Kneisley Family
KNEISLEY ANCESTRAL NOTES
Written by
J. S. Kneisley (1927)
KNEISELY HISTORICAL SKETCHES
BEGINNING 1766
Retyped into a Microsoft Word Document by James Robert Patterson on April 1, 2009
Son of Dorothy Leona Knisley & Stanley Richard Patterson
Grandson of James Harrison Knisley & Exilva Florence Benner Knisley
Great Grandson of Harrison Knisley & Rachel Jane Devina Knisley
Great-Great Grandson of John Golden Knisley & Lucinda R. Shoop Knisley
Great-Great-Great Grandson of John David Knisely & Mary Rhodes Knisley
Great-Great-Great-Great Grandson of Jacob Kneisley & Elizabeth Susanna Nye Kneisley
Great-Great-Great-Great-Great Grandson of Anthony Kneisley, Jr. & Ann Barbara Deurr Kneisley
Great-Great-Great-Great-Great-Great Grandson of Anthony Kneisley, Sr. & Magdalina (Maiden name unknown) Kneisley
KNEISLEY ANCESTRAL NOTES
(KNEISELY HISTORICAL SKETCHES BEGINNING 1766)
INTRODUCTION
"Honor thy father and thy mother that thy days may be long on the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee." A wonderful commandment and like all divine commandments, is based on natural law. When through the natural course of events, homes become broken, children become separated, new homes established and families brought in distant states, near kin are sometimes regarded as distant relatives because of lack of knowledge of ancestry for more than a generation previous.
For the satisfaction of future generations, some information is offered by the writer at this time, which might not be available a few years hence, since the source is largely of memory.
J. S. Kneisley, Quincy, Ohio March 1927
It sometimes happens that folks know very little of their ancestral history beyond their parents or grandparents at most.
This applies to a very great extent to the Kneisleys, whose foreparents settled in southern Ohio about the beginning of the nineteenth century.
Facts concerning these pioneer people may be of little value at present or even the future, but should be a source of very great satisfaction at least, to the present generation and their posterity, to know something of their forefathers, whence they came and the part they played in the drama of life.
By inquiry of some of the older descendants now living and of others who have passed away in recent years, by extensive correspondence and from monument inscriptions, I have gathered the following items of information which contain a degree of accuracy to justify the effort, and I trust, merit appreciation.
Some explanation as to the correct spelling of the name might be very appropriate at this time.
Probably for the sake of brevity or other individual preference, the name is spelled several ways:
K-n-i-s-l-e-y
K-n-e-i-s-l-e-y
K-n-i-s-e-l-y
N-i-s-l-e-y
We have found some instances where near relatives and even members of the same family do not spell the name the same way, war records and pension certificates differ in the spelling. However some of the younger generation who have become educators and students of the languages, have traced the origin of the name and investigated the German orthography and found K-n-e-i-s-l-e-y (pronounced Nizely) to be correct. Hence the various ways of spelling don not change the relationship nor interfere with the application of this ancestral record.
The first man of the name KNEISLEY, of which we have been able to obtain any information, was one JACOB KNEISLEY, his place of birth and death we have not learned but his last known residence was Woodstock, Virginia.
We do not know when he came to that vicinity, but from events which follow, we are assured that he lived there during the period from 1766 to 1785.
A wagoner or teamster by occupation, he thus supported his family, being prior to the advent of the railroad or other common carrier, he rendered a service to his countryman by promoting, in a primitive way, local transportation facilities.
Farm products and other productions of the rural districts offered for sale or exchange were thus transported from Woodstock and other country villages to the cities of Yorktown and Alexandria and on return trips, groceries, drygoods and other articles needed by the rural folks were handled by this primitive, though useful, method of transportation.
Change in occupation is sometimes necessary regardless of the hardships or inconvenience to which others may be subjected, thus it happened to JACOB KNEISLEY when he was called to the defense of his country as a soldier in the Revolution under General George Washington.
He enlisted on February 5, 1776, serving as a sergeant in Captain Jonathan Clark's Company of the 8th Virginia Regiment of Foot, commanded by Col. Abraham Bowman.
These meager facts are all we have been able to learn of this man who represents the first generation of our story.
The second generation begins with his son, JOHN DAVID KNEISLEY, who was born at Woodstock, Virginia on November 22, 1768. He was quite young when his father answered the call to the arms on defense of his country, the entire responsibility of his bringing up devolved upon his mother, hence he was taught to work early in life and share in the home cares during his father's absence.
We have been told that on many occasions in after life, while entertaining his own children and grandchildren around the fireside that he told of the thrill he received when watching the troops under General Washington, marching from Yorktown to Alexandria. We can readily understand the feelings of a boy on occasion of this kind, knowing as he did, that his father was included in that line of defenders of their country and homes.
Taking up his father's occupation when quite a young man, he served his countrymen as his father had done some years before.
His boyhood acquaintance with a neighbor girl by the name of MARY RHODES, later developed into a friendship which culminated in their marriage.
Naturally, their thoughts were of their future and their own home, concluding to start their new life together in a country which was new to them. They came to Ohio in 1801 and cast their lot in the wilderness of what is now (1927) Perry Township, Pike County, Ohio.
Here in regular pioneer fashion, they built their first log cabin home, cleared away the forest and engaged in agriculture in a small way sufficient for their needs. In time, they raised sheep and from the wool, spun and made their own clothing, raised flax from which they made their own linen.
John David answered his country's call to arms in the War of 1812, serving in Captain Micah Wood's Company of Colonel Daniel Collier's Regiment of the Ohio Militia, and with this exception, they spent their fifty-four years of married life together in this location, where they reared a family of ten sons and two daughters.
John David KNEISLEY passed away on October 14, 1860 at the age of ninety-one years, eleven months and twenty-two days, Mary Rhodes KNEISLEY having preceded him on June 20, 1854 at the age of seventy years, seven months and eleven days.
Their final resting place is the old country cemetery only a few hundred yards from where they spent their lives.
Following are names of their twelve children: John, Jacob, Ruben, David, Samuel, Henry, Phillip, Joseph, Daniel, Noah, Mary and Betsey.
The third generation of our record begins with this dozen strong sturdy folks. Not withstanding they were brought up amid hardships and privations of pioneer life. They were perfect specimens of physical manhood and womanhood. They had learned the lesson of self preservation, hard physical labor, had acquired a determination to meet the problems of life bravely, a qualification that attains to individual success.
In time they were all married and a dozen new homes established in various directions from the old homestead from two to fifteen miles distance, most of them taking up claims of government land.
Noah, the youngest of the family and the last survivor, passed away on April 13, 1903, at the age of 78 years.
Stock raising was an industry that required very little expense or attention; every family engaged in it to the extent of food requirements. Cattle ran at large through the forested land, feeding on wild forage in the summer, winter feeding being about the only expense, while hogs could exist the year around from the fruit of the Oak, Beech, Chestnut and other nut bearing trees.
Different herds of cattle could be located and distinguished at great distance by the sound of the bells of various tones around their neck.
Hogs were identified by certain marks, each owner cutting a different shaped nick at various points in the ear; this mark considered as sufficient evidence of ownership in case of loss or straying beyond the usual distance.
Large families of sons and daughters being the rule rather than the exception in pioneer days, it frequently happened that brothers and sisters of the same family married brothers and sisters of another family, this being particularly true of this family, John and Jacob married Lucinda and Betsey Shoop, sisters; David, Samuel and Joseph, became husbands of Elizabeth, Fannie and Isabell Watts, sisters respectively; Reuben and Phillip shared the joys and sorrows of matrimony with Rebecca and Catherine Chaffin, sisters; Henry, Noah and their sister Mary, chose as their life partners, Eliza and Mary Anderson and their brother Joshua Anderson.
Daniel and Betsey deviated somewhat from the precedent set by their brothers and sister, each married into a different family, Daniel spending a long and happy life the husband of Susan Nolan, while Betsey became the life companion of Phillip Rhodes.
The patriotism of the two previous generations still prevailed, Joseph serving as a soldier in the War of 1861 to 1865 and seven of his nine brothers contributed one of more of their sons in the same conflict, individual mention of whom will appear later.
At that period in history, being satisfied with necessities was an essential characteristic and one that prevailed generally, luxuries were little thought of or at least seldom indulged in. Household furnishings though very plain, were not considered quite complete without a trusty rifle, occupying a convenient place on a wall. Fathers and sons devoted considerable time in hunting, which was not only a pleasant, but a very profitable pastime, deer, bear, wild turkey and other game were abundant.
As was true of the men generally in that day, these folks became very proficient with the rifle and as the range of social amusements was limited, mark shooting was a very attractive sport. Frequently an entire afternoon was spent in this way until darkness prevented, then a lighted candle was placed opposite the mark and the sport continued, the light of the candle frequently be extinguished at sixty and a hundred yards.
The children of the twelve marriages, about twenty-five of whom are still living at this time (1927), represent the fourth generation of our story.
The grandchildren and great grandchildren and those still younger in this lineage being widely scattered, we have not attempted to ascertain or even estimate their number.
For the benefit of any who may desire to revise and continue this record in after years, I will attempt to give names of children born to the twelve marriages mentioned, of the third generation, omitting those who died in infancy or young childhood and mentioning only those who grew to manhood and womanhood.
This is largely from personal acquaintance but partly from inquiry, hence some omissions may occur.
JOHN AND HIS FAMILY
John, the oldest son and his wife, who was Lucinda Shoop, reared a family of four sons and six daughters, Richard, Henry, Harrison, Walter, Mary Ann, Lydia, Emma, Sarah, Maggie and Nettie. A jolly family, musically inclined, most of them, both boys and girls, could handle the violin very creditably. Henry was unfortunate in being a cripple, carrying the nickname of "Limpy Hen," by far excelled the others in handling this instrument, and was recognized the country over as a real artist among the "Old Time Fiddlers."
The father of this family who will be remembered by the nickname of "Uncle Golden", was somewhat a giant in comparison, being over six feet in height and nearly three hundred pounds of well proportioned bone and muscle, very industrious and possessing wonderful power of endurance. Harrison who was nicknamed "General", represented the family in the Civil War.
He married soon after coming from the war and in keeping with previous records for large families became the father of eight sons and seven daughters, all of whom are living at this time (1927).
HENRY AND HIS FAMILY
Henry and his wife who was Eliza Anderson, were the parents of five sons and four daughters; Ervin, Sampson, Noah, Reuben, Millard, Dehilah, Lucinda, Josephine and Polly.
Ervin and Noah were the color defenders in the war between the North and South; Noah, who was rather small and weakly in appearance, was rejected by the medical examiner when applying for enlistment, but still determined, after a period of waiting applied again and was rejected a second time. Still unable to control his patriotic zeal, he presented himself at another recruiting station and was accepted, and served with honor to the close of the war.
JACOB AND HIS FAMILY
Jacob and his wife, Betsey Shoop, were the parents of five sons and two daughters; Reuben, Samuel, Newton, Jaunt, Frank, Samantha and Catherine.
Reuben lost an arm in a threshing machine accident when a young man and was afterward known as "one arm Rube" in differentiation from his uncle and cousin of the same name.
Samuel was the soldier of the family in the war of 1861, a perfect physical specimen, a jolly fellow, an athlete and handy with the gloves.
His ability to defend himself and his friends at all times, where fist fighting appeared on a program or was introduced as a side issue, won for him the title of "Big Sam."
REUBEN AND HIS FAMILY
Reuben and his wife, Rebecca Chaffin, reared a family of four sons and three daughters; James, Richard, Thomas, Al, Hancy, Harriet and Rhoda.
James was the soldier boy of this family in the war of the Rebellion.
The following story will illustrate how he came by his nickname, by which most people remember him.
"After enlistment, he with some neighbor boys on their way to camp were dining at a hotel, when James dropped a potato in his cup of coffee, much to the amusement of his comrades, who immediately dubbed him "Tater" or "Jim Tate" by which name he was known ever after."
SAMUEL AND HIS FAMILIES
Samuel and his wife, the former Fannie Watts, were the parents of six sons; Wilson, Daniel, James, David, Hamilton, and Marion. Death claimed the mother when Marion, the youngest, was quite small. Samuel later married Mariah Wisecup and two sons and three daughters; Issac, Dension, Cassa, Rebecca and Lucinda were born to this second union, making eleven children in all.
Wilson and Daniel represented this family in the Civil War, where Wilson died in a Southern Camp. Two of the sons met accidental death, David was killed by a falling tree and James was gored to death by an ox.
DAVID AND HIS FAMILY
David was a physician, and the only one of the name at that time or during his lifetime to adopt the medical profession, though at present some of the younger generations are prominent physicians.
He did a general practice and specialized in the treatment of dropsy. Qualifications of physicians at that time as compared with the requirements of modern physicians (in the 1927 time period), indicate a very marked contrast. The principal qualifications then were some experience with another physician and a desire for the work. Drugs were not so widely classified, ipecac and calomel were principal remedies, plus there were a few other common remedies. A pair of forceps and a lancet composed the average doctor's equipment. Brandy and kindred liquor were also considered standard medicines.
David's wife whose maiden name was Elizabeth Watts, we remember from childhood acquaintance as a very noble and saintly lady. Their children, three sons and four daughters were; James, William, Jacob, Jennie, Isabel, Rebecca and Sallie. James was a soldier in the 1861 conflict, enlisting for a definite time, and reenlisting at that expiration and served until the close of the war.
JOSEPH AND HIS FAMILY
Joseph and his wife, the former Isabel Watts, were the parents of three sons and three daughters; Albert, Johnson, Fletcher, Ella, Mary and Lizzie. Joseph served as a soldier in the Civil War. This family moved from the homestead neighborhood soon after the close of the war and became prosperous farmers of Fayette County, Ohio.
Two sons, Albert and Fletcher became prominent teachers in the Fayette County schools, following the profession for several years. Albert, with his daughter, Marie, met an untimely death in a train-automobile accident at Jasper, Fayette County, Ohio in 1924. Fletcher was taken while yet a young man, with an attack of pneumonia.
PHILIP AND HIS FAMILY
Philip and his wife, the former Catherine Chaffin, were parents of four sons and two daughters; Smith, Edward, Saul, Alexander, Mahala and Sara.
DANIEL AND HIS FAMILY
Daniel, whose wife, the former Susan Nolan, before marriage, was the only one who did not locate in the vicinity of the old homestead. He settled in Highland County, near Hillsboro, Ohio where he became a prosperous farmer.
The children of Daniel and Susan were five daughters; Mary C. (Mrs. Samuel Williamson, now of Dodge City, Kansas) was born on August 5, 1851.
Martha J. (Mrs. Robert Duffy, now of Los Angeles, California) was born on September 26, 1855.
Hannah E. (Mrs. David Rotrof) was born on April 28, 1857. Hannah died in 1926.
Charlotte (Mrs. Perry Hopkins, now of Bellfast, Ohio) was born on January 4, 1859.
Malissa E. (Mrs. Christopher Hopkins, now of Bellfast, Ohio) was born on February 1, 1869 and to her we are indebted for this information which is recorded in the old family Bible now in her possession.
NOAH AND HIS FAMILY
Noah and his wife, the former Mary Anderson, were the parents of three sons and two daughters; Joseph, Fitch, John, Elizabeth and Eliza. Mary died leaving her husband and five children. Noah later married Sarah Anderson. To this second union was born a son, James and daughters Marry, Maggie and Clara. Sarah was also claimed by death and Noah was again married to Rachel Leath with whom he lived happily the remainder of his life. A daughter, Cora was born to this union. Noah's son Joseph was a soldier in the war of 1861-1865 (the Civil War), was wounded and carried a rebel bullet through remainder of his life.
MARY AND HER FAMILY
Mary, who became the wife of Joshua Anderson, was the mother of five sons and two daughters; David, Austin, Joseph, John, James, Mary and Isabel.
Joshua died leaving Mary to care for the seven children which she did by their assistance, keeping the family together until all were married except her son David, who with his mother, kept up the home until her death.
BETSEY AND HER FAMILY
Betsey became the wife of Philip Rhodes, and the mother of two sons and three daughters; Joseph, Ruben, Hannah, Mary and Susan. Joseph and Mary are still living at this time (1927).
The patriotism and war record of various Kneisley generations may be reviewed with some degree of pride. While we have no record of any who fought in the Mexican War, the name has been well represented in every other conflict in which the Stars and Stripes were to be defended. The Revolutionary War, the War of 1812, the War of the Rebellion, the Spanish American War in which many of the younger Kneisley generation participated, several of whom paid the supreme sacrifice on the battlefields of France.
Many family members who were prevented from engaging in actual military service for various reasons, manifested their patriotism by keeping the home fires burning while their uncles and nephews were piloting the Stars and Stripes to victory.
Collecting these items of information has afforded a retrospective view of over one hundred and fifty years, a glimpse of many phases of early life, a comparison of social amusements, industrial activities, modes of travel, methods of transportation and living conditions in general.
The advancement during this period coming gradually, has been accepted and passed with very little comment, yet a comparison of the conditions existing one hundred and fifty years ago with those modern times (1927), reflects a contrast that is almost incredible.
We recall many stories told by those old pioneers relative to Log Rollings, Wood Chopping, Barn and House Raising, Wool Pickings, Apple Cuttings and similar gatherings which have long since been discontinued.
This period is sometimes referred to by some of the older citizens as "The Good Old Days" when folks were always ready to accommodate a neighbor and never too tired or too busy to render real service where needed, a time when real money was so scarce that it was little sought after though the real necessities of life were abundantly provided.
Much of this information was never a matter of record but it has been handed down from parents to children from memory. Concluding our story of the Kneisley four generations, we stop at a point where many branches of individual ancestry may be taken up and continued down through the years with little investigation.
Taking up one of the many branches of the fourth generation, one with which the writer is familiar, we begin with Daniel, a member of Samuel's family.
Daniel was born on January 17, 1847 in Highland County, Ohio. When he was about three years old his parents moved to Pike County, Ohio where his father settled on a farm in Mifflin Township. Daniel's education was limited as was also the school advantages of that time. He enlisted in the Army when but sixteen years of age, with Captain Tom McCord Co. E 63rd Regiment O.V.I. and participated in the following battles; Resacca, Ga., Dallas, Kennesaw Mountains, Atlanta, Siege of Atlanta, Ezra Church, Jonesboro, March to the Sea, Siege of Savannah, Pocataligo, S.C., Rivers Bridge, S.C., Bentonville, N.C., Johnson's Surrender. He was discharged on July 8, 1865. He was married to Marinda Decker on July 12, 1868 to whom the following children were born; Flora May, born April 20, 1869, died in infancy at age four months of pneumonia; Joseph S., born on November 5, 1870; Ira, born in May 1873; Stephen D., born on February 7, 1875; Silvia, born on January 19, 1877, died on December 12, 1925; Marion and Gabriel, twins born on March 3, 1880, died at age six months, Chlorea infantum; Elizabeth Phebe, born on December 24, 1881; William S., born on September 20, 1883; Fannie, born on July 17, 1888; Elsie, born on December 31, 1891.
They lived on the R. B. McKeever farm two miles northeast of Latham, Ohio until October 1874, then moved to Latham for one year where Daniel was manager of a store.
In October 1875, they moved to the farm settled by his father, where they lived until 1890. He then purchased 135 acres of land just north of the Kincaid Spring where they lived until his death.
For twenty years prior to his death, he conducted a country grocery and general store at the rear side near the home which was not only a prosperous business, but a convenience to the community in general. He served in various official capacities in the township for several years, was widely known and has many friends. He had a keen mind, excellent judgment and deep forethought. His counsel was frequently sought by citizens of the community. He was very charitable with those in need, generous in extending credit which was sometimes taken advantage of by unscrupulous persons; still preferred to chance favoring a dishonest person occasionally, lest he might deny one who was worthy.
As his children grew up, he frequently admonished them with the following or similar injunction:
"Keep your bill paid."
"Make your word good."
"Live within your means."
"Keep your credit good as it's more valuable asset than money."
These were not mere precepts but examples of his life. Usually up at daylight, it was his daily custom to walk to the north end of the farm, a half mile distance before breakfast. On Tuesday morning, September 29, 1914, after returning from his walk in apparent good health, Daniel was stricken with apoplexy while at breakfast table and passed away a few days later on October 3, 1914. Funeral services were in the charge of the I.O.O.F., assisted by members of the G.A.R. Interment was at the Laperel Cemetery. His wife, and mother of his children, Marinda, passed away on June 12, 1928.
- End -
Submitted by
James Patterson
Email: jrpatterson@beyondbb.com
Copyright © 2009
Pike Co. Genealogy & Historical Society
P. O. Box 224,
Waverly, Ohio 45690