My grandfather's lineage seems to stop in Coshocton OH?

Question

I've got loads of info on my father's maternal line and my grandfather's maternal line but is paternal line is hard for me to trace. Thomas Jefferson Reed was evidently born in or near Coshocton Ohio and moved to Massillon Ohio. His son, Thomas Franklin Reed, was an ENT doctor until his death in 1921 in Massillon. My father Thomas Kenyon Reed lived in Massillon all his life and was a dentist there. Can anyone give me a push in the right direction?

Answer 1

Thomas Kenyon Reed, born 7 Apr 1900 in Massilon, OH, son of Thomas Franklin Reed and Mabelle F King

Thomas Franklin Reed, born 18 May 1870, died 27 May 1922 in Massilon, OH, son of Thomas Jefferson Reed and Isabella Dickey

Thomas Jefferson Reed, born 21 Jul 1838 in Coshocton, OH, son of Thomas Franklin Reed and AE?, died 27 Mar 1909

Thomas Franklin Reed, born 9 Jul 1803, died 21 Jun 1875

This is as far as I could get on ancestry.com, but there are other genealogy web sites that might be of help. Good luck - I know it's frustrating, but also rewarding when you find that missing link.

Answer 2

There is a birth record in Stark County, OH, for a Thomas Franklin Reed born on May 18, 1870 to Thomas J. Reed and his wife Belle (nee Dickey).

In the 1880 census this Thomas Reed, age 10, is living in Massillon, OH, with his parents, Thomas J. & Isabella Reed. Thomas Sr. is a physician. Thomas & Isabella have a daughter, also, named Lulu, age 6. Thomas Sr's parents, are shown as having been born in PA. Isabella's parents were born in PA (Father) and OH (mother). This is important info for later.

In the 1870 census living in the First Ward of Massillon, OH, are Thomas J. Reed, age 32, Isabell, age 22, and Thomas F., age 1 month. Thomas J. is a physician. All are shown as having been born in OH.

I could not locate Thomas J. Reed in the 1860 census.

In the 1850 census there is a Thomas Reed living in Clark Township, Coshocton County, OH, age 14, with his parents James, 50, and Mary 43. James is a farmer. Other children are Mary, 13, James, 7, and Martha, 3. Both parents are born in PA, all the children in OH. From what we know of the parents from Thomas's appearance in the 1880 census, this has a very high probability of being your family.

The 1840 census, in Clark Township, Coshocton, OH, shows James Reed living there with his wife and 4 children. The 1840 census did not list names other than the father's.

A little further digging turned up Mary Reed's maiden name (McCormick) and evidence that James and Mary had children Robert G., John, James Emerson, and Thomas christened in Keene Township, OH. Robert & John were christened the same day (August 24, 1834), which suggests they may have been twins. Another son, William H., was christened March 18, 1851 in Coshocton Co., OH.

The discrepancies in the number of children from census to census suggests that some of them must have died in childhood.

There was a Thomas Reed who married a Mrs. Elizabeth Moore (a widow perhaps) in Coshocton, OH, on 11-9-1889. Is that your ancestor?

I hope this is enough to get you started in further research. Good luck!

Answer 3

It is very possible the name was changed. It was common around that era, especially if someone was trying to westernize the name. You can try similar names (both first and last) to find the person you are looking for. genealogy.com has a very good name search. You can try there.
Hope you find what you are looking for, I know how hard it is.