His father was possibly Joseph Runyan/Runyon. He married Susannah Custer about 1770 in Augusta County, Virginia now Pendleton Co., WV. It is said they were parents of 10 children: Bridget, John, Jr., William, Abraham, Ruie (Ruby), Jane, Joseph, George, Anna, and Elizabeth. The reverse side of the memorial stone in Asbury Cemetery, Clark Co., Ohio, however, lists seven children: John Jr. (killed by Indians), William, Ruie (Ruth) (killed by Indians), Abraham, Joseph, George, and Anna (in order of birth).
In March 1780, John Runyan served jury duty in Rockingham Co., Virginia (now Pendleton Co., WV). in 1784 he is in the first census for Harrison County, VA/WV, a family of seven and serving as constable. In 1785 he is listed as a resident of the West Fork Settlement, Harrison Co.
On 24 July 1794, Indians entered the settlement on West Fork River at the mouth of Freemans Creek, where they kidnapped a daughter (Ruth) of John Runyan. She was brutally murdered and scalped. His son John, Jr. vowed he would kill any Indian he saw. It is said the Indians heard about his vow and knowing he would round up the cows in the evening stole a cow bell from a cow. In a trickery they rang the bell and caught John, Jr. in the dense woods. He was found dead and scalped. The dents on his gun butt was an indication he put up a brave fight for his life.
John was a farmer and had served for Virginia in the Revolutionary War. His papers on file with the DAR are under the name Runyon. He died in Harrison County, Virginia (WV) and is buried in the Old Hopewell Baptist Church Cemetery, now known as Daniel Davisson DAR Cemetery in Clarksburg, Harrison Co., WV. A few years following his death his wife and the three children remaining in the home joined the older children living in Ohio.
At the grave site of his wife, Susannah, in Asbury Cemetery, Pleasant Twp., Clark Co., Ohio, is found a Runyan Memorial which includes her husband's name with date's and those of the children on the reverse side. Since her husband and children are not buried with her this would be considered a "Cenotaph" for them. The two children, Ruth and John, killed by the Indians are buried in same cemetery as their father in Harrison Co., WV, Bridget is buried in Lewis Co., WV, Jane in Tippecanoe Co., IN, and Abraham, Joseph and George in Asbury. Clark Co., OH. For some reason all the children are not listed on the stone
(lt revised 12/28/2019)
In March 1780, John Runyan served jury duty in Rockingham Co., Virginia (now Pendleton Co., WV). in 1784 he is in the first census for Harrison County, VA/WV, a family of seven and serving as constable. In 1785 he is listed as a resident of the West Fork Settlement, Harrison Co.
On 24 July 1794, Indians entered the settlement on West Fork River at the mouth of Freemans Creek, where they kidnapped a daughter (Ruth) of John Runyan. She was brutally murdered and scalped. His son John, Jr. vowed he would kill any Indian he saw. It is said the Indians heard about his vow and knowing he would round up the cows in the evening stole a cow bell from a cow. In a trickery they rang the bell and caught John, Jr. in the dense woods. He was found dead and scalped. The dents on his gun butt was an indication he put up a brave fight for his life.
John was a farmer and had served for Virginia in the Revolutionary War. His papers on file with the DAR are under the name Runyon. He died in Harrison County, Virginia (WV) and is buried in the Old Hopewell Baptist Church Cemetery, now known as Daniel Davisson DAR Cemetery in Clarksburg, Harrison Co., WV. A few years following his death his wife and the three children remaining in the home joined the older children living in Ohio.
At the grave site of his wife, Susannah, in Asbury Cemetery, Pleasant Twp., Clark Co., Ohio, is found a Runyan Memorial which includes her husband's name with date's and those of the children on the reverse side. Since her husband and children are not buried with her this would be considered a "Cenotaph" for them. The two children, Ruth and John, killed by the Indians are buried in same cemetery as their father in Harrison Co., WV, Bridget is buried in Lewis Co., WV, Jane in Tippecanoe Co., IN, and Abraham, Joseph and George in Asbury. Clark Co., OH. For some reason all the children are not listed on the stone
(lt revised 12/28/2019)
His father was possibly Joseph Runyan/Runyon. He married Susannah Custer about 1770 in Augusta County, Virginia now Pendleton Co., WV. It is said they were parents of 10 children: Bridget, John, Jr., William, Abraham, Ruie (Ruby), Jane, Joseph, George, Anna, and Elizabeth. The reverse side of the memorial stone in Asbury Cemetery, Clark Co., Ohio, however, lists seven children: John Jr. (killed by Indians), William, Ruie (Ruth) (killed by Indians), Abraham, Joseph, George, and Anna (in order of birth).
In March 1780, John Runyan served jury duty in Rockingham Co., Virginia (now Pendleton Co., WV). in 1784 he is in the first census for Harrison County, VA/WV, a family of seven and serving as constable. In 1785 he is listed as a resident of the West Fork Settlement, Harrison Co.
On 24 July 1794, Indians entered the settlement on West Fork River at the mouth of Freemans Creek, where they kidnapped a daughter (Ruth) of John Runyan. She was brutally murdered and scalped. His son John, Jr. vowed he would kill any Indian he saw. It is said the Indians heard about his vow and knowing he would round up the cows in the evening stole a cow bell from a cow. In a trickery they rang the bell and caught John, Jr. in the dense woods. He was found dead and scalped. The dents on his gun butt was an indication he put up a brave fight for his life.
John was a farmer and had served for Virginia in the Revolutionary War. His papers on file with the DAR are under the name Runyon. He died in Harrison County, Virginia (WV) and is buried in the Old Hopewell Baptist Church Cemetery, now known as Daniel Davisson DAR Cemetery in Clarksburg, Harrison Co., WV. A few years following his death his wife and the three children remaining in the home joined the older children living in Ohio.
At the grave site of his wife, Susannah, in Asbury Cemetery, Pleasant Twp., Clark Co., Ohio, is found a Runyan Memorial which includes her husband's name with date's and those of the children on the reverse side. Since her husband and children are not buried with her this would be considered a "Cenotaph" for them. The two children, Ruth and John, killed by the Indians are buried in same cemetery as their father in Harrison Co., WV, Bridget is buried in Lewis Co., WV, Jane in Tippecanoe Co., IN, and Abraham, Joseph and George in Asbury. Clark Co., OH. For some reason all the children are not listed on the stone
(lt revised 12/28/2019)
In March 1780, John Runyan served jury duty in Rockingham Co., Virginia (now Pendleton Co., WV). in 1784 he is in the first census for Harrison County, VA/WV, a family of seven and serving as constable. In 1785 he is listed as a resident of the West Fork Settlement, Harrison Co.
On 24 July 1794, Indians entered the settlement on West Fork River at the mouth of Freemans Creek, where they kidnapped a daughter (Ruth) of John Runyan. She was brutally murdered and scalped. His son John, Jr. vowed he would kill any Indian he saw. It is said the Indians heard about his vow and knowing he would round up the cows in the evening stole a cow bell from a cow. In a trickery they rang the bell and caught John, Jr. in the dense woods. He was found dead and scalped. The dents on his gun butt was an indication he put up a brave fight for his life.
John was a farmer and had served for Virginia in the Revolutionary War. His papers on file with the DAR are under the name Runyon. He died in Harrison County, Virginia (WV) and is buried in the Old Hopewell Baptist Church Cemetery, now known as Daniel Davisson DAR Cemetery in Clarksburg, Harrison Co., WV. A few years following his death his wife and the three children remaining in the home joined the older children living in Ohio.
At the grave site of his wife, Susannah, in Asbury Cemetery, Pleasant Twp., Clark Co., Ohio, is found a Runyan Memorial which includes her husband's name with date's and those of the children on the reverse side. Since her husband and children are not buried with her this would be considered a "Cenotaph" for them. The two children, Ruth and John, killed by the Indians are buried in same cemetery as their father in Harrison Co., WV, Bridget is buried in Lewis Co., WV, Jane in Tippecanoe Co., IN, and Abraham, Joseph and George in Asbury. Clark Co., OH. For some reason all the children are not listed on the stone
(lt revised 12/28/2019)
Inscription
Note: There is a cenotaph memorial for John Runyan in the Asbury Cemetery, Clark County, Ohio where his wife is buried. See #47346006. (lt)
Gravesite Details
This cemetery was originally known as the old Hopewell Baptist Church Cemetery until taken over by the DAR. Now known as Daniel Davisson DAR Cemetery. John's stone no longer exists. (lt)
Family Members
Siblings
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Records on Ancestry
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