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 -- and were tightly interconnected. 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 many took 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 reportedly 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. There were just two Runyons in the Fayette County Tax Books in 1807, the year before John was married: Joseph is found from 1795 and is most likely John's father. 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 Runyon, the other name from the 1807 tax lists ... a cousin, perhaps?

John married Sarah Stout in 1808 in Fayette county, Kentucky; in 1808, three names are listed side by side in the tax books: Vincent, Joseph, and John

While other family members moved elsewhere in Kentucky or to Ohio or Indiana, John and Sally stayed in Fayette for 40 years. In that time the couple fathered 12 children, including 8 women, all born in Fayette County:

1. Margaret Long (1809 KY - 1882 Oldham, KY)
2. Elizabeth Dennis (1810 KY - 1893)
3. Leah Runyon (1812 KY - after 1900 Shelby, KY) - never married
4. Amanda Malvina Morgan (1814 KY -?)
5. Susan Ann Smith (1815 KY -?)
6. Jennett Peters (1818 KY -1845 Fayette, KY) 1st wife of Francis Peters
7. John, Jr. (1821 KY - after 1880 IL)
8. James M. (1822 KY -1898 Louisville, KY)
9. George (1823 KY -1894 McLean, IL)
10. Sarah Ann Peters (1825 KY - 1890 Champaign, IL) 2nd wife of Francis Peters
11. William H. (1827 KY - after 1880)
12. Mary Ann Patterson (1831 KY - 1866 Sangamon, IL)

Illinois: Death and Estate

In 1850, John 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. Sally must have died in Fayette in the 1840s.

John Runyon died January 02, 1853, in Illinois. 10 months later, in Nov. 1853, his sons George and John Jr. were appointed administrators of his estate. Three months later, they resigned the position. Meanwhile in Fayette, an Inventory & Appraisal of John Runyon's estate was administered by James Smith, who married John's daughter Susan. Apparently, John still owned his farm in Fayette Co. but was renting it out to James W. Houghton

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?

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