John Runyon

Note: Frequently confused with John Hyde Runyon, who also lived in Fayette County and clearly died in 1811."

The history of any Runyon is indelibly mixed up in New Jersey, alongside of the enormous Stout family. In colonial America in the 1700s, the small farming townships of Amwell and Hopewell in Hunterdon County grew rapidly and prospered, but seem to have offered few opportunities outside of existing clans. Stout married Stout, who married Runyon, who then married Stout. When an early migration path to Ohio opened (long before the Oregon Trail), it's no surprise that so many jumped on it.

Riding West: the trail to Kentucky

In 1794 a caravan left Hunterdon to settle in Ohio, likely following a trail Jediah and Elijah Stout blazed in 1789: There were reportedly 200 in the caravan, including Runyons, Hawkins, Stouts, Oxleys, Zutphens and more.

On the way they traveled through the Shenandoah Valley, stopping at a Cherokee Indian village to repair their wagons and to obtain a supply of food. There they were exposed to scarlet fever, which was raging in the village and were forced to make camp in Kentucky.

Early Years in Fayette

Born in Amwell, John Runyon was brought to Kentucky by his parents as a child in this wagon train. And there were only two Runyons in the Fayette County Tax Books in 1807, the year before John was married: Joseph is found beginning in 1795, most likely John's father. Vincent Runyon also appears... A cousin, perhaps? In 1808, their three names are listed side by side: Vincent, Joseph, and John.

Joseph bought land for the family in late December of 1801: 3 acres and 91 poles on the waters of Cane Run. Next year, he sold the plot to Vincent, who only started until 1808 -- he still had Ohio in his sights. By 1810 he was in nearby Mason, KY; by 1820 he had made his way to Hillsboro in Highland county, Ohio.

Family

John married Sarah Stout in 1808 in Fayette county, Kentucky, where he lived for 40 years. In that time the couple fathered 12 children, including 8 women:

1. Margaret Long (1809-1882)
2. Elizabeth Dennis (1810-1893)
3. Leah Runyon (1812-1900?)
4. Amanda Malvina Morgan (1814-?)
5. Susan Ann Smith (1815-?)
6. Jennett Peters (1818-1845)
7. John Runyon, Junior (1821-?)
8. James M Runyon (1822-1898)
9. George W Runyon (1823-1894)
10. Sarah Ann Peters (1825-1890)
11. William H Runyon (1827-?)
12. Mary Ann Patterson (1831-1866)

In 1850, he moved to Illinois; a series of real estate transactions spanning a year and two counties show John Runyon -- "late of the county of Fayette and State of Kentucky" -- buying lots in Christian County and selling them to his children.

Family Matters: The Stout/Runyon Connection

In 1802, Joseph Runyon sold 3 acres and 21 poles on the waters of Cane Run in Fayette County, Kentucky to a Vincent Runyon. (his brother, perhaps? Or this man?). Jediah Stout and Anthony Stout were witnesses to the deed. Anthony Stout was the father of John's wife, Sarah Stout. It stands to reason the Joseph Runyon and Anthony Stout knew each other -- they were both born in 1765 in Hunterdon, NJ. Hence Joseph must be related to John, no?

John Hyde Runyon

The very well done Dedpepl genealogical blog posits a first wife and parents for John Runyon. I believe this is a separate person named John Hyde Runyon:

"Possible first wife: Patty Barrett Feb. 23, 1803 in Flemington, Huntingdon, New Jersey. Moved to Kentucky ca. 1805 possibly with his first wife. Possible children of John & Patty (Barrett) Runyon:

Daughter b. 1804-1810
Daughter b. 1804-1810

Another theory connects John Hyde Runyon to John Runyon. But: "There was speculation for awhile that John Hyde Runyon's father was John Runyon who married Rachel Hyde, however after taking a hard look at Runyon genealogies and records I do not believe they are the parents of John Runyon."

• https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/person/tree/109423041/person/3...
• https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/family/GMDR-TJV

Still tbd

• Reference: MyHeritage Family Trees - SmartCopy: Feb 3 2022, 4:12:14 UTC
• https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/person/tree/45989841/person/64...
• https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/KH6Y-CZH

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• Reference: FamilySearch Genealogy - SmartCopy: Sep 20 2024, 12:43:10 UTC