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- Information on this family was kindly contributed by Bridgid Kelly bridgidckelly(at)hotmail.com
Bridgid is in posession of a book put together by her great-grandfather Robert Linn Clare, son of Anna Horr and James Robert Clare. It contains biographies written by him, also letters and photographs and a xerox copy of the journal of Philip Henry Horr. Please contact her for further information.
The following is the biography of Jacob Abner Wilhelm written by Robert Linn Clare in 1959.
Jacob Abner Wilhelm
Jacob was born in Rockbridge County, Virginia, April 5, 1797.
His father was Michael Wilhelm, who came to this country from Germany at the age of seven years. This Michael is one of twin sons of a Baron George Wilhelm of Germany.
Jacob's mother was Elizabeth ? Wilhelm who was married to Michael around 1790. There were seven children of this union; John, Adam, George, Jacob, Michael Jr., Catherine and Elizabeth.
Jacob is reported planning a trip to New Orleans by way of the Ohio River and that while on his way, he stopped off at Franklin Furnace, Ohio a few miles up the river from Portsmouth, Scioto County, Ohio and while in Franklin Furnace, he met and married Amanda Melvina Day on June 5, 1829.
Jacob and Amanda had five children; John, George, Mathilda, Maria and Belle.
They lived in Franklin Furnace until his death, November 21, 1849 at age 52 years, 7 months and 16 days. This is inscribed on his gravestone, which was found in an old abandoned cemetery in Franklin Furnace. He is reported to have died as the result of an accident. In the record of the settlement of his estate, it shows that the doctor visited him six times during, October 16 to October 20 and one final visit November 15, before his death on November 21. This doctor lived across the Ohio River in Greenup, Kentucky and charged $1.00 for the trip to Jacob's home.
Jacob was apparently relatively well to do for at the time of his death he owned a 118-acre farm with horses cows oxen, etc. and even had a side saddle for his wife to use.
The attached courthouse records at the county seat, Portsmouth, Ohio, show the disposal of his estate by auction, as he left no will.
See letters from Mable Macoy, who assisted with this genealogy, dated June 25 and December 3, 1958.
The Michael Wilhelm noted above, was probably a Revolutionary War veteran as his name appears in the pension claims of Adam Unroe, Richard Morris and William Wintz. His age at that time was 18 years. This record appears on page 404, History of Rockbridge County, Virginia by Oren Morton.
RLC: 1959
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