The Estate of John Rupert :: The final “Final Account”

The will of John Rupart dated October 17, 1828 was admitted to probate in Columbiana County, Ohio in August of 1831. The final account was prepared on March 29, 1842.

I thought it was more than a little strange that the only papers in the microfilmed estate file that were dated between the time of the Widow's Allowance in May 1832 and this document was a previous “final account” dated August 5th 1832.

I don't usually like making assumptions, but based upon this statement in the will of John Rupart: “after her decease I allow my real and personal property to be sold by my executor” I think we can assume that Barbara Rupart passed away prior to the sale of the land on August 1, 1842 (the second deed discussed in this post).

Sadly, from my point of view, even though there was a balance of $1,369.68¼ in the estate, there was no “final distribution” document in the microfilmed file. It probably would have listed the names of the husbands of the daughters and that would have made locating them much simpler and in several cases, even possible!

= + = + = + = + = + = + = + = + = + = + = + = + = + = + = + = + =

First page of Final Account March 29, 1842.
Estate of John Rupart. Packet 1439.

Family History Library microfilm 2032592.

The final account of Conrod Yerrien and David
Ehrhart as executors of the estate of John Rupart, late of
the county of Columbiana, deceased

These accountants charge themselves with the following sums received.
1836 July 14th
Cash for rent of Real estate - - - - - - - - - - - $62.56 ¼
Interest on same to 11th Augt 1842 - - - - - - - 22.67 ½
Cash for rent of Real estate - - - - - - - - - - - - 34.60
Interest on same to 11th Augt 1842 - - - - - - - 12.54

1837 Apl 1st
Cash for rent of Real estate - - - - - - - - - - - - 34.60
Interest on same to 11th Augt 1842 - - - - - - - 12.54
Cash for rent of Real estate - - - - - - - - - - - - 57.00
Int on same to 11 August 1842 - - - - - - - - - 17.95 ½

1842 Augt 11th
Cash on sale of Real estate - - - - - - - - - - - 1200.00
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - $1407.33 ¼

These accountants claim credit for the following sums
1842 Jany 31
Paid Wm B. Morgan Printer - - - - - - - - - - - 1.00
Paid Pierce for coffin - - - - - - - - - - - - - -  5.00
Paid John Robertson for shroud &c - - - - - -  3.25
Paid On the above note of $57.00 - - - - - - - 9.40
Paid David Ehrhart for repairs &c - - - - - - - 24.00
Paid Fisher A. Blockson Atty - - - - - - - - - - - 5.00
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - $27.65

To the Honorable Court of Common Pleas for the county of Columbiana
The undersigned Master Commissioner of this court to whom was refered the account of the executors of the estate of John Rupart late of said county, deceased. Reports – That in pursuance of the Rule of this Court he has examined said account and finds that said accountants have received
Rents of real estate with interest thereon - - - $207.33 ¼
From sale of Real estate  - - - - - - - - - - - - - 1200.00
Making the whole amount charged
against accountants on the account - - - - - - $1407.33 ¼

Second page of Final Account March 29, 1842.
Estate of John Rupart. Packet 1439.

Family History Library microfilm 2032592.

I do find by proper vouchers exhibited that said
accountants have paid debts owing
by said estate to the amount of - - - - - - - $21.65

Costs of administration, exclusive of the
sum to be allowed accountants for their
services - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - $6.00
  - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - $27.65

Leaving in the hands of accountants for
distribution - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - $1379.68 ¼

Out of which the accountants compensation
for his services and masters fee to be
allowed by court to be deducted.

All which is respectfully submitted
March 29th 1842 - - - - - - - - Fisher A. Blackman
My fee - - - - - - - - $2.00 - - - - Mast Comm

April 5th the accounts having produced vouchers
No 4 & 5 amounting to $8.00 which being deducted
leaves - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - $1371.68 ¼
F A Blackman
Mas Com

No 6 of $2 being duducted leaves - - - - $1369.68 ¼

The Estate of John Rupert :: The First “Final Account”

The will of John Rupart dated October 17, 1828 was admitted to probate in Columbiana County, Ohio in August of 1831. On August 5th 1832 a “final account” was prepared and submitted to the Court of Common Pleas.

First page of Final Account dated August 5th 1832.

Estate of John Rupart. Packet 1439.

Family History Library microfilm 2032592.

The final account of Conrad Yerian and David Erhart
as Executors of the last will and testament of
John Rupart late of the county of Columbiana deceased.

The appraisment was on the 3d September 1831
when goods were appraised to the amount of - - - - - - - - $106.51

The sale of the personal estate was on the 24th
September when goods were sold to amount of - - - - - - $

These accountants charge themselves with
the amount of the sale bill - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - $144.21

These accountants claim a credit for the following
sums paid on account of the estate
1831 Augt 20 - - No 1 - - Paid Peter Spangler - - - Auc - - - $5.00
1831 Sept 3 - - - No 2 - - Paid Joseph Morris - - - taxes - - - 1.04
1831 Sept 23 - - No 3 - - Paid David Arter - - - - - Auc - - - - 0.75
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - $6.79

Costs of Administration
1831 Sptr 2 - - No 4 - - Paid C. D. Coffin Clk - - - - - - - - - - - 5.25
1831 Sptr 30 - No 5 - - Paid Michael Arter qualifying [?] Appr - 0.37 ½
1832 Jany 18 – No 6 - - Paid Philip Andre Appr - - - - - - - - - - 0.50
1832 Jany 18 – No 7 - - Paid Peter Crossinger Appr - - - - - - -  0.50
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Amount Carried over $7.62 ½

Second page of Final Account dated August 5th 1832.

Estate of John Rupart. Packet 1439.

Family History Library microfilm 2032592.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Amount brought over $7.62 ½
1832 Jany 18 - - No 8 - - - Paid Joshua Copeland crying sale - - - 2.00
1832 Jany 18 - - No 9 - - - Paid David Wiley Appr - - - - - - - - - - 0.50
1832 Jany 29 - - No 10 - - Paid C. D. Coffin Clk - - - - - -  - - - - 1.00
1832 May 19 - - No 11 - - Paid C. D. Coffin Clk - - - - - - - - - - - 0.40
1832 Sptr 24 - - No 12 - - Paid William Morgan Clerking - - - - - - 0.75
1832 Augt 22 - - No 13 - - Paid Fisker A. Blackman Atty Fee - - - 5.00
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - $17.30 ½

To the Honorable Court of Common Pleas for the county of Columbiana.
The undersigned Master Commissioner of the Court to whom was refered
the account of the Executors of the last will and testament of John
Rupart late of said county, deceased Reports that in pursuance of the
Rule of the Court he has examined said account and finds that the amount
received from the sale of personal estate is - - - - - - - - - - - $144.21
It being the whole amount charged against said accountants

I do find by proper vouchers exhibited that said accountants have paid
debts owing by said estate to the amount of - - - - - - - - - - - - $6.79

Costs of administration inclusive of the sum to be allowed by Court to
Executors for their services is - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - $17.30 ½
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Total Credits - - - - - - - - - - 24.09 ½

Third page of Final Account dated August 5th 1832.

Estate of John Rupart. Packet 1439.

Family History Library microfilm 2032592.

Leaving in the hands of said executors for distribution - - - - - $120.11 ½

Out of which the Executors compensation for their services and Master fee
to be allowed by Court to be deducted.

All which is respectfully submitted
August 25th 1832 Fisher A. Blackman, Master Comm

Atty fee - - - - - - - - - - - - $2.00
Executor - - - - - - - - - - - - [?] .64

The Estate of John Rupert :: Widows Allowance

The will of John Rupert dated October 17, 1828 was admitted to probate in Columbiana County, Ohio in August of 1831. Below is the (very short) list of items allowed for the widow.

Widow's Allowance. Estate of John Rupart. Packet 1439.

Family History Library microfilm 2032592.

Schedule of property set off by the appraisers to Barbary Rupard widow of John Rupard decd

One cow appraised at ------------ $12.00
Six hogs [appraised at] ---------- $12.00
One Bed [appraised at] ----------- $7.00
[total] $31.00

Given under my hand this ------- day of ------- 1832.

Philip Andrew

David Wiley

Peter Guisinger

= + = + = + = + = + = + = + = + = + = + = + = + = + = + = + = + = + = + =

This document absolutely boggles my mind! Surely this can't be all that was set aside for her? Perhaps it was in addition to what was mentioned in John's will in which he bequeathed “unto my wife Barbara all her clothing bed and beding her Spinning wheel and reel all my household furniture which I may have at my decease, during her natural life time and also all the rents interest and income of my place for her Support and maintenance during her natural life, and after her decease I allow my real and personal property to be sold by my executor...”

The Estate of John Rupert :: Bill of Sale

The will of John Rupert dated October 17, 1828 was admitted to probate in Columbiana County, Ohio in August of 1831. Below is “A Bill of the Sale of the goods and Chattles of the estate of John Rupart Deceased September 24, 1831"

First Page of Sale Bill. Estate of John Rupart. Packet 1439.

Family History Library microfilm 2032592.

Byors Names Philip Ehrhart James Lindismith Wiliam Wiliams Joseph Hartsoch Moses Buck Joseph Hartzoch Daniel Lindismith George Turnblon James Mcquilkin David Stroup John Nettner Isaac Hesting Anthony Sanders George Crubaugh Anthony Sanders John Carry George Tumblen John Hrisinger John Hartman Daniel Hrisinger Samuel Hoffy George Crubaugh Daniel Hrisinger John Hrisinger Joshua Copland Philip Ehrhart George Ehrhart George Ehrhart Samuel Hoffy George Ehrhart George Ehrhart Moses Buck John Jackson Benjamin Myres David Ehrhart	Articles sold a basket of sundries a basket of sundries 3 sickels sundries sundries Pinchers a lot of Crocks a lot of crocks a basket one Churn one fork & hoe one madock one sythe shoufle & ax 1 Saddle 1 Cettle 1 bake kettle 1 tub 1 barrel one tub bee gum 1 Salt barrel lot of Corn 1 Bake kettle lot of Chains lot of Notions lot of Ladles lot of puter Dishes 2 plates puter plates Sundries one lot of Hogs one Cow one Heifer 25 bushels of Corn	D C 0.28 0.13 0.11 0.12 ½ 0.15 0.12 ½ 0.06 ¼ 0.18 0.25 1.76 0.51 1.11 0.42 0.31 ¼ 7.45 2.25 1.17 0.66 1.15 0.92 0.06 ¼ 2.00 0.26 1.01 1.71 0.83 1.03 2.39 0.41 2.09 0.38 20.06 ½ 14.00 6.13 ½ 3.50

Second Page of Sale Bill. Estate of John Rupart. Packet 1439.

Family History Library microfilm 2032592.

Byors Names Joseph Hartzoch George Tumblin David Ehrhart David Ehrhart David Ehrhart David Ehrhart Morits Miller John Hoge Peter Beal John Nettner Samuel Hoffy Jacob Brunner Peter Spinhern Henry Atterhold Sr Henry Crossgrove John Nettner John Hoge John Hartman Peter Spinhern James Mcquilkin Morits Miller Joseph Quin David Ehrhart John Jackson Henry Stall Josehs Quin Joseph Hartzoch David Ehrhart John Hoge George Burnworth Joseph Evens Jacob Lindismith George Burnworth John Hartman Anthony Allibaugh Anthony Allibaugh Joseph Huens	Articles sold one windmill one hay fork one barrel one tun & half hay lot of wheat 21 bushel lot of Rye 12 bushel at 25c one Real one spinning wheel one big wheel a lot of spoons a lot of plates a lot of Dishes a lot of Dishes sundries Candle moles 2 lamps Coffy pot one sausage stuffer sundries 1 frying pan sundries a pare of cards 1 hachet 1 Cow bell Knives & forks old Close a Pare of stelyards 2 Cups 1 small bucket 1 strainer 1 Bucket 1 adds 1 Bucket & mug 1 Lantern 3 Crocks 2 Crocks 2 Crocks	D C 9.00 0.23 0.12 ½ 4.05 10.92 3.00 0.45 1.58 1.10 0.41 0.03 0.07 0.12 ½ 0.30 0.26 0.27 0.28 0.18 0.40 1.14 0.18 0.29 1.65 0.75 0.19 0.6 ¼ 1.51 0.6 ¼ 0.27 0.10 0.18 0.79 0.27 0.39 0.15 0.07 0.11

Third page of Sale Bill. Estate of John Rupart. Packet 1439.

Family History Library microfilm 2032592.

Byors Names George Ehrhart Daniel Lindismith Mores Wees Mores Wees David Ehrhart David Ehrhart Jacob Kneper Phillip Fox George burnworth David Rolitson David Ehrhart John Himadinger George Borone John Gamble John Gamble John Hymdinger George Ehrhart David Ehrhart George Ehrhart George Ehrhart Thomas Ball Mores Miller George Ehrhart George Ehrhart Joseph Huens George Ehrhart Mores Wees	Articles sold 1 Bake kettle 1 tea kettle 1 pot 1 bag 1 looking glass 1 Barrel 2 barrels 3 Baks 1 trunk 1 saddle bags 12 Bushel of Rye 1 trammel 4 Bushel wheat 1 tramble 1 half Bushel 1 Barrel Shoufle & tongues 1 Bottle 1 slew kettle 1 coffy mill 1 Bed 1 block 1 table 1 Chest 2 Cheers 2 Cheers 1 Bucket	D C 1.03 0.42 0.06 ¼ 0.79 1.02 0.19 0.25 0.31 0.16 0.06 ¼ 3.48 1.50 3.28 0.67 0.50 1.00 0.51 0.13 0.50 0.26 4.08 2.26 0.62 ½ 0.36 0.49 0.40 0.10

The Estate of John Rupert :: Goods and Chattels

The will of John Rupert dated October 17, 1828 was admitted to probate in Columbiana County, Ohio in August of 1831. The appraisers were appointed on September 3, 1831 and an inventory was submitted to the executors on that date. These documents are of importance because they place John Rupert in Hanover township. I'm not sure that this is a complete inventory, because the sale bill seems to have more items. It is possible that some pages were missing when the estate papers were microfilmed.

Appointment of Administrators of the estate of John Rupart. Packet 1439.

Family History Library microfilm 2032592.

State of Ohio
Columbiana County

Before me Michael Arter a Justice of the peace in and for said county personally came Philip Andrew Peter Guisinger David Wiley appraisers of the estate of John Rupert late of Hanover Township in said county deceased and were sworn well and truly to apprais all the goods and Chattles of said estate which shall be presented to them for appraisement, and also to set off to the widow of said deceased such possessions or other property as they shall think reasonable for the support of herself and children twelve months from the time of the death of the said deceased.

Given under my hand this 3d day of September 1831
Michael Arter Justice of the peace

Inventory of the estate of John Rupart. Packet 1439.

“A true and accurate inventory of the goods and chattels of the estate of John Rupert late of Hanover township, deceased presented to us the undersigned appraisers of said estate, by Conrad Yarien & David Ehrhart, executors thereof, the 3d day of September 1831.”

one man's saddle - - 1.00 one wheel & Reel - - 2.50 one churn - - 1.00 one shovel, axe, &c. - - 2.00 one [?] kettle [?] - - 1.50 a lot of chissels - - 0.25 a lot of Iron, &c. - - 0.75 one hammer, anvil, &c. - - 0.50 one Kettle - - 1.50 one Scythe - - 0.37 ½ one Salt barrel - - 1.25 a lot of tubs and barrels - - 1.50 a lot of Tubs - - 0.75 a lot of Cradles [?] - - 0.75 A lot of Tubs - - 0.12 ½ A lot of Corn - - 0.25 One heiffer - - 6.00 one windmill - - 5.00 one dunghook & pitchfork - - 0.37 one Salt barrel - - 0.12 ½ A lot of wheat – 10.00 a lot of rye - - 3.25 A lot of oats – - 2.25 A quantity of Hay - - 4.00 Shovel & tongs - - 0.50 Two pot racks - - 1.50 one clock - - 2.50 one Cooking glass - - 0.50 a pair of Cards [?] - - 0.25 one chest - - 1.00 one table - - 1.00 a pair of irons - - 0.50 one bed - - 4.00

Dresser ware - - 4.00 one iron pot, $c. - - 2.50 Pewter ware - - 3.00 4 Chairs - - 0.50 one Cow bell - - 0.75 A quantity of Rye - - 2.50 a tub of wheat - - 2.00 2 barrels - - 0.25 7 bags - - 2.00 Corn in the ground - - 5.00 Cow Chains - - 1.00 Half bushel, &c &c - - 1.37 ½ A ½ pair of Steelyards - - 0.75 one griddle - - 1.00 one adze and basket - - 0.50 one spinning wheel - - 1.00 one trunk - - 0.16 ¼ one Rig [?] - - 0.50 one hackle - - 1.00 Cash on hand - - 12.12 ½ Philip Andrew David Wiley Peter Guisinger

The Estate of John Rupert :: Executors Bond

The will of John Rupert, dated October 17, 1828 was admitted to probate in Columbiana County, Ohio in August of 1831. The Executors Bond was signed on August 22, 1831.

Executors Bond. Estate of John Rupart. Packet 1439.

Family History Library microfilm 2032592.

The Executors Bond was a preprinted form. Information that was handwritten into the form is shown below in bold-face type.

Know all men by these presents, that Conrod Yerion, David Ehrhart, Samuel Meek & Benj Stackhouse of the County of Columbiana, Ohio, are held and firmly bound unto the State of Ohi in the sum of Two Hundred Dollars, to which payment well and truly to be made unto the said State of Ohio, we bind ourselves, our heirs, executors and administrators and every of them jointly and severally firmly by these presents,

Signed and sealed this 22d day of August eighteen hundred and thirty one

THE CONDITIONS OF THIS OBLIGATION IS SUCH, that if the above named Conrod Yarion & David Erhart, Executors of the will Administrator of all and singular the goods, chattels, rights, credits, monies and effects of John Ruppart late of said County, deceased, shall faithfully perform the duties required of them as such Administrator Executors by law, and shall administer agreeably to the statutes of Ohio in such cases made and provided, then this obligation to be void and of none effect, otherwise to remain in full force and virtue in law.

Conrod Yarion

David Ehrhart

Benjamin Stackhouse

Saml Meek

Ah, Yes! John Rupert...

[Originally published on 24 June 2011 - minor correction made on 7 March 2019]

After a fruitless search for the estate of John Rupert in the microfilm of “Estates 1834-1837” I returned to viewing land records. There was quite a list and many more that I wanted to look at and it was in my last week at the Family History Library.

As luck would have it, the next deed that I looked at was the cause of this incredible "Happy Dance" moment. The big find wasn't for John Rupert, in some ways it was actually better, as it had to do with the wife of Jacob Switzer, discovering her full name and the name of her father, Andrew Brinker! (More on that in a future post.) Why am I mentioning this now?

Well, basically to let you know that I didn't work in a straight line, I used more of a zigzag methodology, skipping around from one type of record to another and from one ancestor to another and then back again. Perhaps not the best approach but there were so many things that I wanted to find on different people.

I think I “shut down” for a while after the “big find” and didn't get much accomplished the rest of the afternoon. This was on a Saturday and the library was closed the next day. Though it didn't seem like it at the time, that was probably a good thing - it gave me time to absorb what had been found and devise a plan for the three remaining days that I had left for research at the library.

Saturday evening and Sunday was spent searching for family trees online for Andrew Brinker and using the Library Catalog to see if any of the sources mentioned in those trees were available at the library. A new “to do” list was also created with the desired film and call numbers for microfilm and books to be checked.

Monday morning I found the books I wanted, barely looked at them, quickly scanned the desired pages for future reference, and then returned to the estate records. In addition to looking for the estate of John Rupert who presumably died before July 14, 1836 (though I didn't know how much before), I was now also looking for Andrew Brinker who died in 1828. And there was another ancestor, Detrick Hoffman, who died in 1826. So I was looking for his estate record too. If you're looking for one, it doesn't really take any longer to look for three on the same roll of film!

On Saturday I had viewed the film for estates in 1834-1837 so I pulled out the film for 1832-1834 (packets numbering 1514 to 1693). A little over an hour later I had nothing. Except negative results. Sure would have been nice if those packets were indexed! Then it was on to the next roll for 1830-1832, which included estate packets 1355-1513. Time was in slow motion, it was taking forever to go through those films!

After a short break to relieve crossed eyes and blurred vision about midway through the roll, I resumed cranking away. And then, there it was! The Estate Packet for John Rupart! (#1439) Hooray! Hooray!

Included amongst the 24 images in his “packet” were some small miscellaneous financial papers, the estate inventory, the sale bill, and most important to me a document dated October 17, 1828 – his will.

Anything that appears inside square brackets [ ] has been added by me. Emphasis has also been added in several spots using bold face type.

[first page]
“In the name of God Amen the Seventeenth day of October Eighteen hundred and twenty Eight. I John Ruppart of Columbiana county in the State of Ohio, being in perfect mind and good memory although weak in body, therefore calling to mind the mortality of my body and knowing that it is appointed for all men once to die, do make and ordain this my last will and testament, that is to say principally and first of all, I give and recommend my Soul into the hands of Almighty God who gave it, and my body I recommend to the earth, to be buried in a Christian like manner, nothing doubting but at the General resurrection I shall receive the Same again by the mighty power of God, and as touching such worldly estate as it has pleased god to endow me with, I do devise and dispose of in the following form (Item) I do allow all my Lawful debts and funeral charges to be paid out of my Estate after my decease. (Item) I do allow and bequeath unto my wife Barbara all her clothing bed and beding her Spinning wheel and reel all my household furniture which I may have at my decease, during her natural life time and also all the rents interest and income of my place for her Support and maintenance during her natural life, and after her decease I allow my real and personal property to be sold by my executor and the money Collected to be paid equally divided”

[second page]
“Children namely Elizabeth, Barbara, Margaret, Sarah, Catharina, Eva, Lea, Rachel, Ruppart excepting Richard Rupart I allow and bequeath unto him the Sum of one dollar to be paid first by my executors as I have given him his share of my estate in my life time. (Item) I do Likewise nominate constitute and appoint my Son in law, Conrad Yerion and David Ehrhart [the latter name was inserted above Yerion] to be my whole and Sole executors of this my last will and Testament Investing him [two words crossed out] with full power to execute this my last will and testament, I do hereby utterly dis allow revoke all and every former wills or bequeathments by me in any wise before named ratifying and confirming this and no other to be my last will and testament In Witness whereof I John Ruppart have hereunt set my hand and seal the day and year aforesaid in the presence of those Witnesseth present. mb [?] David Ehrart interlined before signing.”

Signature of Johannes Rupart [in German and his seal]
[witnesses] Jacob Watson and Joseph Swinger

The signature of John Rupart from his will dated October 17, 1828.

The signature of John Rupert from Deed Book 9 page 48 dated August 24, 1824. Is this the actual signature of John or was it written by the recording clerk? Quite a difference in four years, but then I don't write my name the same every time either.

First page of the will of John Rupart. Estate Packet 1439.

Family History Library microfilm 2032592.

Second page of the will of John Rupart. Estate Packet 1439.

Third page of the will of John Rupart. Estate Packet 1439.

Declaration of the witnesses.

Signed by Charles D. Coffin, Clk. Com. Pleas

Cover page of the will of John Rupart. Estate Packet 1439.

Is the date in the upper left corner ( August 7, 1831) the date the will was admitted to probate or the date of death of John Rupart? How soon after death is the probate process started? There was nothing in the estate packet to indicate when John had passed on.

The will tells us that his wife Barbara was still living when the will was written on October 17, 1828 and that he had seven eight daughters and one son living at that time: Elizabeth, Barbara, Margaret, Sarah, Catharina, Eva, Lea, Rachel, and Richard Rupart.

Now why didn't he include the married names of his daughters as many testators do? I should be happy that we got the names of two of his sons-in-law (or is it son-in-laws?): Conrad Yerion and David Ehrhart. After all, the naming of Conrad Yerion provides that definitive link for me to John! Seems like we always want more though.

In the post Father of Eva Rupert :: Is it John or Adam? we found that Hannes and Barbara Ruppert/Rubbert had three children baptized in the Bermudian Church in what would have been York County, Pennsylvania at the time (now Adams County): Eva, Jacob, and Salome. The latter two are not named in John's will so do we assume that they had died without heirs prior to the time John wrote his will? Were there other children that were not named in the will?

If you are a descendant of John Rupert or researching the Rupert Family, PLEASE contact me at kinexxions@gmail.com

Oh, John? I'm Looking for You!

My heart sank as I went through the Grantee and Grantor Deed Index Books for Columbiana County. There was just one entry for John Ruppard between 1803-1850. Lots of entries showed up for Adam Rupert and Jacob Rupert during that time period. But just a single entry for John.

That entry (v9 p47) showed that John Ruppard and Barbara his wife and Andrew Richard Ruppard and Mary his wife of the county of Columbiana in consideration of the sum of $300 sold a parcel of land to Durs Walser in the SW 1/4 of Section 26 of Township 15 in Range 4, which quarter section was confirmed to John Ruppard by Patent under the hand of James Madison President dated the seventh day of December Annon Domini One Thousand eight hundred and nine... [description of the land...] containing 70 and 79/100 acres.

Bottom of page 47 in Columbiana County, Ohio deed book 9

from microfilm 926865 at the Family History Library, Salt Lake City

John Ruppard and Andrew Richard Ruppard selling land to Durs Walser

(As always, double-click on the images to view a larger version.)

Page 48 in Columbiana County, Ohio deed book 9

page 48 in Columbiana County, Ohio deed book 9

Signatures of John (in “German”), Andrew Richard, Mary, and Barbery Rupert/Rupard

That was nice, to say the least!

The deed confirmed that Barbara was John's wife. And, Township 15 in Range 4 is Hanover township. And that means that he is probably the John Rupert mentioned on page 157 in the “History of Columbiana County, Ohio” (Mack, 1879).

“John Rupert, a German, who upon his arrival in Baltimore from Germany, being unable to pay his passage money, was sold by the captain of the vessel to a person who, in consideration of receiving Rupert's services free for the ensuing three years, paid the captain's demand. Rupert lived in Hanover until his death, after reaching the age of one hundred years. The farm he owned is now owned by C. Pfeffer, in section 26, Hanover twp.”

But just as interesting was the fact that John Ruppard had obtained the land by Patent. A quick search of the patent records at the BLM Website using his last name, as well as variations, brought up nothing. A search for township 15, range 4, section 26 displayed three entries – for the NW 1/4, the NE 1/4, and the SE 1/4. That was a bit confusing. What happened to the SW 1/4?

In a moment of serendipity later that day, I decided to take a look at the May issue of “Genealogy Gems: News from the Fort Wayne Library” that was still sitting in my email unread. That issue included an article by John D. Beatty on Ohio Public Land Records. Talking about the BLM database, Mr. Beatty states “While Ohio is represented, the database does not contain the names of those who bought land on credit before 1820.”

That could explain why John Ruppard does not show up in the BLM database! A trip to the Allen County Library will be forthcoming since “the records of Ohio’s public land sales, including those omitted from the GLO database, are available on microfilm in The Genealogy Center.” The article continues by providing a resource, also at the Genealogy Center, to find out whether an ancestor purchased land on credit.

There were two enticing grantor entries for “Conrad Yarian Exr etal” one in 1834 selling land to John Sheets and the other in 1842 selling land to Wm Ehrhart. From this entry in a WorldConnect database I knew that Catharina Rupert (presumed daughter of John Rupert) had married David Ehrhart.

In the 1834 entry, Conrad Yarian and George Snoke were the executors of the estate of John Snoke. For $2,000.00 they sold 190 and 75/100ths acres in the SW corner of Section 6 Township 8 Range 1 to George Sheets. Date of transaction was July 3, 1834. John Snoke (Snook) was married to Mary Rupert, daughter of Adam. I moved on to the next item.

As I began reading the deed record of the 1842 transaction (v33 p649), my heart skipped a beat and then started pumping faster. The names David Ehrhart and Conrod Yarian were there but the name John Rupart nearly jumped off the page! The record stated, in part:

“This Indenture made this sixth day of October in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and forty two between David Ehrhart and Conrod Yerrien Executors of the last will and testament of John Rupart late of the county of Columbiana and state of Ohio, deceased, of the one part and William Ehrhart of the same county and State of the other part witnesseth that whereas the said John Rupart by his said last will and testament did authorise, impower and require his said executors to grant, bargain and sell the West 1/2 of the South West 1/4 of Section 26 Township 15 Range 4 in the said county of Columbiana...”

Page 649 in Columbiana County, Ohio deed book 33

David Ehrhart & Conrod Yarian executors of John Rupart

Selling land to William Ehrhart

Page 650 in Columbiana County, Ohio deed book 33

It was almost “happy dance” time, but not quite. It still didn't prove that John was Eva's father. I was thrilled that I had found this because it meant that he DID have a will, and there would be estate papers! But when did John Rupert die?

I pulled microfilm (927750), which contained “Probate records, v. 11-13 1841-1846” and found an entry for the estate of John Rupert (I neglected to write down the volume number, but it was on page 360 and dated the August term of 1842, so probably book 11). But all it contained was the financial accounting of the final settlement of the estate. No mention of a distribution to heirs. It did, however, provide a clue to his date of death in an item for “Cash for Rent of Real estate” dated July 14, 1836.

Presuming that John died prior to July 14, 1836 when money was received for renting his land, I pulled the microfilm (2032650) “Estate records, no. 1694-1862 1834-1837” and went through the entire roll without finding anything on John Rupert. It had taken over an hour to read that roll of microfilm, looking at the names on the packets and hoping for positive results. I was concerned when I kept seeing the “Missing Packet” place holders and I was more than a little disappointed that I hadn't found the estate record for John. Was his one of the missing packets?

Delving into the Deeds

In addition to the Yarians, Ruperts, and Switzers I have Berlin, Coy and Hoffman ancestors who lived in Columbiana County, Ohio. All of them in the 1803-1860 time period and all in the northeastern tier of townships: Unity, Fairfield, and Salem, and Green (which would become part of Mahoning County when it was formed in 1846).

By the beginning of my second week in Salt Lake City, I had pretty much gotten through my original, rather short, “to do” list except for one item that I knew would consume a huge amount of time. It simply said “Land Records – Columbiana County.” I've had good luck before with land records naming heirs of an ancestor and was hoping for some more luck, especially in the Rupert and Switzer lines.

If you have never done any work with deed records, be forewarned that it can be tedious and confusing. But it can also be extremely rewarding. First you have to search for the desired name in the General Index to Deeds. There are generally separate books for those purchasing land (grantee) and those selling land (grantor). The index will provide the name of the grantor and grantee, the date the transaction was recorded (could be just the year, and the recorded date could be many years after the date of the transaction), the location of the land (in the case of Ohio it is by Range, Township, and Section), the type of deed, and the volume and page number of the deed book in which the transaction is recorded.

This nice tutorial Taking The Mystery Out of Land Records is helpful as a reminder or as an introduction to working with deeds as is this list of Terms used by the Register of Deeds. (There are many others “out there” on the internet, these are two that I've used in the past.)

There were four rolls of microfilm with the grantee index and five rolls with the grantor index covering the years 1798-1897. It would take nearly two full days, but I transcribed each entry in the index books for my known or presumed ancestors John D. Berlin, Henry Coy, Detrick Hoffman, John Hoffman, John Rupert, Jacob Switzer, and Conrad Yarian along with a few entries for others with the surname Rupert and Switzer..

The first day I made it through the grantee index, writing them out by hand. Then, that night back at the campground I typed each entry into a spreadsheet. Duh! Duplicate work. The next day I arranged the netbook so I could type directly into the spreadsheet. A little awkward, but it worked quite well.

After getting the entries from the grantor index entered I sorted the spreadsheet several different ways to review the data. One was attempting to match up the sale of a piece of land to its corresponding purchase, another sort was by township, and yet another by surname.

All of that was done so that I could determine which deeds should actually be looked at. There were too many of them to review them all. Top priority was given to those that were sold by “so and so, etal” (etal means “and others” which could indicate a sale by heirs of the owner of the land) and to those that were sold with a “Quit Claim” deed (sometimes indicating a sale to another family member). I then went to the Library Catalog to get the film numbers and added that information to the spreadsheet.

A small portion of my list of deeds.

I actually looked at about 1/3 of the entries on my list. I had highlighted the records that I really wanted to look at and had sorted the list by film number so I could see what else was on the same roll of microfilm. Even then, I didn't always look at everything from my list on the same roll of film – sometimes I got distracted by what I found in certain deeds and went off on another tangent looking for something else! That's the beauty of being at The Library where a wide variety of sources are available.

As I looked at the deed records I abstracted information from those that were “of interest” to me, adding that information to the spreadsheet. Some documents were scanned while others were just abstracted. There simply wasn't enough time (or even a need) to scan them all.

The spreadsheet with data added after reviewing the deed.

Was it worth the time it took to make that extensive list of land transactions? Yes, indeed! (Pun intended.) It was definitely worth it. What I found in those deed books was cause for more than one Happy Dance and in future posts, I'll summarize a few of the things I found and the discoveries which followed.

Father of Eva Rupert :: Is it John or Adam?

Online trees are certainly a “mixed bag” when it comes to reliable information but sometimes you find a gem that provides a clue or lead to follow-up on. Such was the case with the WorldConnect database of another descendant of Conrad and Eva/Eve (Rupert) Yarian. Her parents were given as John and Barbara Rupert and it had a source for her baptism - the Lower Bermudian Church in Adams County, Pennsylvania.

From her modern gravemarker in Unity Brick Church Cemetery, Columbiana County, Ohio we know that Eve was born on December 21, 1786. In addition, the 1850 census gives her age as 64, and in 1860 she is 75 years old. In both census records (Unity Township, Columbiana County) her birthplace is given as Pennsylvania.

Photo taken September 19, 2009 by Becky Wiseman

A resource I had found in the early days of my research (forgotten but recently reviewed) was a short typewritten manuscript titled “Some Descendants of Mathais Jurian” (compiled by Miss Cecil M. Smith, Hollis, New York, no date) It has two slightly conflicting dates for Eve's birth. On page 6 her birth is given as December 24, 1786 while on the next page it is given as December 21, 1786. It also states that Eve was born in born York County, Pennsylvania. (Keep in mind that in 1800, Adams County was formed from part of York.)

A search of the Library Catalog showed that the 1943 typescript “Church record of the Reformed & Lutheran congregation at Bermudian, Latimore Township, Adams County, Pennsylvania, 1745-1864” by William John Hinke was available on microfilm.

The last entry on page 21 shows [Infantes] Eva b. Dec 21, 1786 bapt. --------, 1787 [Parents] Hannes Rubbert and Barbara, [Testes] John Adam Rubbert and Margaret

Having looked for these people “out there” on the internet recently, I've found a lot of conflicting information. It seems some researchers think that John Adam Rupert and John Rupert are one and the same person. Of course, without further research into Pennsylvania records I can't say conclusively that this Hannes Rubbert (John) with wife Barbara and John Adam Ruppert with wife Margaret shown here in Adams County, Pennsylvania are the same individuals who lived in Columbiana County, Ohio. But I can say that Hannes and John Adam are definitely two separate individuals!

The first entry on page 22 is the birth of Johannes born Nov. 9, 1786 to Johannes Adam Ruppert and Margaretha with witnesses Hannes Ruppert and Barbara.

The fifth entry on that page (the last entry on the scan) is the birth of Anna Catharina born Febr. 23, 1789, bap. Apr. 13, 1789 with parents Adam Rubbert and Margaretha and witnesses Henrich Flliker and Christina.

Other family trees on the net (from some of the researchers who don't subscribe to the premise that John and Adam are the same person) show four brothers - Adam, John, Martin and Michael Rupert - with unknown parents. The first three reportedly all ended up in Columbiana County, Ohio at the about the same time.

This record is from page 71 of the Bermudian Church Records showing the birth of a son Johannes on Jan. 29, 1780 bapt. on May 14, 1780 to Martin Rupert and Elisabeth with witnesses being Peter Arnold and Margret. Is Martin one of the four brothers?

On page 73 we have the birth of Jacob on June 1, 1782 bapt. June 23, 1782 with parents Johannes Ruppert and Barbara and witnesses Georg Hermann and Apollonia.

On page 74 of the Bermudian Church Records is the birth of Salome on Nov. 5, 1782 and bapt. in 1783. Her parents were Johannes Ruppert and Barbara with witnesses being Felix Thiel and Elisabeth. As a side note, this record was on a page with births for both 1782 and 1783. It is highly unlikely that Salome was born in November 1782 if Jacob was born in June of the same year. This is a transcription of the church book so the record could have been copied incorrectly or the church cleric could have inadvertently written the wrong year.

As a final “exhibit” from the Bermudian Church Records is page 101 listing the “Communicants, 18th Sunday after Trinity, 1787.” In the first column at number 23 is Johannes Rubbert, number 24 is Barbara, wf. In the second column is number 30, Adam Rubbert.

Among other sources that I reviewed on microfilm (No. 317346) at the Family History Library was “Wills of Columbiana, Mahoning and Trumbull counties” compiled by Henry R. Baldwin, no publication date. I didn't find a will listed for John Rupert but did find an abstract for that of Adam Rupert.

This is a snapshot taken with the camera. The record refers to Book 10 page 376 with a year of 1838. Heirs of Adam Rupert were his wife Margaret, sons John and Adam, daughters Catherine married John Sheets, Margaret married Adolph Saschtebergen, Mary married John Snoke (Snook), Elizabeth married Henry Sentzenisen. Grandchildren (Sentzenhisen) May, John, Daniel, Adam, Jacob, Samuel, Benjamin, Margaret, Sitter, Eliza, Ester, Henry, Lewis. Executors were John Sheets and Adam Rupert. Witnesses were William Chain and Solomon Greenamyer.

Note that Adam's wife is Margaret and there is a son John and daughter Catherine, corresponding with the Bermudian Church records.

Armed with this information and hoping to find something to help verify that John Rupert was the father of Eve, I began looking at land records for Columbiana County, Ohio.

They were Shouting “Hey! What About Me?”

Sometimes, for various reasons, you have ancestors that you simply put on the back burner. It gets complicated when you have men of the same age in the same area with the same name. You don't have the resources you need to sort them out. You just don't have the time or energy for them. Or maybe you just don't know where to look for them. So you go on to other ancestors. You know, the ones that may be easier to find “stuff” on.

That's what I've done with my Switzer and Rupert ancestors. I've had their names for many years – John and Barbara Rupert and Jacob and Mary C. Switzer. Both families were “from Pennsylvania” and ended up in Columbiana County, Ohio. A daughter from each family married a Yarian.

Eva Rupert (1786-1866) was married to Conrad Yarian (1780-1860) on July 22, 1805 in Columbiana County where they would raise their family of 13 children, four of which apparently died young.

Jacob Yarian (1812-1895) was the fourth child born to Conrad and Eva (Rupert) Yarian. He married Elizabeth Switzer (1815-1894) on April 2, 1835 in Columbiana County. They were the parents of eleven children, nine of whom survived into adulthood and had families of their own. Jacob and Elizabeth are my 3rd great-grandparents. (Their son Eli married Lovina Berlin and their daughter Susie married Henry Phend and their oldest son was my grandfather, Rolland Victor Phend.)

The Ruperts

There were a few clues available back in the late 1980s when I found the Ruperts and Switzers but not really sufficient information regarding where to look for them beyond Ohio, after all “Pennsylvania” is a good-sized area! And besides, I didn't even know if John and Barbara Rupert really were Eva's parents – their names actually came from a query on GenForum in 1998. And there were some researchers who said that Adam Rupert was her father. The only information I had found on the Ruperts were the following three short items in the “History of Columbiana County, Ohio” (Mack, 1879).

On page 157 was this short paragraph: “John Rupert, a German, who upon his arrival in Baltimore from Germany, being unable to pay his passage money, was sold by the captain of the vessel to a person who, in consideration of receiving Rupert's services free for the ensuing three years, paid the captain's demand. Rupert lived in Hanover until his death, after reaching the age of one hundred years. The farm he owned is now owned by C. Pfeffer, in section 26, Hanover twp.”

On page 246 of that same book was found: “Adam Rupert, a Revolutionary soldier, located on section 17 in 1802, where he reared four sons, - John, Jacob, Adam, and Benjamin, whose descendants yet live in that locality or in Fairfield.”

And on page 288: "George Hoke was an early settler of Beaver Township (now in Mahoning County). Jacob Rupert was also an early settler of Beaver Township."

The Switzers

There was a little more information available on Jacob and Elizabeth Switzer. A biography of their son Jonathan in the “Standard History of Elkhart County, Indiana” (Weaver, 1916 v2 p756) states: “The maiden name of his [Jacob Yarian] wife was Elizabeth Sweitzer, who was born in Columbiana County near Lisbon, September 23, 1815. Her father, Jacob Sweitzer was born in Switzerland, was reared in that country, and at the age of twenty seven came to America, locating in Columbiana County where he secured a tract of timbered land and literally hewed a farm from the wilderness. Both he and his wife survived to be old people, and he passed away at the age of eighty-seven and she at the age of eighty-three.”

In the biography of Jacob Yarian, Sr. in “History of Portage County, Ohio” (Beers, 1885 p808) it says: “Our subject was married April 2, 1835, to Elizabeth Switzer, born in Columbiana County, Ohio, September 24, 1815, daughter of Jacob and Mary C. Switzer, natives of Pennsylvania, who located in Columbiana County, where they died.”

And, in the section on Salem Township in “History of Columbiana County, Ohio” (Mack, 1879 p237) we find that “Ephraim Holloway and Jacob Sweitzer, brothers-in-law of Martin Hoke, entered section 25 about the year 1804. The property passed into other hands. One of the early schools was kept on this section.”

Still, it wasn't much to go on. In the late 1980s my mother and I went on a research trip to Ohio, stopping in Columbiana County where I found the estate settlement file for Jacob Switzer (4962 dated November 7, 1859) which listed his heirs: widow, Leathy Switzer; Jacob Yarian & wife; Jacob Monanack & wife; Peter Buckecker & wife, Daniel Deemer & wife.

Marriage records of Columbiana County provided the first names of the Switzer daughters: Barbara married Jacob Manaweck, Rebecca married Peter Buckecker and Susan married Daniel Deemer.

But there was a very big problem with Jacob Switzer... there was more than one of him! Well, actually there was only one of him, but there were at least three men by that name in Columbiana County in the same time period (1803-1860).

In 1820 and 1830 there was one in each of the townships of Centre, Fairfield, and Salem. By 1840, we had five men named Jacob Switzer. One each in Centre, Elk Run, and Fairfield and two in Salem township. By 1850 we're back down to three: one in Fairfield born about 1789 with wife Catherine and three daughters, one in Salem born about 1785 with wife Catherine, and the third in Salem born about 1821. Yeah, two of them had a wife named Catherine!

I knew that I'd never be able to sort out those Switzers with the resources available to me at the time. Remember, this was back in the 1980s. Back in the dark ages of genealogical research. No internet. No email. And I was still working at a 9-5 job (usually more than the standard 8 hours a day) and didn't have the time or energy to take on that kind of major research task. And I didn't have the time or funds to do extensive research on-site in Columbiana County.

So there they were. Neglected for 20+ years. Shoved aside for “more important” things. And probably somewhat indignant because I hadn't even given them their own entry in my database – simply a few words in their daughter's notes.

That is, until the recent trip to Salt Lake City. There they grabbed hold of me, got my attention, finally, and shouted “Hey, what about me?”

Over the Rockies

The Rock Cut Nature Trail is a short paved trail that goes up (and up) from the parking area.

Still snow-covered in areas, the slipperiness and elevation made for difficult walking at times.

Looking toward the west from the top of the Rock Cut Nature Trail.

And, looking toward the east.

Traveling on down the highway and over the summit, the scenery changes drastically. The snow is gone and the hazy skies return, as did warmer temperatures!

No offense to those living in eastern Colorado and southern Nebraska but after crossing the Rockies, the scenery was somewhat less interesting.

I made it “safe and sound” back to Indiana where I'll be until after the 4th of July weekend. And then? Well, time will tell...

Traversing the Trail Ridge Road

On my “speedy” drive back to Indiana from Salt Lake City (1600 miles in 4 days) I chose to go through Rocky Mountain National Park. I knew I wouldn't have any time to spend there but also knew that it would be a nice drive!

Trail Ridge Road, the road through Rocky Mountain National Park, opened on June 7th, just three days before I arrived. The highest continuous paved highway in the United States, connecting the towns of Estes Park on the east side and Grand Lake on the west, it reaches an elevation of 12,183 feet and affords some spectacular views.

This winter, Mother Nature, dumped a lot of snow on the area. More than she has in 30 years. The amount of snow that the snowplow operators faced when they began clearing the road in April along with a big snow storm the last week of May, which produced 17 foot drifts in some areas, delayed the opening of the road. It is usually open by Memorial Day weekend.

I was fortunate that it was open by the time I went through. I was also fortunate that it was a most beautiful day!

A big snow blower at the Alpine Visitor Center.

This fellow was about 15 feet off the road.

If you look closely, you can see guardrails along the road on the right-center side of the picture. This is looking back from the Rock Cut parking area.

Heading Back East

Leaving Salt Lake City on the morning of June 9th, I took I-80 through the Wasatch Mountains toward Park City where I picked up U.S. 40, which is a very scenic route. I stopped for the night in Hayden, just before getting into the higher elevations of the Rocky Mountains.

The next morning I passed through Steamboat Springs and stopped for pictures at one of the lakes. This is where the climb into the Rockies really begins. Because of the record amount of snowfall this winter, the rivers and lakes are full to overflowing.

If this lake gets much fuller, these houses will have some problems!

Somewhere in the mountains along U.S. 40

Several hours later, just before entering Granby, I turned off of U.S. 40 onto U.S. 34, which is the highway that goes through Rocky Mountain National Park.

Approaching Rocky Mountain National Park on U.S. Highway 34

North of Grand Lake

And onto the Trail Ridge Road (still U.S. 34)

At the first parking area inside the park. The snow was several feet above my head.