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Recorded Deed of David Hartzell, 1853         MAKE PRINTABLE

Fayette County Courthouse, Connersville, Indiana
Deed Record Book R, page 243.
Aug. 27, 1853 - 20 acres - part of NE 1/4 Section 21,
part of NW 1/4 Section 22 - Jennings Township, Fayette County, Indiana - $500

Jonas Scholl to David Hartzell

This Indenture made this the 27th day of August in the Year of our Lord One Thousand Eight hundred and fifty three between Jonas Scholl and Catherine Scholl his wife of the County of Fayette and State of Indiana of the first part and David Hartzell of the County and State aforesaid of the second part. Witnesseth that the Said party of the first part for and in consideration of the Sum of five hundred dollars to the said party of the first part by the party of the h second part in hand paid, the receipt Whereof is hereby acknowledged ave granted, bargained and sold and by these do grant, bargain, sell, convey and confirm to the said party of the second part, his heirs and assigns forever, all the following described piece or parcel of land to wit.

Lying and being in the County of Fayette and State of Indiana and described as follows Viz. Being a part of the North East quarter of Section Twenty One, and Range thirteen, also part of the North West quarter of Section Twenty Two Township and Range aforesaid East beginning One hundred Rods West of the North East corner of the North West quarter of Section Twenty two aforesaid, on the North line of said quarter and the west line of James Nuttles land, thence West One Hundred Rods to a corner, thence South thirty two Rods hence East One Hundred Rods, thence North on the line of said James Nuttles land Thirty two Rods to the place of beginning, containing Twenty acres of land more or less, together with all the rights, priviledges, and appurtenances as to the same belonging. To have and to hold the above described premises with all the improvements & appurtenances to the Same belonging to the Said party of the second part, his heirs and assigns forever. And the Said party of the first part for themselves and their heirs do hereby Covenant with the Said party of the Second part and his heirs and assigns that they are lawfully Seized in fee of the premises aforesaid, that the premises are free and clear from all incumbrances Whatever, and that they Will forever Warrant and Defend the Same against the lawful Claims of all persons Whomsoever. In Witness Whereof the Said Jonas Scholl and Catherine Scholl his wife who hereby relinquishes her right of dower have hereunto set their hands and seals the day and Year first above written.

                    (signed) Jonas Scholl    [seal]
                    (signed) Catherine Scholl    [seal]

                    In Witness Whereof I have hereunto Set My 
                    hand and Seal this the 27th day of August 
                    AD 1853
                    Joseph T. Tage RFC
Recorded August 27, 1853
Jos. T. Tate RFC

This indenture, Made this Twenty ninth day of February in the year of our Lord one thousand Eight hundred and Seventy two, between William Jordan of the County of Shelby and the State of Illinois of the first part, and James A. Hartzell of the County of Shelby and State of Illinois of the Second part, Witnesseth: The Said party of the first part, for and in consideration of the Sum of twenty Seven hundred and twenty Dollars to him paid, the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged, do hereby grant, bargain, sell, convey and confirm, unto the Said party of the Second part and his heirs and assigns One certain Tract or Parcel of Land, with the appurtenances, lying and being in the County of Shelby and State of Illinois, described as follows, to wit:

The North half of the North East quarter of Section nineteen (19) in Township Eleven (11) North Range Six, (6) East of the third (3) principal Meridian - containing Eighty acres more or less.

To Have and to Hold the aforesaid granted premises including also the waiver and release of all right and benefits of the Exemption and Homestead Laws of the State of Illinois, in and to the above described property to the Said party of the Second part his heirs and assigns to him and his use and behoof Forever. And the said party of the first part do hereby, for himself and his heirs, executors and administrators, covenant with the Said party of the Second part, his heirs and assigns that he is lawfully seized, in fee simple, of the above granted premises; that they are free from all incumbrances that he has good right to sell and the same to the said party of the second part and that he and his heirs, executors, and administrators, will Warrant and Defend the Said Tract or parcel of land to the said party of the Second part his heirs and assigns forever, against the lawful claims and demands of all persons.

In Witness whereof, the said party of the first part has hereunto Set his hand and seal on the day and year first above written.

Signed Sealed and delivered in                   William Jordan (seal)
presence of Adonijah Lawton
            George Frazer

State of Illinois, Shelby County
George W. Frazer a Justice of the Peace in and for said county do
hereby certify that the above named William Jordan, who is personally 
known to me to be the same person whose name is subscribed to the 
foregoing Deed as having executed the same, this day in his own proper 
person came before me, and acknowledged that he signed, Sealed and 
delivered the said Deed, for the uses and purposes therein mentioned, 
And the Said ___________ wife of the Said __________  having been made 
fully acquainted with the contents of said Deed and by me examined 
separate and apart from her Said husband, declared that She signed and
acknowledged Said Deed and relinquished her dower and all right of 
homestead in and to the lands thereby conveyed, freely, voluntarily 
and without compulsion of her said husband.
        In Testimony Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal
        this Twenty ninth day of February 1872
Revenue Stamp $3.00                              Geo. W. Frazer (seal)
                                                              J.P.
Filed for Record March 5th, 1872, at 8 Oclock A.M.

Archibald Reed to William Walker

This indenture made the thirty first day of December in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and twenty one between Archibald C. Reed of Fayette County and State of Indiana of the one part and William Walker of the Country and State aforesaid of the other part _____ that the said Archibald C. Reed for and in consideration of the sum of one thousand dollars lawful money of the United States to him in hand ____ and truly paid by the said William Walker the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged, ___ granted bargained sold conveyed and confirmed and by these proceeds doth grant bargain ... ... that certain lot or parcel of land ____ lying and being in the County and State aforesaid and being a part of the South East quarter of Section Twenty one Township fourteen and Range thirteen East of the principal meridian of the lands directed to be sold at Cincinnati which said lot is to contain all the land in said quarter except forty acres of the north side of said ____ which was sold to Jonathon Haugham? and recorded in the Recorders office of Fayette County ....

to be finished... (the routine jargon)

Recorded Deed of William Walker, Sr., 1828         MAKE PRINTABLE

Fayette County Courthouse, Connersville, Indiana
Deed Record Book __, page ____.
Oct. 6, 1828 - 160 acres - SW 1/4 Section 22, Jennings Township, Fayette County, Indiana - $850

"in the district of lands sold at Cincinnati"

to be finished...

Will of William Walker, Sr., 1856         MAKE PRINTABLE

From Extracts of Fayette County Indiana Will Records 1819-1895. Summary:

Will of William Walker, Sr, dated July 5, 1856, recorded May 3, 1859.

Hiers:  sons:           Henry, Willis J., James, John, Alexander, Samuel, 
                        Joseph, William
        daughter:       Frances Williams
        grandsons:      Henry Walker, son of William Walker
                        William Walker, son of William Walker

Executor:               John S. Reid
Witnessed:              Jno S. Reid & John J. Burke

Codicil dated:          May 8, 1857
Witnessed:              John S. Reid, Robert Evens, H.J. Walker

Land:                   left 3,500 acres
                 

Joseph Walker d.1896 Apr 8; Amos W Walker, administrator.
1 Jun 1896: inventory presented to court, including:
Real Estate:
153 acres in twp 9 leased to James Hastings;
160 acres twp 11 leased to Ulises White;
80 acres twp 10 leased to Joseph Shumarch;
Block 11 in Bruce Voris & Middlesworth's addition to Windsor occupied 
by housekeeper (not Barbara Hartzell) of deceased Title Free-hold 
Estate;
E 1/2 of Block 22 Lot 12 in Original City of Windsor occupied jointly 
by WS Fitzwater, Wm Gadier & Ed Reber Title Fee-simple;
W 1/2 of Block 6 in Bruce Voris & Middlesworth's addition to Windsor-
vacant but rented to Wm Brill for cow pasture Title Fee-simple;
W 1/2 of Block 22 Lot 7 in Original City of Windsor occupied by Bruce
& Garvin, undivided interest in fee-simple.
Chattel Property (selections from):
9 head of horses                $31,500
6 milch cows                     17,700
3 sucking calves                  2,400
33 sheep & fleece                10,700
20 spring lambs                   2,500
33 fat hogs                              17,500
8 stock hogs                      8,000
etc
75 bushels of wheat               4,125
40 bushels rye                    1,200
1725 bushels corn                38,000
household goods                   4,100
farm implements                   5,600
3 young cattle                    5,000
Notes & Accounts, divided into Good Notes (165), Doubtful Notes(44) 
& Desparate Notes (60).
Books trace claims paid, including $1363.56 to Amos W. Walker, $36.50 
to John F Wall, $37.50 to Wm J Wall; interim reports to the court.
23 May 1898 administrator alledges all assets collected and debts 
paid "except as otherwise noted", and balance remaining of $4927.45 
in the hands of the undersigned for payment of J D Bruce's claim of 
$562.92 and whatever interest may accrue and the charges for Probating 
the Estate, and for distribution of the remainder between the heirs 
of said Estate lawfully entitled thereto, as follows:
(1) Amos W Walker (son)
(2) Sophronia Hartsel (daughter, wife of James Hartsel)
*Final Distribution to heirs 19 June 1898
    Sophronia W Hartsell    $2174.76
    Amos W Walker           $2174.76

Springersville Cemetery (4 miles east of Connersville, Indiana)

Book was at Rush County Library in Rushville, Indiana. The list was carelessly done and has many errors. It is reproduced here verbatim for secondary reference purposes only. There were no Hartsell or Dorsey names found in the book.

Initials:  A.&S. - Alexander & Sarah
           Wm.&M. - William & Matilda
           J.&C. - James & Catherine
           H.&S. - Henry & Sarah
           W.&J. - William & Jane
        
Walker, William                                 Age 27 y. 4 m.  7-11-1833
Walker, James A.        s. of A.&S.Walker       Age 3 m. 1 da.  8-7-1839
Walker, Eliza J.        dau. of A.&S.Walker     Age 4 m. 21 da. 8-9-1837
Walker, Catherine       w. of Jas. Walker       Age 28 y. 3 m.  9-4-1846
Walker, Sarah W.        w. of Joseph Walker     Age 21 y. 4 m.  1-14-1851**
Walker, Mary E.         dau. of A.&S.Walker     Age 18 m.       8---1850
Walker, Willia          s. of A.&S.Walker       Age 16 y. 5 m.  4-8-1852
Walker, Sarah C.        dau. of A.&S.Walker     Age 14 y. 2 m.  9---1852
Walker, Jane            w. of Wm.Walker         Age 22 y. 6 m.* 6-15-1855
Walker, William Sr.                             Age 82 y.       5-17-1859
Walker, Sarah           w. of A.Walker                          2-6-1866
Walker, Alexander                                               12-16-1878
Walker, Henry           s. of Wm.&M.Walker      Age 4 m.16 da.  6-4-1862
Walker, William                                 8-23-1833       2-12-1869
Walker, Matilda         w. of Wm. Walker        5-14-1837       3-28-1902
Walker, Wm. H.                                  10-7-1827       
Walker, Henry                                   8-15-1803       5-17-1869
Walker, Sarah           w. of Henry Walker      3-20-1807       
Walker, John L.         s. of J.&C.Walker                       8-27-1811
Walker, Mary J.         dau. of H.&S.Walker     Age 1 m.10 da.  6-30-1831
Walker, Lewis           s. of H.&S.Walker       Age 9 m.        7-17-1833
Walker, Eliza J.        dau. of W.&J.Walker     Age 1 yr.       8-13-1833
Walker, John            s. of A.&S.Walker       Age 13 y. 8 m.  4-6-1861
Walker, Lewis           s. of W.&J.Walker       Age 1 y. 9 m.   8-6-1833
Walker, Son             s. of A.&S.Walker                       7-25-1848
Walker, George W.                               1871    1941
Walker, Anna May                                1877    19

*Note: Jane Walker was 72, not 22 years old.
**Note: Wm.Webster Hartsell  notes say June 11, age 26 yrs. 11 mo. 15 days

Union Cemetery - about 4 miles east of Connersville, Ind., and south
of Lyons Station.

(Following relatives buried there)

(At western & central part)

Samuel P. Walker (a brother of Joseph)
Born July 28, 1822
Died Aug. 21, 1888

Barbara A. Walker     (wife of Samuel P. Walker and
Born Oct. 30, 1842     a sister of James A. Hartsell)
Died Sept. 18, 1897

Effie J. Plummer (adopted child of Samuel & Barbara Walker)
Born July 14, 1865.  Died April 5, 1925.

John Walker (Father of Alf Walker; <2 names unreadable>)
Born April 13, 1828.  Died Feb. 18, 1913.

Also in his handwriting are notes from the Springersville Cemetery:

Springersville Cemetery

about 4 miles east of Connersville, Ind.

(Relatives buried as follows commencing at south and numbering north)

1 -     Alexander Walker
        Died Dec 16, 1878;  Age about 65 yrs.
        (1981 (JDH): broken in half and stacked on base)

2 -     Sarah (Wife of A. Walker)
        Died Feb. 6, 1866; Age about 59 yrs.
        (1981 (JDH): broken, imbedded in dirt and propped on base)

3 -     John Walker (son of A. & S. Walker)
        Died April 6, 1861; Age 13 yrs. 8 mo., 11 days
        (1981 (JDH): stacked at tree north of spot)

4 -     William Walker, Sr.
        Died May 17, 1859; Age 82 yrs.
        (1981 (JDH): half buried 2" under soil surface, face up)

5 -     Jane (wife of William Walker)
        Died June 15, 1855; Age 72 yrs., 6 mo.
        (1981 (JDH): half buried 2" under soil surface, face down)
        (1997 (JDH): stone had been turned face up)

6 -     Sarah C? (Daughter of A. & E. Walker)
        Died Sept. __, 1852; Age 11yrs., 2 mo.
        (1981 (JDH): base is there and a gravestone is buried upside down between #6 and #7)

7 -     Willis (Son of A. & E. Walker)
        Died April 7, 1852; Age 16 yrs., 5 mo., 7 days
        (1981 (JDH): base is there and a gravestone is buried upside down between #6 and #7)

8 -     Mary E. (Daughter of A. & E. Walker)
        Died Aug. 1850; Age 13 mo.
        (1981 (JDH): lying on ground and imbedded)

9 -     Sarah W. (Wife of Joseph Walker)
        Died June 11, 1851
        Age 26 yrs., 11 mo., 15 days
        (1981 (JDH): couldn't find)

On another sheet with the above tombstone notes was a bit on the Hartzells, in William's hand, but date of writing is unknown. The back of the sheet was written by someone else after 1948 because William died in 1944.

Ferdenand Hartzell (was father of David Hartzell and Grandfather of 
                    James A. Hartsell)
        born in Germany (E. Prussia)
        lived and died in Virginia

Fredrick Hartzell, son of Ferdenand Hartzell

Sarah Walker, wife of Joseph Walker was born in Maryland, her maiden 
name was "Dorsey".   Her father was a slaveholder.

On back of the sheet was:

James A. Hartsell married Mary Elizabeth Palmer in Indiana in 1858, 
two years later moved to Illinois.  Settled in Richland township and 
rented ground until 1872.  Wife died in 1863 or 66.
Married Sophronia Jane Walker on Dec. 23, 1868.  Mr. Hartsell was 
known as an agriculturist and very prosperous, accumulating 300 
acres (JDH note: this sounds like it came from the biographical 
sketch).  He started buying land in 1872.  He built the big house 
in 1896 which burnt in 1948.  He didn't marry until age 21.  His 
mother's maiden name was Nippe.  Sophronia's mother's maiden name 
was Dorsey. 

Children of William Walker:

        Joseph - m. Sarah Dorsey - Amos W. born 1850
                                - Sophronia J. born 6-15-1849
        Henry - dead

        James - dead

        John - dead     m. Aunt Mary Ellen Ferguson

        Samuel - dead   m. Aunt Anna (Barbara) Hartsell - dead

        William - dead

        Alex - dead

        Pervis - dead

        Fannie - dead - died when only a girl

        Louisa - dead - died when only a girl

Children of David & Barbara (maiden name was Nippe from Va.)

        James A. - Sophronia J. Walker

        William - Harriet Robinson - no children

        Celestia - Alex E. Walker - no children

        Sarah - Aunt Sade - John Walden

        Margaret - never married - Aunt Sis

        Barbara Anna - John Walker - no children (JDH note: she married Samuel Walker)

        Rebecca - Timothy Small
                children Flora, Carrie, Lola, William, Edward, Sarah (Sister)

        (one died in infancy)

Letter of August 28, 1974:

I do remember hearing, when I was just a kid, that some old shoe making tools, still at G'ma (Sophronia) Hartsell's, had belonged to one of our grandfathers. I had always connected it with another story that I had heard that one of our grandfather Hartsells was a one-legged shoe cobbler.

Letter of May 14, 1976:

(regarding Barbara Anna marrying Samuel Walker, not John Walker) ...the records that I found in Connersville which show Samuel marrying Barbara Hartsell. The latter agrees with what Edith Neal, a cousin of my Dad and your G'dad, told me of the family history before I went to Connersville --- except she did not say anything about Samuel being a brother to Joseph, or that the Walkers had come from Connersville.

Letter of June 28, 1977 (letter dated July but postmarked in June):

There is a story about Aunt Sade (James A. Hartsell's younger sister) and one of the other girls were called down while going through a town, on the way to Illinois, for yelling "Hurrah for Lincoln". Their mother did not want them to cause trouble

Barbara Hartsell (sister of James A.) born in Fayette Co. Indiana in 1843, married Samuel on 3 Feb. 1859 and stayed in Indiana when the rest of the family came to Illinois. She was known as Aunt Babe and had an adopted daughter, Portia Jenkins. (The marriage info I copied from the original book -- the rest I got from Edith Neal (who died at 98 this past winter) whose mother was Aunt Sade.)

Letter of Sept. 30, 1977:

Went to Shelbyville (Ill.) this morning and looked through the death records. They have no records prior to 1878 and the ones they have are rather hit or miss in the early years until sometime after 1900. I found G'dad Hartsell (9-1-1910) but they did not bother to show names of father or mother or where they were born. The spaces were there.

Letter of May 10, 1981:

I may have something that will unlock the mystery of Ferdenand Hartzell. Genn Hart, son of Minnie Alberta Hartzell Hart, has an old bible which was passed down through his mother. On one page is written:

        From Daniel Hartsell
                to
        David Hartsell
                to
        James Hartsell
                to
        Minne A. Hart

On the next page is written: "Property of Great Grand Father Hartsell"

If the notation on the second page was written by Minne (known as Aunt Bert to us), the Great Grand Father would be Daniel. Which would mean that Daniel and Ferdenand were one and the same or that (in spite of Uncle Webb's notes) the name Ferdenand is in error.

From what I can put together, I think the Hartzells and the Walkers came from Connersville to Illinois together, in 1860. Edith Neal, daughter of Aunt Sade, told me a story that, although it does not quite check with some facts that I later dug out, indicates -- Aunt Sade was about 6 years old (Aunt Sade once told me that she was born in either 1854 or 55 but her mother had not written it in the family Bible) when they came to Illinois in wagons. Somewhere in Indiana Aunt Sade and the other youngsters were scolded by her mother for yelling "Hurrah for Lincoln" as they were going thru a town and admonished "Don't make trouble". Edith also told me that Sarah Dorsey Walker had died on the way to Illinois (but this does not check with Sarah D.'s 1851 death) and the Hartzell family had taken the Walker family in. Whereupon G'pa Walker told the Hartzells "You took care of me when I needed help and I will take care of you in Illinois." This he did, at least to some extent, for I know from the records that he gave farm land to Aunt Sade. Also that Barbara Nipp (and later her daughter Margaret) "kept house" for G'pa Walker.

Edith also told me that her mother's name was Sallie Elizabeth and that she was born Nov. 24, 1855 in Fayette Co. Indiana.

Joseph Walker owned a lot of land in and around Windsor. I know from records that I have seen that he had at one time or another owned:

My grandfather Chamber's 116 acre farm south of Windsor.
My great grandmother's house (mother of J.J. Chambers) in Windsor 
that I later bought.
The land upon which my last house sat at Windsor (420 N. Chestnut).  
Across the street south from where his home was at the time of his 
death.  The block west of his house.  In this block was Aunt Sade's 
house, one owned by Edith Neal and one lived in by Margaret Hartsell.  
His own house was still the only house in the block when I was a kid.
He had also owned where the present Windsor High School is as well 
as the adjoining 40 acres and other land continuing west and north 
including the brick house (built in 1855) on the farm where he lived 
prior to moving to town.
Some of his property he acquired by picking up delinquent mortgages.

His son Amos Walker built the 3 story Windsor Hotel (probably with G'dad's money) among other things. Just out of the blue one day I asked Edith Neal (who was then in her 90's), "Am I right in thinking that Uncle Amos was about as crooked as a snake?" Her answer, "That is about right." The reason, or one of the reasons, that I asked this was that in the abstract for the house that I bought in 1972 the records showed that G'ma Hartsell had to sue her brother, Uncle Amos, after G'pa Walker's death to get a share of G'pa Walker's property. The record also showed that when G'ma sold this property in 1906 she signed the deed BUT it showed "James A. Hartsell - His Mark X" with proper witness. Which raises a question how well G'ma had taught him to read and write, as I had heard told in the family. Or perhaps he could write his own name but so laboriously slow that it was less embarrassing to make his mark (as many others had to do).

As a side light on Windsor, it was Copperhead country during the Civil War, of which some of my ancestors on my mother's side, who came from Virginia via Kentucky and Indiana were chiefly Southern Sympathizers. At one time they sent Union troops to Windsor to quiet things down. The R.R. went through in 1856. My Great G'mother told how she had ridden behind her brother on a horse when 9 years old to see the first train go through.

I have heard it said that the first settlers (as was the case in all new areas) took land near the streams where water and wood was plentiful and left what turned out to be the better land for those who came later and knew how to drain it and make it productive. A lot of the late arrivals were German.

Letter of June 10, 1981:

Yes, I think the bible belonged to Daniel and also on another page was the notation "This bible belonged to Great grandfather Hartsell". But, I do not know who wrote the note. I rather think that Ferdenand and Daniel were the same man. Uncle Webb's notes indicate that David had a brother, Fredrick, but no mention of other siblings. Which may or may not mean anything.

Darke county Ohio (with Greenville the county seat) had a lot of Hartzells according to information I picked up one time from a man in Richmond, Indiana. He told about Hartzell reunions held at Greenville attended by hundreds of Hartzells.

I suspect that the Hartzells were Luthern in the early days.

I do not know the name of the church David may have been married in. I found the marriage records in the court house at Connersville, Indiana. The birth records were burned in 1926 but the marriage records were not damaged.

George (Nipp) looks like the best bet as Barbara's father. I think Rebecca and Elizabeth on the land records are one and the same and that the Elizabeth on the 1850 census was an unmarried daughter, as she was in 1840 and 1830.

Letter of Aug. 4, 1981:

Sophronia Jane Hartzell died March 7, 1926. I have a definite memory of her dying in our house on a Sunday morning (confirmed by a handwritten note in my mother's hand, which was apparently used to send a telegram to Amos Walker, G'ma Hartzell's brother, telling of the death on Sunday and that the funeral would be on Tuesday.) Then, a couple of weeks ago I asked Mary Hart Bunyard about it and she checked it at the county courthouse and confirmed the 3/7/26 date.

William Webster Hartsell was born July 5, 1875. Again I go from memory and my mother's notes. My sister's birthday is July 6, 1915 and Uncle Webb's one day sooner. My mother kept a very complete list of family birthdays and it shows July 5, 1875 for Uncle Webb. There is no way to check this from county birth records because Illinois did not start such records until January 1, 1878.

(Regarding James Alexander and Sophronia Hartsell's wedding date of Dec. 23, 1868.) According to a story I heard from my grandmother on the "other side of the house", the 12-23-68 date may or may not mean that the Nov. 29, 1868 birthdate for Mary Elizabeth Hartsell is incorrect.

Aunt Sade told me that she did not know whether she was born in 1854 or 1855 -- that her mother had not written her birthdate in the family bible as she had the other children.

James A. rented land in Richland and Ash Grove townships prior to moving to the farm he purchased. He and Sophronia lived on a farm east and south of the Ash Grove Church. As near as I can tell from a recent platt book, the house was located in the SE 1/4 of NE 1/4 of Section 8. The house was back off the road about 1/2 mile east of the cross roads just south of the church. I have no idea how much land was involved or when it was that they moved there -- BUT they lived there when my grandmother Chambers was born March 25, 1870. My G'ma Chamber's grandfather and grandmother Sexson lived across the road (south side) and a bit east of there. G'ma Chambers told me that G'ma Hartzell had helped take care of her when she was a baby. I am assuming that they lived on rented land and that they moved from there to the farm purchased in 1872.

Letter of Sept. 15, 1981:

Joseph Walker bought the "Chambers farm" (owned later by my G'dad Chambers) on Dec. 28, 1849 and sold it to Temple C. and William R. Sargent March 16, 1864.

Sophronia Jane Hartsell died at our house in Windsor, Ill. She came for the Picnic & visit in August 1925, took sick and never went back to the farm.

David was apparently the last one to use "z" in Hartzell until I started to use it.

(On the old Bible Glen Hart has.) The listing of From Daniel to David to James to Minnie is all in the same hand writing, but I can find no clue on who wrote it. It is in ink and must have been written after Aunt Bert was married in 1902. The notation on the next page was written in pencil and matches the hand writing (which Mary Hart Bunyard identified as her mother's, Minnie A. - Aunt Bert) in an old picture album that Mary has that belonged to her mother, Minnie A. Therefore, if this is correct (as I have heard told) that David spoke very broken English (like what I sometimes type) and if Daniel came from East Prussia, it is not likely that he, Daniel, spoke German? If so could he read English? What I am driving at is -- What was Daniel doing with an English Bible? I could find nothing (Glen and I looked it over very carefully this August) to indicate when it was printed. It was no doubt considered a fine Bible in its day --- leather bound with two leather fasteners. Also, how come nothing had been written in it before 1902? There was no space set aside, as in some Bibles, for family history.

Barbara Hartzell (Aunt Babe) married Samuel Walker (brother of Joseph?) at Connersville, Feb. 3, 1859.

Rebecca Ann Hartzell married Timothy Small in Aug. 1858. She died April 4, 1874. Born October 1839. Information from a G. Granddaughter, Evelyn Gordon 2-15-1976.

Celestia Hartzell married Alex Walker. I remember where they lived in Windsor after they retired and left the farm. I remember going there. He was blind. I do not think he was the brother, Alex born about 1817, of Joseph. I never heard it mentioned and I know he was still alive in the 1920's. There were no children that I know of.

Nicknames: James A's children all had them. Starting from the top they were: Aunt Bert, Uncle Webb, Aunt Dutch, Uncle Jake. Uncle Sherman was called Alex by his brothers but not by the nieces and nephews. My dad was called Harry by all. I never heard him called Harrison.

Aunt Sade married John Walden. I do not remember them living together in my time. He lived on the east end of town and she on the west side.

On front page I think you should just say "A compilation of data by James Dwight Hartsell". If you want to mention that I helped find some of it, mention it inside.

Letter of Sept. 30, 1981:

Enclosed for your file is the death notice for James A. Hartsell. In those days it was customary to have these printed and distributed to the business houses in town as a way of notifying the public. The weekly newspaper was too slow.

I am beginning to have some second thoughts about David's broken English and am now wondering if it was Daniel who spoke the broken English. The story that I remember was that our family could not speak German because "granddad" had refused to let his children speak German because he did not want them handicapped as he had been. In view of the English Bible, I now wonder if it could have been that Daniel was the "granddad" referred to. Really no way of knowing -- all we can do for now is speculate.

It is not surprising that there is no present day road to David's property. If the roads in Indiana were anything like they were in Illinois at that time, they followed the path of least resistance (like a cow path). It was not until later that many of these old roads were abandoned and new roads located on the section lines. I can remember (as late as 25-30 years ago) when you could still see, especially in old pasture land, evidence of where old roads had been. I had the advantage of having my grandmother Chambers (who died at 92) point many of these out to me. I wish you and I could have the opportunity to visit the Windsor area together. I think I could point out a lot of things that would be of interest to you. Things that those who are not interested in family history (or just history) have no interest in . Some of these things and family tales are going to be lost when I am gone if I do not find some one who is really interested in them to tell them to.

Letter of June 7, 1983:

On October 1, 1982 I stopped at the Court House at Wytheville, Va. I found no land transfers to or from Nipp, Knipp nor Hartzell from 1790-1907. Nor were there any wills recorded under these names from 1790-1910. But, marriage records were more fruitful.

Just look at the first one and note the name Rebeccah (and Rebecca age 65 in the 1850 Indiana census).

Page 41.  Knipp, George
Marriage bond of George Knipp with Adam Knipp and John Townsend, 
surities, dated Jan. 7, 1809 for marriage to Rebeccah Tounsend, 
daughter of John Townsend.

Page 42.  
Marriage bond of Simon Reagle with Varner Knipp, surety, dated Jan. 9, 
1809 for marriage to Catherine Knipp, daughter of Adam Knipp.

Page 52.
Marriage bond of George Kegley with George Flohr, surety, dated 
Oct. 10, 1815 for marriage to Peggy Knipp, daugher of Adam Knipp.

Page 33.
Included Nipp, John in a list of 19 couples married by John Stanger, 
G.M., dated Jan. 11, 1808, as having been married by him "during the 
year 1807".   Dec. 3rd John Nipp to Dolly Cleaves.

If it was the custom, as I have been told, for relatives to sign sureties -- these records would indicate that Varner, Adam and George were all related with Adam being the common link on pages 41, 42 and 52.

The marriage of George and Rebeccah in early 1809 would have made Barbara's birth possible and probable in 1815. Not proof but at least another piece of the jig saw puzzle. ...But please note, the 3 children, under 10, listed in the 1810 census is more than you would expect after a January 1809 marriage. Since he was shown as 11 years older than Rebecca in the 1850 census, could some of these children be from a previous marriage -- perhaps in Penn?

Fayette County Chronology         MAKE PRINTABLE

Here is a time-scale of events in Fayette County, Indiana 1810-1863.
It includes events of our direct ancestors who lived in the county:

EARLIEST GENERATION:

William Walker & Jane (Corbet) Walker
Thomas Dorsey & Margaret (___) Dorsey

NEXT GENERATION:

David Hartzell & Barbara (Nipp) Hartzell
Joseph Walker & Sarah (Dorsey) Walker

NEXT GENERATION:

James A. Hartsell & Sophronia (Walker) Hartsell

1810    Settling began; western portion belonged to Indians until 1818
1811    First land sales
1812
1813
1814
1815    George Nipp (Barbara Nipp's uncle?) arrives in "Indian outpost" of Connersville
1816
1817
1818    Fayette County organized; western portion no longer owned by Indians
1819    Jennings Township formed; William Walker moves to Jennings Twp.
1820    Connersville still "filled with Indians every day"; George Nipp in Jackson Twp.
1821    William Walker purchased 120 acres in Jennings Township, Section 21
1822
1823
1824
1825    
1826
1827
1828    William Walker purchased 160 acres in Jennings Township, Section 22
1829
1830    David Hartzell was 25 years old; whereabouts unknown
1831    Barbara Nipp's family arrives?
1832
1833
1834
1835    
1836    David Hartzell, age 30, marries Barbara Nipp, age 20, in Connersville
1837    James A. Hartsell born
1838
1839
1840    David Hartzell living in Sect. 28, Jennings Twp.; Springersville was laid out
1841    
1842
1843
1844
1845
1846
1847    Joseph Walker marries Sarah Dorsey
1848
1849    Sophronia Walker born; Thomas Dorsey dies
1850    David Hartzell living near on on land he is to buy in 1853
1851    Sarah (Dorsey) Walker dies
1852
1853    David Hartzell buys 20 acres in Jennings Township, Section 21, 22
1854
1855    Jane (Corbet) Walker dies
1856
1857
1858
1859    William Walker dies, Joseph Walker moves to Illinois
1860    David & James A. Hartsell families move to Illinois (except daughter Barbara)
1861
1862
1863    David Hartzell sells the 20 acres (daughter Barbara stays until her death in 1897)

There are two George Knipp/Nipp's below. George #1 is the one who moved to Indiana; George #2 is the one who moved to Kentucky. If not numbered, we don't know which one it is.

There are two John Nipp's below. One is in George's generation (a brother?), and one is George's son.

1765 -  Verner Knipp born in Germany.
1773 -  George Knipp #1 born in Pennsylvania.
1775 -  Philip Knipp born in Pennsylvania.
1780 -  (or 1790) George Knipp #2 born in Wythe County, Virginia.
1783 -  Verner and Christeener were married.
1785 -  Rebecca (Townsend?), wife of George Knipp #1, was born.
1790 -  George Knip in Pennsylvania census, Northumberland County.  There was one
        male age 16 or over (George?), 4 males under age 16 (born after 1774), and 
        3 females in the household.
1796 -  Verner Knipp was listed in the April 23, 1796 Wythe County Virginia tax
        records as having no slaves, three horses, and two males over age 16.
1800 -  Same George Knip as 1790; still in Pennsylvania, Northumberland County, 
        "Penns" township.  Could this be Phillip's father?
1807 -  John Nipp married Dolly Cleaves in Wythe County, Virginia. 
1809 -  George Knipp married Rebeccah Townsend, daughter of John 
        Townsend, in Wythe County, Virgina on Jan. 7, 1809.  Adam 
        Knipp was a surety.
1809 -  Catherine Knipp, daughter of Adam Knipp, married Simon Reagle
        on Jan. 9, 1809 in Wythe County, Virginia.  Varner Knipp was 
        a surety.
1810 -  Virginia Census, Wythe County, has Verner Knip, age over 44, wife over 44, 1 male 10-15,
        2 males 16-25, a female 10-15, and a female 16-25.
1810 -  Virginia Census, Wythe County, has George Nipp, age 16-25, with 2 females & 1 male all under
        age 10 in the household:  Could be Nancy, Jane, and  John (b. 1811) named in the biog. sketch.
1810 -  Virginia Census, Wythe County, has John Nipp, age 16-25 with 1 female under 10.
        NOTE:  This John Nipp does not show up in any records after this point, but he could have
        moved somewhere other than Ohio or Indiana in 1820.  
1811 -  John Nipp, son of George Nipp #1, was born Nov. 18, 1811 in Wythe County, Virginia (from
        John's biog. Sketch).
1812 -  George Nipp #1 was a soldier in the war of 1812 (according to biographical sketch).
1814 -  George Nipp #1 moved to Tennessee (according to biographical sketch)
1815 -  George Nipp #1 arrived at Connersville, Indiana (according to biographical sketch)
1815 -  Peggy Knipp, daughter of Adam Knipp, married George Kegley on Oct. 10, 1815 in Wythe
        County, Virginia.
1815 -  Barbara Nipp was born Dec. 17, 1815 in Wythe County, Virginia
1820 -  Indiana Census, Fayette County, Jackson Township has George Nipp #1 with 3 females under
        under 10, 1 male under 10, and 2 females 10-16.  This adds Martha and Anna to his list of
        children, but there is an extra female under age 10 who doesn't show up in the 1830 Census.
        Could this have been Barbara "taken in", maybe orphaned?
1820 -  Virginia Census, Wythe County, has Phillip Nipp, but he stayed in Virginia.
1820 -  Virginia Census, Wythe County, has Peter Nipp, but he stayed in Virginia.
1820 -  Virginia Census, Wythe County, has George Nipp.
1821 -  George Nipp #1 bought land in Rush County, Indiana  on Dec. 11, 1821.
1824 -  Nancy Nipp married Mathias Govee on Sept. 9, 1824 in Rush County, Indiana.
1825 -  George Nipp #1 sold 80 acres in Rush County, Indiana on June 18, 1825.
1830 -  Indiana Census, Rush County, has George Nipp #1, age 50-59.  2 females were age 10-14 and 1
        was 15-19.  Nancy married in 1824, so these children are probably John, Jane, Martha, Anna,
        William, Leonidas, and Reuben.  
        NOTE: Barbara was 14-15 years old.
1830 -  Indiana Census, Putnam County (Greencastle) has Edward Nipp, age 20-29, 1 daughter under 5,
        but too young to be Barbara's father.
1830 -  Phillip Nipp appointed guardian of children; might have married Nancy.
1831 -  Barbara Nipp supposedly arrived in Fayette County, Indiana (from obituary - see note below*)
1834 -  Anna Nipp married George Short on Mar. 9, 1834 in Rush County, Indiana.
1836 -  Barbara Nipp married David Hartzell May 15, 1836 in Fayette County, Indiana.
1836 -  John Nipp married Catherine Goodman on Sep. 15, 1836 in Rush County, Indiana.
1837 -  George Nipp #1 bought 80 acres in Rush County, Indiana on Jan. 16, 1837.
1837 -  Martha Nipp married Elkana Mullins on Dec. 28, 1837 in Rush County, Indiana.
1839 -  Verner Knipp died May 7, 1839 in Sinking Springs, Green County, Tennessee.
1840 -  Indiana Census, Rush County, Rushville Township has George Nipp #1, age 50-59.
1840 -  Indiana Census, Rush County, Union Township has John Nipp, age 20-29.
1841 -  George Nipp #1 sold 120 acres in Rush County, Indiana on Jan. 15, 1841.
1850 -  Indiana Census, Decatur County, Adams Township has George Nipp #1, age 76, with wife
        Rebecca, age 65, Elizabeth, age 41, and Reuben, age 19.
1850 -  Indiana Census, Rush County, Union Township has John Nipp, age 38, wife Catherine, age 34,
        along with Sarah age 10, James age 8, William age 7, Jane age 5, John age 10 months.
1850 -  Indiana Census, Decatur County, Adams Township, has Leonidas Nipp, age 21, and wife (?)
        Margaret, age 16.
1858 -  George Nipp #1 died July 1858 at son John's home after walking from New Castle (biog. Sketch).
1859 -  Rebecca (Townsend) Nipp died Jan. 1, 1859 in Rush County, Indiana.
1860 -  Sarah Nipps married William Hendricks on Sep. 27, 1860 in Rush County, Indiana.
1887 -  John Nipp died Sept. 13, 1887 in Rush County, Indiana.

* note on Barbara's arrival in Indiana according to her obituary:  
the statement on arriving "at the tender age of 15" was written in 
1880, and came from however wrote the obituary.  The bio sketch on 
James A. Hartsell simply says she came in childhood.