George Gann

Narrative:

     George Gann was born on 24 Jan 1810 in Lycoming Co., Pennsylvania.^5,6,7
     He was probably one of the three males age 10 to 16 listed in the household of his father, John Gann, in the 1820 Federal Census of Nippenose Twp., Lycoming Co., Pennsylvania.¹⁴ He may have been one of the three males age 20 to 30 listed in the household of his father in the 1830 Federal Census of Adams Twp., Lycoming Co., Pennsylvania, but he may have moved to Ohio by then.¹⁵
     George and his brother Andrew both moved to Knox Co., Ohio, but when is unknown. George was there by 1831, when he married. It is unknown whether Andrew moved at the same time or followed his older brother later, but was clearly there by 1844.¹⁶
     George married Sarah Bridgen in Nov 1831 in Knox Co., Ohio.^8,9,10
     George and Sarah appeared on the 1850 Federal Census of Jefferson Twp., Knox Co., Ohio, enumerated 22 Oct 1850, reporting real estate valued at $2,000. Their children Jacob, Mary, Margaret and Martha were listed as living with them, as was Risdon Moxley, age 8, relationship unknown.³

Becoming a Prosperous Farmer --- Text Stolen from ReigelRidge.com !! ---

     He was a farmer.^3,17 He reported in 1850 that his farm included 120 acres of improved land and 40 acres unimproved, and was valued at $2,000, with another $80 worth of implements. He reported that he had 4 horses, 3 milch cows, 6 other cattle, 20 sheep, and 9 swine, all valued at $242. He had produced over the prior year 40 bushels of wheat, and 400 of corn. He had produced 50 lb. of wool, 20 of potatoes, 100 of butter, 6 tons of hay and slaughtered $20 worth of animals.¹⁸
     George and Sarah appeared on the 1860 Federal Census of Jefferson Twp., Knox Co., Ohio, enumerated 25 Jul 1860, reporting real estate valued at $7,000 and personal estate of $1,900. Their children Jacob and Margaret were listed as living with them, as was Robert Hibbits, age 11, and Catherine Twip, age 9, relationship of both unknown.¹⁷
     He reported in 1860 that his farm included 200 acres of improved land and 80 acres unimproved, and was valued at $7,000, with another $500 worth of implements. He reported that he had 4 horses, 6 milch cows, 40 other cattle, 70 sheep, and 275 swine, all valued at $1,025. He had produced over the prior year 36 bushels of wheat, 4 of rye, 2,000 of corn, 124 of buckwheat, and 10 of clover seed. He had produced 100 lb. of wool, 346 of potatoes, 300 of butter, 10 of cheese, 12 of beeswax, 200 of honey, 19 tons of hay and 10 gallons of molasses, and slaughtered $150 worth of animals.¹⁹
     George and Sarah appeared on the 1870 Federal Census of Jefferson Twp., Knox Co., Ohio, enumerated 14 Jul 1870, reporting real estate valued at $25,000 and personal estate of $1,500. Alice and Mary Gan, ages 11 and 9, are listed as living with them. No other record of them has been found, so their relationship is unknown. Given other unexpected entires, including his wife being shown as Mary, and similar issues with the adjacent records for their son Jacob and daughter Martha (who is shown as Jeny) the entire record is subject to question.²⁰
     He reported in 1870 that his farm included 142 acres of improved land and 15 acres of woodland, and was valued at $10,000, with another $400 worth of implements. He reported that he had 2 horses, 3 milch cows, 14 other cattle, 150 sheep, and 23 swine, all valued at $400. He had produced over the prior year 800 bushels of winter wheat, 1,300 of corn, 30 of oats and 40 of potatoes. He had produced 780 lb. of wool, 300 of butter, 20 tons of hay, $40 of orchard produce, and slaughtered $40 worth of animals. The total value of produce was $2,000.²¹

Writing a Complex Will --- Text Stolen from ReigelRidge.com !! ---

     George left a will dated 21 Feb 1874 stating he was of Knox Co., Ohio, in which he appointed William McClelland and Nathan Parsons as his executors. He bequeathed to his wife their dwelling house and five acres around it, including barns, stable and other outbuildings for her natural life. He also left her all the household and kitchen furnishings, a horse, two cows, ten sheep, four hogs, and a year's provisions. He also directed that in lieu her dower that their children pay her semiannually one third of the rental value of the land they received. He left his son Jacob during his natural life a 160-acre parcel, which at his death was to be divided to his sons George and John. He left Jacob outright a 40-acre parcel, 20 acres of another parcel, and 30 acres of a yet another parcel. In return for these last parcels he was to pay his sister Margaret $1,300 in three annual installments and $300 to his sister Mary, and pay to his mother one third of a reasonable rent for them in lieu of her dower. He left to his daughter Martha an 80-acre parcel and the remainder of one of the parcels he had left her brother. In consideration for these parcels and land he had deeded to her husband on 5 Mar 1873 one third of a reasonable rent for them in lieu of her dower. He left to his daughter Margaret his interest in a certain lot, in exchange for which she was to pay to his mother one third of a reasonable rent for it in lieu of her dower. For his daughter Mary he said that the land he had deeded her 17 Apr 1873 and other advances were her share of his real estate. He directed that his executors sell all his personal property not left to his wife and use the proceeds to pay his debts, with any remainder to be distributed to his children equally. Should there not be enough to pay his debts he directed the shortage be paid by his children Jacob (40%), Martha (30%) and Margaret (30%) or be take from the lands bequeathed them.²²
     George amended his previous will with a codicil dated 14 Dec 1876, in which revised the terms under which Jacob was to pay sums to his sisters Mary and Margaret. Under the new terms he was to pay them each $100 per year until they had received the designated amounts. He also deleted the provision under which Margaret was to be given land because he had already deeded that land to her.²³
     George died on 7 Sep 1877 in Knox Co., Ohio, at age 67.^11,12 He was buried in Brinkhaven Cemetery, Brinkhaven, Knox Co., Ohio.¹³
     His will and codicil were proved on 14 Sep 1877 in Knox Co., Ohio, probate court.²⁴
     On 18 Sep 1877 Sarah appeared in Probate Court, and "after her rights under the law and her rights under the will of her deceased husband had been fully explained to her by the court" she elected to accept the provisions for her in his will.²⁵