George Fetters b. 1748 Oley, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania, British Colonial America d. 1823 Stark County, Ohio, United States: Tangled Roots

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Name	George Fetters
Born	1748	Oley, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania, British Colonial America [1, 2]
	(now Berks Co.)
Gender	Male
Census	1779	Bedford Township, Bedford County, Pennsylvania, United States [3]
	Septennial Census as George Feather
Census	1786	Frankstown Township, Bedford County, Pennsylvania, United States [4]
	Septennial Census as George Fetter
Tax Record	1786	Frankstown Township, Bedford County, Pennsylvania, United States [5]
	as George Fetter
Tax Record	1788	Frankstown Township, Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania, United States
	on 100 acres, 2 horses and 3 cattle
Census	1790	Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania, United States [6]
	as George Fetter
Land Patent	27 Sep 1790	Frankstown Township, Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania, United States [7, 8]
	survey of 100 acres
Property	6 Feb 1796	Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania, United States [9]
	Sale of Fetters Farm
Land Patent	5 Apr 1796	Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania, United States [10]
	survey of 400 acres
Census	1800	Allegheny Township, Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania, United States [11]
	as George Fetters
Land Patent	30 Jul 1812	Stark County, Ohio, United States [12]
	received Land Patent CV-0014-524 for 160 acres
	Address: (Ohio River Survey, South East Quarter of Section 29, Township 9
Land Patent	23 Jan 1813	Stark County, Ohio, United States [13, 14]
	received Land Patent CV-0017-370 for 160 acres
	Address: (Ohio River Survey, South West Quarter, Section 24, Township 9 N
Land Patent	5 Jun 1816	Stark County, Ohio, United States [15]
	received Land Patent CV-0029-119 for 160 acres
	Address: (Ohio River Survey, South East Quarter, Section 24, Township 9 N
Newspaper	Ohio Repository (Canton)
Died	1823	Stark County, Ohio, United States [16]
Buried	1823	East Sparta, Stark County, Ohio, United States [2]
	Address: East Sparta Cemetery
Probate	22 Dec 1823	Stark County, Ohio, United States [17, 18, 19, 20]
Newspaper	5 Apr 1825
	Public Sale By virtue of an order from the Court of Common Pleas of Stark County, to me directed, I will offer for sale, at the door of the Court house in Canton, on the 30th day of April inst the follinwing valuable property belonging to the estate of George Fetters, deceased, viz. All the right, title and interest of the said deceased, in and to the south half of section o 14, in township No 9, of range No 8-situated about 10 miles south of Canton. Thirty-eight acres of which, are to be sold subject to the wido's right of dower. Also, One Hundred and Three Acres of the south east quarter of Section No 29, in township No. 9, of Range No 8-being exclusive of 80 acres off of and extending the whole length of the east side of said quarter, in a long square-Also situated 10 miles from Canton. The whole of which is to be sold subject to the widow's right of dower. Sale to commence aat 10 o'clock, A. M. when the terms will be made known. Timothy Reed, Sheriff
Person ID	I603	TangledRoots
Last Modified	23 Oct 2021

Father	Johan Michael Fetter, b. 2 Dec 1727, Freinsheim, Rheinland-Palatinate, Germany , d. Bef 8 Dec 1789, Frankstown Township, Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania, United States (Age < 62 years)
Mother	Maria Catharina Schmied, b. 28 Feb 1728, d. Aft 1796 (Age > 69 years)
Married	24 Nov 1747	New Providence Township, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania, British Colonial America
Family ID	F377	Group Sheet \| Family Chart

Family Elizabeth Switzer, b. 1746, Berks County, Pennsylvania, British Colonial America , d. Bef 31 Oct 1826, Stark County, Ohio, United States (Age < 80 years)

Married 1770 Pennsylvania, British Colonial America [21]

Children

	1. Catherine Fetters, b. 1771, Bedford County, Pennsylvania, British Colonial America , d. 1861, Carroll County, Ohio, United States (Age 90 years)
	2. Jacob Fetters, b. 1774, Bedford County, Pennsylvania, British Colonial America , d. 1 Jan 1816, Blair County, Pennsylvania, United States (Age 42 years)
	3. Peter Fetters, b. 1777, Bedford County, Pennsylvania, United States , d. 1823 (Age 46 years)
	4. Elizabeth Fetters, b. Abt 1780, Bedford County, Pennsylvania, United States , d. Yes, date unknown
	5. Phillip Fetters, b. 1782, Bedford County, Pennsylvania, United States , d. 24 Mar 1856, Stark County, Ohio, United States (Age 74 years)
	6. Rosanna Fetters, b. 1783, Bedford County, Pennsylvania, United States , d. 1853 (Age 70 years)
	7. George Fetters, Jr., b. 1787, Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania, United States , d. 1845, Stark County, Ohio, United States (Age 58 years)
	8. Michael Fetters, b. 1788, Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania, United States , d. 8 May 1862, Shanesville, Tuscarawas County, Ohio, United States (Age 74 years)
	9. Rachel Fetters, b. 1789, Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania, United States , d. 1870, Kosciusko County, Indiana, United States (Age 81 years)
	10. John Fetters, b. 1791, Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania, United States , d. 21 Sep 1876, Plain Township, Stark County, Ohio, United States (Age 85 years)
	11. Elizabeth Fetters, b. 1792, Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania, United States , d. Yes, date unknown
	12. Mary Fetters, b. 1795, Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania, United States , d. Yes, date unknown
	13. Daniel Fetters, b. Abt 1803, Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania, United States , d. 21 Aug 1881 (Age 78 years)

Last Modified 16 Jan 2022

Family ID F202 Group Sheet | Family Chart

Notes

...George Fetters, Michael's oldest boy, married Elizabeth Switzer and the couple had a family of 12 between 1770 and 1790. George appeared on the Bedford Township, Bedford Co. tax lists in 1778. by 1784. he had a family of seven and in the next six years, it grew to eleven. On March 11, 1789, George paid 25 pounds for 300 acres to James Ferrel who held a warrant issued to Michael Hodgkins on November 15, 1785. The land was located on the headwaters of the Little Juniata River in Antis Township next to Thomas and John Coleman's property. He held 116 acres of this land for the rest of his life.
...George administered his father's estate at his mother's request in 1789. He served as an attorney in Allegheny Township of Huntingdon County when he became his brother Daniel's attorney in 1809.
...George had served as overseer of the poor for Allegheny Township in 1797. He was County Supervisor in 1798 and 1800, and he served as Constable in 1801.
...In the 1800 census, George was maintaining a household of 16 which probably included some in-law children and grandchildren. He owned several sections of land in Blair County including a warrant for 400 acres next to John Blair and William Fetters Improvement in Allegheny Township. On December 2, 1813, he sold his land to Adam Crick and John Riggie for $150.00.
... He purchased and consolidated several small tracts of land for $398.20 on july 2, 1811. This 199 acres next to John Holliday's property was later sold to Thomas Snyder for $1,500.00.
...George also held a warrant issued on September 27, 1780 for 100 acres on the west branch to Blair's Mill Branch along the foot of Alleghney Mountain between the branch and the olf gap where the Indian path led to Kitanning Old Town from Frankstown.
...In 1810 and 1811 George was reappointed Overseer of the Poor.
...In 1812, George secured a patent with the date of July 30 from President Madison through the Steubenville, Ohio Land Office and purchased 163.2 acres in Stark County, Ohio at $2.00 an acre. A short time later, George and his family moved to Stark Co. leaving at least the oldest son, Jacob, on the Antis Township property in Blair Co. another son, George Jr., who was raising his own family, also stayed behind, but four years later moved to Stark Co.
...George (Sr.) found that the land he had purchased was heavily timbered in this section of Pike Township and he was forced to clear it with only simple tools and the help of his sons: George, Philip and Daniel.

...George Fetter had been one of the early settlers in the Upper Juniata Valley in Pennsylvania. He had joined his father and brothers at their grist mill (the Fetter's Mill Tract) and helped defend the area at Fetter's Fort during the Revolutionary War. He married Elizabeth Switzer in 1770, and first appeared on the Tax Lists of Bedford Township in 1776. In the 1788 Assessment of Frankstown, when it became a part of Huntingdon County, he owned 100 acres of land, 2 horses and 2 cows. valued at 129 pounds.
...His main property was on the headwaters of the Little Juniata River in Antis Township north of Altoona, between Riggles Gap Run and Sugar Run, near the Antis Cemetery and Salem Church. On march 11, 1789 he paid 25 pounds for this 400-acre property to James Ferrel, who held a warrant issued to Michael Hodgkins on November 15, 1785. It was located on Clearfield Creek, next to Thomas and John Coleman's property. He held 116 acres of this land for the rest of his life.
...George Fetter also bought other sections of land in Blair and Huntingdon Counties, including:

...Warrant #105 dated April 5, 1798 for 400 acres next to John Blair and William Fetters Improvement in Allegheny Township. On December 2, 1813 he sold this land to Adam Crick and John Riggle for $150.00.
...A warrant issued September 27, 1790 for 100 acres on the west branch of Blair's Mill Branch, along the foot of Allegheny Mountain, between the branch and the gap where the old Indian path led to Kittanning.
...On July 2, 1811 he purchased and consolidated several small tracts of land for $398.10. these 199 acres, next to John Holliday's property, were later sold to Thomas Snyder for $1,500.

...In the 1790 census, George Fetter was maintaining a household of 11 and in 1800, the family had increased to 16, which probably included some in-law children and grandchildren.
...The 1794 Tax List for Allegheny Township (at that time embracing areas of the present Allegheny, Logan and Antis Townships) shows that George owned 400 acres; and his brothers Michael Jr. and John each owned 30 acres.
...George and his brother Daniel had administered their father's estate, at their mother's request, in 1789. George served as an attorney in Allegheny Township in 1809, when Daniel (then living in Ohio) requested George to collect all debts due him. George also held the following Allegheny Township offices:

1797 - Appraiser
1798 - Overseer of the Poor
1800 - Overseer of the Poor
1801 - Constable
1810 - Overseer of the Poor
1811 - Overseer of the Poor

...While still a resident of Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania, George Fetter began buying land in Pike Township, Stark County, Ohio, through the Land Office at Steubenville, Ohio. His first purchase was the Southeast Quarter of Section 29 (Township 9, Range 8), which he acquired for $2 an acre. He received a U. S. Patent signed by President James Madison for this land (160 acres) on July 30, 1812. This tract was to become the "Homestead Farm" for three generations of Fetters - George, his son George Jr., and grandson Benjamin. Then on Quarter of Section 24, which lies northeast of the present town of East Sparta. In May of 1813, Peter Michael (husband of George's daughter Catherine) bought land in the Southeast Quarter of Section 24 at the Steubenville Land Office, and it was paid in full March 18, 1816 ($326.50). The Patent, when issued on June 5, 1816, was to George Fetters, as assignee of Peter Michael. Perhaps this was to George's son, George Fetters Jr.
...So, in late 1812, George Fetter (at age 64), his wife Elizabeth and most of his married children migrated to Ohio. With this move, their surname now became "Fetters". George and Elizabeth took up residence on the heavily-timbered land of Section 29, and his sons Phillip, Daniel and George Jr. (after his arrival in 1815) helped him clear this land. His oldest son Jacob stayed in Pennsylvania on his own 100-acre property in Antis Township, next to his father's 116 acres there. After Jacob's untimely death in 1815, leaving ten children ranging in age from 20 down to 3 months, George and Elizabeth established a trust with their 116 acres of land in Antis Township, for the better maintenance, support and livelihood of the grandchildren, the heirs of Jacob Fetter.
...Canton, the county seat of Stark County, consisted of 30 inhabitants in 1815. Alex Hurford, who was born in Canton in 1817, described the early days there in a conversation with Henry Howe in 1846:

..."Before the building of the Ohio canal, the people were wretchedly poor for the want of a market. Within my memory, the farming folks used to start to church Sundays barefoot, carrying their shoes and stockings in a handkerchief until they got to the foot of south hill, near where Aultman & Company's works now are, when they would stop and put them on. At that time wheat brought but 25¢ a bushel and had no outlet except by wagon to Cleveland and Pittsburg.
..."The only things that would bring cash were beeswax and ginseng. Store coffee then cost 50¢ a pound. It could not be bought without ginseng, beeswax or money. Most well-to-do families made it a point to have store coffee on Sunday; on other days used coffee from burnt rye or wheat. My father, about 1823, kept a store on the southeast corner of Market Square. He paid about 25¢ a pound for ginseng. It was cut into, say, about four-inch pieces and strung on strings, like as our grandmothers used to string their apples for drying. The ginseng was sent to Pittsburg in wagons and thence to China... They used it as a substitute for opium and as joss sticks, to burn as incense before their idols.
..."My father was at the beginning, farmer, miller and distiller. Whiskey sold for two cents a dram, or 18¢ a gallon: and everybody drank. in the spring of 1821 or 1822, he loaded two flat-boats with whiskey at Bethlehem in this county, for New Orleans. The river changed its name according to the branches that poured into it. At Bethlehem it was the 'Tuscarawas', lower down 'White Woman', then 'White Woman' was succeeded by 'One Leg', and that went into the 'Muskingum', which in the Indian signifies an 'Elk's Eye', and next came the Ohio, the 'Beautiful river'. This swelled the 'Father of Waters' and so at last, on the bosom of these many waters, father's whiskey got to New Orleans.
..."When the idea of the Ohio canal going through Canton was broached, it met with great opposition from some of the leading men, who fought it away, and it was located eight miles west and made the town of Massillon, and that sunk Canton for 20 years. Among its opponents were three old doctors, who shook their heads, looked wise and said it would increase the ague; almost everybody was then shaking with the ague. Every season seven out of ten had their turn at the shakes... My father claimed the canal would create a current and drain the swamps. When it was finished the sanitary effect of the measure was astonishing. It drained the swamps throughout its course and malaria largely disappeared through its influence.
..."The very first state of the work was beneficial. The canal was principally dug by Ohio farm boys; eldest sons of the farmers who earned from $6 to $10 per month and boarded at home; this with a larger part of them was about the first chance that they ever had to get a whack at any money. And this greatly benefited the farming people; put them in happy smiling frames of mind. Massillon at once sprang into a great wheat market for a large section of country: for Stark, Carroll, Wayne, Holmes and Richland Counties."

...On October 17, 1823 George Fetters sold 80 acres of his Southeast Quarter of Section 29 to his son John. George died without a will in late 1823, at age 75. The "History of Canton and Stark County" published in 1904, reported that George "commanded the high regard of all who knew him".
...Christian Swenk, the administrator of his estate, reported to the court the final settlement that was made:

Sale of Personal property $ 385.12
Amount taken by widow at appraisement 99.19
Amount of debts collected 606.00
Total 1,090.31

...The court ordered the sale of the 160-acre portion (Southwest Quarter, Section 24) of his estate and on March 18, 1826 it was offered for sale at the door of the Stark County Courthouse in Canton. Phillip Fetters purchased it for $314. being the highest and best bidder according to Timothy Reed, Sheriff.
...George Fetters' son John died without a will in 1828, and after a court suit, the 80 acres of "Homestead Farm" were awarded to George Fetters, Jr.

Sources

[S580] Book: The Michael Fetters Family, 929.273 F431c., pg. 31.
Born c. 1748 in Oley, Philadelphia County, Pa., son of Michael and Catherine Fetter.
[S1888] Find A Grave, Find A Grave Memorial# 106913504 - George Fetters.
George Fetters
Birth: 1745
Death: 1823
Burial: East Sparta Cemetery, East Sparta, Stark County. Ohio, USA

Maintained by: Jillian Murray
Originally Created by: L Baus Pratt
Record added: Mar 18, 2013
Find A Grave Memorial# 106913504
East Sparta, Stark County, Ohio
George Fetters 1745-1823
Elizabeth Switzer Fetters 1746-1826
[S1736] 1799 Septennial Census: Pennsylvania, Bedford County, Bedford Township, p107.
Jacob Feather
George Feather
Bedford Township, Bedford County, Pennsyvania
[S1741] 1786 Septennial Census: Pennsylvania, Bedford County, p18 Frankstown Township.
Michael Fetter
Michael Fetter, Jr.
George Fetter
Frankstown Township, Bedford County, Pennsylvania
[S1625] Pennsylvania: Tax and Exoneration, 1768-1801, p43 Frankstown, Bedford County.
Frankstown, Bedford County, Pennsylvania
Michael Fetter
Michael Fetter, Junior
George Fetter
Frankstown, Bedford County, Pennsylvania
Michael Fetter
Michael Fetter, Jr.
George Fetter
[S1825] 1790 Federal Census: Pennsylvania, Huntingdon County, Huntingdon County, p115.
Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania
p115
Michle Fetter
Males Under 16 - 2
Males 16 and over - 2
Females - 2

Catrin Fetter
Males under 16 - 1
Males 16 and over - 3
Females - 2

George Fetter
Males under 16 - 5
Males 16 and over - 1
Females - 5

John Mansfield
Males under 16 - 1
Males 16 and over - 2
Females - 4
Huntingdon County
[S1745] Pennsylvania: State Archives Warrant Registers 1733-1957, p36 #2 George Fetters.
#2
Name of Warrantee: George Fetters
Description of Warrant: survey
Quantity: 100 acres
Warrant Location: Frankstown Twp.
Date of Warrant: 27 Sept 1790
Date of Return (Appropriated)
[S1744] Pennsylvania: Land Warrants and Applications, #105 George Fetter.
#105
Georgia Fetter
5 April 1796
Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania
400 acres
Huntingtingdon County, Pennsylvania
100 Acres Warrant #2
27 September 1790Huntingtingdon County, Pennsylvania
100 Acres Warrant #2
27 September 1790Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania
100 Acres
27 September 1790Huntingtingdon County, Pennsylvania
100 Acres Warrant #2
31 July1790
[S1987] Pennsylvania: Bedford County, Deed Records, volume E, page 8; Sale of Fetters Farm; 6 February 1796.
Bedford County, Pennsylvania
6 February 1796
Sale of Fetters Farm
Heirs to the Estate of Michael Fetters deceased
Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania
Heirs to the Estate of Michael Fetters deceased
6 February 1796
[S1744] Pennsylvania: Land Warrants and Applications, Warrant 105 George Fetters.
#105
George Fetter
5 April 1796
Huntingdon County
400 Acres
Returned 6 November 1815
Huntingtingdon County, Pennsylvania
400 Acres Warrant #105
5 April 1796Huntingtingdon County, Pennsylvania
400 Acres by Land Grant
5 April 1796
[S1830] 1800 Federal Census: Pennsylvania, Huntingdon County, p124 Alleghany Township.
George Fetters
Males under age 10 - 3
Males age 10 and under 16 - 3
Males age 16 and under 26 -2
Males age 45 and over - 1
Females under age 10 - 4
Females age 10 and under 16 - 1
Females age 16 and under 26 -1
Females age 45 and over - 1
Alleghany Township, Huntingdon, County, Pennsylvania
[S1647] United States: BLM GLO Records, #524 George Fetters.
Land Patent: George Fetter
40 acres, Credit
Accession Number: CV-0014-524
Certificate Number: 3833
Location: Stark County, Ohio (Ohio River Survey, South East Quarter of Section 29, Township 9 North, Range 8 West)
Date: 30 July 1812
CV-0014-524 -detailStark County, Ohio
CV-0014-524
160 acres
[S1647] United States: BLM GLO Records, CV-0017-370.
Land Patent: George Fetter
160 acres, Credit
Accession Number: CV-0017-370
Certificate Number:
Location: Stark County, Ohio (Ohio River Survey, South West Quarter, Section 24, Township 9 North, Range 8 West)
Date: 23 January 1813
Stark County, Ohio
CV-0017-370
160 acresStark County, Ohio
CV-0017-370
160 acres
[S1647] United States: BLM GLO Records, #797098 George Fetters.
Stark County, Ohio
George Fetter purchased the southeast Quarter of Section twenty-four in township nine north of Range eight west of the Ohio River Base and Meridian, Ohio, contining one hundred sixty acres of lands directed to sold at Steubenville. 23 January 1813

This patent is granted as and for a patent intended to have been granted and issued on January 23, 1813, but the issuance of which is not sufficiently evidenced by the records of the General Land Office or by other obtainable evidence.
This patent was paid for in 1813 but not issued until 1921 per attached letterStark Coiunty, Ohio
pruchsed by land grant
23 January 1813Stark Coiunty, Ohio
pruchsed by land grant
23 January 1813
[S1647] United States: BLM GLO Records, CV-0029-119.
Land Patent: George Fetters, assignee of Peter Michael
160 acres, Credit
Accession Number: CV-0029-119
Certificate Number:
Location: Stark County, Ohio (Ohio River Survey, South East Quarter, Section 24, Township 9 North, Range 8 West)
Date: 5 June 1816
Stark County, Ohio
CV-0029-119
160 acresStark County, Ohio
CV-0029-119
160 acres
[S580] Book: The Michael Fetters Family, 929.273 F431c., pg. 31.
Died in 1823 in Stark County, Ohio
[S1498] Ohio: Stark County Probate Records, Administration Record vB; p764; George Fetters; Film #892418.
Stark County, Ohio
Administration Record vB p764-770 Film #892418Stark County, Ohio
Administration Record vB p764-770 Film #892418Stark County, Ohio
Administration Record vB p764-770 Film #892418Stark County, Ohio
Administration Record vB p764-770 Film #892418Stark County, Ohio
Administration Record vB p764-770 Film #892418
[S1498] Ohio: Stark County Probate Records, Court of Common Pleas vG; p628-629; George Fetters; Film #4738089.
Stark County, Ohio
Court of Common Pleas vG p628 Film #4738089Stark County, Ohio
Court of Common Pleas vG p628 Film #4738089
[S1498] Ohio: Stark County Probate Records, Court of Common Pleas vH; p164; George Fetters.
Stark County, Ohio
Court of Common Pleas vH-p164Stark County, Ohio
Court of Common Pleas vH-p164Stark County, Ohio
Court of Common Pleas vH-p164
[S1498] Ohio: Stark County Probate Records, vA; p90; George Fetters; Film #892405.
Stark County, Ohio
vA, p90 Film #892405
[S580] Book: The Michael Fetters Family, 929.273 F431c., pg. 31.
Married Elizabeth Switzer in 1770