Anna Barbara _____

Other Events:

• Name: Anna Barbara Felker

Family/Spouse: Johan Jacob Felker. Johan was born in 1674 in Rotterdam, Zuid-Holland, Netherlands; died about 1751 in Tulpehocken, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, British Colonial America. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Apparantly an invalid at the time his father wrote his will. Deceased by 1751. {Source: Gillis, W. Floyd, ""Hormell Family"]

Family/Spouse: Michael Graeff. Michael and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events:

• Name: Maria Eva Velker

Family/Spouse: John Hendrick Hermel. John was born in 1715 in Rotterdam, Zuid-Holland, Netherlands; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Catherine Hormell, daughter of Henry and Maria Eva Felker Hormell, was mentioned in her grandfather, John Felker's will but we know nothing further of her. [Source: W. Floyd Gillis, ""Hormell Family"]

Other Events:

• Military: 25 Apr 1782; Served as Private during the Revolutionary War in Captain Robert Sweeney's Company, Fifth Battalion
• Census: 1800, East Bethleham Township, Washington County, Pennsylvania, United States
• Census: 1820, East Bethlehem, Washington County, Pennsylvania, United States
• History / Bio: 1882; History of Washington County Pennsylvania (Philadelphia: L. H. Everts & Co., 1882), p766

Notes:

WILL
Will dated April 29, 1821
Transcript of Probate Records, Washington County, Pennsylvania
Book 3, pg. 420
Probate: June 6, 1821

In the name of God amen. I Jacob Hormel of Washington County in the State of Pennsylvania being sick and weak in Body but of a sound and disposing mind memory and understanding considering the certainty of death and the uncertainty of the time thereof and being desirous to settle my worldly affairs and thereby be the better prepared to leave this world when it shall please God to call me hence do therefore make and publish this my last will and testament in maner and form following this is to say First and principally I commit my soul into the hands of Almighty God and my body to the earth and to be desently buried at the descretion of my executors herein after named and after my debts and funeral charges are paid I devise and bequeath as follows, Item I give and devise unto my loving wife Jane Hormel one bed and beding, and a maintenance out of my real property during her natural life. Item I give and devise unto my three daughters namely to Catharine (wife of Edward Gearner) one dollar. And to Nancy and Prudence one cow bed and beding and fifty dollars in cash each to be paid to them in gails vz twenty five dollars cow and beding in one year after my descae and twenty five dollars at my said wifes desease Item I give and devise the residue of my real and personal property equaley share and share alike unto my two sons John and William by them paying the said leguese and mentaining my said loving wife Jane Hormell desent comforable at all times in sickness and in health during her natural life. Item and lastly I do hereby constitute and apoint John Rogers and John Baker to be sole Executors of this my last will and testament revoking and annulling all former will by me heretofore made ratifying and confirming this and none other to be my last will and testament In testamoney whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal this twenty ninth day of April in the year of our lord One Thousand eight hundred and twenty one.
Jacob (his x mark) Hormel (seal)
Witnesses:
Jesse Kenworthy
John Fisher
Mary Smith

Jacob Hormell came from the border of France to Pennsylvania in 1789. Jacob served in the militia and obtained a tract of land as depreciated pay.

The tract was surveyed June 1, 1789, and was given the name "Garland". Jacob built a log cabin on the farm Garland. While rolling logs to build his log cabin he was bitten by a copperhead snake. He survived the bite by the use of whiskey, both externally and internally. He finished the cabin and lived in it, doing his own house keeping until 1797 when he married Jane Miller who came from Ireland.

As Jacob's family was rather large for the one room log cabin, he built a second log cabin, larger than the first; one large room with a sleeping room above. It was considered a mansion when it was finished, and the largest home at that time in the surrounding country.

Jacob and Jane Hormell lived and raised their family in Washington County, Pennsylvania, where Jacob died of old age in 1821 and Jane died after him. Jacob was 84 years old at the time of his death.

At Jacob Hormell's death he gave the farm Garland to his sons, John and William. William died from a snake bite in 1826. After William's death, John purchased William's share of the Garland. [Source: Stanley Wright Aultz, "Chronicles of a Griffis Family", Miamisburg, Ohio: S. W. Aultz, 1981 Sarah Fenton Brown Hathaway, "History of the HorMell Family 1737-1924]

The following is found in the Pennsylvania Archives where Jacob Hormell sent for his pay for his services in the Revolutionary War.
"sir, plea to sand me my pay for my months tower of Dauty.
By the Bayer John Hanrey and in so Dowing you will oblige
your Oumbel sat. and this is a Recpt for the same, etc.
To Col'o James Marshall
Jacob Hormell"
January 20, 1785.

According to Francis E. Shaw, Jacob Hormell was married before his marriage late in life to Jane Miller. Francis did not know the lady's name. He writes that there was a daughter named, Polly, from this first marriage. She married Jesse Jackson. We find several Jackson families in this area at that time. Their names appear in Quaker records. The name Jesse Jackson appears several times. Tax records of 1785 indicate Jacob Hormell (Jacob Harible) was married. In 1793 Jacob Hormell (Jacob Hormel) is listed as being single.

Polly Hormell Jackson may have died before her father in 1821, possibly without issue as we find she is not mentioned in Jacob's will.

We find that Jacob Hormell purchased 136 acres from his brother, John and his wife, Eleanor, on October 31, 1789. Also, Jacob purchased 70-1/2 acres from Henry Hormell in 1789. Consideration 100 pounds. The consideration for the land purchased from John was 200 pounds. Jacob Hormell then called his farm of 206-1/2 acres "Garland." On this farm he had built a one-room log house. Later a two-story log house was built. while rolling logs for one of these houses he was bitten by a rattlesnake. His life was spared by the use of whiskey which was easy to obtain in those days.

In 1796 Nathan Walton and his wife, Mary Miller Walton, settled on an adjoining farm to Jacob Hormell. This small farm of 36 acres was deeded March 16, 1797 and the deed recorded October 9, 1797 from John Ludwich Summers. amount was $420.00. Neighboring farms were that of Jacob Hormell, Richard Atherton, Joseph Woodfill and J. Newport. Nathan Walton was crippled early in life by a hip injury and walked with a cane, later a crutch. He followed the tailor trade. /Both Nathan and Mary were members of the Westland Society of Friends.. Nathan and Mary Walton had no children of their own but were guardians of Mary's youngest brother, Levi and two sisters, Jane and Hannah.

In 1797 Jacob employed Jane Miller to dry apples for him on the shares. When it was time to divide the apples, Jacob exclaimed:
"Thee need not divide the apples, if Thee is willing Thee can have them all."

Jane being willing, they were happily married Jacob being sixty years of age and Jane about twenty-five.

Jane Miller was born about 1772 the daughter of Robert and Mary Shaw Miller.

Around 1800, Jacob Hormell built another log house. It was a square house with a door facing northeast, a window facing southeast and another window facing southwest on the first floor which consisted of one large room. In the northwest corner was a closed in circular stairway leading to the one room above which also had a window in the southeast and one in the southwest. A picture in the HorMell book show a gabled roof but a picture in the "Centre to Center" book written 1976, shows the roof sloping up from all four sides to a point. My father and I questioned this in 1946 after having visited the log house.

We asked my father's first cousin, Clayton Gillis, about the roof. Clayton said it had always been as we were seeing it in 1946. no one has ever explained the difference between the picture taken in the 1920's and the way the roof appeared in 1946. My father and I found the log house to be rather solid in 1946 although all the window panes were gone exposing the inside to the weather. Sometime after the two-story log house was built a frame lean-to kitchen was added to the northwestern side. This log house stood near the edge of a deep valley where the Monongahela River flows looking over into Fayette County. In the Fall of 1986, my cousin, Betty Binns, and I visited the site and found the lean-to kitchen gone and roof gone from the log part. The rest of the house was in a great state of decay. I am now told it is completely destroyed.

In this log house Jacob Hormell died of old age in 1821 and was interred in Westland (Society of Friends) Cemetery two miles west from his home. A copy of his will is attached. Jane Miller Hormell, wife of Jacob Hormell died December 29, 1824 and was buried in the Westland Cemetery.

Their graves were unmarked as the Society of Friends did not approve of monuments. They believed that if you lived a good life, that was your memorial.

I find no record that Jacob and Jane Miller Hormell were members of the Society of Friends.

In 1986, Thelma Nicholson, a gr gr granddaughter of Jacob Hormell had a small flag stand erected fro Jacob Hormell and I arranged for the erection of a bronze plaque for Jacob Hormell. The plaque was provided by the Veterans Administration. We guessed at the approximate location of Jacob's grave which is in the Quaker section of the cemetery. [Source: W. Floyd Gillis, "Hormell Family", pg. 3,4]

The following is found in the Pennsylvania Archives where Jacob Hormell sent for his pay for his services in the Revolutionary War.
"sir, ples (sic) to sand (sic) me my pay for my months tower (sic) of Dauty (sic).
By the Rayer John Hanrey and in so Dowing you will oblige your oumbel (sic) sat. (sic) and this is a Recpt for the same, etc.
To Col'o James Marshall Jacob Hormell
January 20, 1785.

Henry Hormell, cousin of Jacob, and his wife settled October 1, 1770 on ground for which they obtained a warrant from Philadelphia February, 1786. The acroage (sic) was 414 acres called "Peach Garden." Henry sold to Jacob Hormell 70 1/2 acres of his farm for the sum of 100 pounds in 1789.

Near the tract of land called "Peach Garden) (sic) on the shores of the Monongahela, James and Nancy Woodfill Denbo settled in 1770. Nancy Denbo was a sister of Joseph Woodfill. The Denbo family met a tragic end in the 1770's. One day in the fall season some of the men of the community decided to go into the forest to hunt game for the winter. At the end of the day's hunting they returned to find the cabin had been raided by Indians. The oldest child was taken captive. Nancy Woodfill Denbo and her two small children scalped and their bodies left in the burning cabin. The mother and her two children were bured at what is now Taylor Church. James Denbo set out in pursuit of the Indians and was never seen or heard of again.

John Hormell, younger brother of Jacob Hormell, and his wife settled in 1770 on ground they obtained a (sic) warrant from Philadelphia October 1, 1786. This ground of 393 acres was called "Eutaw." John sold to Jacob Hormell in 1780, 130 acres for the sum of 200 pounds.

With these two purchases, one from Henry and the other from John, Jacob now had a farm of
200 1/2 acres. This farm was located on the southern edge of what is known as Low Hill today. Jacob called his farm "Garland."

Henry Hormell was one of the trustees of Taylor Methodist Church in the late 1700's.

Jacob Hormell built a log cabin on his farm. While he was rolling logs to build his cabin he was bitten by a copperhead snake. His life was saved by the use of whiskey, which was easy to obtain in those days. He finished the cabin and lived in it, doing his own housekeeping.

In 1796, Nathan Walton and his wife, Mary Miller Walton, settled on an adjoining farm to Jacob's. Nathan was crippled early in life by a hip injury and walked with a cane, later a crutch. He followed the tailor trade. Both Nathan and Mary were members of the Westland Society of Friends. Nathan and Mary had no children of their own but were guardians of Mary's youngest brother, Levi, and two sisters, Jane and Hannah.

In 1797, Jacob employed Jane Miller to dry apples for him on the shares. When it was time to divide the apples, Jacob exclaimed, "Thee need not divide the apples; if thee is willing, thee can have them all." Jane being willing, they were happily married, Jacob being sixty years of age and Jane twenty-five.

Jacob and Jane Miller Hormell had five children. They were: Katherine b 11-16-1799; John b 5-6-1801; Nancy b 1803; Prudence b 1804 and William b 1805.

Since Jacob and Jane's family became rather large for a one-room log cabin, Jacob built a larger log cabin consisting of a root cellar (not a full basement), one room on the first floor, a winding stairway leading to a large bedroom on the second floor. Years later a frame kitchen was added to the cabin. This log cabin, built 175 years ago, still stands today although not lived in for many years.

Jacob Hormell died on his farm in 1821 at the age of 84, and was buried in the Quaker burying ground at Westland. Jane, his wife, died at the age of 52 on 12-29-1824 and was also buried in the Quaker plot at Westland. (Bob, this is where my maternal grandparents are buried - and I wouldn't be surprised if some of the other close family members were buried there also._

Of their daughters, the eldest, Katherine married Edward Gardner and went West.

Prudence married William Shaw and settled in Columbiana Co, OH and had a family.

Nancy married Samuel Smith and about 1850 they removed to the state of Indiana where she deceased not too many years afterwards. They had four children: Reason, William, James and John b 1844. After Nancy's death the youngest son, John, came back to Pennsylvania to reside with his Uncle John Hormell on the farm "Garland." He later farmed for Alberta Theakston Hormell, widow of Charles Hormell, and her sister, Leah Theakston, where he died at the age of 68 in 1912. He was buried near his Uncle John Hormell at Westland.

William Hormell, son of Jacob and Jane, died at the age of 21 of snake bite in 1826. He was interred in the Quaker section of Westland.

John Hormell purchased his brother William's share in the farm "Garland" at William's death and resided there his entire life.

History / Bio:

John and Jacob Hormel were among the earliest settlers of East Bethlehem township. John warranted a tract of land Feb. 16, 1786, which contained three hundred and ninety-three acres, and was surveyed June 1, 1786, and given the name of "Garland." Jacob Hormel resided upon the tract "Garland" until his death in 1821, and left it to his sons, William and John Hormel, Jr. William Hormel died in 1827, and John Hormel then purchased his share and still owns the whole property. Thus it has been in the possession of the Hormel family nearly one hundred years, John Hormel, Jr., was born in 1801, and is now past eighty years of age. Two younger members of the Hormel family, Robert and Nathan, served in the war of the Rebellion. Both enlisted Sept. 5, 1861, in Company H, Seventh Pennsylvania Cavalry, Robert serving until September, 1865, and Nathan receiving his discharge April 30, 1862.

Buried:
Quaker section

Jacob married Jane Miller in 1797 in Low Hill, Washington County, Pennsylvania, United States. Jane was born in 1772 in Richland Township, Bucks County, Pennsylvania, British Colonial America; died on 29 Dec 1824 in Low Hill, Washington County, Pennsylvania, United States; was buried in Dec 1824 in Washington County, Pennsylvania, United States. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events:

• Military: Revolutionary War
• Property: 16 Feb 1786, East Bethleham Township, Washington County, Pennsylvania, United States; filed an application for a Warrant to purchase 400 acres
• Survey: 7 Apr 1788, East Bethlehem, Washington County, Pennsylvania, United States; in pursuance of the warrant granted to John Hormall the tract of land called Garland was surveyed on 1 June 1786 and returned
• Land Patent: 8 Apr 1788, East Bethleham Township, Washington County, Pennsylvania, United States; was granted a Patent for a tract of land called "Eutaw" containing 398½ acres for the price of 12 Pounds 8 Shillings
• Property: 31 Jan 1811, Butler County, Ohio, United States; purchased 641.76 acres for $1000 from Leonard Rush; Address:
  (Section 30, Township 2, Range 4 East)
• Property: 2 Feb 1811, Butler County, Ohio, United States; sold 295.25 acres $1771.50 to Samuel Mattix; Address:
  (part of Section 30, Township 2, Range 4 East)
• Property: 21 Feb 1811, Butler County, Ohio, United States; sold 75 acres for $300 to Aaron Southard; Address:
  (part of Section 30, Township 2, Range 4 East)
• Property: 18 May 1811, Butler County, Ohio, United States; sold 50 acres for $200 to David Patten; Address:
  (part of Section 30, Township 2, Range 4 East)
• Property: 1 Jan 1816, Butler County, Ohio, United States; sold 163.75 acres for $859.12½ to Theophilus Eglesfield; Address:
  (part of Section 30, Township 2, Range 4 East)
• Will: Apr 1818, Warren County, Ohio, United States; Codicil was added 15 April 1822
• Probate: 1 Feb 1823, Warren County, Ohio, United States
• Newspaper: 27 Nov 1824; The Western Star (Lebanon, Ohio), 27 November 1824, p3
• History / Bio: 1882; History of Washington County Pennsylvania (Philadelphia: L. H. Everts & Co., 1882), p766
• Newspaper: 13 Sep 1952; The Journal Herald (Dayton, Ohio), 13 September 1952, p21

Notes:

In the 1750's, Forbes Road between St. Loudon through Ft. Bedford was built to Ft. Pitt at the forks of the Ohio, and Gist's Trace was built from Cumberland, Maryland, to the Monongahela River area south of Ft. Pitt. At first, it was illegal for the white man to settle there since it was considered Indian territory. However, in 1768, the Treaty of Ft. Stanwix opened the whole region south and east of the Ohio River. A land office was established at Pittsburgh in 1769 and by 1771, the population in the region reached 10,000 families.

In 1770, John Hormell settled on a tract of land situated on the West side of Monongahela River, now in Washington County, Pennsylvania and became one of the first frontiersmen on the new western Pennsylvania frontier. His land was finally officially surveyed in 1786 and included 398-1/2 acres. The estate was to be called "Eutaw" and began at a Box Elder tree on the bank of the Monongahela River and ran by land of Jonas Potts, John Jenkinson, and Henry Hormell, and up said river to the place of beginning. The land patent from Philadelphia was issued on April 8, 1788, and in October, 1789, John and his wife Eleanor sold 135 acres of "Eutaw" to Jacob Hormell for 200 pounds lawful money of Pennsylvania. It is presumed that both Henry (born on January 1, 1747 and died in Warren County, Ohio, on February 16, 1834) and Jacob Hormell (born in 1737) were brothers of John Hormell, Sr. Jacob called his 135 acres "Garland" and lived there until his death, in 1821, raising his family and passing it onto his heirs.

John Hormell, who was born in 1743 was already 27 when he settled with his wife Eleanor, aged 29, on the Pennsylvania frontier to build a new life from scratch on land that had to be cleared and developed out of the forest.

John was enrolled during 1781 and 1782 as a Private First Class in Captain Robert Sweeny's Sixth Company, Fifth Battalion, of the Washington County, Militia during the Revolutionary War, along with his two brothers. It is not known whether or not the Hormell brothers saw any action against the Indians.

After the end of the Revolutionary War, John and Eleanor continued to raise their family which eventually included, besides their son John, seven daughters. The 1788 tax records for East Bethlehem Twp. in Washington County, Pa., show John Hormell as owning only about 278 acres of the original 400 acres he claimed in 1786. For this land he paid 173 shillings in land tax. He also paid 17 shillings tax for the three horses he owned, 8 shillings for four cows, 30 shillings for two stills he owned and operated, and 90 shillings for the two "Neagors" he owned. This was considered high by their standards and they had to be rather prosperous in order to pay it. The 1794 tax records show John Hormell's taxes as follows: 280 acres-140 shillings, 1 negro-40 shillings, 5 horses-30 shillings, 5 cows-12 shillings.

Slavery was abolished gradually in Pennsylvania by a law passed in 1780 which stated that any person born to a slave after the date of passage would not be considered a slave. Slavery existed in that state legally far into the 19th century. John would have had either to free or sell his one slave when he migrated to Ohio since slavery was forbidden there by the Northwest Ordinance of 1787. There is no record of what he did. John and Eleanor sold their farm "Eutaw" on October 19, 1795 for 1000 pounds.

When most people are starting to think about retiring, John, at 54, and his wife Eleanor, at 56, were starting all over again in a land where people literally had to begin anew with nothing but hard work and what they brought with them.

On December 22, 1797, John Hormell, Sr. bought 420 acres for $400.00 from James Matthews in what is now Warren County,. The senior Hormell also bought on that date 160 acres for $175.00 from Ephram Kibbey, one of the founding fathers of Columbia, a town which has since been incorporated into the east side of Cincinnati. The next year on December 31, 1798, he sold the 160 acres in Range 1, Township 3, Section 13 to George Palser, his son-in-law, the husband of Rebecca, his daughter. It seems that the older Hormell used his money to buy land for his children while it was still relatively cheap and easy to get, and then sold it to them when they had the money.

It seems that John did this for his son also because according to the "Western Star", Lebanon's newspaper during the first half of the nineteenth century, John Hormell, Jr., "moved to Warren County, in the month of June 1798," and was one of the original settlers.

Not knowing that his land patents (titles) would not be assured because of a dispute over how much land belonged to whom, John Hormell, Sr. continued to contract to buy more land. Little did he know that he would become involved, as a victim, in the famous Symmes Land Purchase dispute. John Cleves Symmes was a New Jersey congressman who, seeing a chance to make a lot money, petitioned Congress in 1787 to buy two million acres between the Great and Little Miami Rivers, starting north from the Ohio River. Without waiting for approval from Congress, he started advertising the land for sale, sold $83,000 worth of it, and started west to visit and oversee the establishment of settlements on it. Congress approved only one million acres of the request, starting on the east side of the Great Miami River and going eastward only 21 miles. This left out the town of Columbia, which was founded in 1788, and the land John, Sr. bought north of Lebanon. By the time Symmes heard that Congress had not granted him all the land that he had asked for, he had already sold much of the land which was not really his. In the hopes that Congress would eventually grant him the rest of the land between the two Miami Rivers, he continued to sell to the incoming settlers during the 1790's. John Hormell, being among these, continued to buy land. On November 3, 1799, he bought 402 acres lying on the north side of Sec. 26, T 4, R 1 in the Miami Purchase for a loan of $1,703 of which he promised to $853 by June, 1800, and $852 by June 1801. On March 4, 1800, he bough 35 acres in the town of Columbia plus 160 acres of farm land outside of town from Ephram Kibbey for $301. On June 13, 1801, John, Sr. of Columbia Twp., Hamilton Co. bought 430 acres in R 2, T 3, Sec. 21 for $1,200 from John C. Symmes himself who then lived in Northbend (west of Cincinnati) on the Ohio.

About this time, the federal government decided that the land ownership dispute had to be resolved in the Miami country. Congress delineated very specifically which lands had been sold to Symmes and thus were legal sales, and which lands still belonged to the U.S. government and would have to be bought again. The Hormell lands were very definitely outside the legal Symmes land grant. This ownership "mess" took five years to clear up. Between March of 1799 and March of 1804, Congress passed five Symmes Land Acts which stated, in essence, that all people who had bought tracts of land from the speculator John C. Symmes would be allowed to keep their land if they would apply to the U.S. government for a patent, pay $3.00 to have their tract surveyed, and pay $2.00 per acre on all land they claimed. Arriving early in the Ohio Country had assured the Hormell family of choice land, but not the best financial advantage. The land north of Lebanon would have to bought again; $840 for the 420 acres for which John, Sr. had already paid $400 in 1797. He not only paid for the 420 acres again, but he bought the whole section which included 640 acres. While he was at it, he also bought the 640 acre section (Sec. 33, T 4, R 4) directly to the north of the original Sec.. 32, T 4, R 4. This made a total of 1,280 acres (or two square miles) that John, Sr. bought for $2,560. On November 13, 1801, the land office granted him Section 32 in the Preempted Land Symmes Purchase and on November 14, 1801, it granted him Section 33 in the Congress Lands Between the Miami Rivers Survey. The original land patent that John Hormell finally received federal government in 1804 for Sec. 32 reads as follows: To all to whom these presents shall come, GREETING: Know Ye, that John Hormel of Hamilton County, having deposited in the Treasury a certificate of the Register of the Land-office at Cincinnati, whereby it appears that he has made full payment for Section Number Thirty Two of Township Number Four in the Fourth Range of the Land lying between the Great Miami river and the Virginia reservation, sold under the direction of the Register of the Land-office at Cincinnati, by virtue of the right of pre-emption granted by law to certain persons who have contracted with John Cleves Symmes or his associates,

THERE IS GRANTED, by the United States, in pursuance of the act of Congress in that case provided, unto the said John Hormel the section of land above described: TO HAVE AND TO HOLD the said section of land, with the appurtenances, unto the said John Hormel, his heirs and assigns forever. In testimony whereof, I have caused these Letters to be made Patent, Given under my Hand at the City of Washington the Twenty Second day of August in the year our Lord one thousand eight hundred four and of the Independence of the United States of America, the Twenty Ninth.
By the President, Th. Jefferson
James Madison, Sec.of State

The patent for Sec. 33 reads the same except for the change in facts for land description. That next June 1805, John Sr. was able to sell his son 171 acres in Sec. 32. By this time, John, Jr. and Rachel had already built their log cabin, cleared the land for farming, and had started to raise a family.

John Hormell, Sr. continued to buy land and on November 12, 1805, he bought from Marsh Williams 220 acres in Sec. 25, T 4, R? for $1400. On April 28, 1818, he bought 14 acres for $216 (in Creek Twp. Sec. 5, T 3, R 2) from Martin Gray. Whatever happened to these properties in Hamilton County, is a mystery since a good search of the records at the courthouse in Cincinnati reveals a great confusion in property deeds for that period because of the Symmes Land Scandal. It seems that he abandoned his claims to lands in Hamilton County, and concentrated his efforts on the two square miles of land north of Lebanon. Although John, Sr. and Eleanor were still officially living in Columbia Twp. in Hamilton County, in 1805, they were residents of Warren County, by 1809 when he was listed on the tax returns. In 1810, he paid $10.05 tax on the 1,005 acres that he still owned, having sold 171 acres to his son and 75 acres to someone else.

When he died in 1823 at the age of 80, John, Sr. could rest peacefully in the knowledge that he had attained the goal that the New World promised and which all who came to America hoped to achieve. He is buried on a knoll on his farm near Rt. 48 beside his wife, Eleanor who died also at the age of 80, in 1821. Although the tombstones are now across the road in the Kirby Cemetery, they are still on their frontierland where they belong. [Source: Stanley Wright Aultz, "Chronicles of a Griffis Family", Miamisburg, Ohio: S. W. Aultz 1981]

The earliest history at present known of the Hormells in America is that about 1770 they were living at or near Brownsville, Fayette County, and West Brownsville, Washington County, Pa., two brothers, John and Jacob, and a cousin of these, Henry. Tradition says they came from Holland. The probability is that the family is of French Huguenot stock and took refuge in Holland or Germany at the time of the persecutions and later some of them emigrated to America. the three all married and raised families. In 1808 John and Henry migrated to Warren County, Ohio taking their children, some of whom even already married, with them or sending for them later. As they all seem to have been in the Washington Co. militia about 1782-3 they must have lived in that county, though Silas Swindler, a son-in-law of Henry lived at Redstone, Fayette Co. John and Henry settles on farms north of Lebanon on or near the Dayton Turnpike, John south of Merrittstown and Henry on Clear Creek, 3 1/2 miles south of Ridgeville. John had five children, four of them girls. The son had eight children but only two of them boys, so there are comparatively few of the descendants by the name of Hormell. Jacob remarried in Penna. and the Hormells in and about Brownsville are his descendants.

John an Eleanor Hormell sold their farm of 393 acres in 1789, part of it to Jacob Hormell, and moved to Columbia Township, Hamilton County, Ohio (Warren County, Ohio was later extablished from Hamilton County, Ohio in 1803). In 1796 John Hormell paid taxes of $2.73 on 726 acres of land.

Eleanor Hormell, wife of John Hormell, died March 17, 1821. john Hormell died Jan. 15, 1823 and was interred beside his wife in a pasture on his farm, now (1963) the Guard Farm one mile north of Lebanon, Ohio east side of Route 48 in turtle Creek Township, Warren County, Ohio near the Old Kirby Cemetery.

The two old tombstones in a cow pasture, up on a knoll, read as follows:
In Memory of
John Hormel
who departed this life
January 15, 1823
aged 80 years

In Memory of
John Hormel
who departed this life
January 15, 1823
aged 80 years

John Hormell left over 1,000 acres to be distributed among his heirs. His will is found in Old CP book 26 Number 2 filed Feb. 3, 1823, Recorded June 14, 1824. [Source: Gillis, W. Floyd, "Hormell Family"]

Vol. 1A P. 210 dated Oct. 22, 1771 John Hormell to Abraham Teegarden for 10 pounds lawful money of Great Britain by me claimed on the North side of the north fork of Ten Mile Creek about 12 miles above the great fork of said creek.

Vol IL P. 724 dated Oct. 19, 1795 John Hormell to Rees Cadwallader of Fayette County, John Couzens and Joseph Townsend of Washington County 1,000 pounds for 278 acres. [Source: Gillis, W. Floyd, ""Hormell Family", pg. 6]

Land Patent:


Patent Book 14, page 103
The Supreme Executive Council of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania: To all to whom these presents shall come, Greeting: Know Ye that in consideration of the Monies paid by John Hormall into the Receiver Generals Office of this Commonwealth at the granting of the Warrant herein after mentioned and of the Sum of Twelve pounds eight Shillings lawful Money now paid by him into the said Office there is granted by the said Commonwealth unto the said John Hormall a certain Tract of Land called "Eutaw" situate on the River Monongahela in Washington County Beginning at a Box Elder tree on the Bank of said River thence by land of Potts & Jenkinson North thirty three degrees East Ninety six perches to a Stone thence by land of Henry Hormal South forty seven degrees & an half East four hundred & fifty seven perches to an hickory by said River thence up the same five hundred & eighty one perches & an half to the place of beginning,, containing three hundred & Ninety eight Acres & an half and allowance of 6 percent for Roads, &c. with the Appurtenances [which said Tract was surveyed in pursuance of a Warrant granted to the said John Hormall dated the 16 February 1786. To have and to hold the said tract or Parcel of Land with the appurtenances unto the said John Hormall and his heirs to the use of him the said John Hormall his Heirs and Assigns for ever free and clear of restrictions and reservations as to Mines, Royalties, Quit-Rents or otherwise, excepting and reserving only the fifth part of all Gold and Silver Ore for the use of this Commonwealth, to be delivered at the Pitt's mouth clear of all Charges. In Witness whereof the honorable Peter Muhlenberg, Esq; Vice President of the Supreme Executive Council hath hereto set his Hand and caused the State Seal to be hereto affixed in Council the Eighth day of April in the Year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty-eight, and of the Commonwealth the twelfth.

Newspaper:

~page 3
Notice.
Is Hereby given to all persons having any legal demands against the estate of John Hormel senr. late of turtlecreek township Warren county, dec'd. to present them legally authenticated for settlement within eighteen months from this date, and all persons undebted to said estate are requested to make immediate payment. John Hormel, Ex'r.

History / Bio:

p766, 767
John and Jacob Hormel were among the earliest settlers of East Bethlehem township. John warranted a tract of land Feb. 16, 1786, which contained three hundred and ninety-three acres, and was surveyed June 1, 1786, and given the name of "Garland." Jacob Hormel resided upon the tract "Garland" until his death in 1821, and left it to his sons, William and John Hormel, Jr. William Hormel died in 1827, and John Hormel then purchased his share and still owns the whole property. Thus it has been in the possession of the Hormel family nearly one hundred years, John Hormel, Jr., was born in 1801, and is now past eighty years of age. Two younger members of the Hormel family, Robert and Nathan, served in the war of the Rebellion. Both enlisted Sept. 5, 1861, in Company H, Seventh Pennsylvania Cavalry, Robert serving until September, 1865, and Nathan receiving his discharge April 30, 1862.

Newspaper:

The Journal Herald, Dayton, Ohio, 13 September 1952, p21
When Was It I said something about Third and Main being asked to find everything but tombstones? That, believe me, was just an old phrase I threw into the conversation. . .
How long is it going to take for me to learn I just can't throw old phrases around in conversation: Somebody picks them up and throws them right back every time.
"Well, here's the day. Find the tombstones of John Hormel Sr. and his wife, Eleanor, who are buried in the vicinity of Lebanon—the name sometimes spelled Hormell or Hormal.
There is a small pioneer cemetery just off the east side of Route 48, south of Route 73, and I had a hunch John and his wife might be there. I ventured in a few weeks ago, wearing rubber boots, worrying about poison ivy because the weeds were over two feet high. Chiggers didn't enter my mind. But, the next week, the one-armed paper hanger with the hives had nothing on me!
"I did find the graves of John's brother, Henry, and his wife, also named Eleanor, but the chiggers prevented my searching farther.
"Marj, as you've guessed, I've been tracing our family genealogy. It's a fascinating and absorbing hobby and I'm wondering if there is a genealogical society in Dayton? . . ."
Oh, no, you don't—you don't entice me into any old cemetery with chiggers!
But, I just had to mention your plight. Now, Third and Main readers HAVE been queried about tombstones which is about the most far-fetched thing I can think of at the moment. Unless it would be—oh, oh, watch it, there, Marj. No matter how far-fetched you think it is SOMEBODY will catch you up on it . . .

John married Eleanor _____ in 1760. Eleanor was born in 1741; died on 17 Mar 1821 in Turtlecreek Township, Warren County, Ohio, United States; was buried in Warren County, Ohio, United States. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Katherine married Edward Gardner about 1820 in Centerville, Washington County, Pennsylvania, United States. Edward was born on 1 Jul 1798 in Washington, Washington County, Pennsylvania, United States; died on 16 Dec 1835 in Grassy Creek, Pendleton, Kentucky, United States. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events:

• Census: 1840, East Bethleham Township, Washington County, Pennsylvania, United States
• Census: 1850, East Bethlehem Township, Washington County, Pennsylvania, United States; as John Hormell, farmer, head of household
• Will: 17 Aug 1881, Washington County, Pennsylvania, United States
• Probate: 25 Apr 1882, Washington County, Pennsylvania, United States

Notes:

WILL of John Hormell.....
Will dated: 17 August 1881
Transcript of Probate Records, Washington County, Pennsylvania
Book 11, pg. 370
Probate: 25 April 1882
In the name of God Amen. I, John Hormell of East Bethlehem Township in the Counnty of Washington and the State of Penna. being of sound mind and memory considering the uncertainty of mortal life do make and ordain this my last will and testament hereby revoking and making void all former wills by me at any time hertofore made and first resigning my immortal spirit into the hands of a merciful God hoping that he will graciously receive it for his dear son's sake and I direct that my body be decently interred according to the rights and ceremonies of the M. E. Church and that my funeral be conducted in a manner corresponding with my estate and situation in life and that my funeral expenses and all my jsut debts be paid as soon after my decease and may be practicable by my executors herein after mentioned, and as to my worldly estate which it hath pleased "God to intrust me with. i dispose of the same as follows. First I give and bequeath to my beloved wife Susannah Hormell the use and occupancy of the house on my farm wherein I now reside and all my household goods in or or which may be in said house at the time of decease. Also two milk cows, and the use of the farm as far as may be necessary for pasture and feed for said cows. And also stabling or sheds for their proper protection. i also give and bequeath to my said beloved wife Susannah the one third (1/2) of the net rents, issues and profits of my said farm whereon I now reside during her natural life, and I hereby direct my executors hereinafter mentioned to papy her the said one third semiannually. Aan I hereby direct my said executors to make sale of all my remaining personal property,. I also direct that at and immediatly after the death of my said wife Susannah that my said executors retain and set apart the sum of twelve hundred dollars ($1200) as a trust fund for the use of Sarah Jane Hormell and that they pay the siad Sarah Jane Hormell the interest of the said twelve hundred dollars semiannually during her natural life after her decease that said trust fund revert back to my estate. Item. I give and bequeath to my nephew John Smith the sum of six hundred dollars ($600) to be paid to him by my executors when he shall marry or when they shall consider him in need of the same. and I hereby direct that as soon after the decease of my said wife Susannah as my executors may deem advisable and for the interest of my estate, that they sell and convey all my real estate which I hereby give them full power and authority to do and after all my said estate is sold and money therefor realized that the same be distributed to and amongst my heirs or children share and share alike deducting the amount I may have paid and charged any of my said children with during my lifetime. I hereby make constitute and appoint my sons William Hormell, john Hormell and Nathan P. Hormell Executors of this my last will and testament. In witness whereof I John Hormell the testator to this my last will and testament have set my hand and seal the 17th day of August A.D. 1881.
John Hormell (seal)
Witnesses: G. W. Wilkenson
Jas. R. Swearer

At the time of Mary Ann Hormell's sickness and death, John Hormell, her husband, was at Keokuk, Iowa, looking at land. His children were unable to reach him, so he knew nothing of her sickness or death until he returned home.

Before going to Keokuk, John Hormell had a large brick house under construction just a few rods from the second log cabin built by his father, Jacob Hormell. The brick house had eight large rooms, a fireplace in all the rooms except one; four brick walls running from basement to attic. The basement had two rooms, one for cellar and the other for kitchen. The kitchen had a flag-stone floor in it. The brick house was to be completed ready for John and family to move in on his return from Keokuk, Iowa. Instead of it being a happy move, it was a very sad one for he and his wife had made great plans about their new home and the furnishing of it. He with his eleven children and step-daughter moved in. The step-daughter, Sarah Jane Rogers, being the oldest, took charge of the household duties until 1848, when John Hormell married Miss Susan Williams. No children were born to this union.

John Hormell was a good provider, always having plenty to eat. He built a large dutch oven and the pies were made and baked by the dozen. He used to say you should have a piece of pie each meal. The cookies were made and baked by the half bushel. He had a sugar camp where plenty of maple sugar and syrup was made. He had plenty of wood to burn, cut from his own farm Garland, and coal lying beneath the land made it a very valuable farm. He was kind and honest in all his dealings, but was very firm in his opinion of things. He was Justice of the Peace for many years. His religious belief was Quaker, but he left the church at the time of his marriage to Mary Ann Gauslin, she being English and a member of the Church of England. It was customary in those days, if you married outside of the church, to say that you were sorry, but John would not say he was sorry he had married Mary Ann, so he left the church, but always kept the faith and lived a Chrisitan life until his death. He always had family worship in his home. He was very generous to his children, helping each one if it was necessary. Some of his sons lived in the log cabin and a great many of his grand-children were born in it.

Besides his own eleven children he raised his step-daughter, Sarah Jane Rogers; one nephew, John Smith, son of his sister Nancy Hormell Smith; one girl, Harriet Pile Bishop; one girl, Alice Macklefresh.

John lived in the brick house with his wife, Susan Williams Hormell, until his death April 5, 1882. At his death he left the farm Garland's income to his wife, Susan, until her death. After her death the household furniture and the farm Garland was sold and divided among John Hormell's children, with eighteen hundred dollars left in trust with the administrators, for the use of Sarah Jane Rogers and John Smith. [Source: Sarah Fenton Brown Hathaway, "History of the HorMell Family 1737-1924]

John married Mary Ann Gauslin in 1824 in Brownsville, Fayette County, Pennsylvania, United States. Mary was born on 25 Dec 1805 in Brownsville, Fayette County, Pennsylvania, United States; died on 15 May 1843 in Low Hill, Washington County, Pennsylvania, United States; was buried in May 1843 in Centerville, Washington County, Pennsylvania, United States. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

John married Susannah Williams in 1848 in Washington County, Pennsylvania, United States. Susannah was born in 1814 in Centerville, Washington County, Pennsylvania, United States; died on 12 Jul 1886 in Low Hill, Washington County, Pennsylvania, United States; was buried in Jul 1886 in Centerville, Washington County, Pennsylvania, United States. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Nancy married Samuel Smith about 1850. Samuel and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Prudence was slender in form; had dark hair when young; a sharp nose; but was not tall like her brother John Hormell. [Notes from: WFT Vol. 1, Tree #2527]

Prudence married William Shaw on 12 Nov 1826 in East Bethleham Township, Washington County, Pennsylvania, United States. William was born on 22 Sep 1805 in Washington County, Pennsylvania, United States; died on 11 Nov 1882 in Columbiana County, Ohio, United States; was buried in Nov 1882 in Hanoverton, Columbiana County, Ohio, United States. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: Henry Palsher. Henry was born about 1775; died in in Warren County, Ohio, United States. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events:

• Occupation: Gunsmith and farmer
• Census: 1830, Turtlecreek Township, Warren County, Ohio, United States
• Will: 11 May 1836; Probated April 8, 1839

Notes:

John Hormell, Jr. was one of the first settlers in Warren County, Ohio. He left Pennsylvania for the Ohio frontier in September 1796, and moved to Warren County, in the month of June 1798. After all the confusion over land ownership was cleared up and John Sr., finally received clear title to his land, John Jr., was able to buy his first 171 acres in 1805 for $500. In 1814 he bought another 102 acres from his father for $1000. After his father's death, he inherited another 125 acres in 1824, which he claimed adjoining his original 171 acres. John Jr. and Rachel Blair raised their family on their 398 acre farm. He saw the founding of Lebanon in 1802 and the building of route 48 past his farm.

On June 12, 1812, Congress declared war on Great Britain. William H. Harrison, who later became the ninth president of the United States, was commissioned to lead the troops from Cincinnati up to Lebanon where he added the Warren Co. regulars to his every growing army. From Lebanon, the army marched north on Rt. 48 toward Dayton and finally on to Canada. It is said that people ran for a mile or more through the woods and over the fields to see this great spectacle. Perhaps some of the Hormel family saw General Harrison ride by on his stately horse at the head of his army of volunteers at the beginning of the War of 1812.

In referring to the roster of 1812 veterans, we see that John Hormell (Hormel) served under Capt. John Patterson from July 6th to July 23rd in 1814.

Sadness also was a part of John, Jr.'s life. Before his death, he saw three of his children pass away; Lydia, Amy in 1835, and Joseph in May, 1838. Less than a year later, John, Jr. passed away on his farm. Rachell Blair Hormell lived for eight more years and died also on the farm on January 27, 1847. They are both buried in the Kirby Cemetery across the road from their land.

Perhaps the finest evidence of the respect and honor the community accorded to him was found in
"The Western Star", Lebanon's newspaper. Here below is what the editors had to say about him on February 1, 1839:

OBITUARY
DIED - Near this place, on Wednesday the 23rd of January, Mr. John Hormel, age 73. Mr. Hormel came to Warren county in the month of June, 1798, and has resided here ever since. He has ever sustained the character of a good citizen, being regarded by his friends as a quiet, upright, unobtrusive and honest man. He was a believer in Christ and died in the full hope of a glorious immortality beyond the grave. We part with an old, true and steadfast friend of the Western Star. He saw the first paper struck off, nearly thirty-two years ago, and from that period to his death he has been a regular subscriber, invariably

John Jr. settled on a farm about three miles north of Lebanon, called the Bundy farm. He died there as did his wife also and they are both buried in a little grave yard near the creek on the same farm. After John Jr's death his farm was sold to a Mr. Thompson. [Source: H. H. Hormell, "Record of the Descendants of John Hormell of Washington County, Pa. & Warren County, O."]

John married Rachel Blair in 1788 in Washington County, Pennsylvania, United States. Rachel was born on 23 May 1769 in England, United Kingdom; died on 25 Jan 1847 in Turtlecreek Township, Warren County, Ohio, United States; was buried in Jan 1847 in Warren County, Ohio, United States. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: Alexander Porter. Alexander was born in Mar 1768 in Ireland; died on 21 Feb 1845; was buried in Feb 1845 in Green Camp, Marion County, Ohio, United States. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: Gabriel Druliner. Gabriel was born on 4 Apr 1780 in Salem County, New Jersey, United States; died on 29 Dec 1851 in Saint Joseph County, Indiana, United States; was buried in Jan 1852 in Hamilton, St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: Leonard Rush. Leonard was born in 1769; died on 4 Jan 1840; was buried in Jan 1840 in Hamilton, St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events:

• Name: Susan Hormell

Family/Spouse: Robert Reed. Robert was born in 1775 in Ohio Country, British Colonial America. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: Henry Howe. Henry and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: George Palsher. George and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]