James 1785

James Schoonover was born about July 21, 1785 in Northampton County, Pennsylvania. He died in Warren County, Indiana. His westward movement included Tioga County, New York, Clark County, Ohio and Warren County, Indiana. He married. Mary was born in New Jersey in about 1781. (One family tree posted at Ancestry.com says, “James was born 7-23-1785 and died at the age of 82 on October 20, 1867 in Warren County and is buried at Bumgarner/Robb Cemetery, Warren, IN.”)

The children of James and Mary were:

  1. Peter born in Tioga, New York September 1, 1806 and died September 14, 1867. He is buried at McCabe Cemetery, Carbondale, Warren, Indiana. He married Maria Wakely on December 10, 1828. Maria was born in Ohio in abt 1812 and remarried after Peter’s death.

  2. Stephen born in New York November 5, 1807 and died October 6, 1849. He is buried at Carbondale Cemetery, Warren County, Indiana. He married Sarah ???

  3. Unknown daughter – maybe Sarah (Boggs) born about 1804 that is living with Peter in 1860.

  4. Eliza born in New York in the range of 1811-1815

  5. Anson born in New York in 1817. He married Tebitha in about 1839. She was born in Ohio in about 1820.

  6. James born in Ohio December 26, 1819 and died September 8, 1878. He married Susannah Chrisman on December 26, 1839, daughter of Peter and Sarah (Stout) Chrisman. Susannah was born November 11, 1820 and died March 1, 1908. Both are buried at Highland Cemetery, Williamsport, Warren, Indiana.

  7. Rebecca born in Ohio in January 1825. She married Stephen D. Briggs January 30, 1845 in Warren County, Indiana. They were married for 52 years and had six children. Stephen was born in Ohio in about 1826 and he died in about 1897 in Pike, Warren, Indiana. He was a livestock dealer in 1880.

Census Information:

1810 Federal Census

Owego, Tioga, NY – James Schoonover

2 males under 10 (Peter b 1806, Stephen b 1807)

1 male 16-25 (James b 1785)

1 female under 10 (maybe Sarah b 1804)

1 female 26-44 (Mary b 1781)

Also here were an older James Schoonover and Nicholas Schoonover

1820 Federal Census

Moorefield Township, Clark County, Ohio – James Schoonover

2 males under 10 (1811-1820) (Anson b 1817, James b1819)

2 males 10 to 15 (1805-1810) (Peter b 1806, Stephen b 1807)

1 male 26 to 45 (James b 1785)

1 female under 10

1 female 10 to 15

1 female 26 to 45 (Mary b 1781)

Engaged in agriculture

1830 Federal Census

Pleasant Township, Clark County, Ohio – James Schoonover

1 male 5 to 9 (1821-1825) (James b 1819 ???)

1 male 10 to 14 (1816-1820) (Anson b 1817)

1 male 20 to 29 (1801-1810) (Stephen b 1807)

1 male 40 to 49

1 female 5 to 9 (1821-1825) Rebecca b 1825

1 female 15 to 19 (1811- 1815) could this be Eliza

1 female 40 to 49

Moorefield, Clark, Ohio – Peter Schoonover

1 male under 5

1 male 20-29

1 female 15-19

1840 Federal Census

Pleasant Township, Clark County, Ohio – James Schoonover

1 male 50 to 59

1 female 15 to 19

1 female 50 to 59

Living next to Anson

Pleasant, Clark, Ohio – Anson Schoonover

1 male under 5

1 male 20-29

1 female 20-29

Warren, Indiana – Peter Schoonover

2 males under 5

2 males 5-9

1 male 20-29

1 female 10-14

1 female 20-29

Warren, Indiana – James Schoonover

1 male 20-29

1 female 15-19

Warren, Indiana – Stephen

1 male – 30-39

2 females under 5

1 female 5-9

1 female 20-29

1850 Federal Census

Washington, Warren, Indiana – James Schoonover

James, age 65, born abt 1785 in PA

Mary, age 69, born abt 1781 in New Jersey

Refer to story from Don Green, James Schoonover marries Mary Criss

Washington, Warren, Indiana – Anson Schoonover, living near James

Anson, age 33, born abt 1817 in New York

Tebitha, age 30, born in Ohio

William H. age 10 born in Ohio

Mary M. age 9 born in Ohio

Isaac age 7 born in Indiana

Susana age 5 born in Indiana

George infant born in Indiana

Williamsport, Warren, Indiana – Stephen (deceased)

Sarah 34 born in Ohio

Mary J 16

Jane 13

James 8

Celia 6

Amanda 4

Stephen J 2

All children were born in Indiana

Liberty, Warren, Indiana – Peter Schoonover

Peter 44 born in New York

Maria 38 born in Ohio

George 16 born in Ohio

Stephen 14 born in Indiana

William 12 born in Indiana

Martin 9 born in Indiana

Harvey 6 born in Indiana

Jane 3 born in Indiana

Isaac 1 born in Indiana

Cornelia Wakely 53 born in New York

Liberty, Warren, Indiana – James Schoonover

James 28 OH

Susan 26 OH

Mary 4 IN

Francis 1 IN

Liberty, Warren, Indiana – Rebecca Schoonover Briggs

Stephen 26 OH

Rebecca 25 OH

Mary 3 IN

Ruth 1 IN

1860 Federal Census

Washington, Warren, Indiana – James Schoonover

James age 73 born in PA living with William Fergason (28) and Lucinda (27) Fergason and 2 children Mary (6) and Jane (3).

Williamsport, Warren, Indiana – Stephen (deceased)

Sarah 42

James 18

Celia 15

Amanda 13

Jerome 12 (this is Stephen J. – see 1850)

Liberty, Warren, Indiana – Peter Schoonover

Peter 54 NY

Maria 48 NY?

Martin 19 IN

Harvey 16 IN

Jane 13 IN

Isaac 10 IN

Cornelia Wakely 64 NY Widow

Sarah Boggs 56 CW? Seamstess Could this be the missing sister?

Hamilton Hanley 23 OH Farm Laborer

Liberty, Warren, Indiana – James Schoonover

James 40 OH farmer

Susanna 39 OH

Mary J 14 IN

Francis M 11 IN

William J 9 IN

Peter W 7 IN

James S 5 IN

Lawrabella 9/12 IN

Liberty, Warren, Indiana – Anson is missing after 1853

Jacob Buckles 60 OH

Tellitha Buckles 40 OH (Anson’s wife re-married)

Robert JB Buckles 3 IN

Matilda C Buckles 1 IN

William HH Schoonover 20 IN

Isaac Schoonover 17 IN

Susannah Schoonover 15 IN

George R Schoonover 9 IN

Tellitha E Schoonover 7 IN

Jordan, Warren, Indiana – Rebecca Schoonover Briggs

Stephen D 38 OH

Rebecca J 37 OH

Ruth 10 IN

Caroline 8 IN

Horace 6 IN

Marcellus 4 IN

Excerpts from “Counties of Warren, Benton, Jasper and Newton, Indiana Historical and biographical,” Chicago: FA Battery & Co. – 1883:

Page 51 Stephen Schoonover is among those from Washington Township who voted in the 1836 presidential election.

Page 79 Peter Schoonover is listed as a Probate Judge in 1846

Page 80 Peter Schoonover is listed as an Associate Judge in 1851.

Page 88 & 89 Stephen Schoonover and Daniel Cristman were selling merchandise in the village of Williamsport in 1837. Stephen was listed as selling in 1838. Schoonover & Berkshire were selling goods in 1839 and 1840. They are listed as principal businessmen in the early ‘40s. The town grew from 250 in 1840 to 350 in 1850. He is not listed among business firms early in the 1850s.

Page 90 Mrs. Schoonover signed a petition to incorporate the town.

Page 131 Celia Schoonover is listed as a member of donation committee of the Knitting Society in January 1863.

Page 191 - Peter W. Schoonover is a native of this township, born April 4, 1853, and is the son of James and Susanna (Chrisman) Schoonover; the father born in Clark County, Ohio, December 26, 1819. James came to this township with his brother (which one?) when nineteen years of age, where December 26, 1839, he married Susanna Chrisman, daughter of Peter and Sarah (Stout) Chrisman, by whom he had 9 children. Sarah A (deceased), Joseph F. (deceased), Benjamin F. (deceased), Mary J., Francis M. (deceased), William J. (deceased), Peter W., James S., and Louisa B. He died September 8, 1878…

Page 114 regarding Carbondale reference to the Schoonover farm.

Page 136 referring to Seventy-second regiment – Harry Schoonover died of wounds at Chattanooga, September 1863.

Page 162 referring to marriage of PW Lewis to Sarah J. Schoonover, July 4, 1836 in Williamsport. Sarah descends from thwo of the oldest families in Warren County: Schoonovers and Chrismans. Her father was Stephen who came to Warren County with his parents previous to 1830. Her mother was Sarah Chrisman who came with her father, Peter Chrisman in 1832.

Page 174 marriage of Daniel Reed to Mary J. Schoonover, November 7, 1865. Her parents were James and Susanna Schoonover.

Will of James Schoonover, as transcribed by me – see photo on file

State of Indiana

Warren County

Be it remembered that on the 19th day of November AD 1867 there was filed in the office of the Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas of Warren County The Last Will and Testament of James Schoonover late of said county deceased together with the Testimony of Conrad R Boyer one of the subscribing witnesses ??? which said Last Will and Testament proofs read as follows towit.

I James Schoonover of Warren County in the State of Indiana do make and publish this as my last Will and Testament.

1st I direct that all my debts be first paid

2nd If at the time of my death, I shall not have sold my two farms I then direct that the same be sold by my Administrator at the appraised value of said land such value to be ascertained by three disinterested freeholders of the neighborhood under oath and if said Land will not sell within one year at such appraised value that it be sold for the best price to be had provided that a majority in interest of my legalese in this will assert to such sale.

3rd I give and bequeath to my son Peter Schoonover the sum of one thousand dollars and to my daughter Eliza Leamaus (maybe Geamaus) the sum of one thousand dollars and to my daughter Rebecca Briggs the sum of one thousand dollars and to my two Grandsons children of my son Stephen towit James Schoonover and Jerome Schoonover the sum of one thousand dollars – one half each all which bequests I direct to be paid to them out of the first moneys incurred after first paying debts.

4th I will and direct that whatever balance may remain after payment of the foregoing bequests and debts be equally divided among all my heirs according to the provisions of the law.

In witness whereof I hereto ??? my name and seal ths 21st day of May AD 1858.

Signed my his mark

Note that Anson and James are not specifically mentioned.

Find-A-Grave search results:

Highland Cemetery, Williamsport, Warren, IN

James Schoonover b 1-1-1819, d 9-8-1878

Susanah Chrisman Schoonover b11-11-1820, d 3-1-1908

McCabe Cemetery, Carbondale, Warren, IN

Peter Schoonover b 9-1-1806 d 9-14-1867

Stephen Schoonover b unknown d 10-6-1840 submitter says “41 yrs, 11 ms, 1 d”

Who is this???

Carbondale Cemetery, Warren County, IN

Stephen Schoonover b 11-5-1807 d 10-6-1849

Other Notes:

  1. From Find-A-Grave, who is Stephen b 11-5-1798, d 10-6-1840 buried Carbondale, Warren, IN?

  2. Rebecca Schoonover married Stephen Briggs January 30, 1845 in Warren, IN

  3. Stephen Schoonover married Miranda Clark December 25, 1836 in Warren, IN

  4. 1870 Liberty, Warren, Indiana shows:

    1. Stephen 33

    2. Miranda 33 b Indiana

    3. Charles T 12

    4. Eudora 8

    5. Harvey 5

  5. US General Land Office Records shows James Schoonover with an issue date of April 2, 1829, Ohio, 86.92 acres.

  6. One family tree says that James was born 7-23-1785 and died at the age of 82 on October 20, 1867 in Warren County and is buried at Bumgarner/Robb Cemetery, Warren, IN.

  7. US Federal Census Mortality Schedules shows Stephen Schoonover died at the age of 43 in October 1849. His occupation of Innkeeper and the cause of death was Intemperance.

  8. US General Land Office Records shows Stephen Schoonover with an issue date of May 15, 1837 for 40 acres in Warren County.

He is buried