John Wesley Hitch

According to the notes of H. Donovan Hitch, John Hitch came to Bracken Co., KY with his parents in 1798 and then he moved to Clermont Co., OH on April 12, 1814.

From "A Hitch Orchard", Daisy Hitch Davies, 1931: "In the spring of 1813, John Hitch, then a boy of near nineteen years of age, made a trip in a keel boat from his home in Kentucky, down the Licking to the Ohio River, up the Ohio to the Kanawha and up the Kanawha to the salt works. He procured six barrels of the precious article, took it home and sold it to the neighbors for 25 cents a peck. It had previously sold for 50 cents a peck and very hard to get at that price.

About the time of his return from this trip, Governor Shelby issued a call for volunteers to fight the British and Indians in Canada. John Hitch was one of the first to respond to his county's call and was soon on his way to the scene of the conflict. He was under General Harrison at the battle of the Thames and was considered a very brave and daring soldier, having been detailed to carry several very important dispatches, and always delivered them safely and in good time. When his term of enlistment expired, he returned home and came to Ohio. He lived in Clermont County, Ohio until his death."

In the Federal Census of 1820, John Hitch is indicated in Clermont County, Ohio (page 31, Ohio Township) in a household comprised of two males under age 10, one male age 26-45, one female under age 10 and one female age 26-45.

In the Federal Census of 1840, John Hitch is indicated in Clermont County, Ohio (page 149, Tate Township) in a household comprised of one male age 5-10, one male age 20-30, one male age 40-50, one female under age 5, two females age 5-10, two females age 15-20 and one female age 40-50.

In the Federal Census of 1850, John Hitch is indicated in Clermont County, Ohio (page 364, Tate Township) in a household as follows: - John Hitch, age 56, farmer, born in MD - Ann Hitch, age 56, born in KY - Amanda Hitch, age 16, born in OH - Almira P. Hitch, age 12, born in OH - Olive M. Hitch, age 8, born in OH - Chambers Doughty, age 21, student, born in OH - Henry G. McGohen, age 21, student, born in OH.

In the Federal Census of 1860, John Hitch is indicated in Clermont County, Ohio (page 550) in a household as follows: - John Hitch, age 64?, born in MD - Nancy Hitch, age 64?, born in KY - Almira P. Hitch, age 22, born in OH - Olla M. Hitch, age 18, born in OH.

John married Nancy (Ann) Simmons, daughter of Adam Simmons and Mary Hatton, on 26 Jan 1815 in Clermont Co., OH.^{1 2 3} (Nancy (Ann) Simmons was born on 10 Oct 1793 in Lexington, Fayette Co., KY,^{1 2 3 10 11 12 13} died on 23 Feb 1874 in Clermont Co., OH ^{1 2 3 14} and was buried about 26 Feb 1874 in Old Bethel M.E. Cemetery, Clermont Co., OH.)