I'm a sucker for being sentimental and looking at history. When I work on old hot rods, antique cars, I often spend more time thinking about who owned the car before me, did they have a family, were times tough, where were they from, etc. than actually working on the car.
Well, this property is know different, it may actually be worse for me. The hours I spent bush hogging and walking the land, I can't help but ponder who owned this land? Did native Americans set up, hunt, etc. around here? What are the stories of the people that owned the land before us?
When I first started dealing on the property, I went to the courthouse and quickly did a search just to see if there were any leans, etc. that I could find without hiring an attorney. While looking through the records, I did write down every individual's name that had once owned it.
So, after the driveway (no gravel) got to wet to continue to work out there, I kind of set off on a journey of discovery to see what I could find out about my property and the people that once owned it.
That area around the big oak tree is where all the stones were. The stones over-all foot print was quite large for just a typical cabin built in the early 1800's. There's an old well that I have yet to remove the rock placed there in the 70's by one of the neighbors to keep kids from falling in to it. Remember, this land has basically sat abandoned for quite a long time.
Anyway, my research began. All I had was a name.
James Gibbens
This was the first owner. I searched Google, the local historical dept., libraries, etc. Information wasn't forthcoming at all, in my early searches. Then, I struck gold and in several places. I found a book at the high school I teach at titled, "History of the Lower Scioto Valley." And there he was. Here is the excerpt:
"History of Lower Scioto Valley," pg 826
"James Gibbens was born near Parkersburg, Wood Co., W. Va., Feb. 1, 1799, and was married April 16, 1819, to Hannah Kittle, who was born in Randolph County, Va., Dec. 25, 1797. In the spring of 1821 they came to Ohio and settled on a farm near Wheelersburg, where he farmed three years. He is a house-joiner by trade, and has followed that occupation most of his life. He has held township offices for many years, and was ordained Deacon of the Free-Will Baptist church about 1835, to which church he has belonged over fifty years. His wife is also a member of the same church. They were blessed with a family of eleven children, of whom six grew to maturity. Two of his sons were volunteers in the late war- Cyrus H., who was killed at the battle of Atlanta by the explosion of a shell, and Randolph, who went South in 1860, and is supposed to be dead. Mr. Gibbens held the position of Deacon till within the last six years, when he resigned. He is in the eighty-fifth year, and they are the oldest couple living in Scioto County."
Found this in there too:
Early Settlers
"There are the names of many of the old pioneers of Porter Township entered among the list of old settlers given in the history of Scioto County, and among those who were born here, or came in childhood's days and are yet living, are: Madison Price, Elias Marchall, and levi Smith, of Sciotoville; Jonathan Hurd, James Littlejohn and Theodore bliss, of Wheelersburg; and Isaac Fullerton and John Baccus. Among the oldest couples living are: Mr. and Mrs. Gibbens, Mr. and Mrs. Jonathan Hurd, all of whom are over eighty years of age, with the prospect of several years more of a quiet and peaceful life."
Whoah!!!
He had 11 kids, was a house joiner by trade (explains the large foundation for the house- maybe??) and was fairly involveded in the community.
Then, while searching on the internet, I hit gold again. I actually found some of his descendants that were looking for information on him. They had an actual copy of when James Gibbens bought the property from the US Government from the Northwest Territory in 1837!. How about that! And, they had some other minor details that I found interesting.
I have found out some other interesting info through the same process. I have been very busy lately and need to get back in contact with the descendants of these families that once owed this land. I feel obligated to them to help them continue their search. With regards to Mr. and Mrs. Gibbens, I, nor the descendants, have been able to find a cemetery with their stones, yet. I'll keep on that. I'm hooked!
More later, folks.....
