Tag Archives: Jay County

George Debolt, Old School Baptist Minister (52 Ancestors #3)

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I come from a long line of farmers. And when I say “long line,” I mean that I have very few male ancestors who weren’t farmers. George Debolt, my 4th-great-grandfather, was an Old School Baptist minister.

George was born in 1786 in Pennsylvania, probably Fayette County. By 1811, he was preaching in Lancaster, Fairfield County, Ohio. George also preached in Perry and Licking counties. With his son-in-law Eli Ashbrook, he organized the Harmony Baptist Church in Licking County.

George’s first wife Mary Rider died in 1850. In 1852, George married Sarah Spence, the widow of David Allen. By 1860, George and Sarah moved to Jay County, Indiana and were living with Sarah’s son Joseph. Not surprisingly, neither the 1850 nor the 1860 census indicates George as owning any real property.

Close-up of George Debolt's tombstone, Boundary Cemetery, Jay County, Indiana. Photo by Amy Crow, 20 August 2004.

Close-up of George Debolt’s tombstone, Boundary Cemetery, Jay County, Indiana. Photo by Amy Crow, 20 August 2004.

George died 1 October 1867 (likely in Jay County) and is buried in Boundary Cemetery along with his widow Sarah.

Sources:

  • Brister, E.M.P. Centennial History of the City of Newark and Licking County, Ohio. Vol. 1. Chicago: S.J. Clarke, 1909. [Available on Google Books.]
  • George Debolt tombstone, Boundary Cemetery, Jay County, Indiana. Photo by Amy Johnson Crow, 20 August 2004.
  • Joseph Allen household, 1860 U.S. census, Pike Township, Jay County, Indiana, p. 52. [George is living with his step-son Joseph Allen.]
  • Rezin Debolt household, 1850 U.S. census, Thorn Township, Perry County, Ohio, p. 418. [George is living with his son Rezin/Reason.]
  • Wiseman, C.M.L. Centennial History of Lancaster, Ohio and Lancaster People. Lancaster: by the author, 1898. [Available on Google Books.]