Hi Sandra,

I just signed in tonight and saw that you have received numerous requests for look-ups, and that you may be going to the Oakland library on Thursday to do genealogy research.

That is very kind of you to offer to go to the library for other folks. I wonder if I may also request a look-up for an obituary, or a death notice, for our Asa A. Owen, whose father is our brick wall?

Asa was well-known in Oakland Co., MI, as he was one of the first pioneers to settle in Orion in 1831, where he lived his whole life. The trouble is, we cannot find the name of his father anywhere, though we understand he was supposedly killed by Indians before 1800, probably in NY, or maybe in PA, near the Deleware river. Asa was "bound out" for a period of time in his childhood, until reaching age 21, after his father died, "when Asa was a young boy." Asa supposedly rafted logs down the Deleware River, and he walked back home. (We're not sure where his home was then.) This information was found in the online Oakland County Biographies, and in The History of Oakland County.

Our Unknown Owen's son was Asa A. Owen, born in Goshen, Orange Co., NY on 15 Feb 1785. Asa died in Orion, Oakland Co., MI on 3 Sep 1877, at the age of 92 years and some months.

If possible, would you be able to do a look-up for us? We (my dad and I) have been searching for this ancestor's father for a couple of years now, along with a few other persistent message board listers, with no luck.

I am hoping Asa's death notice (or his obit), will mention who his parents were, and I am also hoping that was a customary thing to do(?) I did request his death certificate, but it did not mention Asa's parents, though of course they would have been long deceased when Asa died. I believe this Asa was worthy of a written death notice or an obituary. He served in the War of 1812, and he was supposedly a member of the highest order of the Masons, in Oakland County, MI, according to several published stories.

FYI: Asa was first married to Lucinda Corwin in PA, before 1820, as he is listed in Damascus, Wayne Co, PA in the 1820 and 1830 census records with spouse, Lucinda, who was also listed with several children. Then, she died later in MI, some years after having given him five or six children.

Asa later married Martha Travis in MI, who also bore him several children. Martha survived Asa, and she is buried near him in a cemetery in Oakland County, MI, as I believe Lucinda Corwin also was.

Thank you for your time, and if you cannot get to my request, I will understand. As I mentioned, there are many people who are also searching for this Unknown Owen, and I know they would be very happy if you were able to find this information for us.

Thanks again. Take care, and don't work too hard there!

Sincerely,

Cynthia Owen-Gaines