James Irwin Ancestors and Descendants

This blog contains information about James Irwin and his ancestors and descendants. James was born 16 Oct 1758 in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania and died on 10 Feb 1847 in West Chester Township, Butler County, Ohio. James was a resident of Milford Township in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania. He married Nancy (Agnes) on 2 Feb 1786 in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania. James and Nancy's children are Ann, John, Mary, Jane, James, Robert, William, Nancy, David S, and George.

Showing posts with label Clermont County. Show all posts

Friday, July 31, 2015

Agreement of the heirs of Nicholas Dawson of Deerfield Township, Warren County, Ohio who died 21 April 1867. Nicholas Dawson before his death had a farm of 170 acres in Deerfield Township, Warren County, Ohio and another farm of 200 acres in Clermont County, Ohio. Nicholas Dawson wife is Mary Dawson and his sons were Amos Dawson, Henry Dawson, Joshua Dawson, and Ezra Dawson deceased, and daughters Mary Dawson Irwin, Elizabeth Dawson McSears deceased, Matilda Dawson, and Catharine Dawson McKinney deceased. Elizabeth, Ezra and Catherine died before their father, Nicholas Dawson. Interesting note: Ezra Dawson and Catherine Dawson McKinney’s children must have died before Nicholas Dawson’s will since they are not listed as heirs in this estate dispute. Ezra Dawson’s children were Pingree Dawson,Rebech Dawson, Surbetius Dawson and Nicholas Dawson. Catherine Dawson McKinney’s children were James McKinney and John McKinney. Mary Irwin the wife of James Irwin is heir to Nicholas Dawson’s will and she and others are asking the courts to redistribute Nicholas Dawson’s estate on 24 June 1867. Note: James Irwin is the son of Robert Irwin and Lydia Cox Irwin and Mary Dawson Irwin the their daughter in-law.

Technorati Tags: Agreement of the heirs of Nicholas Dawson of Deerfield Township,Warren County,Ohio who died 21 April 1867. Nicholas Dawson before his death had a farm of 170 acres in Deerfield Township,Ohio and another farm of 200 acres in Clermont County,Ohio. Nicholas Dawson wife is Mary Dawson and his sons were Amos Dawson,Henry Dawson,Joshua Dawson,and Ezra Dawson deceased,and daughters Mary Dawson Irwin,Elizabeth Dawson McSears deceased,Matilda Dawson,and Catharine Dawson McKinney deceased. Elizabeth,Ezra and Catherine died before their father,Nicholas Dawson. Interesting note: Ezra Dawson and Catherine Dawson McKinney’s children must have died before Nicholas Dawson’s will since they are not listed as heirs in this estate dispute. Ezra Dawson’s children were Pingree Dawson,Rebech Dawson,Surbetius Dawson and Nicholas Dawson. Catherine Dawson McKinney’s children were James McKinney and John McKinney. Mary Irwin the wife of James Irwin is heir to Nicholas Dawson’s will and she and others are asking the courts to redistribute Nicholas Dawson’s estate on 24 June 1867. Note: James Irwin is the son of Robert Irwin and Lydia Cox Irwin and Mary Dawson Irwin the their daughter in-law.

Saturday, July 25, 2015

James N. Irwin, son of David S. Irwin and Nancy Moore and his wife, Mary S Dawson Irwin of Butler County, Ohio convey land to Stephen Whitaker of Clermont County, Ohio in Section 4, Township 3, Range 2 in Warren County, Ohio on 15 October 1851. Then Stephen Whitaker and his wife, Huldah Skinner Whitaker of Clermont County, Ohio convey the same parcel of land in Section 4, Township 3, Range 2 in Warren County, Ohio to Ann Gaston from Clermont County, Ohio. Interesting Note: Stephen Whitaker and Jonathan Mitchell Whitaker, the husband of Jane Irwin, the daughter of James Irwin and Agnes Irwin are brothers. I would guess that Ann Gaston may be relative.

Technorati Tags: James N. Irwin,son of David S. Irwin and Nancy Moore and his wife,Mary S Dawson Irwin of Butler County,Ohio convey land to Stephen Whitaker of Clermont County,Ohio in Section 4,Township 3,Range 2 in Warren County,Ohio on 15 October 1851. Then Stephen Whitaker and his wife,Huldah Skinner Whitaker of Clermont County,Ohio convey the same parcel of land in Section 4,Ohio to Ann Gaston from Clermont County,Ohio. Interesting Note: Stephen Whitaker and Jonathan Mitchell Whitaker,the husband of Jane Irwin,the daughter of James Irwin and Agnes Irwin are brothers. I would guess that Ann Gaston may be relative.

Tuesday, January 29, 2013

Lee Anton Irwin and Gracie Mae Wagers married 5 March 1955 in North Carolina.

I order the Decree of Dissolution of Marriage of my parents Lee Anton Irwin and Gracie Mae Irwin and found they were married on 5 March 1955 in North Carolina. I remember seeing pictures of them going visiting the Smoky Mountains before they were married and I guess this is when they got married. It has always been a mystery in our family to their marriage date. Now we know. Note: My parent always remain a couple even after their divorce. I think the divorce was for legal reasons pertaining to protecting their property and not because they didn’t love and care for each other.

Tuesday, November 20, 2012

Edward M. Irwin Obituary dated 21 December 1968 stated that he was resident of Pleasant Plain, Warren County, Ohio. Buried at Goshen Cemetery, Clermont County, Ohio. Father of Ernest M. Irwin, Douglas Irwin and Jeanette (Irwin) Sullivan.

Kathy Mae (Irwin) Henderson and Jimmie Loyd Edgington Marriage Record dated Friday, 13 September 2002, Received Marriage License in Clermont County, Ohio; Marriage at the historical Kumler Chapel at Miami University Campus, Oxford, Butler County, Ohio.

Saturday, July 28, 2012

My 5th great-grandfather, Thomas P. Hitch was a member of Old Bethel Methodist Church in Bantam, Clermont County, Ohio

http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~ohclecgs/newsletter/oldbethel.html

http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~ohclecgs/cemeteries/oldbethel/index.html

My 5th great-grandfather, Thomas P. Hitch was a member of Old Bethel Methodist Church in Bantam, Clermont County, Ohio.

Clermont County Genealogical Society

HISTORY OF OLD BETHEL CHURCH

The Church History, was taken from the original record with original spelling and punctuation as found in the record.The author of this historical record is not identjfied. Ed.
19 April, 1991

Rev. John Coliins came here from NJ. in the year 1803 and became the owner of a large tract of land on the east fork of the Little Miami River. In 1804 he donated enough ground on which to build a church, and one made of logs from the surrounding forest, and called "Collins Meeting House" was, in a few months, dedicated by him. Other churches were established in adjacent neighborhoods and ere long there was an extensive circuit embracing those churches and called "Collins Circuit" of which Rev. John Collins was the first pastor. Every two weeks, sometimes on Sabbath, sometimes on Wednesday, there was preaching in Collins Meeting House. Prayer and class meetings were held regularly. Most of the early settlers assembled at these services and respectfully and attentively heard the word. The little church was blessed with revivals of great power, and many true and steadfast members were added to iL After a few years, its members had so increased that they were enabled to substitute a frame church for the log church in which they had been worshiping. While it was in course of erection, Mrs. Collins, wife of Rev. John Collins brought victuals to the carpenters and other workman, and was so happy that they could hear her singing as she came and went through the woods. The frame church with its high inclosed pulpit and galleries around three sides was dedicated in 1818. Rev. Jno McLean, a local preacher, taught two summers in the log church which was not torn down for awhile.

After a time the circuit was given the name of Laurel and Mt. Carmel, Olive Branch. Bethel and other villages were placed in other circuits. Zoar and Concord societie were formed principally from the membership of Old Bethel.

Mrs. Sarah Clark, wife of Benj. Clark, a Methodist exhorter and class leader was the second person buried in Old Bethel cemetery. Mr. Chanler was the first.

One of the early Bishops of the M.E. Church delivered a sermon in Old Bethel church on a week day about the year 1821. The first 5.5. was organized about 1830. Daughter of Rev. Collins was one of the teachers. Quarterly Conferences were notable occasions. Tickets were given those who attended the love feasts. Presiding elders and pastors preached with tongues of fire while the people prayed and praised with fervor.

The preachers were entertained mostly by Rev. John Collins, Jas Blackman and Thos String. Among the very earliest pastors of the church were, Jno Strange, Augustus Eddye, Levi White, Greenbury R. Jones, Isaac C. Hunter, John Clark, las W. Finley, Win. Simmons, Jno Ulin, Arthur B. Elliott, James Smith, Leroy Swormstedt, Win. D. Barrett and ___ Leedom, Zacharial Connell, Jacob Young, Geo W Maley, Burns Westlake and ___ Wells Dunn,~ Hands ,Verhoof, ___Frazer ___Beasley, Goshorn, ____Baxter Hosinger, and ___Gasner. John Collins

v-.-, and William Simmons (his son-in-law) traveled the circuit together about the year 1832.

The next year John Collins was reappointed to the circuit with John lJIin as his calleagus. The last named, after a few months died. Rev___Verhoof having preached but once at each appointment on circuit was taken sick and died. Rev. Greenbury R. Jones was two or three times on the circuit.

Rev. Levi White lived on Rev. John Collins farm and always had class meeting at the church on Thursday. Jas Blackman (brother of Mrs Collins) was for a long time leader of this class.

Rev. John Collins died and was buried here in 1845 Rev George Light officiated at the funeral service. Rev. Agustus Eddy taught school at Afton and married Patsy Thomas of that place. In 1890 Mrs. Eddy celebrated her 90th birthday with her three surviving children one of them the wife of Rev. E. Edwards of Wisconsin. Often while teaching school at Aften Agustus Deey exhorted in Collins meeting house and when he entered the ministry and became the pastor of the society he conducted some remarkable meetings there. Rev Jno Eddy, a war chaplain who was shot in ambush, and Thos. C. Eddy D. D., the orator, editor, and missionary secretary were his sons. Between the years 1835 and 1858 the following were among the pastors of Old Bethel, Edward D. Rowe, Win. Perrish and David Whitcomb, Jno Barton, M.G. Purkiser, Jas M. Gatch, Wesley Rowe and ___ Estell,

- Chaney, Win. H. Lander, Win. H. Fyffer, Enoch G. West, Henry E. Purkiser, Jno Shinn, Win. B. Jackson, las Armstrong, Geo Pararott. Rev. Benj Lakin, after his location' at Laurel preached, many times at Old Bethel. las M. Trimble D.D, Rev. Sam'l Latty and other ministers preached here on some special occasions. Rev. las Armstrong resided here for a number of years before and after his superanuation. He did much for Old Bethel and in this cemetery his remains awaits the resurection of the just.

Under Rev. Welsly Rowe and his colleagus, there was a wonderful revival at Old Bethel, one of the memorable conversions at this time was that of a man who did not want to be converted and who after listening to part of a sermon from Rev. N. Daily on the miracles of healing wrought by the Saviour started homeward, declaring that the church should not catch him for he was no cripple. Before he could get to the top of the bill up which he was running he fell and could get no further and had to be carried home. Then he desired to be a new creature in Christ Jesus and he sought the Lord and was changed. Among the exhorters and local preachers who often preached at Old Bethel or assisted the early pastors in special meetings were Eli Daily, Jesse Justice, Christian Husong, Nathanal Daily, Stephen Washington Duly, Richard Short, George W. Mallick, Jno Brunaugh, Robt Nichols, Andrew McLean, John McLean,Fee, - Price, - Warden, Jay, - Grange, mo Smith, Edmund Burdsall, Jno Hill, Lewis Duckwall, JnoGest, - Thompson, David Lindsy, Judson Calhoun, Elshia Dole. Among the stewards and class leaders of the early days were las Blackman, John Blair, Joshua Dole, Benj
Clark, Dan'l Ogden, Jesse Branduff, Thos Jenkins, Jno Enan, Win Holliday, Win McDonald, Jno Offutt, Benj Jenkins, Elisha Dole. The following are a few of the members who worshiped in the log church, Thos Hitch Sr, Zephaniah Steelman, David White, Enos Smith, Jas Ware, Sam'l Strimple, las Dole, -Moss and their wives, Isaac Higbee, las Deal, Isiah Clark. Christopher Clark, Mrs. Sarah Jeffris. The following are a few of those who became members after the frame church was built, John Leeds, Thou Mull, Thos Scull, las Stewart, mo Caster, Edward Barton, Jno McColium, Leeds Douthty, Jno Wilson, Eben Risley, and their wives, Robt Burnett, Jno Compton, Brazier James, Richard Mace and Wm Higher. The first four of the local preachers mentioned were enrolled in the membership of Old BetheL Their wives as also the wives of all the stewards and class leaders afterwards named, lived excelent lives and did excelent work in the church. Many of the children of these pioneer christians and of others whose names are not given emulated their parents in piety and good deeds. Some of their sons received and obeyed the Devine call to preach Christ crucified, while some of their daughters became the wives of ministers of the Gospel. In the year 1868 the frame church was remodeled. While the work was being accomplished, Sunday school and prayer meetings were held in the Bantam school house. The Presbyterian church having been kindly offered for public worship and preaching, the people assembled there for these services. The new church was dedicated in October 1868 by J.W. Langley D.D. Revs, W.T. McMullen, R.E. Smith and 'M.A. Head being present.

Monday, July 23, 2012

OLD BETHEL CHURCH AND CEMETERY RECORDS FOUND AT Clermont County Ohio Genealogical Society– BATAVIA PUBLIC LIBRARY IN CLERMONT COUNTY, OHIO–METHODIST ARCHIVES– THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER DAY SAINTS PUT THE RECORDS ON MICROFILM

I have always wondered what happen to the records of the Old Bethel Cemetery in Bantam, Clermont County, Ohio. I am interested in these early records since Benjamin Franklin Hitch, my 3rd great,-grandfather was buried there with many other Hitch relatives. I have always felt a kinship to Benjamin, I guess it is the quote on his headstone that draw me to him. It reads "I know the Loved who have gone before and joyfully sweet will the meeting be, when over the river, the peaceful river, the Angel of death shall carry me."

Tonight while researching the Hitch family in Clermont County, Ohio I finally have my answer. The Old Bethel Church Journals where shared with the Clermont County Genealogical Society. The Society has made an index for the journals and will give a copy to the Methodist Archives in addition to the one in the Batavia Library. Sections of the Old Bethel Church Journals may be printed in the Society's newsletters from time to time, and The Church of The Latter Day Saints is putting everything on microfilm. These records would not have been found if it wasn’t for Mrs. Norma Johns Wuichet and her tireless research and dedication to finding these records. I truly appreciate her efforts.

http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~ohclecgs/newsletter/bethalchu.html

Clermont County Genealogical Society

OLD BETHEL CHURCH AND CEMETERY

by Norma Johns Wuichet

It is difficult to determine when an interest in a particular place develops. In the case of Old Bethel Cemetery my interest probably began when I was about seven years old. At that time Uncle Henry's body was shipped back from overseas. Uncle Henry was the son of William David and Isabell Powers Johns in Bantam, Ohio. He and his brother, Clarence, were in the Ohio National Guard and were called into service during World War I. Henry was killed in action in France on October 31, 1918, just eleven days before the war ended. He was buried in Old Bethel Cemetery and for several years after that the American Legion held a service at his grave every Memorial Day. The sound of the rifles being fired was frightening to me, but family and friends gathered there every year. Now on Memorial Day the Legion gathers just inside the cemetery gates and honors all the veterans.

The Old Bethel Church was within walking distance of the Johns home and several members of the family were members there. My mother and dad, Donnie Lou and Mamie Miller Johns, were married in Batavia December 24, 1910. They attended the Christmas Eve service at Old Bethel that night. They lived in Bantam for a few years after their marriage and I was born there. Later we lived in Batavia for many years, and when I was in high school I took piano, pipe organ and voice lessons. When we visited my Johns grandparents on Sundays Geneva (she is really my aunt but since she is only five years older than I, I never call her aunt) and I would go to church at Old Bethel. Invariably the person in charge would say "Norma is here so she can play the organ for the service," or "Norma is here and she can sing a solo, or she and Geneva can sing a duet." Now all this is part of the reason for my interest in The Old Bethel Church, but there is more.

Grandma Johns died in 1928 while I was in High school, and Grandpa Johns died in 1934 while I attending The Ohio State University. This put an end to my attending church at Old Bethel. Bantam grew smaller as families died and people moved away. Church membership dwindled to twenty in 1965 and could not financially support a minister. At Conference that year Old Bethel became an OUT-POST CHURCH SCHOOL. Finally the Conference of the Methodist Church closed the church. The last services were held on December 21, 1969.

The U.S. government purchased the property in 1972. The church was vacant, and the building deteriorated. The roof was about gone and the state was thinking of tearing the church down when it bought the property to construct the East Fork State Park. In 1975 a small group of people, many of whom were former members or whose family had been former members, banded together and formed The Old Bethel Church Historical Society. Its purpose was to save the church. About 1978 they obtained a lease from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, and had the church listed on the National Register.

The Historical Society repaired the roof, refinished the pews, restored the pulpit, rebuilt the bell tower, and painted the inside and outside of the church. Of the original 77 lifetime members of the Society approximately 20 remain in the area and perhaps 10 are active. I am a lifetime member but can not help because I live in Columbus, Ohio. Without new blood it will be difficult for the Historical Society to survive. They have services at the church twice a year; on Memorial Day and a Homecoming each fall. When my father, Donnie Johns, died in 1978 I suggested that those who wished could make contribution to the Historical Society in his memory. With that money the old pulpit chairs were refinished and reupholstered.

All that I have written thus far tells how my interest in The Old Bethel Church and Cemetery developed but it doesn't indicate why and how I found the original historical journals of the church. The WHY is because I am a person filled with curiosity and an interest in history. So one day when I was thinking about the closing of the Old Bethel Church I wondered what happens to the records of any church when it ceases to function, and that is where the HOW comes into the story. Since I am a Methodist I concluded that if anyone knew the answer to that question it should be the Bishop. So I called the Bishop of our district and he said that the records should have been given to the District Superintendent, and ultimately to The Methodist Archives at Ohio Wesleyan University, Delaware, Ohio. The Curator at The Beeghly Library at Ohio Wesleyan said that they didn't have any records from the Old Bethel Church. Being a very determined person, I set about to find them.

I called the office of the Superintendent of the Wilmington District of the West Ohio Conference and asked them to see if they had the records. I received a letter saying that a thorough search of the records in their district office attic had been made but that no membership book nor records had been found. They did find the folder with the records of the last Charge Conference held at Old Bethel, and they sent copies of those.

Still not being willing to admit that I had come to the end of a blind alley, I pondered about what some lay person could have decided to do with those records under the stress of closing the church for the last time. The closest Methodist church would have been the one in Bethel. So I called the United Methodist Church in Bethel, Ohio and was fortunate to find the secretary in. When I told her what I was searching for she said that she thought she remembered seeing a box marked Old Bethel way back in the corner of a storage. room. I told her that I would stay on the line if she would please find the box and after opening it tell me what she found. She found some hard-bound journals from Old BetheL I asked her if they had a copying machine. When she said that they had one, of course I also asked if she would please copy a few random pages and send them to me.

When they arrived I was delighted. They were beautifully handwritten pages entitled History of Old Bethel Church! They included the story of the first church made of logs from the surrounding forest, constructed in 1804 on land donated by Rev. John Collins and later replaced by the frame church. I immediately called the Methodist Archives at Ohio Wesleyan University and the Curator wrote to the United Methodist Church in Bethel telling them to release all of the records to me. I made an appointment with the secretary and my husband and I drove down and picked them up. There were four journals and I read them all before taking them to The Methodist Archives. By this time I had spent more than $100 including phone calls, trips to Delaware and Bethel, meals enroute and postage. I didn't expect to be reimbursed but when the Curator said that the library would like to show its appreciation in some way, I suggested that they xerox the journals for me. They did exactly that.

When the large box of the copies arrived I thought about various ways I could use them, and wondered how I could share anything I might write from the information in those wonderful Old Bethel Journals. The obvious way would be to give a copy of whatever I wrote to The Clermont County Genealogical Society to put on the shelf in the genealogical section of The Doris Wood Library in Batavia, Ohio. At that moment I knew exactly what to do. Having very strong family and emotional ties to Batavia and being a lifetime member of the Society, I contributed the Old Bethel Church Journals to The Clermont County Genealogical Society. The Society has made an index for the journals and will give a copy to the Methodist Archives in addition to the one in the Batavia Library. Sections of the Old Bethel Church Journals may be printed in the Society's newsletters from time to time, and The Church of The Latter Day Saints is putting everything on microfilm. Now that is really sharing what I finally found!

,Norma Johns Wuichet

3482 LaRochelle Drive

Columbus, Ohio 43221

Anna Clara (Hitch) Irwin’s birth certificate–born 26 December 1882 in Cincinnati, Hamilton County, Ohio and resident of Clermont County, Ohio–child of John Wesley Hitch and Julia Prather

My great-grandmother, Anna Clara (Hitch) Irwin was born in Cincinnati, Hamilton County, Ohio on Tuesday, 26 December 1882. Her parents, John Wesley Hitch and Julia Prather residence was in Tate Township, Clermont County, Ohio. She must have been born while visiting family in Cincinnati during the Christmas season. I wonder who they were visiting during this time. Anna’s birth record was not recorded until June 1883 when the weather was better.