According to the History of Hancock County, by D. B. Beardsley, Joseph with a wife and six small children crossed the mountains of what was then Virginia and settled in Morgan County, Ohio in 1813. However, Joseph Parker entered land in Zanesville, OH 22 October 1815 which was part of the Ohio River Survey to become York Township, Morgan County, Ohio and received a land patent. Since their sixth child, Joseph, was born in 1814 in Virginia, I believe that 1815 was a more accurate date of settlement. The family found the land covered with a dense growth of heavy timber which had to be cleared. Usually the settler constructed a temporary shelter of poles and bark and then proceeded to clear a spot of ground so that a crop of corn could be planted. As a result, in the first years in their rude house the diet consisted of corn meal and wild game. Wheat was a less hardy crop and usually not planted until the ground had been sown to corn several times. Joseph died quite young leaving Mary with small children. He left the following will written 9 Apr 1834 and probated 13 Sep 1834: "I Joseph Parker of the county of Morgan in the state of Ohio do make and publish this my last will and testament in manner and form following this is to say; First it is my will that my funeral expenses and all my just debts be fully paid; Second, I give devise and bequeath to my beloved wife, Mary Parker, in lieu of her dower the plantation on which we now reside containing one hundred and sixty-two acres during her natural life and all my personal property whatever by me now owned during her natural life as aforesaid she however first disposing of a sufficiency thereof to pay my just debts as aforesaid and that at the death of my said wife all the property hereby devised or bequeathed to her as aforesaid or so much thereof as may then remain unexpended to be divided as hereafter directed that is that all my children then living or their respective heirs to share and share alike. Also I direct that all my real and personal estate be sold by my executors after the death of my wife and be distributed by my said executors equally between my children after taking out of their respective legacies the amount they have already received of me which is that. My daughter Casalina has received to the amount of forty dollars which is taken from her share and my son Samuel has received one horse worth fifty dollars which is to be taken out of his share. And my son Jonathan I gave a trade which I allow worth two hundred dollars to be taken out of his share. And my son John has had one hundred and eighty dollars and one horse worth fifty dollars which is to be taken out of his share and my son Albert has had one mare and colt worth seventy-five dollars which is to be taken out of his share and my son Joseph opportunity of learning a trade which I estimate at one hundred and fifty dollars to be taken out of his share. Lastly, I hereby constitute and appoint my two sons Samuel Parker and Albert Parker to be the executors for this my last will and testament. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this ninth day of April in the year of our lord on thousand eight hundred and thirty-four." Signed published and declared by the above named Joseph Parker as and for his last will and testament in presence of us who at his request have signed as witnesses to the same. Samuel Bagley, Richard Burgoon. Joseph Parker signed the will. This will is recorded in Morgan Co, OH Will Book O, p. 70.