Power of Attorney for John’s Estate Feb. 13, 1863:

Three of the children of John Spracklin, Peter, Daniel and Olive created a document titled “To Power of Attorney” on 6 February A.D. 1863.

Peter was given Power of Attorney for Daniel D. Spracklin and Olive E. Merrifield.  This Power of Attorney was recorded the 12 Day of March 1863 by the Iowa County, Iowa District Court.  It looks like it took several more days for it to reach Knox County, Ohio.

A portion of the Spracklin/Merrifield Power of Attorney Deed

Spracklin & Merrifield)

To Power of Atts.)

Peter Spracklin)

No. [50] March 24, 1863

Stamp $1.10)

Know all men by these presents. That whereas heretofore, towit,  upon the 6 day of February A.D. 1863 and John Spracklin late of Knox County State of Ohio, died intestate, and leaving a large amount of Personal property and real estate in Knox county State of Ohio and where as said John Spracklin, deceased, as aforesaid, left several heirs some of whom reside in the State of Iowa.  To wit. Peter Spracklin, Daniel D. Spracklin and Olive E. Merrifield.  Therefore Know ye all that we the said Daniel D. Spracklin of Iowa County and State of Iowa and the said Olive E. Merrifield, and Wm. P. Merrifield husband of the said Olive E. both of the County of Benton & State of Iowa do by these presents constitute and appoint Peter Spracklin of Benton County State of Iowa our true and lawful attorney in fact, for us and in our place and stead to enter into and with possession of all our rights title and interest in and to a certain farm in Liberty Township in Knox County State of Ohio which the said John Spracklin died seized of.  Also town property in the town of Mt. Vernon in Knox County State of Ohio and any and all real estate that the said John Spracklin died seized of and to which he was in any wise entitled, and hereby authorizing our said attorney to grant and sell our interest therein for such price and upon such terms as will to him seem meets, and for us to make and deliver good and sufficient deed for the same and until the sale thereof to let the said real estate for the best rent that can be procured for the same and to collect all moneys that may be due us from said sale or lease, giving him full power and authority to receipt for the same.  Also to collect and receipt for all moneys that may be due from the administration of the said estate, of the said John Spracklin, deceased as aforesaid. And any and all moneys that may be due us from the sale of this said personal estate, of the deceased, giving unto our said attorney full power to do any and every act in the settlement and adjustment of said estate and to do every act and thing whatsoever requisite to be done in the premises as fully as we might or could do if personally present; with power of substitution and revocation, hereby satisfying  all that our said attorney Peter Spracklin, or his substitute,  shall lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.  Witness our hands this 12^th day of March A.D. 1863. 

Signed Daniel D. Spracklin, Olive Merrifield, W. P. Merrifield

State of Iowa

County of Iowa

I, A. S. Morrison, Clerk of the District Court in & for Iowa County & State of Iowa, do hereby certify that before me personally appeared Daniel D. Spracklin and Olive E. Merrifield and W.P. Merrifield her husband, all of [      ] are personally known to me to be this identical persons who signed the foregoing power of attorney as grantors and they acknowledged the execution of the same to be their voluntary acts and deeds for the purposes therein mentioned. Given under my hand and affixed seal this 12^th day of March A.D. 1863.  A.S. Morrison, Clerk of the District Courts for Iowa Co., Iowa.  

Source: Knox County Deeds, Book 51, pg. 317, FHL#0314062,  Registered March 24, 1863 in Knox Co., Ohio and written Feb 6, 1863, in Iowa Co., Iowa. A Power of Attorney Spracklin/Merrifield to Peter Spracklin, for the Estate of John A. Spracklin (Sr.).

What this means it that the heirs of John Spracklin who did not live in Ohio anymore were obliged to prepare this document to show their inheritance rights to John Spracklin’s land.  So this is not the only power of attorney or partition deed that was prepared, there is more to come.

This also means that Daniel had made the move from Benton Co., Iowa to Iowa County, Iowa by this date, while his sister Olive and Peter were still living in Benton Co., Iowa at this time.

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John Spracklin’s Probate Packet

The Family History library files have the court clerk journal entries and I have posted about those records regarding John’s Estate in the last several posts.

They also had the Estate packet file but it was broken up on film.  Estate packets are the actual documents for the estate process and they are kept in file folders.  They are usually filmed in order of the documents in the file.

Here is the listing that I was able to come up with.  As you can see some were vault films which means they have to be ordered in advance of a visit to the Family History Library in Salt Lake City.

Page 1 of the Sale Bill from the packet

Probate Packet Knox Co., Ohio FHL#2131068 Gen File, Index to Estates, Guardians and Assignments Knox Co., Ohio.

1. Bonds Box #135 and #2563, FHL#2137631 Vault.

2. Inventories Box #21 and #1163, FHL#2118383 didn’t work found FHL#2117809. 

3. Sale of Property Box #68, FHL#2138206 Vault film #68, #731, 

4. 4th Settlement Box #59 and #1854, Final Box #58, FHL#2118490 Vault and #58 missing??

and  Box 172, #1172, FHL#2218819 listed as 1772 not 172,

Note:  As you can see from my notes it was not an easy process and I am not confident that I have completely finished this process.

One more look at all this at either the Family History Library or the Knox County Annex might be in order till I am satisfied.  My biggest concern is  why there was no “Heirs-at-law” form which would show up in the settlement papers for an estate without a will?

The Heirs-at-law form would give us a listing of the heirs of John Spracklin.  So I guess we turn to the partition deeds for help at this time in the next posts.  Partition deeds are when they divide the land between the heirs.

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John Spracklin’s Estate: Final Settlement?

There appears to be a big delay from March 23, 1863 to August 10, 1864 before Mr. T.F. Cole submits another settlement accounting.

John Spracklin Estate Final Settlement?

Probate Court         )

Knox County, Ohio  )

Be it remembered that heretofore to wit, on this 10 day of Aug. AD 1864 T. F. Cole Admin of the Estate of John Spracklin on file in said Court his account & orders for ______________Settlement which after having ____ of examined and letters which said settlements said as follows to wit.

T.F. Cole Admin of the Estate of John Spracklin dec’d

The account with _____ Estate on So _______ in hand and forever settlement

Admin Claims Cadet as follows 

Note:  Very hard to read from the microfilm.

To Paid Kenners Note No. 1 Do No. 2	No. 1 $92.80 and No. 2 $104.86	$192.62
To Paid A. Shields Note  _____No. 3   Kumms list for sale of (Can’t read	No. 3 $78.35 + more	$100.62
To Paid [   ] Cochran for Lumber No. 50Jas F. Gardner No. 6	No. 50 $2.85 & No. 6 $3.00	$5.85
To Paid Hyde & Young No. 7[Kumers] & Hogg No. 8	No. 7 $3.00 & No. 8 $1.00	$4.00
To Paid Bennet for [Med      ] No. 9 f 1.60  Tax Note f 2.00	No. 9 $1.60 & Tax Note $2.00	$3.60
To Paid D. Osgood account [med       ] A Coffing the same .50	$2.00 & $.50	$2.50
To Paid Administrators comp.Paid P. Major on  the set	$28.26 and $4.00	$32.26
To Paid Tax due Dec & Jun  to be paid		$1.42
Balance in hands of Adm.		$106.68
		$454.57

The State of Ohio Knox County fs)

T.F. Cole, Admn of the Estate of John Spracklin dec.’ having dully sworn deposes and that the above is a full & true account of his administration of said estate ____ his forever settlement.

T. F. Cole

Sworn to and subscribed before me on this 10^th day of Aug. A.D. 1864

T. V. Parke, Probate Judge

Page 117 Settlement?

 

Page 117

John Spracklin’s Estate )

Settlement  )

 Court of Probate Knox County Ohio, Nov. 16, 1864. Be it remembered that heretofore to wit: on the 12^thday of August A.D.  1864. T. F. Cole in the sum of the Estate of John Spracklin dec’ filed his account and made for _________________settlement and the bond being satisfied that due notice of said filing have been given according to law this day took up and examined said account and paid that on last settlement  there and balance in his hand of $454.57 and that he has expended for the ____of said Estate since said settlement the sum of $347.87 leaving a balance in the hands of said Admin belonging to said estate of $106.68 which he is ordered to pay out according to law.

Thomas V. Parke Probate Judge

Source:  Settlement #2 Estates Vol. C, pg. 116, 117, FHL#2130348

For some reason Mr. T.F. Cole was not getting the final accounting done for the process is now well into November 1864.

Notes: I am concerned and I feel that this probate/estate process for John Spracklin is not complete, because I have not found what is called a “Heirs-at-Law” entry, which is the final accounting that shows who are all the heirs of the deceased and what they get in the final disbursement of the funds of the estate.  The personal possessions were sold at auction and that may have been what was decided because many of the Spracklins had migrated to Iowa and other locations.

What happened to his real estate holdings?  I have not found an accounting for the land holdings of John Spracklin among these probate papers.

Another item that might be interesting to find are the legal notices in the newspapers.  I did make an attempt to find them in the Mount Vernon newspapers but I failed on my two trips there in 2007 and 2011.  Newspaper work is very difficult and time-consuming and there are lots of missing issues.

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John Spracklin’s Estate: Partial Settlement

On March 23, 1863 the partial settlement was also brought before the court by Mr. T. F. Cole.

Page 621

John Spracklin’s Estate Partial Settlement

The State of Ohio, Knox County fs)

Be it remembered that _____ on the 23^rd of March A.D. 1863 T.F. Cole Administrator of the estate of John Spracklin late of said County deceased filed in the office of the Probate Court of said County his account and voucher’s for partial settlement which after being dully advertised was on the 29^th day of May A.D. 1863 _____________examined and settled  which said settlement __________and figures following to wit.

T. F. Cole, Admin of the estate of John Spracklin In account with said Estate

To Amt of Sale Bill   $762.29

Discount for Cash ______________

Rent $6.50

$760.29

Administrator Claims as follows

To Paid Wolf, Cole and Fox Appraisers	No. 1, 2, 3	$3.00
To Paid John H. Tarr	4	.23
A.J. Mitchell	5	2.50
Michael Cole	6	1.00
Joseph McCormack	7	8.60
Republican Printing	8, 9	2.50
Henry Glancy and wf	10	37.71
John A. Brokaw	11	3.00
T.F. Cole for Clerking	12	1.50
T.F. Cole Note	13	53.75
Benjamin Fox Note	14	152.00
Dr. I. W. Russell	15	15.00
Probate Judge Fees on Letters and Settlement	16	6.85
One day Executor Extra		1.00
Confirmation on $296 @6		17.76
		305.82
Balance to new a_____		454.57                          $760.39

Estate – Partial Settlement

The State of Ohio Knox County fs)

T.F. Cole Admin of John Spracklin’s Estate dec. that the above is a full and ____statement of the receipts and disbursements made by him as ____ admin to this date and that the above discount on Sale Bill was at _______made in payment of claims against said estate.                                      

T.F. Cole

Sworn to and subscribed before me this 23^rd day of March A.D. 1863   

T.V. Parke, Probate Judge

Source:  Settlement Estates 1st, Settled Records, Vol. B, pg. 621, FHL#2130348.

Page 711:

Probate Court Knox County Ohio 23^rd Day of March A.D. 1863

John Spracklin’s Admin

Partial Settlement 

Be it remembered that heretofore towit on the 23^rd day of March A.D. 1863 T.F. Cole Administrator of the Estate of John Spracklin filed in said Court his account and voucher’s for partial settlement and the Court being satisfied that due notice of such filing had been given according to law this day took up and examined said account and find that said Administrator has rec’d in assets ___belonging to said Estate the sum of $760.39 and that he has paid out for the use of said Estate the sum of $305.82 leaving a balance in his hand of $454.37 which he is ordered to pay out in due course of Administration.

T.V. Park Probate Judge

Source:  Additional Information Vol. B, pg. 711 Adm. Partition, FHL#2130104.

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John Spracklin’s Estate: The Inventory!

The following month of March the Probate Court of Knox was busy with business from T.F. Cole the Administrator of John Spracklin’s estate and the three assigned appraisers of Benjamin Fox, C. Wolfe and Michael Cole.

The first order of business was to review the inventory that had been taken of the personal possessions of John Spracklin, deceased:

pg. 101, Volume J, pg. 101 (101-106) #Reel 1294319

23 March, 1863

Estate Record Vol. J. pg. 101-102

Inventory and appraisement of the personal property of the

Estate of John Spracklin

The State of Ohio Knox County fs….

Be it remembered that heretofore to wit on the 23rd day of March A.D. 1863, T.F. Cole Administrator of the estate of John Spracklin late of said county deceased, filed in the office of the Probate Court within and for said Knox County an inventory and appraisement of the personal property of said deceased together with the notice of his appointment and proof of publication which said inventory and appraisement, notice and proof, read in the words and figures following to wit.

 LARGE SPACE with no writing

Continuing on page 101, of Volume J.  The three appraisers give their word that the inventory was done according to their ability:

 page 101, Volume J, pg. 101 (101-106) #Reel 1294319

The State of Ohio, Knox County

We the undersigned do make solemn oath that we truly, honestly and impartially appraise the estate and property that may be exhibited to us belonging to the estate of John Spracklin deceased and perform all other duties required by law of us in the position as appraisers & c. according to the best of our knowledge and ability.

Michael Cole

C. Wolfe

Benjamin Fox

 Sworn to and subscribed before me this sixteenth day of February A.D. 1863

John K. [Far/Tar], Justice of the Peace

Personal goods and chattle belonging to the said John Spracklin dead which are assets in the hands of the Administrator ____________________________…

 The inventory was very hard to read and I did my best to figure out what they wrote, however, I am a city girl so I may not know all the proper words for farming equipment and more.

Page 102 Inventory

Page 102  Vol. J

Appraised Value

1 Bedstead, 2 coverlets, old quilt	3.50	44. Goose _____	21.50
2. Coverlet	4.00	48. Double	.50
3. Table	.50	49. Old Wash Machine	.25
4. Lantern Flat ___Mortar	.30	50. Griddle	.10
5. Knives, forks, table	.60	51. Barrel	.50
6. Cotton table cloth	.62.5	89. Foks & Spoons bass	1.25
7. Glassware	1.00	90. Wheat Thrasher in Barn	50.00
8.        ware	.62.5	91. Flax Stram	5.00
9.     Wooden Vase	.28	92. Flax Stram ½ Kenoy’s	2.00
10. Table 2 ___Tea Pot	.45	32.  Cider Barrel	.20
11. Clock	.25	53. Gound Stones Frame & Stick	1.00
12. Set of chairs No.  1	1.00	54. Porzts	.50
13 Set of Chairs No. 2	1.00	55. Three Kettles	.25
14. Churn	1.00	56. Bee’s and Hives	6.00
15. Old bureau & contents of app	1.00	57. T	2.26
16. Contents of drawer No.	1.00	58. Silas Hog	12.00
17. Contents of Drawer No.	.10	59. Black Cow	10.00
18. Contents of Drawer No.	.10	60. Second Cow	10.00
19. Apple Parer	.12.5	61. Heifer	8.00
20. 2 Beds & Six Pillows without ___all her feathers	10.00	62. Sheep	66.80
21. Dick’s Works 3 Vols.	2.00	63. Bay Filley (Let)	41.50
22.  History of All Religious	3.00	64. Brown Filly	35.00
23. Looking glasses	.30	65. Gray Filly	35.01
24.  Blanket, coverlid &	4.00	66. Wagon No.1	2.01
25. Rag blanket  No. 1	21.00	67. Old Horse Wagon	16.00
26. Rag blanket No. 2	.75	68. Two Horse Wagon	60.00
27. Bedstead	.50	69. Plow	1.75
28. Steel	.50	70. Shovel Plow	1.75
29. Reed ____ Sickle & Pack Saddle	.25	71. Shovel Plow	1.78
30.  Window sash	.36	72. Hanon	5.00
31. Feather Bed, goose feathers	6.00	73. Long Log Chains	1.50
32. Toungo and S	.25	74. Short Log Chains	1.35
33. ____Pipe and utensil	4.00	75. Borken Log Chain	.37
34. Tool Chest	.50	76. Black Mare	65.00
35. Tools in Chest	2.00	77. Sorel Mare	35.00
36. Bedstead without Bolts	1.00	78. Fives Calves	20.10
37. Franklin Stove and Pipe	2.00	79. Nine Hogs	21.25
38.  Kneeding trough, bag	.50	80. Son 6 Pigs	9.00
39. Box of Contrastion	.25	81. 1/3 of ___of East Wheat Field relivered in Bins	5.00
40. Oil & ___Keg & Leads	.50	82. ½ of ___West Wheat field	15.00
41.  Kettle	.25	83 ____Shock	12.50
42.  Ax Shovet Shade	1.25	84. Wheel Barrow	21.50
43. Three ___ Irons	.12.5	85. Saddle Harnes & Collar	.50
44. Augers	.75	86. Buggy Harnes	3.00
45.  Mattches	.37.5	87. Timothy Seed	2.51
46. Sam Buck	.15	88. Gradle and 2 Soryths	1.00

Claims not app. N. Mitchell’s amt not known, P. Degood 2.00 worthless, T. White Sites 50, Keller Amt. Unknown, ___ 50. do.

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John Spracklin’s Estate: The Administrator, Bond, Appraisers

The first order of business for John Spracklin’s (Sr) estate, was to appoint an administrator since there was no will, then post a bond and assign appraisers to the task of taking an inventory of the personal possessions.

Mr. T.F. Cole was appointed Administrator.  Three men were appointed to do the appraisal of the personal property of John Spracklin in February of 1863, a year after his death?

Appointment of Administrator and Appraisers

Probate Court Knox County, Ohio, February 10^th A.D. 1863)

John Spracklin Admin Appointed )

Court of Probate February 10^th AD 1863 Be it remembered that on this day the Court on Motion appointed T.F. Cole administrator of the estate of John Spracklin late of Knox County, Ohio deceased upon his entering into bond in the sum of One Thousand Dollars, with J.S. Shaw, D. Morris, Leonard Weaver & B White who are affirmed of as Bail.  Thereupon the said T. F. Cole appeared in open Court accepted said trust and gave bond as required by the Court and the law and letter ifsued to him accordingly.  It is further ordered, that Benjamin Fox, C. Wolfe & Michael Cole appraise the personal estate of said deceased.  

T.V. Parke, Probate Judge

Probate Court Feb 11^th, AD 1863 

Source:  Knox County Probates, Journal Vol. B, pg. 667 Appointmt of Admin. FHL#2130104

Here the bond is provided.

Administrator’s Bond pg. 107

Know all Men by these Presents, That T. F. Cole, James S. Shaw, D. Morris, Leonard Weaver & [B] White of the County of Knox and State of Ohio are hold and formly bound unto the said State of Ohio, in the sum of One Thousand dollars to be paid to the State of Ohio….dated this 10^th day of February A.D. 1863.. T.F. Cole Administrator of the estate of John Spracklin….

T. F. Cole, Jas Shaw, D. Morris, [Simone Persons], [B] White

Seals and signatures

NOTE:  This bond order is a form and I did not transcribe all of it.  It gives instructions to the Administrator.

pg. 101

John Spracklin’s Estate

10 February, 1863, Assignment of the Appraisers of the personal property

The State of Ohio, Knox County

To Benjamin Fox, C. Wolfe and Michael  Cole, greetings, you have been appointed by the Probate Court of said county to take and inventory and appraisal of the personal goods and chattels where of John Spracklin late of the township of Liberty, Knox Co., O. died and seized. 

These are therefore to authorize and require you well and truly to appraise all the good(s) and chattels of this deceased which shall be presented to you by the Administrator and a true and accurate inventory thereof and perform all other duties required by law of you in the premises(?) as appraisers & co., and make and sign that the same may be returned to this office within three months from the date hereof. 

Witness Thomas V. Parke, Judge of the Probate Court this 10^th day of February A.D. one thousand eight hundred and sixty three. 

Signed by Thomas V. Parke, Probate Judge.

Source:  Knox County Probates & Estates:  Assignment of the Appraisers, Volume J, pg. 101 FHL#1294319. 

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John Andrews Spracklin (Sr.) His Estate!

John Andrews Spracklin died 6 February 1862.

He was living with his daughter Lydia in 1860 according to the U.S. Federal Census.

#1264, #1277 Line 26:  Richd Kenner, age 30, male, farmer, born in Eng.; Lydia age 22, female, born in Ohio; Chars age 3, male born in Ohio, George age 8 male born in Ohio; Jno. Spracklin age 66, male, value of real estate is $6000, personal value $964 born in England; Wm. McKay age 23, male, born in Ohio; ____ McKay age 29, female born in Maryland.

Source:  Family of Richard Kenner, 1860 U.S. Federal Census, Liberty Twp., Knox. Co., Ohio, NARA Roll M653_995, pg. 312 (175) 4 Aug, 1860 [      ], Ancestry.com. 

John A. Spracklin did not have a will.  There was a probate process.

The photo of the index below, shows father, John Andrews Spracklin SR, and son, John Andrews Spracklin JR, on the same page.  You would need to see the headings of the page to understand what the volumes and the pages mean.  It was dark and difficult to read.  I have tried to lighten up the page but it is still fuzzy.

John SR and John JR

These are from the court clerk transcribed versions of the probate records that are in the big huge journal books that you find in the courthouse.  This is a summary of the films and the different records I found.

Probate File Journal entries:
John Spracklin (Senior) or John Andrews Spracklin

1. General Index V. 1, 1852-1914 FHL Film 1299062* gave the following information on pg. 114.

T.F. Cole, Administrator, appointed 10 Feb. 1863

History of Knox County, Ohio, pg. 631 by Albert Adams Graham at Google.Books describes a Thomas F. Cole who was living in Liberty Twp., Knox County, Ohio.  He was of an old English family.

http://books.google.com/books?id=DBAtAAAAYAAJ&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_ge_summary_r&cad=0#v=onepage&q=Cole&f=false

C. Wolfe page 839 same book:  

http://books.google.com/books?id=DBAtAAAAYAAJ&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_ge_summary_r&cad=0#v=snippet&q=Wolfe&f=false  There are references to the Wolfe Settlement in Liberty Twp.  There is a C. Wolfe on the 1847 land map I posted before.

2. Journal Vol. B, pg. 667 – Appointment of Admin., additional information found, Vol. B, pg. 711 Adm. Part. – FHL# 2130104

3. Administrator Applic, Bonds & letters: Vol. 1, pg. 107 – FHL#1299058

4. Inventory, Estate Record: Vol. J, pg. 101 -FHL #1294319

5. Sale Bill, Estate Record: Vol. J, pg. 103 – FHL #1294319

6. 1st Settlement, Estates Settled Record, Vol. B, pg. 621  FHL#2130348 – partial.

7. 2nd Settlement, Estates Settled Record, Vol. C, pg. 116, 117 – FHL #2130348

Note: Vol. C, pg. 254 additional comments – not in #2130348 unable to locate.

Helpful Books for courthouse research:  ”Courthouse Research for Family Historians, Your Guide to Genealogical Treasures,” by Christine Rose.  Also her:  ”Courthouse Indexes Illustrated.”

This last booklet helps to take the mystery out of the index books which can be very confusing.  You probably can find these two books in a genealogical society library or at a good-sized public library.

I find that doing probates/estates can be very confusing.  The films are not always easy to interpret and it is much easier to do this research when physically at the Family History Library in Salt Lake City, because you can pull several films to work on.

The reference to vault films at the Family History Library means they are not housed at the library and have to be ordered in advance.  I usually do that about 2 weeks before I visit the Family History Library.

There are also what are called estate packets but they can be very hard to read because of the handwriting.  They are the file that houses the original documents.  I will talk about that in a future post.

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John & Lydia (Goss) Spracklin Rest Peacefully in Green Valley

John and Lydia are both buried in Knox County, Ohio.  They rest peacefully in the Green Valley Cemetery situated a little northeast of Mount Vernon. It is a very lovely setting and well cared for.  It is not too far from their land.

I have had the good fortune to visit the cemetery twice once in 2007 and again in 2011.

There is a transcript online at this link:  scroll down to ROW 14 and you will find Goss and Spracklen/lin names.

http://www.angelfire.com/nt/gvc/cemetery.html

• Goss, Noah d. 7-18-1833 a. 51y
• Spracklen, Lydia d. 1-19-1851 a. 57y-7m-11d (wife of John Spracklen)
• Spracklen, John d. 2-6-1862 a. 67y-27d
• Spracklen, Ida d. 6-7-18?? a. 10 y. (dau. of J.A. & L. Spracklen. 

We see that Lydia died January 19, 1851.  If you take her age and calculate the date with the Ancestry calculator it gives the birth date for Lydia as 8 June 1793.

http://www.searchforancestors.com/utility/birthday.html

The date I have for Lydia’s birth is 19 Jan 1796 in Dayton, Ohio.  There seems to be a difference of 3 years in her age?

The Ancestor Outline I have featured on this blog by Armindo Spracklin (wife of Charles E. Spracklin) gives her birth date as 8 June 1796.  This, of course, is not a  primary sources, so I am leaning toward her tombstone as the best source.

So far I have not been able to find any birth record for Lydia.  According to an article about  Solomon Goss Spracklin, a son,  Lydia was the first child born in Dayton, Ohio.  The other history books of Dayton and Montgomery County do not agree, they list a boy. http://iagenweb.org/harrison/bio/geneal13.htm#spracklen

See posted dated August 5, 2011, Ancestor Outline by Armindo Spracklin

The Knox County Genealogical Society published a cemetery transcription book:

Cemetery Records of Knox County, Ohio Vol. 1, Green Valley Cemetery pg. 730, by Richard DeLauder, Editor, 1991: 

This publications lists the following information:

Green Valley Methodist:
page 727: Goss, Noah, d. 18 July 1833 age 51 yr.
page 730 Spracklen, James B. d. 2 June 1862 age 10 y.
page 730 Spracklen, John d. 6 Feb 1862 age 67 yr 27d
page 730 Spracklen, Lydia w/o John Spracklen d. 19 Jan. 1851 age 54 y 7 m. 11d

Partial listing of Green Valley from the DeLauder book for Spracklin/Goss

As you can see if you compare the two publications there is a bit of a difference in the information.  Who is James?

Find A Grave has a listing for Green Valley Cemetery in Knox Co. and a map to show you where it is located.  There are pictures of the tombstones.

http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=cr&GSsr=281&GScid=310479&CRid=310479&pt=Green%20Valley%20Cemetery&

Let’s take a look at my photographs of the tombstones and see what they reveal.  I have written about my travels in 2011 and Mt. Vernon in this blog.  See the posted dated September 11, 2011: Mt. Vernon County Seat – Knox Co., Ohio.

I did not blog about the trip in 2007.  I did mention it when I was starting to write the posts for the 2011 trip.  See the post dated July 13, 2011:  Remembering Ohio 2007. 

The drive from Mt. Vernon to the cemetery is lovely and very easy along a two lane road.  It is not too hard to find the cemetery it is right across from the white church.

Noah Goss, Lydia, John and Ida Spracklen tombstones 2007

The first time I visited this cemetery in 2007, I was with a cousin and it was pouring rain.  We returned the next day so we could enjoy the time there.  The second time I was there in 2011, the weather was wonderful and I was able to dally and walk the cemetery reading more of the tombstones.  Here is a little different perspective and you can see the blue sky:

A Little different view of Noah Goss, Lydia, John and Ida’s tombstones 2011

Let’s start with Lydia’s stone which is not easy to read:

Lydia Spracklen’s tombstone

Let’s get closer to see if we can figure out the dates and information on Lydia’s stone.  I believe it is January and not June for the month of her death.

Lydia’s stone up close

Next, John Spracklen’s stone a little easier to figure out:

John Spracklen’s tombstone

Ida has the little stone that I believe, was mistaken as James in the publication above?

Ida Spracklen dau. of Lydia and John.

Last is the tombstone of Noah Goss which is flaking:

Noah Goss, brother to Lydia.

Let’s get up a little closer to Noah:

Noah Goss – closer

Just so you know that I was really there, here I am in 2011, I would have had my arms around them all but they are too far apart for that:

Bonnie and her 3rd great grandparents Lydia and John.

Is there an obituary notice for John in the local newspapers.  Well, I have not been able to find one.  I have searched all of the Mt. Vernon newspapers with no results.  Here is what I searched at the Mt. Vernon Public Library in their microfilm reels of the newspapers of the area.   I have found a lot of missing issues in the newspapers in Ohio.  They do have abstracted publications of the vital records information from the newspapers and of course, I studied them for clues as well.

1. Tried the Democratic Banner Nov. 1847 to 1851 and 12/1851 for Lydia.
2. Wanted to find Noah Goss but the newspapers for Mt. Vernon at the Mt. Vernon Public Library did not cover 18 Jul 1833.
3. Tried the Ohio Times Jan 1850 to Aug 1852 for Lydia.
4. There were no dates for the Mt. Vernon Paper for 1863 when John died.

Dedication:  I dedicate this post to all my Goss and Spracklin/len cousins, those I have met and those I hope will contact me someday.  Please comment and feel free to copy the photos but I would appreciate getting some credit for the money, time and effort it took to visit John and Lydia’s graveside…Bonnie

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John Andrews Spracklin (Sr.) Naturalizes…

When I was looking at court records at the Family History Library I discovered that John Andrews Spracklin (SR) naturalized in October of 1853.

When I visited the Knox County Records Center Annex in Mount Vernon where they keep the records, I decided to check out the clerk journals and see if there was anything else associated with his naturalization.

Naturalization is usually done in two parts, the declaration (1st part) and then the naturalization (2nd part).  I had found the 2nd part at the Family History Library but the Records Center had the 1st part.

John Spracklin a native of England age 60 years this 4th day of November A.D. 1856 appeared before the undersigned at the office of the Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas within Knox County Ohio and makes oath and to absolutely denounce and abjure forever all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign potentate, State or sovereignty whatever and particularly Queen Victoria the present reigning Queen of the United Kingdom and Great Britain and Ireland of whom he is now a subject.  Witness by official signature this 4th day of November A.D. 1856.  Signed by A.C. Elliott Clerk of K C P.

Source:  Court Minutes, Court of Common Pleas, Knox Co., Ohio, 1855-58, pg. 256, Declaration of Intention of J.A. Spracklin, 4 November 1856.

I have no idea why John, at the age of 60, would decide to become naturalized, unless the laws had changed? A topic I have no expertise in.  All his children had been born here in the United States, maybe he did it for them?

Probate Court Knox County Ohio. October 10th A.D. 1859

John Spracklin Naturalized:

On this day John Spracklin an alien and native of England a free white person appeared and proved to the satisfaction of the Court that on the 4th day of November A.D. 1856 made before the Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas of Knox County, Ohio the requisite Declaration of his intention to become a citizen of the United States and by the oaths of John Tarr and ______Weathcot that he has resided within the United States for more than five years last past and in the State of Ohio for more than one year last past and that during all that time has behaved as a man of good moral character attached to the principles of the Constitution of the United States and disposed to the good order and happiness of the same. Wherefrom the said John Spracklin here in open Court made solemn oath that he will support the Constitution of the United States and that he doth absolutely and entirely renounce and abjure forever all allegiance and fidelity to every Foreign Prince Potentate State or Sovereignty whatever and particularly to Victoria the present reigning Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland.  It is therefore ordered that a Certificate of Naturalization issue to the said John Spracklin which is accordingly done.  J.S. Davis Probate Judge.

John Spracklin’s Naturalization a portion

Source:  John Spracklin Naturalized, October 10, 1859 Probate Court , Knox County, Ohio, Vol. B, 1852-1863, page 310, FHL#2130104 Journals Volume A-B.

So Lydia’s Englishmen did become a U.S. Citizen.

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John & Lydia Spracklin: The Land In Liberty Twp., Knox Co., Ohio 1839

In the year 1839, John Spracklin bought and sold land in Knox County, Ohio.

Lydia Spracklin appears on this deed to a Wm. Stevens.  The witnesses are Joseph Shaw, JP and Wine Rood.

7X

John Spracklin of the Co. of Knox in the State of Ohio

Wm. Stevens county and state aforesaid

Mar 7, 1839; Rec. Dec 11, 1839

#314047 LDS; Deeds v. V-W 1839-1941

V, pg. 213-214

Deed – ($180) see description below.

John & Lydia signed this deed. States Lydia is John’s wife.  Witnesses:  Joseph Shaw JP and Wine Rood

(Note:  Grantee index does not have same info as individual deed vols. V., pg. 3 pg. 133, 213 #314028) Nothing found on pg. 3 of Deed vol.

7.  …certain parcel or tract of land lying and being in the second quarter of the sixth township and fourteenth Range of the United States Military Lands in the County of Knox and State of Ohio, which tract or parcel of fifty acres of land is bounded and described as follows viz beginning at the Northeast corner of said tract of land Thence west twenty four chains Thence South twenty chains 33 1/3 links Thence East twenty four chains Thence north twenty Chains 33 1/3 links to the place of beginning…

This is a copy in the court clerk books and not original, but it is still great to see Lydia participate.

Stevens sells to John and Lydia Spracklin with Wine Rood witnessing 1839 page 2

One of the witnesses above was a Wine Rood and then something very curious happens on 13 May, 1839.  John Spracklin buys land from Wine Rood.

6X

Wine Rood of the Co. of Knox in State of Ohio

John Spracklin

May 13, 1839;Rec. Oct 21 1839, Appeared June 1, 1839.

#314047 LDS, Deeds v. V-W, 1839-1941

V, pg. 135 & 136

Indenture ($600) see description below

Witnesses were John (X his mark) Kellar and Joseph Shaw J.P as well.

(Note:  Grantee index does not have same info as individual deed vols. V., pg. 3 pg. 133, 213 #314028)

  …that parcel of land lying and being in the county of Knox and State of Ohio and more particularly described as follows to wit situate lying and being in the fourteenth range sixth township and second quarter of the United States Military lands and containing fifty acres be the same more or less-bounded as follow beginning at the Northwest Corner of said lot and on the line of William Hoggs? Land thence east twenty four chains thence south twenty chains 83 1/3 links thence west twenty four chains thence north twenty chains back to the place of beginning and is bounded on the north by lands of Cyrus Howett? thence by lands owed by James Thatcher?.  To have and hold the said lands with all the privileges…..

Wine Rood sells land to John Spracklin 1839

Who is this Wine Rood?  He cannot be the one that immigrated with John Spracklin to Washington Co., Ohio in 1817, because that Wine Rood, husband of Ann (Andrews) Rood, died in 1823 in Washington Co., Ohio.  He had a son Wine Rood Jr. could it be him?  John would have known him as a child.

There is no grave record for the son Wine Rood Jr. in Washington County that I know about, he is not buried with the family in Mound Cemetery.  Various online family trees have a Wine Rood dying in Wyandot Co., Ohio in 1870.  There is a Wine Rood buried in Burkes Cemetery on Find A Grave but there isn’t much detail.

An interesting biography of a George Rood in the History of Wyandot Co., Ohio 1884 appears on page 727:

http://archive.org/details/historyofwyandot00legg

This article states that this Wine Rood is the son of Ann and Wine Rood who immigrated in 1817.  It also mentions that his father had land in Marion and Hardin Counties. Apparently I have more research to do in those deeds under the R’s. I think it is the son.

George Rood bio, History of Wyandot

Another interesting item about this deed between John Spracklin and Wine Rood (JR) is that a witness is named  John Kellar.  Is this the John Kellar that I seek who is the father of Elizabeth Keller, first wife of Daniel D. Spracklin, son of John and Lydia Spracklin?

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