Ohio, the crossroad of our nation, Records & Pioneer Families

• Title	Ohio, the crossroad of our nation, Records & Pioneer Families
  Short Title	Book - Ohio, the Crossroads of Our Nation, Records & Pioneer Families. Apr-June 1964, Vol V, # 2, by Esther Weygandt Powell.
  Author	Esther Weygandt Powell.
  Publisher	Apr-June 1964, Vol V, # 2
  Media	Periodical
  Source ID	S536
  Text	FAMILY RECORD OF JOHN and ELIZABETH WHEATON HART                         New Jersey-Pennsylvania-Ohio John and Elizabeth Hart are the great-great grandparents of Esther Powell (publisher of this publication). This record was written about the year 1900 by A.W. Hart of Newton Falls, Ohio and read at the Tenth Annual Hart Reunion at Minerva, Ohio. A.W. Hart was the son of John Hart, Jr. Mrs. Powell received this record from A.W. Hart in 1938. "I will not attempt to trace our history back farther than the birth of John Hart Sr., who was born May 2nd, 1791 in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania. On May 6th, 1813 he was married to Elizabeth Wheaton who was born in New Jersey in the year 1789. From this union we have the present large family. The following children were born to John and Elizabeth Hart:         -Phoebe born April 12, 1814         -Lydia born June 6, 1815         -David born August 8, 1816         -Catherine born December 18, 1817         -Isabella born April 29, 1819         -Jacob born August 1, 1820         -Sarah Anne born October 20, 1821         -Hezekiah born February 28, 1823         -Mary born May 22, 1824         -Nancy Anne born July 30, 1825         -Elizabeth born August 7, 1827         -William born December 25, 1828         -Rebekah born April 28, 1830         -John Freeman born August 7, 1832         -Margaret born June 18, 1835 John Hart died October 30, 1843 and was buried at Harrington Cemetery, south of Augusta (Carroll Co.) Ohio. Elizabeth survived him twenty-seven years, passing away September 13, 1870. Her body lies at rest in the Zion Cemetery near Augusta. Probably some of the younger generation are not aware of the manner of Grandfather Hart's death which was caused by a large tree falling on him while he was burning it down. Phoebe, the oldest child, was married to Zadock, Downer on June 29th 1834 and to this union were born 16 children and 79 grandchildren. (Great-grandparents of Esther Powell). Lydia Hart was married November 9, 1837 to James Sheppard. To this union were born 12 children and 55 grandchildren. David Hart was married to Amanda Green November 9, 1837. To this union were born 14 children and 29 grandchildren. (Their son Hiram Hart lived in the fine old mansion on Hart's Hill, Minerva, Ohio and was the father of Charles Hart, Postmaster of Minerva for many years. The Hart home was still standing in 1963 but no one living in it. Molly Donaldson Hart, wife of Hiram Hart having passed away several years ago, aged almost 100, a very active and remarkable lady.) Catherine Hart was married to Thomas Jackson November 7, 1839. There were no children to bless this union. They were owners of "The Jackson House" a well known Minerva hotel. Isabella Hart born April 29, 1819, died August 20, 1821. Jacob Hart was married April 7, 1842 to Phoebe Sheppard to whom 12 children were born and more than 30 grandchildren. Sarah Anne Hart was married to Cyrus Dennis April 12, 1842. To this union we find 8 children, all living, and 2 grandchildren. In this family in the last 10 years we find 4 deaths, 7 marriages and 8 births. The deaths were: Cyrus Dennis, Sarah Ann Dennis, Caroline Dennis and William Huget -the two last being a daughter-in-law and son-in-law. Hezekiah was married to Elizabeth Dennis September 19, 1844. To this union were born 7 children, 3 of which died in infancy and 1 in later years. At present time they have 10 grandchildren. Nancy Hart was married to Joseph Cox, March 10, 1845 and they had 9 children -6 sons and 3 daughters, only 5 of whom are living. There are 20 living grandchildren out of 28. Elizabeth Hart was born August 7, 1827 and died in early years. William M. Hart was married to Angeline Moore March 6, 1863 and to this union were born 5 children, 3 of whom are now living and six living grandchildren. Rebecka Hart was married to John Dennis January 27, 1848. To this union are 7 living children and 22 grandchildren. In this family in the past ten years have been 4 marriages, 5 births and 1 death -Mrs. J.W. Dennis. John Hart Jr. married Susan Mathias April 1, 1858. To them were born 5 children of whom all are living. They have 6 grandchildren. In this family in the past 10 years have been 4 marriages, 4 births, and 2 deaths -Olive Hart and Herbert Hart, son of L.C. Hart. Margaret Hart was united in marriage to David Holmes, July 25, 1853. To this union were born 5 children -4 living; and 9 grandchildren. In the past 10 years there have been 2 marriages, 3 births and 1 death -Ellen Sheline. We have at present but 2 living out of 15 children born to John and Elizabeth Hart, they being John Hart Jr. and Margaret Holmes and but 1 daughter-in-law, Mrs. John Hart and 1 son-in-law John Dennis. As near as we can learn there were 78 grandchildren; 233 great-grandchildren; 165 great-great grandchildren and 11 in the 6th generation. This makes a total of 491 living descendants of John and Elizabeth Hart but I (Esther Powell) am satisfied that this is not correct as it is not as many as there were 10 years ago. In the Hart family we do not claim but few professional or highly educated persons and but few who have any great amount of wealth, but we do claim to all be descendants of sober hard working parents and to the best of my knowledge there are none that have to depend on charity and that the penitentiary doors have never been locked between a member of this family and liberty. - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Charles Downer, the grandson of John Hart, Sr. claims that John Hart was a descendant of John Hart, the Signer of the Declaration of Independence. This has not been proven. Jennie Dennis of Mechanicstown, Ohio, granddaughter of John and Elizabeth Hart stated in 1939 that Elizabeth Wheaton Hart's mother was a Freeman and that she was buried beside Elizabeth in Mt. Zion Cemetery, with just a stone for a marker. This cemetery near Augusta, Ohio. John Hart, Sr. moved with his family from near Mt. Pleasant, Pa. to Carroll County, Ohio in 1836, at the same time as did his son-in-law Zadock Downer and family move to Jefferson County, Ohio. Carroll County, Ohio Death Records give death of Hezekiah Hart, (son of John and Elizabeth Hart) in Minerva, Ohio, 1872 age 49y 2m 6d; was born 1823, Monroe Co., Pa (near N.J. border). Rebecca Jane Hart Dennis, daughter of John and Elizabeth Hart born 1830, Fayette Co., Pa. near Mt. Pleasant. Catherine Hart Jackson born in Pa. died in Minerva, Ohio in 1892. Elizabeth Wheaton Hart born in N.J. died September 30, 1870, August Twp., Carroll County, Ohio, recorded 1871. Sarah Hart Dennis 1821-1904. - -------------------------------------------------------------------------       OBITUARY OF PHEBE HART DOWNER - Minerva, Ohio Newspaper April, 1895.                    (only a portion) "Phebe Hart Downer was born at Mt. Pleasant, Penna., April 12, 1814. She died April 19, 1895, having lived one week beyond 81 years. On June 29th, 1834, she was married to Zadock Downer and shared fully the joys and sorrows of life until he died some years ago. She became the mother of sixteen children, of whom three died in early childhood, one in middle life, and twelve survive to mourn the death of a loving mother. One of these lives in Nebraska and the others in eastern Ohio. This aged mother lived to count among her posterity 93 grandchildren and 73 great-grandchildren. Her funeral services, conducted by the pastors of the Methodist and Disciple churches, were attended by a large retinue of kinsman and neighbors, thereby attesting the loving regard in which her memory was held. Mother Downer was of sturdy, thrifty, enterprising stock, who have done so much to give character to the people of eastern Ohio. Someone has poetically said, "The hand that rocks the cradle rules the world." This being true, how large is the influence which this aged mother has left behind her! Not only her immediate descendants, but all who meet them, must feel the impress of her hand. Her genial, cheerful manner made her to be loved and trusted as a friend."
  Linked to (46)	Joseph Cox Cyrus Dennis Elizabeth Dennis John W. Dennis Molly Donaldson Zadock Downer Amanda Green Catherine Hart Charles A. Hart David Hart Elizabeth Hart Hezekiah Hart Hiram Harbey Hart Isabella Hart Jacob Isaac Hart John Hart, Sr. John Freeman Hart, Jr. Lydia Hart Margaret Hart Mary Hart Nancy Anne Hart Phoebe Hart Rebekah Jane Hart Sarah Anne Hart William M. Hart David Holmes Thomas Jackson Susan Mathias Angeline Moore James Sheppard Phoebe Ann Sheppard Elizabeth Wheaton Family: James Sheppard / Lydia Hart Family: John Hart, Sr. / Elizabeth Wheaton Family: John Freeman Hart, Jr. / Susan Mathias Family: Hiram Harbey Hart / Molly Donaldson Family: David Holmes / Margaret Hart Family: John W. Dennis / Rebekah Jane Hart Family: William M. Hart / Angeline Moore Family: Joseph Cox / Nancy Anne Hart Family: Hezekiah Hart / Elizabeth Dennis Family: Cyrus Dennis / Sarah Anne Hart Family: Jacob Isaac Hart / Phoebe Ann Sheppard Family: Thomas Jackson / Catherine Hart Family: David Hart / Amanda Green Family: Zadock Downer / Phoebe Hart