No matter how I search for my Great Grandmother, I cannot find her parents. Even when I go searching, others who have Melissa Ann Holden [maiden-Odenbaugh] in their tree, are stumped also. Now I know she did not just appear here on earth and marry my Great Grandfather.
On the death certificate of my Grandmother – Elizabeth Rachel [Holden] Boles, my great grandmother’s maiden name is clearly given as:
Malissa Odenbaugh and John Holden as her father.
Another record show her listed as Melissa ODenbaugh.
.
On the Find a Grave Index, again her maiden name is Odenbaugh.
My Grandfather – Wesley Boles Age 20
My Grandmother – Elizabeth Rachel Holden
That is where the trail ends. I know that when people immigrated from other countries, many of them changed the spelling of their names. Sometimes, by the way it was pronounced, others spelled it phonetically by how it sounded.
In this instance, the online hints and trees of others has Odenbaugh listed as O’Denbaugh, Daughdenbaugh, Daughdenbrugh, etc.
From the census, it is known that she was born in Pennsylvania, where there are quite a few Daughdenbaughs. The most popular idea is that she was the daughter of Jonathan Daughenbaugh, (1798-1865) and Elizabeth Cross Orner, (1800-1884). They had children in 1818, 1823, 1825, 1827, 1832, 1834, 1836, 1839, 1842, and 1856. So, Meleza A O’Denbaugh would slide into 1829 pretty easily. The problem is that out of 11 online trees, only two try to fit Melissa in the 1829 time slot.
I am beginning to believe I have hit my first Brick Wall, as they call it.
“For thou wilt light my candle: the LORD my God will enlighten my darkness. For by thee I have run through a troop; and by my God have I leaped over a wall.” (Psalms 18:28-29 KJV)
I am sure if I keep searching, there is an answer to this dilemma. This is when prayer and asking for wisdom helps. At times, things are right in front of us, but we do not see them clearly.
“And I will bring the blind by a way that they knew not; I will lead them in paths that they have not known: I will make darkness light before them, and crooked things straight. These things will I do unto them, and not forsake them.” (Isaiah 42:16 KJV)
Those verses are used a bit out of context, but they are an encouragement for me as I seek to find a way through that wall.
STAY TUNED!
P.S. If you have any clues that will help with this, leave a comments or contact me at Lee@Leesbird.com
Lee's Ancestry Adventures 
When you consider it the person who completed Rachels death certificate probably did not know her parents and there complete names and made a good stab at it And who put the entry in Find a Grave. I would concentrate on the earliest information you have on Mellisa which seems to be a census. Then work out from that date an place. How many others with a maiden name similar lived near. Can you link her and a possible sibling in the same place, If she moved away from her home town is there anything in a newspaper mentioning this. What about Melissa marriage who else was noted on it.
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Thanks for the great advice. I’ll keep banging on the wall. 🙂
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I would first take a look at the informant. Did you already have him in your tree? Would he have been alive to meet her parents? Was he close enough in relations to really know her parent’s names? You have to admit, her birth year would slide Soooo easily into that time frame. I’d work that as far as you can. Perhaps Pennsylvania church records on Ancestry.com? Either way, find that family in census or other records & work it til you know whether she belongs to them or not.
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I have known people named Oldenburg or Oldenburg, not sure which. But perhaps try similar sounding names. I hope you get through that wall. Have you tried to locate county history books from
PA?
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