Hi Michelle,

Our Abbey family line was in upstate New York. The earliest one I know of was:
1 Eli Abbe/Abbey b. 1820 in possibly Pennsylvania.
....+ Rachel (Ferguson) b. 1816 upstate NY.
........2 Sarah M. Jane Abbey b. 1841 NY. - m. William Hyde
........2 Edwin Porter Abbey b. abt. 1843 NY. - m. Ellen (Allcott)
........2 Hannah Isabelle Abbey b. 1844 NY. - m. Robert Johnson
........2 William E. Abbey b. 1846 NY.
........2 Mary Triphena Abbey b. 1848 NY - m. Culver Meeker.
........2 Margaret Abbey b. 1849 NY.
........2 Rueben Ferguson Abbey b. 1855 NY. - m. Mary Elizabeth (Cox)

The youngest in the family, Rueben Ferguson Abbey, is our branch.
Family tradition says that he was on his way to CA. When he reached Missouri
he met Mary Elizabeth Cox. They married in Dent Co., MO. June 27, 1880.

There are indications that some of these children left NY. and went to Van Buren Co., Michigan, but I have not yet researched that area.

Were your Abbey's located in Dent Co., MO. ?

Thanks for any information......and good luck with the search.

Gloria (Birlew) Hursey
Ghursey2@aol.com