Jeannie,
My g-grandfather John W Smith was adopted by a James and Sarah Burr Smith. You can find them in the 1860 census Trimble Township, Athens County Ohio.John W's age is wrong he would have been only 4. Living nearby is John Vansickle,wife Ellen, children Mary C(idiotic) and Morris J. Sometime after 1860 Sarah Smith died and he married Susan(Susannah) Wood. My g-grandfather lists James and Susan Wood Smith as his parents. This is not so as he was adopted and took on the Smith name. I was able to obtain the will of James Smith in Athens where he tells the real mother of John W Smith..Ellen Dishon(Dishong). From my g-grandfathers obit he states he has a half brother Morris Vansickle and half sister who is deceased which I believe is Mary. My mother remembers Uncle Morris coming to the Smith family reunions in the early 1900's.I believe that Ellen Dishon Vansickle had Mary and John before she married John Vansickle and Morris is their child together.My g-grandfather is the illegitimate child of Ellen Dishon as stated in the will of James Smith. It is possible Mary had a different father too. There is definately a Dishong connection. Mary could not live by herself. In 1880 they are both living with Morris Dishong in Perry County possibly their grandfather. I have traced Mary and she is with different Dishong families until her death. I would love to know who Ellen Dishong(possibly Freasure) Vansickle is. The Dishong genealogists do not have her in their records. Check out the 1870 census of Trimble Township. Susan Smith(age is wrong) is taking care of her mother Elizabeth Wood(s), James has died by now and they are living next to Susan Juniper ! Here is my email I do have more.garryw1@verizon.net...Joyce