Jacob GARDENHOUR

                   For reasons not given, father Jacob was very concerned about thedistribution of his estate to his son, Samuel. Samuel's portion was leftin the control of his brother, George. Samuel was to have no right was tothe use or control of his portion; that George to distribute only theinterest not the principal; that if George died, an administrator wouldbe appointed; and that Samuel's portion would go to the heirs of hisbody, if any, or to his brothers and sisters upon his death. Any moneywas to be used for the assistance of said Samuel.

Samuel was not married at the time of his father's death, and in fact,little has been learned about him as the family is researched. Perhaps hewas impaired either physiscally or mentally, or not responsible in hisactions.
                  

                   Census Information for George and Elizabeth Brown Gardenhour: 1850   18601870   1880  1900   1910
1920  .

George G. Gardenhour is the only person like to be the George who wasparty to the following land transactions in Washington County, Maryland:

B of @ (Bill of Sale?), from Samuel Bechtal, 1837
Deed, from Holker Hughes, 1839
Deed from Jacob Gardenhour, 1841 (most likely brother Jacob)
Deed, to Isaac Renner, 1843
Deed, from John Fessler, 1845
B of S, from Samuel Bachtle, 1835
Mortgage from Samuel Bactell, 1846
Deed, to Joseph Brown, from George and wife, 1847
Deed, from Daniel Smith, 1860
Deed, from John Fessler, 1862
Mortgage, from Frances L. Moore, 1885 (1865?)
Deed, from Thomas S. Moore and wife, 1866
Deed, to W. Md. Rail Road Co., from George and wife, 1867
Deed, from John Fishack and wife, 1871
Deed, from Hy Colliflower, 1872
Deed, to William H. Stevenson, from George and wife, 1886
Deed, from Keedy & Wiles Tr., 1878
Deed, to R. Bowman, 1887

George's age in the 1850 census of Washington Co., Maryland is given as43, making his date of birth around 1807 or 1808 (vs. Orval/GraceGardenour's 1803.  Elizabeth's age is given as 38.  They are listed assharing the household with a John Meisner, age 22, a laborer, and CyrusRobinson, age 9, both born in Maryland.

George's age in the 1860 census is given as 51 or 54 (there were twodifferent enumerators visiting the household, first on 19 Jul, then 19Aug) making his date of birth possibly as late as 1809.  His occupationis listed as "farmer". The value of his real estate owed at that time eas$9000/$6800, and personal estate was valued at $400/$2000. Elizabeth'sage is given as 48/45.

In the 1860 census, during themonth between enumeration visits, Bentonand Francis also aged from 19 to 20. They were twins.  Also, Boaz, age16, does not appear on the second count while Benjamin, 14, suddenlyappears.  Orphey and Louisa remain the same age and spellings, but SusanE., age 7, disappears and in her place is Agnes, age 7.

In the 1850 census, where the children are in another household, theirlast names were spelled "Gardenhour." In 1860, they are all given as"Gardenour". It seems that the name was a state of fluz during thisperiod, not just for the Jacob Gardenhour who moved to Indiana andchanged the name, but for the entire family.

According to Orval/Grace Gardenour's Family History, published in 1977,there were "two other brothers" who operated a fruit orchard inSmithsburg.  Jacob and Joseph were already named, so the two orchardoperators are presumably the remaining brother George G. and Samuel.

There is a "G. Gardenour" named as being a resident of "CavetownDistrict, No 7" of Washington County, in Scharf's "History of WesternMaryland," p. 128.  This same age also lists a "T.A. Brown just fivenames away from G. Gardenour. (George Gardenhour married Elizabeth Brown.)

There is also a "G. Gardnour" listed as being a resident of Ringgold, orElection District No. 14. It was bounded on the north by the Mason-Dixonline, separating it from Pennsylvania, on the east by South Mountain,separating it from Frederick County, on the south by Cavetown District,and on the west By Leitersburg District. (per Scharf's "History ofWestern Maryland.")
                  

                   NAME:
    Born Between 10-18 Oct 1805
                  

                   Jacob and Martha were in the same household as Mary Griffin, age 40, andGeorge Griffin, age 20, for 1850 Washington, Maryland, USA census. Itindicates that Jacob and Martha had been married within the year.

Jacob's brother, John, moved to Uniondale, Wells, Indiana, USA and boughta farm there for Jacob and Martha. The story goes that they dropped the"H" in Gardenhour at the time, and became Gardenour. This line is beingresearched quite actively, since there are many descendents in Indianaand Michigan from this family.

In 1864, the family moved to Wells County, Indiana, where Mr. Gardenourpurchased the farm which Martha lived on after Jacob's death. The farmhad been owned by his brother, John. John continued to live with hisbrother since he never married.

The first place Jacob bought had 88 acres; and in 1877, John made hisbrother a present of the other 80 acres.

When the family first came to Wells County, Indiana, they moved into alog cabin which was still standing in 1898. The surrounding country waswilderness, and almost caused Jacob to move back to Maryland.  However,the family stayed, and he became one of the most prosperous farmers inthe area.  He cleared the land mostly by himself, and he built one of thenicest country residences in the township prior to his death. Little didhe dream that the leafy woods of Union Township would become a beautifulvillage that stood on part of his land. Nor did he realize a railroadwould eventually come to his door.

October 2001:
In checking marriage records from Wells County, Indiana 1837-1900 Ilocated the following names who were not in a Gardenhour family known tome.  They are of an age and marriage date which might make themcontemporaries of Jacob Gardenhour's children or perhaps their cousins.

Emma Gardenhour married Simon P. Poffenberger, 4 Sep 1883, Wells Co.,Indiana by C.V. Strickland
Ida Gardenhour married Nathaniel Meyers, 11 Mar 1890, Wells Co., Indiana,by David T. Smith, JP
Margaret J. Gardenhour married Baley Hall, 17 Dec 1868, Wells Co.,Indiana, by Thomas Wallace
Frank Gardenhour married Cora E. Brickley, 28 Mar 1895, Wells Co.,Indiana, by J.J. Markley, Minister
                  

                   Joseph O. Gardenhour purchased land at the Ft. Wayne, Indiana land officeon 23 May 1839


This family may have 2 or 3 more children, names, sex, and birthdates notcurrently known.

NAME:
    GARDENHOUR aka GARDENOUR