John Eveland was born in 1800 in Washington County, Ohio. He was the seventh child and youngest son of Frederick Jr. and Lois Evans Eveland. He grew up on the banks of the Muskingum River in Windsor Township at the site of the future town of Stockport, Ohio. In the early 1800’s, this area of Ohio was the frontier, and the Eveland’s were among the first settlers in this region.
When he was about 18 years old, John married the youngest daughter of Sylvanus and Elizabeth Stacey Newton – Harriet Newton. John Eveland’s older brother, David, was married to Harriet Newton’s older sister, Nancy (Lemonds). At the time of their marriage on April 21st, 1818 (Ohio County Marriage Records), Harriet, born in 1805, was about 13 or 14 years old. The couple listed their home as Roxbury. The first of John and Harriet’s five sons, Abner, was born on February 17, 1821. Chandler was born January 5th, 1823. Joel (our ancestor) was born on August 16, 1826. Johnson (aka John and Johnston) in 1827, and finally Jonah in 1829 (Chandler Eveland Bible).
In 1825 and 1827, John bought or was given, parts of his father’s land along the west side of the Muskingum River. Living adjacent to him were his brothers and their families who had also bought or been given land from their father (Stockport, Ohio).
In the 1830 Census Frederick Eveland was living in Windsor Township with two boys under age ten, three boys under age five, a 20-30 year old male and female, and a 60-70 year old male and female. These ages and sexes match up perfectly with Frederick, his wife Lois, his son John, John’s wife Harriet, and their five boys. Later evidence .confirms the likelihood that John and his family were living with his parents.
In 1829, John’s occupation was listed as Captain of the keelboat “Germis,” Putnam Mills, Muskingum County, Ohio (Wolf Creek and the Muskingum). John grew up on the Muskingum and began his career as a boatman and boat builder when he was very young (Lemonds). Until the railroad came, river boats were a main source of transport and delivery of supplies for settlers on the frontier, and then also for items brought back from the frontier for sale (Stockport, Ohio). The Muskingum River runs 112 miles through Ohio, from north of Zanesville down past Stockport and all the way to Marietta where it flows into the Ohio River. It played a vital role in early transportation of resources and supplies (Ohio State Parks).
By 1827, keelboats were used on the Muskingum. A keelboat was large -60-150 tons – and required crews of up to 25 men using long poles to maneuver them. Teams of oxen were kept along the banks near areas with rapids or “riffles” to help pull the boats through these dangerous spots. Sometimes the men lost control of the boats which could drift of downstream and even pull teams with them (Stockport, Ohio). Accidents were common. Click here to read more about keelboats.
On July 5th, 1830, John Eveland died in a boating accident. The accident likely happened on the Muskingum River, possibly near Malta. For now the details of the accident are lost. We don’t even know where John is buried.
Harriet Newton Eveland was left a widow. She was about 24 years old with five sons ages 9, 7, 4, 3, and 1. She had no job and no source of support other than relatives. What happened next is Part 2 of the story.
John Eveland – Curtis Family Tree – #12
Harriet Newton Eveland – Curtis Family Tree – #13
Sources:
1837 Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan; David Rumsey Map Collection
Family Bible of Chandler Eveland
History of Fulton County, published by Chas. C. Chapman & Co. in 1879, pg. 477-478
Lemonds, Leo; Col. William Stacey: Revolutionary War Hero; Cornhusker Press; Hastings, Nebraska; 1993
Muskingum River Parkway State Park; Ohio State Parks; retrieved 12 May 2020 from
Ohio, County Marriage Records, 1774-1993; Ancestry.com; 2016
Portrait and biographical album of Fulton County, Illinois; Chicago: Biographical Pub. Co., 1890.
Walker, Richard; Stockport, Ohio; 1984
Walker, Richard; Wolf Creek and the Muskingum, Notes on the Settlement of Southeastern of Ohio; page 454
U.S. Census of 1830; Census Place: Windsor, Morgan, Ohio; Series: M19; Roll: 137; Page: 71; Family History Library Film: 0337948; retrieved from Ancestry.com 06 May 2020