JOHN HENRY ARNEY

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The 1875 plat map of Good Hope Township, Hocking County shows that John Arney owned land in sections 15, 16 and 22, with some of this land being located along Clear Creek near Pine Grove [the spot where Clear Creek empties into the Hocking River]. On this portion of land a saw mill and a grist mill were located.' An inspection of the deed records for Hocking County indicates that two portions of land in section 16 were purchased jointly by John Arney and John Henry Arney 17 December 1867.' One portion of land had a house on it when purchased as indicated by the deed that three‑quarters of an acre in front of the house was not included in the sale. This portion sold for $700, while another portion of 80 acres sold for $100, or $1.25 per acre in 1866.' Who are John Arney and John Henry Arney who bought the land in 1867?

The 1860 U.S. Census of Fairfield County, the City of Lancaster shows a John Arney, aged 53, listed as a farmer, with $16,000 assets in real estate and $1,217 in personal property. This John Arney was born in Ohio, and his wife was Jane Arney, age 53 who was born in Prussia [Germany] . Their family includes Catherine, age 23; Sarah, age 22; J. H., age 20; Milton, age 17; Elava, age 14; Anna, age 13; and Noah, age 4.' it is quite likely that this is the John Arney who purchased land in Goodhope Township, Hocking County in 1867. The rationale for this conclusion follows.

Since 1860 was on the eve of the Civil War, it seemed reasonable to investigate whether or not the male, "J. H." who was aged 20 in 1860 served in the Union Army. The roster of the 17th Ohio Volunteer Infantry [a regiment comprised of many Fairfield County men) shows as one of the officers, John H. Arney, who was aged 21 when he entered service on 26 August 1861 as a 2d Lieutenant in Company A, 17th O.V.I. He was promoted to 1st lieutenant 9 January 1862 and to captain 31 December 1863. He resigned on 11 November 1864, having served more than three years.' The marriage records for Fairfield County show that John H. Arney married Rose A. Cowden on 7 January 1964.`

The 1870 U.S. Census for Fairfield County, City of Lancaster showed John H. Arney, age 30, "Works in Iron Foundry" and has $2,000 assets in real estate and $400 in personal property. His wife, Rose A. is 30 years old and he has three daughters Maud, age 3; Jane, age 2; and Rose age seven months. He also has a domestic servant living in his residence in Lancaster.'

The 1880 U.S. Census shows J. H. Arney, age 40, listed as a farmer living in Good Hope Township, Hocking County. His wife, Rose A. is also age 40. The children in the family are: Maud, age 13; Jane, age 12; Rose, age 10; John D., age 7, Lelah, age 6; and Samuel H., age 4. Unfortunately, this census does not provide any measure of the assets held by each head of household.' A review of the 1880 agricultural census shows that John H. Arney had 110 acres of tilled land, 10 acres of pasture, and 100 acres of woodland. The value of his farm was $12,000.00, he had $200.00 worth of agricultural implements, $400.00 worth of livestock and the value of the products he sold was $1,200.00. His farm had four horses, four milk cows, ten other cattle, thirteen swine and there were 50 acres of corn raised which produced 2,500 bushels of corn. Modest amounts of oats, and wheat were also raised. He paid $500.00 for farm labor during the year, which amounted to one fulltime helper.'

The 1890 census of veterans of the Civil War showed John H. Arney living in Good Hope Township, Hocking County. The census indicated he had been wounded in the left leg during the war and continued to be treated by a surgeon in Fairfield County. He served three years, three months and fifteen days in the Union Army during the Civil War..

The 1900 U.S. Census shows John H. and his wife Rose living in Hocking Township [location of Lancaster], Fairfield County. There are three children; Jane, John D., and Samuel H. living with them.'

The 1910 U.S. Census shows John H. and his daughter Jane living in Lancaster. His wife, Rose, died about 1901."

Instead of looking at the 1920 U.S. Census, a search was made for a death certificate for John H. Arney. His death certificate indicates that he died 22 April 1921 in Lancaster, Fairfield County. At the time of his death he lived at 809 West Union Street in Lancaster, and he was a widower at that time. He was born 1 January 1840 and was 81 years, 3 months and 21 days old at the time of his death. He was a retired "Molder." who had been born in Lancaster, Ohio. His fathers name was John Arney, who was born in Ohio and his mothers name was Jane Klucker, who was born in Germany. He died of angina pectoris with a contributing cause of cancer of the face. He is buried in Forest Rose Cemetery and the information on his death certificate was provided by his daughter Miss Jane Areny. An obituary for John H. Arney was found in the Lancaster Daily Eagle. The obituary indicated that he died after a years illness from a heart attack, and also indicates that "with the exception of 21 years when he resided in Hocking County" Arney had lived all his life in Lancaster. [These 21 years in Hocking County would appear to be from the late 1870s until the late 1890s] ."

There is additional information about the family. It is indicated that John Arney [John H. Arney's father] died 6 November 1876 in Good Hope Township, Hocking County. He was born in Fairfield County and was 71 years old when he died." This indicates that the was born about 1805. It is also reported that Frederick Arney was the father of John Arney, but Frederick moved to the northern part of the state." The 1850 U.S. Census shows that Frederick Arney was living in Seneca Township, Seneca County, Ohio and John Arney was living in Lancaster, Fairfield County."

The above data sketches an outline of the Arney family who were very early settlers in Fairfield County, and while they owned several hundred acres of land in Good Hope Township, Hocking County, appear to have been oriented to Fairfield County.

Charles Goslin suggests that John Arney erected the log cabin [being restored] between "Hanging Rock" and Rt. 33, since he owned the land." In addition, Jerry Mathias has indicated that his* father told him that Captain Arney built the log house.

Mr. Donald Hutslar was queried about his knowledge of this log house. Mr. Hutslar has seen the house in the past when visiting the Clear Creek area with Mr. Ed. Hutchins of the Metropolitan Park District. He indicated that it really was not possible to determine the date of building this structure. The internal wood finishing was the best clue, and that is no longer available. He did indicate that log houses were built in southeastern Ohio after the Civil War. One house in Scioto County was built aslate as 1937. Hutslar stated that seeing the initials on the house does not indicate the person who built it. He knew of only one case where the initials were that of the builder."

It seems questionable that John H. Areny built the log house, but it is not impossible. Neither the evidence presented by Mr. Joslin nor the statement by Mr. Mathias is solid documentary evidence. The financial resources of the Arney family strongly suggest that Captain Arney would not have built a log house for his family in the late 1870s. It is possible this house was built for his hired help, but it is also possible that the house was built prior to the time the Arneys owned the property. The Arneys owned and operated a saw mill, and one son of John H. Arney was a "sawyer."

A careful examination of the deed records does not provide any documentation for the builder of the log house. George W. Mathias purchased a portion of section 15 on 21 March 1914 from George T. Borden who had purchased the property on the 18 November 1897 from Rose A. and John H. Arney. On the 29 November 1921, George W. Mathias sold seven acres of section 15 to Henry F. and Lucy Mathias."

 

Prepared by:

Robert W. McCormick
6489 Strathaven Ct. N.
Worthington, Ohio 43085

  1. D. J. Lake, Historical Atlas of Hocking County. Ohio (1876).
  2. Deed Record W, page 209 and 210 in the Hocking County Recorder's Office.
  3. Ibid.
  4. U.S. Census, 1860, Fairfield County, City of Lancaster, Microfilm GR 211, page 1, Ohio Historical Society.
  5. Civil War Roster, Ohio Historical Society, Volume 2, page 538.
  6. The marriage records for Fairfield County from 1803‑1865 are found on microfilm GR 830 at the Ohio Historical Society. They were originally recorded in Book A, page 7.
  7. U. S. Census, 1870, Fairfield County, City of Lancaster, page 204, GR 338 Ohio Historical Society.
  8. U. S. Census, 1880. Hocking County, Good Hope Township, page 50C, Microfilm GR 769, Ohio Historical Society.
  9. U.S. Agricultural Census, Hocking County, Good Hope Township, GR 7817 at the Ohio Historical Society.
  10. U.S. Census, 1900, Fairfield County, Hocking Township, Vol. 47, ED 9, Sheet 3, Line 44, Ohio Historical Society.
  11. U.S. Census, 1910, Fairfield County, Lancaster, 059 0060 0008. Ohio Historical Society.
  12. Death Certificate 21071, Ohio Historical Society.
  13. Lancaster Daily Eagle 22 April 1921, page 8 and 23 April 1921 page 6.
  14. James Murphy, Hocking County Death Records, Ohio Historical Society.
  15. C.M.L. Wiseman, Centennial History of Lancaster. Ohio (Lancaster: M. L. Wiseman, 1898)
  16. U.S. Census, 1850, Seneca County and Fairfield County, Ohio.
  17. Charles R. Goslin, "Two Landmarks." Lancaster Eagle Gazette, March 23, 1985
  18. Interview with Donald Hutslar, retired historian from the Ohio Historical Society on Thursday, 30 January 1997. Mr. Hutslar is considered the foremost authority on Ohio log structures.
  19. Deed book 25, page 585, deed book 45, page 337, and deed book 54, page 581, Hocking County Recorder's Office.

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While I've have tried to be accurate, neither David M Friscia nor any agency or contributor warrants the accuracy, reliability or timeliness of any information and shall not be liable for any losses caused by such reliance on the accuracy, reliability, or timeliness of such information. Portions of such information may be incorrect or not current. Any person or entity who relies on any information obtained from the System does so at his or her own risk.

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