John Greathouse and Catherine Benigar - Harrison, VA to Roane, WV

Created: 24 Aug 2008
Last Updated: 18 Oct 2008

Please Email Additions/Corrections to: Greathouse Point

There are three (3) John Greathouses born in about a 10 year period (1799 to 1812) in the Harrison County area of Virginia, but it is believed only one of those lived and died in Roane County, WV.

There are two (2) John Greathouses listed in the 1840 census Harrison County, VA.

One John of Harrison County identified himself as John G. Greathouse, and his relationship as a son of Michael Greathouse of Harrison County was established when John G Greathouse filed a chancery suit in Harrison County VA and identified that his father, Michael, sold him property in 1838. He is also identified as John G. in his own marriage record and in his children's marriage records. It is believed that he was born between 1802 and 1810, lived also in Taylor County where he is listed in the 1850 census. He married twice and died about January 1880 in Jackson County. He is listed as Jno G. Greathouse in the 1860 census of Jackson County, VA.

Another John, believed to be the son of Gabriel Greathouse, was born about 1799. He married Ann Cain in 1821 in Guernsey Ohio, but apparently their marriage ended through death or divorce. In the 1830s, when the heirs of Gabriel signed over their share to their brother Gabriel Jr., all the brothers and sisters signed along with their spouses. The only heir who signed without a spouse also signing, was John. He returned to Harrison county before 1850 with his daughters. It is believed that he is John Greathouse who died 23 December 1878 at age 81 years, Harrison County WV Death Records.

It is believed he is this John in the 1850 census of Harrison County VA with his 3 daughters:
John age 51 born in VA
Elizabeth age 27 b in VA
Nancy age 25 b in VA
Rebecca age 23 b in VA

In the 1860 census of Clarksburg, Harrison County, this John is listed living alone, age 62, with his daughter Elizabeth and husband listed as the next family.

The third John Greathouse is believed to be the son of John Greathouse, Revolutionary War soldier who was born 1756 in PA and died 1838 in Harrison County Virginia with a will. John is one of the children named in a chancery suit regarding John's will, which was recorded June 1838. This John appears to be the one who migrated from Harrison County to Roane County sometime between 1860 and 1870.

"Roane County WV Family History 1989" page 170 records data about this John Greathouse and says that he was born 06 October 1812 in Harrison County, Virginia and died 06 December 1884 in Roane County Virginia. This information was submitted by Alma M. Starcher. Others from this family line have reported similar information.

There is a record of a marriage showing that John Greathouse and Catherine Beniger were married 05 February 1835 in Harrison County by Robert Parks, minister of Methodist Protestant Church. A copy can be found in WV Vital Statistics records.

John Greathouse and wife Catherine are listed in the census of July 10, 1850 in Harrison County, VA District 22. John is 37, Catharine 35 with children Sarah age 13, Nancy age 9, William age 7, Elizabeth age 6, Barbary age 4, Roanna age 2 and Eunice age 1, all born in Virginia.

In the 1860 census of Harrison County, this John is listed in Clarksburg, as John Jr. age 48, a farmer. The junior designation could be to distinguish him from the other John, born 1799, living in Clarksburg at the same time, or because his father was John. The other John born 1799 would not have been old enough to have been his father. Others in the household are Catherine age 46, Sarah age 23, Nancy C age 21, William D age 19, Elizabeth J age 15, Barbary E age 13, Roanna age 4, Eunis age 9, Milly A age 8, John W age 6, Juda age 5.

The move from Harrison County to Roane County occurred sometime between 1860 and 1870 since we find the family in the Spencer District of Roane County in the 1870 census with John age 59, Cathrine age 56, Elizabeth J age 27, Rosanna age 19, Eunice age 16, John W age 14 and Judy age 12.

According to Daniel Dewees in "Recollections of a Lifetime" John and his family lived on Slate Run, near Spencer.

The family is listed in the 1880 census of Roane County with John age 67, Catherine age 66. Their daughter Judith and husband and daughter are living in the home as well as 3 other grandchildren.

It is said that John died December 6, 1884. His eldest son William D Greathouse served as administrator of his father's estate from December 10, 1884 until May 24, 1886, and records from the estate settlement are in the Roane County, WV court house. Heirs listed in the estate are: Widow, John W Greathouse, Sarah Erwin, Rosanna Bilby, Millie Ann Fall, Eunice Tanner, Juliet Norman, Eunice McCoy (infant child of Catherine McCoy deceased), and notation of an amount allowed Elizabeth McCutcheon, an amount allowed to Luvernia Longfellow, Elizabeth Barnhouse, Daniel Barnhouse and Jane Barnhouse, children of Barbara Ellen Barnhouse dec'd, and W. D. Greathouse.

It is believed that the following are children and grandchildren of John and Catherine:

...... 2 Sarah Greathouse b: 15 Jun 1838 in Harrison Co, VA. She may be the Sarah Ervin who died in Calhoun County May 7, 1907 on Barnes Run. Age 68 years, 10 months and 22 days. it is said she is buried in the Slate Cemetery.
.......... +George W Mitchell b: Abt. Sep 1832 in Floyd Co VA son of Thomas & Margaret Mitchell m: 03 Mar 1863 in Roane Co, WV
............... 3 James William Mitchell b: 18 Jan 1867
............... 3 Susan Mitchell b: 1867
............... 3 Nancy S Mitchell b: 26 Jun 1868
................... +Charles Clayton Nutter b: Sep 1865
...... *2nd Husband of Sarah Greathouse:
.......... +Robert Ervin b: Abt. 1812 in VA m: Aft. 1868
............... 3 Benjamin N Ervin b: Abt. 1876
...... 2 Nancy Catherine Greathouse b: 13 Dec 1839 in Harrison Co, WV d: Bef. 1886 - death before father's estate settled.
.......... +Daniel V McCoy b: Abt. 1835 in VA son of William & Andrew J McCoy m: 29 Mar 1863 in Roane Co, VA
............... 3 Eunice McCoy b: Abt. 1864
...... 2 William Davison Greathouse b: 24 Jun 1841 in Harrison County, VA d: 15 Apr 1909 in Roane Co, WV
.......... +Charity A Bowers b: 07 Jan 1847 in Lewis Co, VA m: 19 Aug 1866 in Roane Co, VA d: 14 Apr 1930 in Roane County WV burial Bowers Cemetery
............... 3 Henry Sherman Greathouse b: 26 Nov 1867 in Roane Co WV
................... +Louise Heater b: Oct 1871 in Roane Co WV m: 28 Mar 1891 in Roane County, WV
............... *2nd Wife of Henry Sherman Greathouse:
................... +Catherine Runnion b: 1890 in Roane Co WV m: 08 Nov 1908 in Roane County, WV
............... 3 Phillip Sheridan Greathouse b: 26 Nov 1867 in Roane Co WV
................... +Viola Vanhorn b: 1875 in Wetzel Co, WV m: 24 Dec 1893 in Roane Co WV
............... 3 Jayhue Grant Greathouse b: 18 Apr 1869 in Roane Co WV d: 13 Jul 1946 in Harrison Co, WV 76 y 10 m 25 d
................... +Ella Spencer b: Abt. 1870 in Roane Co WV m: 24 Dec 1896 in Roane Co, WV
............... 3 Female Greathouse b: 05 Oct 1871
............... 3 William Davison Jr Greathouse b: 25 Jan 1873 in Roane Co, WV d: Jun 1971 in Ripley, Jackson, West Virginia
................... +Eva Rhodes b: 16 Oct 1876 in Jackson Co, WV m: 09 May 1917 d: 13 Feb 1943 in Akron, Summit, OH burial Spencer, Roane Co, WV
............... 3 Catherine S Greathouse b: 17 Jan 1875 in Roane Co WV d: 1962 in Otto, WV bur Greathouse Cemetery
................... +Harry O Spencer b: Jul 1875 in Roane Co WV m: 11 Jul 1896 in Roane County, WV
............... 3 Rulina Greathouse b: 21 Oct 1876 in WV
................... +Onnie Rogers b: Abt. 1875
............... 3 John Brown Greathouse b: 10 Nov 1879 in WV
................... +Artie Mechia Short b: Abt. 1880
............... 3 Mary L Greathouse b: 16 Mar 1881 in Roane Co WV
................... +Floyd C Bowers b: Abt. 1878 in Roane Co WV m: 25 Apr 1902 in Roane County, WV
............... 3 Daniel Merton Greathouse b: 05 Aug 1882 in Spencer, Roane, WV d: 10 Jan 1945 in Akron, Summit,OH
................... +Gertrude Crislip b: Abt. 1880
............... 3 Rosa Greathouse b: 11 Jul 1886 in WV
............... 3 Delpha Greathouse b: 05 Jun 1888 in WV
...... 2 Elizabeth Jane Greathouse b: 16 Nov 1844 in Clarksburg, Harrison County, Virginia; cannot find a record of her death. Died after 1910 census.
.......... +Elisha C McCutcheon b: 05 May 1831 in Greenbrier Co, VA m: 22 Jan 1871 in Roane Co, WV d: 22 Oct 1911 in Reedy, Roane Co, WV
............... 3 James Franklin McCutcheon b: Abt. 1874 in Reedy, Roane Co, WV d: 23 May 1936 in Spencer, Roane Co, WV
............... 3 Samuel H McCutcheon b: Feb 1879 in WV
...... 2 Barbara Ellen Greathouse b: 27 May 1846 in Harrison Co, VA d: Abt. 1879 in Roane Co, WV - cannot locate a record.
.......... +George Henry Barnhouse b: 26 Jun 1852 in Gilmer Co, VA m: 31 Oct 1869 in Roane Co WV d: 08 Jul 1929 in Roane Co, WV
............... 3 Daniel VanBuren Barnhouse b: 31 Jul 1870
............... 3 Jane Barnhouse b: Abt. 1875
............... 3 P J Barnhouse b: 14 Nov 1875
............... 3 Catherine Elizabeth Barnhouse b: 1876 in Or 1872 d: 1966
................... +Charles Lewis Somerville b: 12 Oct 1868 in WIrt Co, WV m: 31 Dec 1892 d: 16 Apr 1939 in At home in Triplett, WV
...... 2 Rosanna Greathouse b: 27 Mar 1848 in Harrison Co, VA No record of her death.
.......... +Christopher Bilby b: 1838 in PA son of John & Margaret Daisy Bilby m: 10 Jul 1879 in Roane Co, WV
...... 2 Eunice Greathouse b: 23 Jul 1849 in Harrison Co, VA d: 17 Oct 1918
.......... +Hiram Tanner b: 17 Dec 1853 in Jackson Co, VA m: 17 Dec 1875 in Roane Co, WV Alt. date is 1873 d: 29 Sep 1928
............... 3 John Jackson Tanner b: 04 Oct 1874
............... 3 Catharine Tanner b: 20 Apr 1876
............... 3 Male Tanner b: 10 Sep 1879
............... 3 Female Tanner b: 15 May 1880
............... 3 Myra M Tanner b: 18 Jul 1881
............... 3 Female Tanner b: Feb 1888
............... 3 Edward A Tanner b: 1889
............... 3 Hilberm Ray Tanner b: 10 Feb 1890
............... 3 Charles William Tanner b: 02 May 1892
...... 2 Permelia "Millie" Ann Greathouse b: 14 Jun 1851 in Harrison Co, VA d: Aft. 1889
.......... +Franklin B Falls b: 1847 in Morgan Co, OH son of Elijah & Lucinda (widow at time of marriage) m: 09 Oct 1873 in Roane Co WV
............... 3 Vina Celesta Falls b: 1872
............... 3 Lizzie Falls b: Mar 1878
............... 3 Alice Falls b: 16 Oct 1879
............... 3 Frank Falls b: Mar 1882
............... 3 Male Falls b: 10 Dec 1882
............... 3 Robert Falls b: Feb 1884
............... 3 Charles Falls b: Jul 1887
............... 3 A Melvin Falls b: 13 Oct 1890
............... 3 Male Falls b: 19 Aug 1892
............... 3 Male Falls b: 25 Oct 1894
............... 3 Male Falls b: 09 Dec 1896
...... 2 John Wesley Greathouse b: 11 Nov 1853 in Zack's Run, Harrison Co, VA d: 27 Dec 1940 in Roane Co, WV 87 y 1 m 16 d burial Wilson Cemetery Pink Calhoun WV
.......... +Lucretia Tanner b: 1858 in Roane Co, VA m: 30 Sep 1877 in Roane Co, WV
............... 3 Henry Daniel Greathouse b: 23 Jun 1879 in WV d: 11 Sep 1952 in Roane Co WV burial Bowers Cemetery
...... *2nd Wife of John Wesley Greathouse:
.......... +Luverna "Vern" Wilson b: 14 Mar 1861 in Roane Co, VA dgtr Wesley & Mary " Polly" Starcher Wilson m: 15 Jan 1880 in Roane Co, WV d: 09 Sep 1930 in Roane Co, VA Burial Wilson Cemetery Calhoun County
............... 3 Claudius Greathouse b: 11 Nov 1885 in WV d: 1965 in Calhoun County, WV Wilson Cemetery
................... +Charity Runnion b: Abt. 1882 m: 31 Dec 1901 in Calhoun County, WV d: 05 Jan 1972 in Calhoun County, WV Wilson Cemetery
............... 3 Oma Greathouse b: 10 May 1887
............... 3 Charles W Greathouse b: 10 Feb 1892
................... +Opal Whited b: 02 Sep 1901
............... 3 James Greathouse b: 21 Apr 1895
................... +Lora Parsons b: Apr 1896 in Orma, WV m: 01 Aug 1915 in Calhoun County, WV
............... 3 Samuel Aron Greathouse b: 21 Nov 1882 in Slate, Roane, WV d: Jun 1967 in Letart, Mason, West Virginia
................... +Glenna Bissell b: 11 Dec 1891 in Otto, Roane, WV d/o Leroy and Bell Starcher Bissell m: 18 Sep 1915 in Roane Co, WV d: 1966
...... 2 Juliet or Judith Greathouse b: 08 Sep 1855 in Doddridge Co, VA -- Marriage shows name as Julia
.......... +Isaac B Norman b: 1850 in Harrison Co, VA m: 01 Nov 1879 in Roane Co, WV Isaac was divorced alt. date is 11/18/1879
............... 3 Ellender Norman b: 1880
............... 3 Addie Norman b: 12 Dec 1887 in Calhoun WV
................... +Kenna McKown b: 25 Jan 1884 in Son of Isaac and Margaret McKown m: 02 Jun 1912 in Calhoun County, WV

Sources:

Frank Neher’s Greathouse Data bases.

Don Norman Family Histories

Other personal family histories from descendants

Roane County WV Family History 1989.

Wes Cochran, Roane Co, VA (WV) marriages March 1988.

WV History and Culture Files.

Census reports 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880, 1900, 1910, 1920, 1930

Social Secruity Death Records.

Ohio Death Records.

"The Memories and Writings of Harold David Somerville Volume I" Compiled by Pauline Somerville and Lola Mae Smith, (2000).

WW I Draft Registration Cards

US Obituary Collections - Ancestry.com.