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 and Lydia Spracklin settle on Solomon Goss Land in Knox Co., Ohio

John and Lydia settled on the land in Knox County, Ohio, purchased by Solomon Goss, Lydia’s father, from Zaccheus Biggs on 28 July 1802.

Mr. Biggs has a patent for land for Knox County at the BLM Land website as well as many others. On the patent it states that he obtained the land, “4000 acres, appropriated for satisfying Warrant for Military Service.”  The Biggs family was very busy in Ohio buying and selling land.  They were not the only ones.

The link below to the BLM will take you to the search page.  I used in my search, Ohio, Knox Co., and “Biggs.”  This search will get you to the patent Biggs had for Knox County.  It showed up at the bottom of the search page.  If you just search for Zaccheus Biggs you might not get the one you want.  Also be aware that they spell the name most creatively especially the first name in many abstracts and documents.

The Biggs Patent before Solomon Goss

http://www.glorecords.blm.gov/search/default.aspx#searchByTypeIndex=0&searchTabIndex=0

Title Transfer:  3/20/1800

Land Office:  Ohio,

Authority:  June 1, 1796 United Brethren Warrant (1 Stat.480)

Survey:  Ohio

Acres:  4000

Accession/Serial Nr.: OH2100

BLM Serial Nr.: OH No S/N

Sec. 2, Twp. 6-N, Range 14-W, US Military Survey, OH, Knox 2nd quarter of Township

There is a deed at the Washington County Historical Society in Marietta in the stacks in books. It is down the hall and around the corner.  This society was given a great many records from their county courthouse so you may have to check with them for older records.

Zaccheus Biggs is selling 450 acres of land to Solomon Goss in 1802.  The deed is very hard to read and of course the book contained only a copy of the original deed handwritten by the court clerk. It was very faint in certain parts of the document where the ink had faded.

Zacch* Biggs)

Deed)

Sol. Gofs) 

Know all men by these presents that I Zaccheus Biggs of Jefferson County in the Northwest Territory, Esquire. For and in consideration of the sum of Four hundred and fifty dollars to me paid in hand before the ensealing hereof, by Solomon Gofs of the County of Washington in said Territory, husbandmen, the receipt whereof I do hereby acknowledge and myself therewith contented and satisfied, I do hereby give grant bargain sell and convey unto the said Solomon Gofs his heirs and asfsigns forever a certain tract or parcel of land lying and situate in the County of Fairfield in the Territory aforesaid containing four hundred and Fifty acres, bounded and butted as follows viz:  beginning at a post at the Northeast corner of Section Number Two in the Sixth Township of the fourteenth range of the United States, Military Lands ___ called, thence [west ] Seventy two chains [courfing a small branch of Owl Creek  thirty Links upside of a post, thence south sixty two chains & thirty links to a post Thence east Seventy two chains to a post thence North Sixty ___ chains __________to place of beginning.  To have and to hold the gr____and bargain premises with the privileges and appurtenances thereof to him the said Solomon Gofs, his heirs and asfigns forever as of Fee Simple and ____ said Zaccheus Biggs _____any heirs, executors and administrators.  Covenant with the said Solomon Gofs his heirs and asfigns that I ____lawfully Seized is free of the premises that they are free from all impediments _____ that I will so warrant and _____the same.  To the said Solomon Gofs his heirs and asfigns forever, against the lawful claims and _______of all persons claiming __________________.

In witnefs whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal the 28^th day of July in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred & two.  Signed and sealed by Zac’hs Biggs

Singed Sealed & delivered in the present of ___Rufus Putnam and So____Putnam

Washington County __ Personally appeared this twenty eight day of July, Eighteen hundred & two Z___ Biggs signer and sealer to the witnessed Instrument and acknowledged it to be his act & deed Before me.

____Rufus Putnam Justice of the Peace.

412 Washington County __ January 15, 1803 __________is a true copy and text Dudley [Headbridge] Rec’d

Page 1 of the Zaccheus Biggs deed of Land to Solomon Goss 1802

In 2007, I was traveling in the northern part of Ohio.  I had attended the FGS (Federation of Genealogical Societies) conference in Fort Wayne were the Allen County Library is located.  After that conference I headed east to Ohio which is about two hours to get to Kenton, Ohio and then another hour to Mt. Vernon, Ohio.  I couldn’t pass it up.  Knox County was part of Fairfield County till it broke off after this deed was written and recorded in March 1, 1808.

The Recorder of Deeds in Knox County is in the Records Center and they had this huge map of Knox County dated 1847.  Yes, before three of the townships were annexed to Morrow County which was established in 1848.  I purchased the large map for $5.00.  I do not know if they are still selling them?

The Knox County Genealogical Society is in the basement.  If you visit stop by.  Their hours are limited so check their website.

The deeds are on the main floor and the court records are in the basement of the Records Center near the genealogical society.

This website is for all government offices in Ohio so be careful if you start exploring, they do have a map to the location, I have identified Knox for you:   http://www.ohiorecorders.com/knox.html

Knox County Records Center, Ohio, Go here for the Records for Knox Co, Ohio

Lovely Courthouse but it is not where the records are!

Here is a portion of that map featuring the townships of Liberty and Bloomfield Twps. Remember South Bloomfield was part of Knox in 1847 but became part of Morrow County in 1848.  The area in yellow highlights the Spracklin land and a little more.

Knox County before Morrow is formed 1847

NOTE:  This map is not only important for Spracklin Research but for anyone who had family in Knox Co., Ohio in 1847.  This is also important to me for my John and Mary Keller research. The parents of Elizabeth Keller who married Daniel D. Spracklin a son of John and Lydia Spracklin.

Interesting stuff:  In the past I have mentioned Rufus Putnam and the deed above is signed by a Rufus Putnam. He was a Justice of the Peace in Washington County.  I visited his land in North Brookfield, Massachusetts where he lived before he left for Marietta, Ohio.  I visited Campus Martius and viewed the house that he lived in.  They had it indoors inside the museum to preserve it.  The land office building is outside this museum.  He knew the Goss family.  He knew Capt. Philip Goss and Judith and probably Philip Goss and Keziah Cooley.

Try this link to his papers at the Marietta College Library Special Collections.  Who knows you might get luckier than me and find something about your family.  Click on the finding aid to see all the people he interacted with in his life.  Does the name Timothy Pickering mean anything to Goss researchers.  Also try the search engine.  Enjoy.

http://drc.library.marietta.edu/handle/2374.MARIETTA/428

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Mt. Vernon County Seat – Knox Co., Ohio

 I visited Mt. Vernon from August 26 to September 2, 2011.  I am home now but I will continue to post highlights about the trip and archives that I visited and hopefully it will assist you in your research in these areas of Ohio.

Records Annex, Knox County, Ohio

Mt. Vernon is the county seat for Knox County, Ohio.  The courthouse is located just down from the Records Annex  at 117 High Street in Mount Vernon (Hwy 36) and not far from the round-about in the center of Mt. Vernon.   The Recorder’s office (for deeds) is on the floor when you enter through the main door.  The Record Center is in the basement.  I suggest you visit both for court documents such as probates, court records and more.  The clerks are all helpful and very nice.  The Recorders office has the indexes and books right out there for you to access.  The first index to 1843 contains a listing of old deeds.  I asked the clerk behind the counter and was told they go all the way back in the first book to 1803.  They will let you take photographs. 

Deed Index, Knox County, Ohio

I  tried to dig deep into early Knox County history looking for Kellers, Delano, Askins and more.  I have already studied the Spracklins and associated surnames of the children so I am confident I have them covered.  I decided this time to emphasize the other surnames. 

The Knox County History and Genealogical Society is also located at 117 High Street  in a room in the basement area right across from the Records Center office.  They have updated their website so you might want to check it out.   They are very small but I noticed that there was change from my last visit and they had been busy.  They have an obituary file, family histories, have books and more.  They are also very helpful.  Hours are short so check the website.  They are in the process of updating the cemetery books done by R. DeLauder so keep and eye out because they will make them even better.  Unfortunately they have to rebuild the database because the company that printed the books went out of business.  They could use volunteer help. 

Public Library of Mount Vernon & Knox County

The Mt. Vernon Public Library  (Public Library of Mount Vernon and Knox County) is located on Sugar Street and Mulberry St.  There is parking in the back of the library.  You can enter on Sugar (a narrow ramp up to the parking) or try Mulbery which is one way going south.  I visited the History room in the Mount Vernon Library which is heavy on Knox County sources.  They also have Mount Vernon newspapers on microfilm, family histories, city directories, school yearbooks and more.  It is worth a visit.  I spent two hours one day and another hour on another day at the library checking sources for obituary readings, plat maps and more. 

History Room of Library, Mt. Vernon, Ohio

The Mound Cemetery, one of the oldest in Knox County, is just north of the public library and even if you don’t have family buried there I suggest you visit it.  It is amazing, for there are a lot of huge, I mean huge, monuments in this cemetery.  I was overwhelmed by it.  You know me, I have seen a lot of cemeteries on my travels but this was awesome.  So once again get a map from the Delauder publications (Knox county books) so you can find the graves you are interested in and that may still be a challenge.  I will feature this cemetery in another post in the future. There are Kellers buried in Mound Cemetery.

Overview - Mound Cemetery, Mt. Vernon, Ohio

My recommendations are that if you want to do genealogical research in Knox County then you need to visit the Knox County Historical Society, Knox County History and Genealogical Society, the Mount Vernon Public Library and the Courthouse Annex and include the Morrow County Genealogical Library Annex as well.  Each has sources to offer and is worth a little of your time.  Now they might duplicate what each other has but because of the short hours of some of these respositories you may have to revisit a book or source and you will find it at one or the other location. 

I would like to encourage those of you with Knox and Morrow County roots, including the surrounding counties,  to submit some form of our family history:  copy of a bible, chart, booklet, reports to the historical society and genealogical societies.  It is really needed!!!!  I would also like to encourage you to volunteer your help if you live in the area or join as a member and learn about the people who built this State of Ohio.

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