister in WV named Elizabeth OWENS. When John DAVIS died, and his wife filled out his death certificate, she gave the parents as Isaac Davis and Mary Rainey, both of Va or WV. She also gave his place of Birth as WV on Nov. 29th, 1854...or 1853 is you backtrack from the age at death that she gave, so it could be either...or it could be a guess. We just don't know. ANYONE, who has a missing male in the above sunames, born @ 1853 who might fit in with this description, PLEASE email me at JEWEL8118@aol.com. I'd be most grateful for any leads!!! Thanks for your time! Julie North