There is a John Stitt in Byrd, Brown Co, OH in the 1840 census with 1 male 5-10, 2 males 15-20, 1 male 40-50, 1 female 5-10 and 1 female 40-50. If this is him, then he either hadn't made it to Portage County yet, or had already moved on. On the Brown County site I found this: RUSSELLVILLE CHRISTIAN CHURCH Preaching in the Christian faith was held in Jefferson township as early as 1810. The pioneer ministers were Revs. Barton Stone and David Perviance, of Kentucky, who made frequent visits to this locality and held services during summer in groves, and in dwelling houses through cold weather. Rev. Alexander McClain also labored here. The followers of this faith increased, and at a meeting held June 26, 1827, in a small log house which stood on the same lot the present church occupies, an organization was effected with the following members: David Kendle and wife, John Stitt and wife, Basil Glaze and wife, Thomas Shreve and wife, Eli Hewitt and wife, John Abbott and wife, David Newman and wife, Mary Butt and Joanna Shaw. Meetings were continued at the homes of members, groves and schoolhouses until 1830, when they built a brick church in Russellville, some of the members furnishing timber, joist, rafters, etc., others furnishing rock for foundation, others shingles, which were made by hand from the trunk of the sturdy oak. The women exchanged rags, eggs, butter and such other articles as they could spare, for nails, which went into the construction of the building. The first seats were made from the trunks of small trees, with large pins for legs. The house was first heated by burning charcoal in two large iron kettles. In a short time, the congregation became able to furnish seats of more modern style; also, stoves took the place of kettles as heaters. In this condition, the house was used up to May 1860, when a terrible tornado swept over the town, unroofed the church and demolished part of the wall of the house. It was, however, rebuilt and re-roofed in a short time, furnished with new seats, papered, repainted and furnished in good style, and is now one of the neatest churches of the place. The membership at this time is about 260. Rev. Alexander McClain, the first minister in charge, labored here twenty-five years. His successors have been Revs. Henry Phillips, Daugherty, George W. Mefford, Coan, Pangburn, Cook and Walter Mefford. Wills: REED, Susannah - WRITTEN: 27 May 1837 PROBATED: 23 Oct 1837 WITNESSES: John Stitt and Washington Campell NAMES: Ruth McDaniel, w/o Benjamin McDaniel, and their children, Abram, Rachel and Susanna; eldest son, Samuel Reed; son, Barnet M. Reed; daughters, Dorcas Reed and Lydia Lumbach; Martha Evans, w/o Lewis Evans; Rebecca Reeves, w/o Asa Reeves of Indiana; Mary Edminston, w/o John Edminston and Angelina Reeves, w/o Eli Reeves EXECUTORS: No Executor Named A History of Byrd Twp: Other early settlers were the Howlands, on Eagle Creek--John Howland and his family. His sons, Ichabod and John, served in Capt. Shepherd's company of riflemen during the war of 1812. Tow other sons were Levi and Izatus. William Sparrs, who had settled in the northern part of the township, was one of the prisoners in Hull's surrender. Samuel Shaw and Mr. Kilpatrick, tow other soldiers in the war of 1812 from this township, were killed by the Indians while on their way home from Fort Meigs. William Shields was an early settler some distance southwest from Decatur. He lived to a good old age. George Edwards, originally from Fairfax County, Va., but directly form the vicinity of Aberdeen, settled in the northwestern part of the township about 1806. His father, James, was an early settler at Aberdeen. David McBride settled early on Eagle Creek. He was of Irish extraction. Another Irish settler, somewhat later, was John Stitt. Samuel Pickerill, with his family, came to the township in 1810, and remained until his death, in 1850, at the advanced age of ninety-six years. He had been a drummer boy in the American Revolution. About 1807, Joshua Grimes settled in this township, and spent the balance of his life here. Sorry, I could find nothing for Portage County for you. Jackie ----- Original Message ----- From: "Wilbur R DeHart" <lilnwil@juno.com> To: <OHPORTAG-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Saturday, November 15, 2003 2:36 PM Subject: [OHPort'ge] Land records for John Stitt > I am searching for land records for John Stitt. He went to Portage Co. > with his wife, Laura Cummings White Stitt, and 2 sons around 1834 and > moved on to Chesterfiels Twp., Fulton Co. Ohio in 1848. I can find no > record of him in Portage Co. They also had 2 more children born there - > Emma Dresser Stitt and Winfield Dwight Stitt. > > Thank you for any information you can give me. > > Lillian Stitt DeHart > > > ============================== > To join Ancestry.com and access our 1.2 billion online genealogy records, go to: > http://www.ancestry.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=571&sourceid=1237 > >