Posted on: Jackson County, WV Bios Reply Here: http://cgi.rootsweb.com/~genbbs/genbbs.cgi/USA/WV/JacksonBios/134 Surname: STAATS, PARSONS, TILGHMAN, FLESHER, RUNYAN, EVANS, SMITH, CARNEY, THOMAS, TOLLEY, CHANCEY, STARCHER, ABLES, WARTH, RILEY, SAYRE, HUGHES, FLOWERS, BONNET, KAY, HARPOLD, ROUSH, MASON, KING, STUTLER, DRENNAN, WAUGH, BURDETT, ALKIRE, WILLIAMS, FREY, COLEMAN, CASTO ------------------------- Staats Family Abraham Staats was born in New Jersey, of Dutch ancestry, and came to the mouth of Mill Creek, where he and his wife joined the First Methodist Class, organized in 1803, at the house of Joseph Parsons. Some time afterward, he moved up Mill Creek to what is known as the old Staats farm, at Evans. Here it is said he died about 1816, though it many have been some years later. It is very difficult to get correct dates concerning the older pioneers, except from their tombstones, a thing with which few of their graves are provided. Abram Staats, as he is usually called, was twice married, the name of his first wife is variously given, but a thorough investigation has convinced me her name was Anna King. His last wife was Sarah Tilghman, a girl of French extraction. It is probable that Staats came from Harrison County to Mill Creek , his sister Betsy being the wife of Adam Flesher, a member of a family prominent in the early history of Harrison and Lewis Counties. Isaac Staats, who came to Warth's Bottom about 1805, may have been a brother, and Daniel and Elijah Staats of Grant District are said to have been brothers of Abraham. "Abram" Staats had five children in his first family: Elijah, who lived on the home farm, was four times married, and raised twenty one children. Sarah, married Henry Runyan. Jacob Staats married Nellie Evans. He brought the first circular sawmill to Middle Mill Creek Valley, but never got it in running order, having the misfortune to cut off his fingers, which threw him into the lockjaw, and killed him. He lived on the farm immediately west of Ripley, on Mill Creek. Mrs Colonel Ben Williams (Margaret) and Ann Smith, wife of George W Smith, were his children. Cornelius Staats, the oldest, born in 1790, married Anna Carney, daughter of Thomas Carney. He was a soldier and was killed in the War of 1812. His wife later married Enoch Thomas. Cornelius Staats had two children: Isaac, married Elizabeth Tolley. Polly, married James Chancey, and lived on Grass Lick. Abram Staats' children of his last marriage were: Anna Staats, married Jacob Starcher. Hannah Staats, married Alexander Ables, and lived up on Sycamore, at the Greer farm. William Staats, married Margaret Ables, sister of Alec Ables, and daughter of Martin Ables, who lived on Sycamore, at the Straley farm. He moved to Indiana. John Staats, the youngest child, was born in 1819, and died in 1859. He married Margaret, daughter of Thomas Carney. Elijah and Sarah Warth Staats' children were: Calvin, married Caroline Riley, sister of R. Riley, and lived on Cow Run. Mary, died young. Malinda, married Joseph Sayre, son of Daniel Sayre. Matilda, married first Jake Hughes, and second Ben Flowers. She died November 19th, 1892, aged 77 years. Minerva, died unmarried. Catherine, married Nic Bonnet. Wilson, married Mary Kay. Mark, married Hannah Harpold. Elijah's children by his second wife, who was an Evans, were: Lewis, married Catherine Roush of Mason County. Riley, married Mary Roush, of Mason County. Young, married a Mason. Sarah, married Nic Bonnet as his second wife. Caroline, married G.S. Matson King. Harriet, married Newton Poling. Adaline, married a preacher named Stutler. Elias, married Ross Evans, on Elk Fork. Hon. George W., marred first a Drennan, and second a Waugh. Benjamin, married a daughter of Amos Riley. Johnson. Elijah Staats' children by his third wife, Sally Burdett, widow of Graham Burdett, were: Laverna, married Ben Poling of Kentucky. Rebecca, married Bill Hughes. The children of Jacob Staats, son of Abram Staats, were: Joshua, married an Alkire, and was sheriff of Jackson County. He had children, Coley Staats and Mary Staats, who married Ephraim Brown. Anna, married George W. Smith. Their children were: Addison, Clay and others. Margaret, married Col. Ben Williams. Whitten, married a Coleman. Bet, married a Frey. The children of Isaac Staats, son of Cornelius Staats, were: Enoch. Anderson. J. Frank, married a daughter of David Casto. Anna, married Francis Asbury Casto. This sketch taken from "Pioneers of Jackson County", by John House, it appears in the section "Lower Mill Creek"