Thanks for your note, Eyda. I just got back from SE Indiana (before the
"big snowstorm" last week) and found a few interesting items at the
courthouse in Vevay (vee'-vee):
I was able to copy the marriage records for my Walton ancestors from
handwritten documents in several large volumes. Catherine Hizer's marriage
to Benjamin Walton (1839) was listed in there.
I also found a deed of property "made the 26th day of February 1844 by and
between Benjamin Walton and Catherine his wife ... and Pascal Hizer ... in
consideration of the sum of forty dollars." Benjamin and Catherine Walton
"did bargin, sell, aliened, confirmed, quit claimed ... and assigned forever
(to Pascal Hizer) all their undivided part as heirs of Daniel Hiser deceased
in and to the following tract of land lying and being in the counties of
Switzerland and Dearborn ... to wit the East half of the North West quarter
and the North West quarter of the North East quarter of Section 25 and the
South West quarter of the South West quarter of Section 24 in Township No. 4
of Range No. 3 West, containing 160 acres."
A map of Cotton Township (drafted in 1883) lists land owners and property
sizes shows Jacob Hizer as the owner of the 120 acres in Switzerland Co.
that year. (It does not show the 40 acres in Section 24 of Ohio County.)
Neighbors were Nancy Baker, James Hunter, Henry Banta, James Courter, J.
Downey, Andrew C. Downey, and Henry Kittenbrink.
The above land is on either side of Goodner Road and straddles what is now
Switzlerland and Ohio counties. I drove out to look at the area, and much
of it is now wooded. A small cemetery is on the corner of Goodner Road ...
called Oatman Cemetery. There are many small, broken, unreadable stones in
this cemetery; the only one with readable markings is for a Henry Oatman.
I could not find the deed that gave the land to Benjamin and Catherine
Walton... possibly out of the estate of Daniel Hizer. Since they are listed
as "heirs," this is another indicator that Catherine was most likely a
daughter of Daniel Hizer. I wish we could find Daniel's will. I could be
in the Dearborn, Ohio or Switzerland county courthouses. I did not have
time to look for it while I was there. Do you live in this area? Help from
others is ALWAYS appreciated!
Kevin Walton
Culpeper, Virginia
Hi Kevin - I am a member of that whole family line. John HIZER was
my
direct
ancestor. There were 2 Jefferson's in the family, who are distant uncles.
I feel as you do that Daniel Hizer was Catherine's father, but I have
never
been able to prove it. Seeing that there were 3 hizer brothers in the
area and
I know the children that the other 2 had, then Daniel has to be the
nominee.
However, I have never been able to prove it. As a matter of fact, I
believe
that he is the father of all of the following:
Switzerland County Indiana Marriage Records
BRIDE GROOM MARRIED COMMENTS
Mary Ann HISER Farrington BARRICKLOW 07/25/1845
Nancy HISER John G. LACEY 09/17/1834 Says no date for lic. -
just says it was issued.
Catharine HIZER Benjamin WALTON 05/09/1839 On the affidavit of
Zachariah Walton
Elizabeth HIZER Benjamin MORRIS 09/08/1831 On the
affidavit of James Scott - both of S.C.
Malinda HIZER John DIBBLE 03/07/1850
Sarah HIZER William WAUGH 09/04/1834 Father of Sarah present
and consenting
Susan HIZER James SCOTT 08/02/1829 Father of Susan
consenting
The Switzerland County Courthouse does not have any further identifying
information for the above marriage applicants.
And finally, the number of daughters on the 1830 census would support that
he
is the father of all of the above.
But I do not know how to connect the dots. If you can ever find the
evidence,
I would certainly like to take a look at it.
Let me know how the searching goes.