Hi Karen,
I found this on your Rizley line in Clay county.
Hope this helps.
Later.......Fred
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SAMUEL RIZLEY.Prominent among the earlier settlers of Clay
county was Samuel Rizley, who in his day was one of the most widely
known and most highly esteemed residents of this part of the state. A
man of strong individuality possessing excellent judgment and much
business ability, he became infinential in the management of public affairs,
and served in varions positions of trust and responsibility. In addition
to carrying on farming successfully he did much of the surveying in the
county, in that capacity becoming thoroughly acquainted with the sur
rounding country, lie was born in Virginia September 19, 1792, aiid
after spending a few years of his childhood in Bullitt county, Kentucky,
came with his parents to Indiana in 1804. His parents were among the
original settlers of Knox county, Indiana, locating there in 1804. as
before stated. and there spending the remainder of their lives. His father
was David Rizley, a soldier in the Revolutionary war.
After completing his early education in the district schools, Samuel
Rizley worked at surveying with his father, becoming a competent stir-
veyor. Upon the declaration of war in 1812 he enlisted and served as
a soldier for thirteen months, during which time he assisted in building
Fort Harrison. While serving in the army Mr. Rizley crossed the part
of the territory now included within the limits of Clay county, and noticed
while passing along a beautiful spring of clear, cool water lying in what
is now called Cass township. In 1819, still remembering the spot, he
entered from the government the tract of land in which that spring was
located. Clearing a small spot. He erected a cabin of round logs, which
was the first home of his family in Clay county. His property was then
in Owen county. and while occupying that log cabin he served as county
commissioner of Owen county. When Putnam county was afterwards
organized it embraced Cass township, and he subsequently served as
county commissioner for Putnam county. Clay county was afterwards
organized. and Cass township became a part of it. Mr. Rizley was soon
after made one of the board of county commissioners for Clay county,
thus, without changing his place of residence, he served three counties in
that capacity. He was also tax collector, was the first school teacher in
Clay county, and for one term was associate circuit judge. He was
prominent as well in religions circles, and from the time of the organiza-
tion of the Predestinarian Baptist church until his death, February 3,
1868, served as deacon.
Besides being a successful farmer, Mr. Rizley was a natural mechanic.
He manufactured gun powder, farming implements-such as the pioneers
usedas well as water and milk pails, barrels, tubs, keelers, churns, pig-
gins, etc., also chairs tables spinning wheels, looms, warping bars, flax
breaks, etc., and he erected the first whipsaw, which stood three miles
west of the present village of Poland, Cass township, and one of the
first band grist mills.
Mr. Rizley was twice married. He married first, in Knox county,
Indiana, February 4, 1816, Polly Thomas, who was born in Maryland,
August 10, 1794, and died in Clay county, Indiana, June 17, 1851. Her
father, David Thomas, was born May 23, 1767, in Maryland. and removed
from there to Indiana in territorial days settling first in Knox county.
In 1816 be moved with his family to Owen county and in 1818 located
in what is now Washington township, Clay county and was the original
settler of the Eel River valley. Improving a farm near the present site
Bowling Green,of he resided there until his death January 28,1858. aged
eightyfive years. His wife, Huldah (Parsons) Thomas, died July 7,
1851. Of the union of Mr. Rizley with Polly Thomas nine children were
born. namely Huldah; Sarah; Polly; Eliza, who was the first white child
born in Clay county ;Susan ; Elizabeth A.; Drusilla ; Naomi and Ellen.
Mr. Rizley married for his second wife Mrs. Lucretia (Witty) Barnett,
and to them three children were born, namely Mary, Candace and
Alice.
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At 11:38 PM 1/26/98 EST, you wrote:
Hi,
I am new to this list. I am descended from David and Huldah (PARSONS),
THOMAS. David was born 23 May 1767 in Hardy Co., VA and Huldah 5 June 1775.
They were married in KY on 5 Apr 1793 probably in Shelby Co. They were early
settlers in Clay Co., IN, however, I am descended from their youngest child,
Juretta, who married Matthew WHITE and moved to OR.
David d. 28 J1852 and Huldah 7 July 1851 in Cass Twp, Clay Co., IN. They are
buried in Rizley cemetery.
The children, most I believe stayed in Clay Co., are:
Mary b. 8 Aug 1794 m. Samuel RIZLEY 27 Jan 1816
Ruth b. 14 Mar 1796 m. SPARKS 30 Aug 1822
Oswald b. 7 Feb 1798 m. Mahala BOOTHE 10 Jan 1833
Elisha G. b. 15 May 1800 m. Rachel ROGERS 6 Nov 1837
Susannah b. Feb 1802 m. James STEVENS 2 Mar 1819
James Parsons b. 25 Jan 1804 m.1 Barbara BARNETT m.2 Elizabeth SMITH
Shallum b. 2 Mar 1806 m. Mary STIGLER 1 Dec 1831
Huldah b. 16 May 1808 m. Thompson BOOTHE 7 Jan 1831
Drusilla b. 14 Apr 1810 m. Levi WALKER 2 Mar 1838
Juretta b. 6 Sep 1813 m. Matthew WHITE 7 Sep 1830
Would love to find out more about the rest of the family.
Karen Stone
kjNrock(a)aol.com
(Researching: STONE, WAGGONER, WHITE, GIBSON, ROWLAND, ETTER, McCRORY,
MAYBERRY, WALKER, EASLEY, SHONES, WINFIELD, BEARD, RYE, RUSHING, THOMAS,
PARSONS, COLVARD, CROSSNO, PEREGOY, HAWES, BUCK, MELTON, HANDY, HOLDER,
KUYKENDALL, BOWERMAN, FLOWERS, CONKLIN, LOWE, GAGE, WRAY, HANDY, BILYEU,
MONNASTES, CAILLOUX, HUTLET, GUION, CLESSE, LAPORT, VANLENT, DE PAPE,
GUITARD,
HORTIZ, LA CROIX, PARKER, CAMPBELL, ELROD, GOODLOE, QUARLES, WORKMAN,
TOMPKINS)
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