The Augusta Cemetery Family Trees

Jacob Bettis and Some of His Descendants
Written by Taylor Woodward
February 25, 1962

The following was taken from a Commemorative Biography of some of the early settlers of Harrison and Carroll Counties, a book published around 1891, from the old John Bettis Family Bible, from records at the Court House, and other sources.

Jacob Bettis, the Progenitor of the following, a native of Germany, emigrated to the United States at an early age, locating in eastern Penna., and became a soldier in the American Revolution. He was the father of the following children: Mary, John, James, and William. About 1812, Jacob Bettis came to Ohio, locating in what is now Augusta Township, Carroll County, Ohio.

Records show he bought 37 acres of land from Bennett Perdue, for $100, in 1825, which is part of the former John Lafferty farm, where he remained until shortly before his death, when he moved to New Lisbon, Ohio, and died at the home of his son, William.

The daughter, Mary married Joseph Cox, who was the father of John, James, Isaac and Nancy, by a former marriage; James, being the father of Isaac, who built the Cox mansion.

Mary and Joseph and family came to Ohio in 1818 and entered a tract of 160 acres of land in what is now East Township, Carroll County, Ohio. On this they built a log house, where they resided until his death in 1854.

Mary and Joseph were the parents of the following children: William, Joseph and Margaret. William, after reaching manhood, went to Williams County, Ohio, where he died. Joseph went to Williams County, enlisted in the Civil War and died at Camp Dennison. Margaret married David Holmes of Carroll County, where they spent most of their lives.

John, the son of Jacob, was reared to manhood in Penna., and was married to Miss Mary Baker of Lancaster County, Penna., to which union were born the following children: James, Jacob, John, and Nancy.

In 1815, John Bettis and family came to Ohio, and purchased land in Columbiana County, near New Lisbon, Ohio, where they resided until the death of his father, when they moved to his father's farm in Augusta Township, Carroll County, having purchased it from his father in 1830 for $100. He later added 41 acres, which he bought in 1837, where they resided until his death in 1846 at the age of 63 years. Mary passed away in 1868 at age of 84 years and both were buried in what is known as Quaker Cemetery.

James Bettis, son of John and Mary, married and remained in Carroll Co. Jacob Bettis, son of John and Mary, went to Lawrence Co., Ohio. Nancy Bettis, daughter of John and Mary, married Alton Battin and lived at Alliance, Ohio, in her later years. The son, John grew up on his father's farm and was married on Dec. 25, 1834, to Miss Jane Shaw, daughter of John and Elizabeth (Carlton) Shaw, who had originally came from Ireland.

After their marriage, it is said they lived for a time on a farm which they later purchased in 1851.

Records show a transfer in 1842 of 97 acres of land in Augusta Twp. from James McGowen to John Bettis for $2307., where they moved, clearing most of the land and erecting a fine house and barn, where they remained the rest of their lives, and raised a family of nine children: Albert, Elizabeth, Mary, John, Emeline, Milton, Malinda, James, and Catharine.

Records show a transfer in 1851 of 147 acres of land from Robert Harris and wife to John Bettis for $3000. Of this, 90 acres was sold to their son, Milton in 1869.

Also recorded are 47 acres from John and Sarah Bettis in 1854 for $1560. 40 acres of this was sold to their son James in 1877. Also recorded are 60 acres from John Manfull to John Bettis in 1859 for $1575. This was later sold to their daughter Emeline and her husband Enos Reeder.

During his lifetime, John Bettis bought and sold different tracts of land adjoining or near his farm, of over 450 acres.