The History of THE KILLIAN FAMILY in North Carolina

Association of descendants of pioneer Andreas Killian

Organized Salem Church, Lincoln County, August 22, 1935

Officers in 1935

John F. Carpenter, President, Maiden, N. C.

J. Yates Killian, Secretary and Historian, Newton, N. C.

Raymond L. Hefner, Vice President, Hickory, N. C.

Officers 1939-1940

Raymond L. Hefner, President, Hickory, N. C.

Guy C. Killian, Vice President, Gastonia, N. C.

J. Yates Killian, Historian, Newton, N. C.

Miss Gladys Cline, Secretary and Treasurer, Hildebran, N. C.

Officers in 1955

Odus C. Carpenter, President, RFD #2, Lincolnton, N. C.

Wm. D. Killian, Vice President, RFD #2, Lincolnton, N. C.

Mrs. P. W. Whitener, Secretary and Treasurer, RFD #2, Lincolnton, N. C.

THE HISTORY OF THE KILLIAN FAMILY IN NORTH CAROLINA BY J. YATES KILLIAN

The late Rev. Julius H. Shuford makes the following statement relative to the Killian family: “The Killians are an ancient family and can be traced back to the year 1537. During the time when Martin Luther undertook the Reformation of the Church in Germany, there was one John Killian, a licentiate (one licensed to preach or practice a profession) in the Eufort College, who took a very active part in that great movement and made himself very conspicuous in the eyes of Luther’s enemies.” It is therefore about 4OO years since the name Killian first appeared in History.

The next time we hear of this name was in America. Rupp’s list of 30,000 immigrants shows that on October 4, 1732 Andreas (Andrew) Killian, a native of the Rhenish Palatinate, landed in Philadelphia on the British ship “Adventure.” He must have been a person above average in education as he signed his name to the declaration of allegiance to the Colonial Government, while many of his fellow-passengers could only make their mark. By comparing his signature on a photo static copy of the page on which he signed his name and the signature on a will made by an Andrew Killian (see files of old wills in Clerk’s office in Lincolnton, N. C.) Sept. 22, l785, we find that these signatures were made by one and the same man. Therefore there can be no doubt that the Andreas Killian who arrived in Philadelphia in 1732 was the pioneer Andrew Killian who arrived to settle on the south side of the Catawba River in 1749. This Andrew Killian was a married man with a family when he came to America, but we do not know what his wife’s name was or whether she was living at that time. We know, however, that he had at least three children when he came to America: Margaret, the eldest child, born about 1721; Leonard, born May 15, 1723; and John, a few years younger. There were other children in the family at this time, or born soon after Andrew’s arrival in America, as you will find their names given later in this sketch as taken from his will probated in 1788.

It is not known how long Andrew Killian remained in Pennsy1vania after he arrived, or when he came into N, C., but Volume 4 of the Colonial Records show that at the regular Colonial Council held at New Bern April 13, 1749, in the petition for land in Anson County, Andrew Killian and his two sons, Leonard and John, were “granted” 1000 acres each. William Sherrill, also of Anson had been granted 400 acres on April 5, 1749. On September 29, 1749, William Sherrill and Abington Sherrill were granted 600 and 400 acres respectively. Then on September 30, 1749, Andrew, Leonard,and John Killian, and William and Abington Sherrill were granted large tracts of land. About all of the above named land grants can be found in the Land Grant Office at Raleigh. In 1750, grants for land were issued to Henry Weidner, Daniel Warlick, Peter Broyl (supposed to be Peter Hoyle), John Batey, the Sherrils, and Leonard Killian; but the petition from George Hager was delayed until the next Council. These grants, relative to the Killians read “on the south side of the Catawba River.” The Killian grants after 1749 read “On Killian’s Creek”, some of which grants date 1750-54.

It is not known where pioneer Andrew Killian and his family were prior to the time they received their grants in 1749. However, they were somewhere in N. C. in 1747, as both Leonard and John Killian enlisted for service with the Colonial forces at the time of the Spanish alarm of l747-48 (see Colonial Records). The tracts of land that these three Killians entered from l749-54 were in that part of Anson County, which is now Lincoln County, near Beatty’s, Ford on the Catawba River. The Killian’s Creek mentioned was named after this family; for on this stream pioneer Andrew Killian built his home where he remained until the latter half of the year 1754. At that time the Cherokee Indians began hostilities against the white settlers of that section, and had some fighting with the Forneys. Then he (Andrew Killian) moved across the Catawba River into Rowan County. Nothing is known of the whereabouts of this Killian family from 1754 to 1766, but in 1766 Andrew and John were residents of Rowan County.

On June 22, 1766 Andrew Killian and his son, John, bought several hundred acres of land on both sides of Clark’s Creek, west of St. Paul Church in what is now Catawba County, above and below what is known as the Bollinger Ford.

Andrew Killian sold his land on Killian’s Creek, probably to the Forneys, in the year 1765 - the deed signed by Andrew Killian, Sr., and Andrew Killian, Jr. but we find no record that he ever moved back from Rowan to this former tract of land. It is very probable that he moved direct from the east side of the Catawba to his Clark’s Creek purchase soon after he bought this from Mathias Beaver. He lived somewhere near the Creek on the land that the late Samuel E. Killian of Hickory owned, on the old Lincoln-Hickory road, the Crowder town Road, near the once promising town of Crowder’s.

Pioneer Andrew Killian in all probability was married twice. It appears that Daniel and Samuel were the sons of his second marriage, as he in his will made provision that these two sons were to provide amply for his wife, whose name was Mary. It is supposed that she was a Miss Cline, as we found that Samuel sometimes signed his name Samuel C. Killian. The old pioneer also divided all his land equally between these two sons. The supposition is that he had given other consideration to the other children, no doubt before he bought this Clark’s Creek land.

There were twelve children in this family: six boys and six girls. Andrew Killian’s will was made Sept. 2, 1785 (see files of old deeds Lincoln Courthouse), and probated in 1788. In this will, he names the following children: Margaret, who married Michael Price; Leonard; John; Jean, who married William Lewin; Crate Hager; Andrew; George; Brina, who married James Pritchett; Daniel; Samuel; Catrina, who married John Barringer; and Elizabeth, who married Michael Houk.

I am led to believe after studying the records from various angles, that Daniel and Samuel were the only sons of the supposed second marriage, since he gave all his land to these sons. I further believe that his daughter, Margaret, was his oldest child as he names her first in his will. Also he seems to have named his children consecutively, as we know that Leonard was his oldest son, and John next, these two having been born early in the 1720’s.

Where Andrew Killian, Sr. was buried is not known, but it seems probable that he was buried at St. Paul’s Church, one mile west of Newton. In the oldest part of this cemetery, we find the grave of his oldest son, Leonard, who died in 1795. Also we find other stones erected to Killians, and many stones unmarked. Andrew, Sr., if a member of any protestant church, belonged to the Lutheran denomination and held his membership at St. Paul’s, then called South Fork. Andrew very probably was one of the first members of this congregation.

MARGARET KILLIAN First Child

Margaret Killian, who married Michael Price, appears to have been the oldest child of pioneer Andrew Killian, as he mentions her first in his will, and we note that he names some of the other children in the order in which they were born. Therefore, Margaret, named first was his oldest child. It is supposed that Margaret was born about the year 1721, and was about 11 years old when the family moved to America.

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LEONARD KILLIAN Second Child

Leonard Killian was the second child and the oldest son of Andrew Killian. He was born May 15, 1723, and was 9 years old when the family moved to America. Then in the year 1749, we find that he was awarded his first grant of land as follows:

Anson County, April 13, 1749 - 1000 Acres of land on the south side of the Catawba River.

Leonard Killian and his family never moved to the Clark’s Creek section near St. Paul’s Church. His wife’s name was Mary Margaret, but no record is found as to what her maiden name was. Leonard owned one slave in the year 1790, and is the only one of the Killians of this line who owned a slave. Leonard seems to have been a man of considerable means, since he had a slave, and has a stone erected at his grave in the cemetery at old St. Paul’s Church. He died May 15, 1795. Why he is buried at St. Paul’s when he lived some 4O miles away can be explained by the fact that his ancestors were buried there. This was the Killian burial ground.

As Mathias was named by his mother as executor of her estate it would seem that Mathias Killian was the oldest child of the Leonard Killian family, or else the favorite. It is not known whom Mathias married, nor when, but he had a family of three sons under 16 years of age and four females in the year 1790. Probably Mathias married about 1774 when his father deeded him the 270 A. of land. We find nothing is mentioned anywhere about the other children, except William who is supposed to be the William Killian who married Mary Goodwin, August 28, 1788, witnessed by Robert Killian. William Killian, son of Leonard, a1ways spelled his name “Killen”. A Robert “Killen” and this William “Killen” were married one year apart. Both spelled the name “Killen.” William was married to Mary Goodwin Aug. 28, 1788, with Robert “Killen” as bondsman, and Robert was married to Betsy McCorey March 10, 1789. This leads us to believe that Robert “Killen” was a son of Leonard Killian.

What became of Leonard Killian’s children and how many did he have?

In 1808 one Ballentine Killian of Lincoln County, N. C. went to Davis County, Indiana. He wrote back to his relatives in North Carolina in such glowing terms of the fertile soil of Indiana that Mathias Adam, Frederick William and probably David Killian by the year 1818 had all moved to Davis County, Indiana.

Adam Killian died in 1821-22, and settlement of his estate was begun in 1822 and closed in 1825. His heirs were Aaron, David, Mathias, Eli H. and Moses E. The administrators were Charles Joler and Gabriel Killian.

Mathias Killian’s estate was inventoried in 1830, filed April 1, 1831. His heirs were Jacob, William, David, Anthony, Kindle, and Elizabeth. Wi1liam and David Killian were the administrators.

The estate of Frederick Killian was settled in 1859. His heirs were: Christine who married A. B. Robertson, Alexander B. David, Frederick, Jr., Daniel, Mary Wamples, a daughter, Martha Ann Myers, a daughter, and Sara Jane.

One of the Mathias Killian’s estate was settled in 1877. He was a son of Adam or Mathias but do not know which.

A John R. Killian’s estate was settled in 1857. He was a son of Frederick.

In this Killian family there was a William who was born in 1789 in Lincoln County, N.C. He married Dicey Ballard in Lincoln County, N. C. in l814. They had children when they moved to Indiana. It appears that this William was the oldest child of the William Killian who married Mary Goodwin in Lincoln County, N.C. August 28, 1788, with Robert Killian as witness. This Robert Killian appears to have been one of Leonard’s sons as mentioned above.

William and Dicey Ballard Killian’s children were: James, David, Eva, Sal1ie, William, Jr., Elizabeth, Alexander, Frank, Alfred and Wiley. As one of their sons was named Wiley, it is logical to state that Dicey Ballard was a sister or daughter of Wiley Ballard of Lincoln County whose name we find in the County records. Wiley Ballard is listed in the Military Census of 1790 as living in Lincoln County, N. C., Morgan’s District, 10th Company.

Mrs. H.G. Groom of Brownsville, Texas, who furnished the above record, writes that the Killians were very prolific, judging from the great number of Killians in

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Davis County, Indiana.

There is an old German Bible in the family thought to be 200 years old but which cannot be located now. It is supposed to have a family record. I hope to get more information soon.

JOHN KILLIAN Third Child of PI0NEER ANDREW KILLIAN

John Kil1ian, the son of pioneer Andrew Killian, was born about the year 1725-26, and was about 7 years old when the family came to America. He received a grant for a 1000—acre tract of land on Killian’s Creek April 13, l749. It is reasonable to believe that the entire Killian family was living on this Creek some time before they took out grants, since the Creek was called “Killian’s Creek” in their entries.

John, with his father, moved east of the Catawba River in 1754. We know nothing more of him until June 26, 1766, when he bought of Mathias Beaver and wife, Susanna, of Mecklenburg County 200-acres on both sides of Clark’s Creek, in Rowan County, adjoining Bostian Cline, above his father Andrew’s tract of 293—acres. This land of John Killian’s is the Bollinger land on both sides of Clark’s Creek, below and above the Bollinger Ford or Bridge, on the road leading from St. Paul’s Church toward Hickory.

In just what year John Killian was married we do not know. He married the widow Mrs. Elizabeth Zimmerman (Carpenter), who had one child Michael - by her first husband.

John and Elizabeth Killian had four sons and four daughters. John made a will about 1795, willing all his property to his wife Elizabeth. She made her will on March 1802, and mentions - besides her son Michael Zimmerman - the following children: A son-in-law David Smith, Jacob, Marellis (Murrillo), who married Jacob a Yount, John Philip, Mary (Suttlemyre), Abraham, Sarah - married Jacob Deitz.

Nothing is known about Michael Zimmerman (Carpenter) except that he and his half-brother, Philip Ki11ian, had some real estate transactions in 1798.

Nothing is known about Davis Smith or his children, if any.

Jacob was born about the year 1760. He was received into the Lutheran Church - South Fork, later named St. Paul’s by Rev. Godfrey Arndt, August 6, 1776. Jacob married Rebecca Cresamore, daughter of Jacob and Catherine Cresamore of the Salem Church neighborhood, in Lincoln County, N.C.

Jacob Killian deeded 3-acres in 1815 to Sa1em Church. This “Meeting-house, schoolhouse and burial ground” had been there before. Jacob was the ancestor of the Killian families in the Salem neighborhood. Jacob and Rebecca Cresamore Killian’s children are as follows: Henry, Jacob, Catherine, Elizabeth, John, Andrew, Sarah, Mary, Susan and Daniel. A sketch of the lives of these children, briefly given, follows.

HENRY was born May 8, 1787, and died July 26, 1850. In 1809 he was married to Mary Polly Rudisill, who was born July 10, 1793, and died April 28, 1839. She was killed instantly when struck by a falling limb from a large tree under which she was walking at the time. With her was the wife of Rev. Adam Miller, and both were on their way to Salem Church for services. Henry Killian married again in 1842, to Mrs. Judith Clay, who had been a Miss Lentz.

JACOB was born July 6, 1789, and died January 17, 1860. His wife was a Miss Carpenter. They had several children.

Catherine was born about 1791, and died in 1862. She married Leon Bollinger, born in 1785, and died in October 1851. They lived on Clark’s Creek on the old John Killian farm at Bollinger’s Ford. They had several children, one of whom, Joseph, married a daughter of Michael Cline, Jr.

ELIZABETH was born December 15, 1793, and died July 12, 1837. She married Absolom Brown, born April 1, 1792 and died October 11, 1875. They had a large family of children. Their son, William, fought in the Civil War, dying in a hospital in Petersburg, Va., July 8, 1863. He was a Corporal of Company B, 12th Regiment of South Carolina, Volunteers.

JOHN was born June 23, 1796, and died March 18, 1884. In 1818 he married Elizabeth Brown, born in November 1797, died January 6, 1864. His second wife was a Miss Wingate. They had several children. One son, Jesse W., was sheriff of Catawba County for four

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years. Jesse’s wife was a Miss Halsel, daughter of Rev. A. J. Fox. Jesse’s children were Virgie, Henrietta, Avery, Annie and Merton.

ANDREW was born Nov. 6, 1800, and died Dec. 20, 1861. He was married but nothing further is known of his family.

SARAH was born Feb. 14, 1803, and died Dec. 4, 1876. She married David Seagle, and they had several children. One son, Abel J., married Bettie Finger, and lived near Salem Church at the old Killian home.

MARY married Henry Finger, and to them severa1 children were born. A daughter, Bettie, married Abel J. Seagle, who was her first cousin.

SUSAN was born Feb. 5, 1808, died April 13, 1881. She married Wm. McCaslin, born Jan. 1, 1808, died Jan. 3, 1887. They had several children. One son, Henry F., married Sally Lohr, and lived on Clark’s Creek at the old home.

Daniel was probably the youngest of Jacob and Rebecca Kil1ian’s children. He married a Miss Moore of Burke County and went to Georgia. He died in 1908. He was the grandfather of T.D. Killian.

Marellis (Murrillo) Killian, the 3rd chi1d of John and Elizabeth Killian, married Jacob A. Yount in about 1782. This Yount family moved to California among the earliest settlers there. In 1781, Jacob Yount served under General Greene. After the enemy evacuated Charleston, General Greene’s army was disbanded. When Jacob Yount returned to his home he found it in ruins. The Tories had burned his buildings and driven his cattle away. He then moved to Burke County near the Catawba River and built a mill on Dowden Creek. In 1804 the family moved to Cape Girardeau, Missouri.

Jacob and Marellis Yount had eleven children. Jacob, Jr., was the third and George Calvert the sixth. Jacob, Jr., fought in the war of 1812, and helped Daniel Boone construct Fort Boone, KY.

March 4, 1804, he married Charity Murray in Christian County, Kentucky, and he was drowned in the Stillwater, near Patton, Missouri, on e1ection day 1858.

John Burnette Yount was the seventh child of Jacob and Christy Yount. He was born May 2, 1813, in Cape Girardeau, Mo. In 1841 he married Larenia Ellen Clarke. He was chief engineer and ran on the Mississippi River. In 1850 he came to Ca1ifornia and spent a short time with his Uncle, George C. Yount, in Hopa Valley. He then returned and brought his family to California via Panama. He ran a general merchandise store in the mines in Placer County. Here, in 1853 my mother, Hattie Emma, was born. She was rocked in a gold rocker. When she was five years old, her father was killed by an ex-convict whom he had befriended. My grandmother remarried Samuel McMahan - helped raise the four Yount children, and gave them every advantage. My mother graduated from Mil1’s Seminary and was an accomplished musician. She married George A. Lamont, an attorney-at-law. They had two children, Ellen Cameron and Donald Yount, who is an attorney-at-law in San Francisco.

George C. Yount, the Uncle of John B. came to California in l83l. He owned a large ranch in Hopa Valley. He came with a party of trappers and for some time hunted beaver and sea otter in Ca1ifornia. He was beloved by the early Californians, and is one of the colorful figures of our western history.

John Killian, Jr., married Susan Fry, a daughter of Nicholas Fry, and moved to Tennessee with all of their family except So1omon and David. Solomon, (son of John Killian, Jr., and Susan Fry Killian) married Catherine Benfield, daughter of Pioneer John Benfield and sister of John Jr., Daniel and Henry Benfield. (John Benfield married a daughter, possibly of Pioneer Adam Bolick.) David, son of John, Jr., and Susan Fry Kil1ian, married Polly Eikerd in 1817. Polly died at the birth of her second child. Then, in 1828, David married Rachel Miller, formerly Rachel Whitener who had married Caleb Miller in 1819. Rache1 was a daughter of Daniel Whitener (son of Pioneer Henry Weidner) who had married Mary, the oldest child (daughter of George Wilfong.) Mary was a sister of Catherine who married Jacob C1ine, son of pioneer Bostian Cline. David then sold out, and later moved to Georgia with his family.

Philip, son of John Sr. and E1izabeth Z. Killian, seems to have disappeared after selling two tracts to Michael Zimmerman. He entered 100 acres on Shoal Creek in 1798, 100 on same creek in 1800, 50 acres on Henry River in 1799, and 135 (adjoining Andrew

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Killian) in the year 1787, all in Lincoln County.

Mary, daughter of John Sr. and Elizabeth Z. Killian, first married John Jonas, son of Simon Jonas. They had one child, known as “Little John Jonas.” Little John Jonas, when grown, sold his estate in the Crowder town section and moved to Indian Creek vicinity, in what is now Lincoln County. He owned a fine horse, and his descendants were known as lovers of good horses, and owned them. He married Franie (Euphrania) Lohr, and they were the parents of all the Jonas family in this section of the State. (See History of Jonas family.) Mary married the second time Jacob Fye (Fei, Fie), on Sept. 20, 1791. Her brother Abraham was bondsman and Joseph Steel magistrate. Jacob Fye came direct from Germany, and spoke and wrote the German language only. He was a saddler by trade, and ran a saddle shop at Crowdertown. He bought a tract of land near this town. He and Mary had three children, namely: Jacob, Abraham and Catherine. Jacob, the son, a hatter by trade, married Elizabeth Lutz. Their children were Jacob, Jr., (unmarried), Abel, (unmarried; died in the Mexican War,) and Jonas, who married Sarah Hawn. Jonas’ and Sarah’s only child was Pinkney, who married a Miss Bost. They were the parents of the Fye family at Startown. Jacob and Mary Killian Fye’s son Abraham sold his part of the estate, due to indebtedness to his brother Jacob about 1818. Jacob and Mary Killian Fye’s daughter Catherine married David Nail (or Neil) in 1819. In 1820 they sold their third of Jacob Fye’s estate which they heired to John Wilfong. Nothing more is known of them.

Mary Killian Fye was married a third time, this time to Martin Settlemyre in 1801. They had the following children: GEORGE, married Hannah Hahn in 1834; HENRY, married Sarah Whitener, sister of Hiram Whitener in 1835; PAUL, married C1arissa Smith in 1842; KATIE, married Knog1e; ELIZABETH (Betsy), married Eli Sigmon in 1824; POLLY, who married David Wilson August 27, 1822 by Mic Cline, Fred Killian, bondsman.

The George Settlemyre mentioned above was Sid Killian’s mother’s father. Sid’s grandfather on his father’s side was Simon Killian, who married Mary (Polly) Davis in 1832. She had come here from Scotland. Simon Killian was a son of Abraham.

Abraham, son of John Sr. and Elizabeth Z. Killian, married a Miss Hildebran, a sister of Maj. S. M. Finger’s and Mrs. Dallas Rowe’s father’s mother. Abraham had three sons and three daughters. His son Simon was Sid Killian’s grandfather. (See above paragraph.) We know nothing about Abraham’s other two sons. His daughter Jude married Archibald Puntch January 29, 1818, Abraham Killian, bondsman.

Abraham’s daughter Sallie married Thomas Puntch, brother of Archibald, October 2, 1818, Archibald Puntch, bondsman.

Abraham’s daughter Elizabeth married John Herman, a son of Peter Herman. Peter’s parents were Wm. Herman and Mary Motes (Motz) who came to America in 1765 settled in Reading, Pennsylvania, but moved to North Carolina in 1706.

These two Puntchs’ father entered a large tract of land on Cline’s Creek. Their descendants are living near Fair Grove Church.

Sarah, daughter of John Sr. and Elizabeth Z. Killian, married Jacob Deitz. Their daughter Christiana, sometime between 1820 and 1822, married David Killian (his second wife), Ephraim Killian’s father. David was the third child of Samuel and Barbara Hager Killian. David’s first wife was Catherine, a daughter of Jacob and Elizabeth Wilfong Cline. David sold out in 1834 and went to Georgia. Elizabeth, another daughter of Jacob Deitz, married a Solomon Deitz. Jacob and Sarah Killian Deitz’ two sons were Israel and Lochford. One of four brothers of Jacob Deitz coning here from Pennsylvania, one by one, Solomon Deitz, Solomon Deits, married Elizabeth Huffman April 26, 1797, and his second wife was E1izabeth Deitz, daughter of Jacob and Sarah Deitz, March 31, 1816, sister of Christiana, who married David Killian.

Jean, the 4th child of pioneer Andrew Killian, was probably born about 1727-28. She married Wil1iam Lewin (Lawing). The Lawings and the Hagers were early settlers in the Beatty’s Ford section, and were close neighbors, for the times, to the killians. The Lawing family name appears in the early history of the Hager family written by A. Nixon, Esq. Wil1iam Lawing is supposed to have been a close relative to Simon Hager’s first wife - probably her father or older brother.

Mr. John A. Lawing of Charlotte, N. C. gives me much history of the Lewing or Lawings, and in all probability this William and Jean Lawing (Lewin) were his ancestors.

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Their oldest son was named Andrew, which sounds like he was named after pioneer Andrew Killian. This Andrew Lawing married, first Obedience (Biddey) Bradshaw, and the second marriage was to Elizabeth Philips in 1913 in Lincoln County.

Andrew Lawing had seven sons and two daughters. The Military Census of 1790 gives a Wm. Lawing with a family of three men, 16 years of age and upward, one under 16 and five females.

The Census also gives an Andrew Lawing with one male 16 years and up and four females. It appears that Joseph, John, Andrew Jr., and Samue1 were sons of Andrew Lawing. Joseph Lawing married Mary Moore in 1840, Lincoln County. Their son, Gidson Alex Lawing, married Mary Jane Vance (both born in 1848) in 1866, and their son, John T.A. Lawing, my informant of the Lawing family, was first married to Li1lie L. Ramsay of Burke County in 1893 and had eight children - 6 boys and 2 girls. John T. A. Lawing married the second time in 1913 - Myra Goodman of China Grove and they have three boys and four girls.

Andrew and Biddy Bradshaw Lawing’s son John was born in 1790, and was a soldier in the war of 1812, as also his brother Andrew Jr., born in 1793 was a war of 1812 soldier-both were enlisted from Mecklenburg County. John had three sons (John died before 1844 when his mother, Biddey, wife of Andrew Lawing 1st, made her will - she died in 1846): ANDREW K.; JOHN JOHNSON (born 1814); James J. John’s wife was Nancy Johnson. After her husband John Lawing died, she married a Scott. John Johnson Lawing moved to Middle Tennessee and married.

It is thought that Wi11iam Lawing and Jean Killian were married around 1745-55 as Andrew, their son, was born in 1765, died in 1825 and was buried at Hopewell Presbyterian Church, 11 miles north of Charlotte, N. C.

Andrew Lawing the 1st had a son named Andrew. Andrew Lawing Senior’s son, Samuel, was the father of Dr. John M. Lawing, who was a druggist in Lincolnton from 1866 to 1894. He was a surgeon in the Civil War.

Crete, the 5th child of pioneer Andrew Killian, was born about 1730-32. She married a Hager, who was dead at the time pioneer Andrew Killian made his will. It is supposed that this was George Hager, a brother of pioneer Wi11iam Hager. George Hager on August 30, 1753, was granted 395 acres of land “on the east side of Killian’s Creek” four years after the Killians entered their first tracts of land, and his land adjoined the Killians'.

Andrew Ki1lian, Jr., the 6th chi1d of pioneer Andrew Killian was born about 1735-36. He probably was the youngest child of the first marriage of Andrew Killian, Sr.

Andrew, Jr., seems to have been a favorite of his father. They owned land together on Killian Creek, and both signed a deed, together conveying the property to other parties in the year 1765. Also pioneer Andrew Killian names the two sons of “my son Andrew” (Viz: Andrew and Danie1) in his will, and did not mention any of his other grandchildren. (See pioneer Andrew Killian’s will.)

We find no records, grants, or deeds anywhere that indicate that Andrew Killian Jr. ever moved back to the south side of the Catawba River after the family moved to the east side of this river in 1754. However, there is one evidence that might indicate this Andrew Ki1lian, Jr. owned a tract of land on the west side of the Catawba River. Register of Deeds, Lincoln County, Book 3, Page 465: Andrew Killian bought of James Bryson on Koener’s Creek 166 acres of land in January, 1789. Pioneer Andrew Killian was dead at this time, and there was no other Andrew Killian living at that time except Andrew Jr. and Andrew 3rd who was only 18 years old. In 1925 James Killian, formerly of Haywood County, N. C., then in Little Rock, Ark., wrote me a letter stating that his grandfather was Daniel Killian and that his great-grandfather, Andrew Killian, Jr., settled in Iredell County, N. C., and was twice married.

As far as is known, Andrew Ki1lian, Jr., had but one child by his first marriage, a daughter, Fannie, who was born in 1764 and married Michael Cline in l765. They had two sons, Michae1, Jr., born in 1797, and Henry. Michae1, Jr., married a daughter of Elias Bost. They were the parents of late Michael C1ine, father of the late Judge E.B. Cline. The exact date of the death of Andrew’s first wife is not known. He married the second time about the year 1770. From Court Records, we find that Andrew, Jr.’s second wife was a daughter of Simon Jonas, a sister of John Jonas. She was Mariah

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Barbara Jonas, who first had married William Whittenburg. Simon Jonas, prior to 1762 lived in Rowan County, east of Catawba River and maybe was a neighbor of the Killians there. On August 26, 1762 he received a grant for 693 acres on the South Side of Lyle’s Creek and both sides of Mull’s Creek. Simon Jonas came to America (Phila.) on September 3, 1742, age 22 years, on the ship “Royal Judith”.

By his second marriage, Andrew Jr. had three children, Viz: Andrew the 3rd, Daniel (pioneer Andrew Killian mentioned these two “sons of my son Andrew” and gives them each l/l4th of his undivided property), and Mollie (Mary) supposed to have been born about l774.

The reason for stating that Andrew Kil1ian Jr. was married a second time and married a daughter of Simon Jonas is that in the settlement of John Jonas’ estate (Simon’s son) Andrew Killian the 3rd and his brother Daniel and sister Molly shared in the division of John Jonas’, deceased, real estate, in the year 1798, with the two Wittenburg children, William Jr. and John, sons of Mariah Barbara Jonas Killian by her first husband, William Whittenburg, Sr., and signed their rights away to each other on certain tracts of land (See Deeds Office, Lincolnton, N. C.) Andrew Killian Jr.’s daughter Fannie Killian Cline does not appear as an heir. Therefore, the three above named Killian children and Fannie K. Cline did not have the same mother. This second marriage is corroborated by the statement of James Killian in that his great-grandfather was married twice and lived in Iredell County. It is not known just where Andrew Killian, Jr., lived, where he died and was buried. He was still living in 1785 when his father made his last will and was living in 1788 when the will was probated. However, there is reason to be1ieve that Andrew Killian, Jr., went to Buncombe County when that County was formed in 1791 and entered land there.

On January 10, 1791, a certain Andrew Killian entered 200 - acres of land on the waters of Pigeion River in Buncombe County. Also, Andrew Killian in 1794 and 1797 entered land in Buncombe County. This very probably was Andrew Killian, Jr. Andrew Killian 3rd would have been only 20 years old, and not likely to have entered this land. Then it must have been Andrew Killian, Jr., half—brother of Daniel Killian who entered land on Beaver Dam Creek about the same date that this Andrew did. (See history of Daniel Killian, Sr.)

Andrew Killian 3rd was born on April 7, 1771, and married Mary Ann Sloop of Iredell County. There is no record as to when he moved to the south side of the Catawba River, probably soon after he heired some of the Jonas estate in 1798 - no doubt about the year 1800. His brother Daniel and sister Mary appear to have been living south of the Catawba River also in 1801. In the Court House at Wilkesboro Book C-1, page 267-268—269, “in the year 1801 Andrew, Daniel and Mary (Mollie) Killian of Lincoln County, and John and Henry Wittenbourgh, Administrators of the estate of William Whittenburg made a covenant of a tract of land on Beaver Pond Branch.”

On June 2, 1801, Andrew the 3rd bought land of the Barnett Sigmon heirs – 145 - acres and 44-acres formerly granted to George Davison. These tracts are the Andrew Killian Mill Place on Mill Creek, south side of Lyles Creek, near St. John’s Church. It is not known who built the mill on this land, very likely Davison or the Sigmons - later known as the Rowe Mill.

On October 4, 1803, Daniel Killian of Buncombe County, N. C., conveyed to his brother, Andrew, his part of the 136 - acres that they had heired from the John Jonas estate and conveyed to them by their sister Mollie (Mary) and William Whittenburg, Jr. This might have been an exchange of land between Andrew Killian 3rd and his brother Daniel, Daniel getting his brother’s part of the Buncombe tract on Jonathan’s Creek for his part of the Lincoln County tract.

We find no other records relative Mollie Killian except those pertaining to the settlement of the Jonas estate. What became of Mollie, where she lived and died and where she was buried we have no record.

Daniel disposed of his last holding In Iredell County, on August 7, 1815. (See Book II, page 563, Iredell Court House.)

In l861 when Noah Rowe overhauled the mill, Franklin Killian was the millwright who did the work. The two Andrew Killians were also millwrights.

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Andrew Killian 3rd died in November 1828, and was buried at St. John’s Church, aged 58 years. His wife, Mary Ann Sloop of Rowan County (now Iredell) was born in 1773 and died June 28, 1833, aged 60 years. She was buried by the side of her husband, about the middle of the cemetery at St. John’s Church.

Sallie, their oldest child was born September 27, 1804, and died August 28, 1835, aged 31 years, and is buried beside her mother; in 1820 Sallie married Jacob Hunsucker, second son of pioneer Johannes T. Hunsucker.

Nancy, the second daughter of Andrew and Mary Ann Sloop Killian, married in 1825 John Hoke, son of Frederick Hoke. (Frederick Hoke was the presiding officer of the County Court March 13, 1843 when Catawba County was organized at Mathias Barringer’s.)

Franklin, the youngest child of Andrew and Mary Ann Killian, married a Miss Virginia Peacock. They lived in Newton in 1860, but sold their property in town in 1871. This property adjoined the Lutheran Church. Nothing is known of their whereabouts after that.

Daniel Killian, son of Andrew Killian, II, was born in Rowan County, later Iredell, in 1777, and died in Haywood County, December 20, 1852, aged 75 years, 8 months and 33 days. Mary Watts, wife of Daniel Ki11ian was born in 1772 and died in Haywood County, August 21, 1855, aged 83 years. Daniel and Mary Watts Killian were buried in Jonathan’s Creek Cemetery, Haywood County.

Daniel and Mary Watts Killian’s children were James, Miles John, Eliza, Lucy and Mary. James married Jane Louise Clayton, close relative of Dr. Ephraim Brevard, author of the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence, and settled in Transylvania County, now Buncombe County. Their son James was in Little Rock, Arkansas in 1925. This James Killian, Jr. states that his grandfather Daniel married Mary Watts. He also states that his great-grandfather, Andrew Killian, Jr., settled in what is now Iredell County, N.C., and was twice married.

For further history of Daniel Killian, see historical sketch given by the Killians living in Haywood County. It appears that the three Killian children, viz.: Andrew 3rd, Daniel and Mollie heired all of the property of their mother’s relatives - Simon and John Jonas. It appears that John and William Whittenburg (Mariah Jonas Whittenburg’s children by Whittenburg) had no heirs and that Andrew Killian 3rd received from Mariah Whittenburg Killian, his mother, all her estate for caring for her in her later years. It looks like finally these three Killian children, grandchildren of Simon Jonas heired about all of the Simon and John Jonas estates.

GEORGE KILLIAN

GEORGE, the 7th child of Pioneer Andrew Killian, is supposed to have been born between 1737-40. Very little is known of him. His father mentions him in his will. Just where this George lived is not fully known. He received a grant of 300—acres of land “on both sides of Hunting Creek”, Burke County, (There is also a “Hunting Creek” in Iredell and in Rowan Counties) on January 30, 1773. See Grant Office, Raleigh, N. C., Book 22, page 416. No other records are found re1ative to this George except his father’s will in 1785, until Feb. 9, 1807 (R.D. Book 25, page 556, Salisbury, N. C.) George Killian of the County of Stokes conveyed to Jacob Rochrock, Jr. of Rowan County, 116—acres on Lick Creek, Muddy Creek for $116.00. It is very probable that the date of this purchase of George Killian in Stokes County could be found at Danbury, as Stokes was formed from Surry in 1789.

On October 9, 1809, George Killian bought a tract of land on Abbott’s Creek, Rowan County (see R.D. Book 27, page 7. Salisbury, N. C.): 300 - acres for $100.00. In 1819, a Robert Killian sold seven acres for $200 on Rich Fork of Abbott’s Creek, beginning at a stake in Killian’s line, thence with Killian’s line, etc. It is thought that this Robert Killian was a son of George Killian and that he heired this land from his father. The Henry and Shadrack Killians of Wi1kes County mentioned in the 1790 census are supposed to have been George Killian’s sons. Wilkes County was a part of Rowan County until 1770 when Surry County was formed and from Surry County Wilkes was formed in l777. No further records can be found relative to GEORGE KILLIAN, 7th son of Pioneer Andrew Killian.

BRINIA KILLIAN

BRINIA, the 8th child of Pioneer Andrew Killian, married James Pritchett. Nothing is known of them.

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DANIEL KILLIAN

DANIEL, the 9th child of Pioneer Andrew Killian, is supposed to have been the oldest child of the pioneer’s second marriage, as is evidenced by the consecutive listing of the children in his will. Mary was either a daughter of Matthew and Susanna Beaver or a Miss Cline. I give preference to the latter, as Samuel the full brother of Daniel signed his name as Samuel C. in witnessing some legal papers. Daniel was born about 1757-59. He received by his father’s will, made September 2, 1785 (probated in 1788) one-half of his father’s real estate of 293—acres lying on both sides of Clark’s Creek, three miles west of the present town of Newton, and one-seventh of his father’s “undivided property”. It was stipulated in the will that for Daniel’s and Samuel’s receiving all the real estate they were to provide all the necessities of life for their mother, Mary. Daniel and Samuel were named in the will as executors.

Samuel was married to Barbara Hager in 1784; Daniel married Osly Baker, both of Lincoln County, January 15, 1787, with his brother Samuel as bondsman.

Daniel moved out of Lincoln County to Burke prior to 1790, for the military census of 1790 gives him as living in Burke County, with a family of four persons -himself, wife, and two sons. As Burke County went as far west as Washington County (Washington County became part of Tennessee), Daniel may have moved prior to 1790 from Lincoln County to that part of Burke that became Buncombe County in 1791, and he may have settled as early as 1790 on the waters of Beaver Dam Creek, near the present City of Asheville. Daniel entered 200-acres of land on the waters of Beaver Dam Creek in 1792, which grant was issued to him December 2, 1797. Miss Josie Killian, who was 92 years old March 23, 1939, and the only living grandchild of Daniel Killian, states that Daniel was one of the very first white settlers in the Beaver Dam Creek section, that the Indians still inhabited this section at that time; and as forests abounded everywhere these early pioneers would lose their way easily, even though they were then near home. Miss Josie also states that her grandfather was twice married. No records can be found telling when Daniel’s first wife died or how many children were born of this union. Nor is it known whom be married the second time, but it appears that his second wife’s maiden name was Margaret Watts, who was born May 12, 1758. From the dates of land grants it appears that the two sons of Daniel, born before the census of 1790 was taken, were John and Daniel, Jr. Joseph was born October 22, 1791. Nancy, who never married, was born February 5, 1796. William W. was born January 5, 1800, and George was born May 16, 1802. Daniel’s other daughters were Lydia, born October 29, 1805. Lydia married George W. Bell; and Mary who married John Smart. From the dates of the children’s births, we are of the opinion that Daniel Sr. married the second time about l794-95. We found traditional evidence that George was a half—brother of some of the other sons.

Daniel Killian, Sr., entered other tracts of land besides the 200—acres first entered on Beaver Dam Creek. He gave 2-acres to the Episcopa1 Methodist Church, but the title did not appear to be legal, so on February 1, 1837 all the eight children of Daniel conveyed the 2-acres to the said church. Records show that Daniel, Sr., died February 22, 1830 or 1836 (the date is obscure) and was the first person buried at the Asbury Memorial M.E. Church.

In the year 1800 Bishop Francis Asbury began to travel through western North Carolina, as well as eastern Tennessee, Kentucky, Virginia and South Carolina, establishing the Methodist Episcopal Church. In his journal from the year 1800 to 1810, he makes reference to having used Daniel Killian’s home a number of times for preaching services and for conference with itinerate brother ministers, and as a resting place for himself and his jaded horse. Killian built a room to his house for the exclusive use of Bishop Asbury and other itinerate ministers, and only preachers were allowed to use this room. He had an armchair made especially for the Bishop and this traditional chair is now in the Asbury Memoria1 Church near Beaver Dam Lake. Then the M.E. Conference met in Asheville in May 1910, a gavel made of a portion of the banister of the old Killian home was presented to the presiding bishop.

On February 2, 1837, the eight children of Daniel Killian Sr. conveyed to Isaac and William Baird 154-acres of the original first grant of land. Captain Isaac C. Baird built a new dwelling in the yard of the old, two-story log building built by this Pioneer Daniel Killian, the one to which the Asbury room was built. Later this log house was moved below the new dwelling built by Captain Baird, and during the last 25 years the old log house was torn down.

On January 10, 1791, a year before Daniel Killian, Sr. entered land in Buncombe County, and Andrew Ki1lian entered 200-acres on the waters of Pigeon River in Buncombe County, and the supposedly same Andrew Killian entered other tract of land in l794 and 1797. This Andrew is supposed to have been Pioneer Andrew Killian’s youngest son by his first wife, Andrew, Jr., a half-brother of Daniel Killian, Sr. Andrew Killian, Jr. as living at the time his father’s will was probated in 1788, but seems to have moved away soon thereafter, and he must have been the Andrew Killian, Jr. that entered land in Buncombe in 1791, as Andrew Killian 3rd would have been only 20 years old at this time, and would not likely have gone as far as Buncombe County to enter land.

It appears then that Andrew Killian, Jr., entered land in Buncombe County. After his death about 1800, his two sons, Andrew 3rd and Daniel, in the year 1803, divided the real estate, Andrew getting land in Lincoln County and Daniel in Buncombe County. The land that his father Andrew Killian, Jr., is supposed to have entered in l791—94-97, some of which was on what is now called Jonathan’s Creek. (See History of Andrew Killian, Jr.)

This Daniel Killian (grandson of Pioneer Andrew Ki1lian) married Mary Watts. They are both buried on Jonathan’s Creek, in Haywood County. This Danie1 was not a son or in any way a descendant of the Daniel Killian, Sr., who settled on Beaver Dam Creek, but was a half-nephew. The Danie1 Ki1lian buried on Jonathan’s Creek was l4 years old when Daniel Killian, Sr., of the Beaver Dam Creek section married Osly Baker of Lincoln County.

It is probable that the Mary Watts who married Daniel Killian of Jonathan’s Creek was a close relative of Margaret Watts, who is supposed to have been the second wife of Daniel Killian, Sr., of the Beaver Dam Creek Section.

I am of the opinion that John was the oldest child of Daniel Killian, Sr. and Osly Baker. We have no trace of him except a few legal transactions. As a John Ki11ian entered land (75A.) on the south side of Beaver Dam Creek April 7, 1808, and on the same date 75 A. on the north side of the same creek, it is very probable that he was the oldest chi1d of Daniel Sr. and about 20 years old at this time. I find no reference to him later than 1837. Daniel Jr.’s name appears on legal papers a few times but the last is in 1837.

Joseph born in 1791 entered 100 A. of land on both sides of Beaver Dam Creek March 9, 1818, and on Bulls Fork of Beaver Dam Creek 50 A. on Oct. 7, 1826, and in 1822 bought 100 A. of land on Beaver Dan from his brother John. In 1834-35-336 Joseph sold his real estate on Beaver Dam.

Joseph, the 3rd child of Danie1 Killian Sr., married Miss Anna Petchey on Thursday 19 - 1821. Mrs. Petchey was born Friday 19 - 1790. Joseph died in 1864—65. Joseph and Anne Killian’s children were as fo1lows:

John W. Killian died in 1886. He was married Nov. 28, 1862 to Margaret C. Grahl, from Sweden. Her father came direct from Sweden - was an officer in the Swedish army under Lord Wellington. He rode a cavalry horse to the shipping yard or dock, left the horse, ran and boarded a ship, and came to America as a stowaway. Landed at St. Augustine, Fla., walked from there to Green County, Tennessee, and drifted to Haywood County, N.C. where he taught school. He spoke seven languages fluently. He became Clerk of Superior Court of Haywood County. The records of this office will testify to his beautiful handwriting.

Adolphus N. married Rebecca Hollyfield, November 186o. Their children were: James R., who was born September 9, 1861, and Nancy. They live at C1yde, N.C. – both unmarried.

Nancy, the 4th chi1d of Daniel Killian, Sr., was born February 5, 1796. She professed faith in Jesus Christ in 1811 at the age of 15. She died in June 1839, and is buried in the Asbury Memoria1 Methodist Church cemetery. She never married.

William W., the 5th child of Daniel Killian, Sr., was born January 5, 1800, and became a very prominent citizen of his country. He died April 21, 1860, being buried in the cemetery of the Asbury Memorial Church. On June 6, 1839 he married Miss Emily McKay of McDowell County. She was born September 17, 1814 and died October 13, 1908 at the age of 96. She was a very intellectual woman, possessing rare gifts, a composer of beautifu1 poems and prayers. To William and Emily Killian were born the following children:

Buncombe County, N. C. in l882 to Gonzales County, Texas where he died March 24, 1894.

Catherine Josephine (Miss Josie) was born March 23, 1847. At this date, Jan. 1, 1939, she is still living, being 91 years old, possessing unusually good health - mentally and physically. She is an intellectual woman, much devoted to her church and its welfare. A lifelong member of Asbury Memorial Methodist Church.

George, the 6th of Daniel Killian, Sr., was born May 6, 1802, and died May 1, 1880. On March 29, 1831, Daniel Ki1lian, Sr., conveyed to his son George 196-acres of land on Beaver Dam Creek. George was married about the year l830 to a Miss Polly Johnson, who was born in 1812 and died in 1885. He moved from the Beaver Dam section in the early 1860’s to Oconee County, South Carolina, about ten miles North of the Town of Walha11a. George had three boys: Julius, Daniel W. (Dr. Dan), and Elbert. George also had four daughters: Adelaide, the oldest girl, never married; Clarice, who married William Hodses, who was killed in the War between the States; Marian, who married Branch Trull of Haywood County, and raised a large family mostly boys; and Julia, the youngest girl, who married John Dryman at the age of 36. They had four boys: Rob, Roy, Fred and Earl. Fred is a Methodist Minister of the Asheville Section. George’s oldest son, Julius, married and moved to Clay County, where he lived all his life. His oldest son was named Lee H. and his youngest, Dock.

George’s son Daniel W. (Dr. Dan) left the Beaver Dam Creek section when a young man and went to Columbia, S. C., where he studied medicine. After finishing his medical course, he bought a horse and started to eastern Kentucky to practice his profession. As he passed through Clay County, N. C. he found an epidemic of sickness there and stopped to administer to the sick. Here he remained until after his second marriage. Then he moved to Texas. His first wife was a Miss McClure, and his second wife a Miss Rowland.

Dr. Daniel had three boys and five gir1s. His son, Dr. Paul B. lives at Haysville, Clay County, N. C. He and the writer were members of the General Assembly in 1917. Dr. Paul Killian’s son, Carl Daniel, is a professor at Cullowhee Institute, and the other son Frank M. born in 1906, graduated in 1929 from Louisville, KY. Medical Co1lege and is located at Franklin, N. C. where he practices the medical profession.

George’s youngest son, E1bert, moved to S. C. with his father and always lived near him until he (Elbert) moved to Macon County, North Carolina in 1880, where he lived until he died July 24, 1920. His wife died April 14, 1920.

Flora - who married N. B. Long of Macon County, and moved to Idaho in 1889. They have 4 boys and 3 girls.

Miriam - who married A. B. Clement, and lives near Cornelia, Georgia. They raised 5 children. Clark is a lawyer and lives in California. Ross and Dennis live near Cornelia, Ga. Charles was killed in the World War and Mamie who married R.W. Hickey moved to New Mexico where she died in 1931. Mrs. Clement (Miriam) died Jan. 2, 1939.

Carrie married S. P. Harwood and lives at Robbinsville, Graham County, N. C. They have 5 girls and 1 boy. Delia married a Rieves; they have 3 boys and 1 girl. Jennie married Frank Distles and lives at Maliton, Washington. Ida married Will Beatty. They live in California and have 2 boys and 2 girls. Ethel died in 1892. Nettie died in 1927.

George Killian had a dark complexion with very dark eyes, and was of jovial disposition. He died suddenly May 1, 1880, and his widow died in 1885.

Samuel C. Killian, 10th child of Pioneer Andrew Killian, was born about 1760-65. He was the second child of the pioneer’s second wife, who probably was a Miss Cline, sister or relative of Pioneer Sebastian Cline, or perhaps a daughter of Mathias and Susanna Beaver, the parents of Mrs. Sebastian Cline.

In 1784, Samuel married Barbara Hager, the youngest child of Pioneer Hilliam Hager. Samuel died in the year 1813, and is supposed to have been buried at St. Paul’s Church. His land was divided among his ten children Dec. 23-30, 1813 as follows:

Sarnuel and Barbara Hager Kil11an’s children and their descendants are as follows:

1. E1izabeth, the oldest child, married Wi11iam Herman Dec. 21, 1813; Bondsman, John Gross, Mic Cline. Wi11iam Herman was a son of George Herman who married a Miss Eslinger. They had 10 children: George, Paul, Caleb, Ado1phus, William, Clarissa, Elizabeth, Barbara, Leah and Michael. (Fidas Herman, Ex-C1erk of Superior Court and Register of Deeds at Catawba County was a son of Caleb Herman.)

2. Sallie, the second child, married John Gross. He is supposed to have been a son of Pioneer Henry Gross, Sr., who lived near Pioneer Henry Weidner and built what was later known as Wi1fongs or Coulter’s Mill on Gross’s Creek. We know that John was a brother of Adam Gross, the father of Mrs. Harriett Yoder of Newton, N. C. John Gross married Sallie Killian, to which union was born the fol1owing children, who married and 1ived in N. C.: Mary, Margaret, and Malinda.

Mary married in 1831 Moses Seitz. The late Abel Seitz of Hickory was one of their children. He was the father of George Seits and Mrs. Ellen Smyre (wife of M. M. Smyre of near Newton, N. C.)

Margaret, daughter of John and Sallie Gross, married Phillip Hoover in 1833 (Phillip Hoover was a brother of the writer’s grandmother, Mrs. Anna Hoover Baker). Adam Hoover of Lincoln County who married Miss Emma Fox and Daniel Hoover, a merchant of Concord, N. C., were Phillip and Margaret Hoover’s two children.

Malinda, John and Sallie Gross’s daughter, married Phillip Whitener in 1835. Phillip Whitener was a prominent Justice of the Peace in his day. Sidney Whitener, who lived in the “Forks of the Rivers” was a son of theirs.

It appears that after these three children married, John and Sallie Gross sold their property and with the other children moved to Grundy County, Tennessee.

John and Sallie Gross’ other children were: John, Jr. who went from Grundy County, Tennessee to Trenton, Ga.) Lawson, Asa, Wil1iam, who married Winnie Brooks, and now have a daughter living near McMinnvil1e, Tennessee who is (1939) 92 years old; Jonas, killed in the War between the States; and Anna, who married Zeb Walker.

3. David, 3rd child of Samue1 C. Ki1lian married on Jan. 10, 1809, the first time,

Catherine Cline, daughter of Jacob and Elizabeth Wilfong Cline. They had the following children: Ephraim, born in 1810; Abel, Logan and Susan.

Ephraim in 1835 married Mary Killian, a daughter of William and Nancy Cresamore Killian. Their children were: Nancy, who married Elija Smith; Wm. L., who married Eva Baker (they were the parents of Craig J. Yates and Anna); Amsi, who married Barbara Coon. Their children are Henry, George, Mary (married Robert Rhodes), John, and David; Susan, who married Alonzo Lutz; Robert B. Kil1ian, a doctor of medicine, who married E11a Rhodes. Their children are Mary and Ransom.

Logan, the 3^rd child of David Ki1lian, moved to Dade County, Georgia, with his father about 1830.

Susan, the 4^th child of David Killian, married Lawson Bost, grandson of pioneer William Bost.

About 1818, David Ki11ian’s wife Catherine died (Catherine Cline) and in 1820 he married Christine Deitz, a daughter of Jacob and Sarah Killian Deitz. (Sarah was a daughter of John Killian).

4. Wi11iam Killian, the 4^th child of Samue1 and Barbara Killian, appears to have married an Elizabeth Bost in 1816 who must have soon died. Wi11iam married Nancy Cresamore, granddaughter of pioneer Jacob Cresamore of the Salem Church section of Lincoln County. Their children were: Susan, who married Ephraim Killian; Laban, S.; who was the pioneer nurseryman of this section, and Lawson, who died when a young man.

5. Frederick, the 5^th child of Samuel and Barbara Killian, was born in 1793. He married in 1822, Anne, daughter of. Adam Gross. She did not live long thereafter and Frederick married Catherine Lutz. Their chi1dren were: Noah, killed in Civil War; Samue1 E. married first time Frances Fry, the second time Miss Alice Hunsucker Yount; Lydia, who married Conrad Pitts; Pennie, who married Jonas Hawn; Nancy, who married Jesse Holder; and Mary Magdalene, who married Luther Whisenant - (their children were Daniel and Susan). Susan married Lee Stine and their children are Gladys and Mrs. Mary S. Riggles. Frederick Killian was buried at St. Paul’s Church.

7. Polly, the 7^th child of Samuel Killian married Daniel Herman (a brother of Wi1liam, who married Polly’s sister Elizabeth) in 1820. Their children were: Franklin, who married Hahala Isenhour in 1844; Elizabeth, who married Amsey Stine; Peter, a Methodist minister, who married Fannie Jay of South Carolina; George, who married Jane Hoover; Linnie, who married Eusebus Hedrick; Barbara, who married a Sigman; and Germima (Jemima) who first married a Bollinger, and the second time an Abernethy.

8. Samuel Jr., the 8^th child of Samuel Killian, went to Grundy County, Tennessee when a young man and married a Miss Barnes whose ancestors emigrated from eastern North Carolina. They had a number of chi1dren and have many descendants in Grundy and Warren Counties in Tennessee.

9. Joseph, the 9^th child of Samuel Killian, Sr. was born in 1800 and in 1824 married Regina Bolick. Their children were Anthony, who married Mary Yount (their children were Camil1a who married Tim Cline; Juliann Elizabeth, who married Josiah Hefner (Raymond L. Hefner is one of their chi1dren); William E. who married Julia Huffman; Rose Ann, daughter of Joseph Killian married John Winebarger. Elija, son of Joseph Killian married Malinda Bolick. Alfred, son of Joseph Ki1lian married Rebecca Drum. Mahala never married. Casper, son of Joseph, married first Malinda Herman, and the second time Candice Winebarger.

10. Andrew, the 10^th child of Samuel Killian was born in 1804 and married in 1837 Sophie Reece. Their children were Wm. L., Anna B., John, and Peter.

11. Catrina, the 11^th child of Pioneer Andreas Killian, is supposed to have been born in 1762-62. She married John Barringer. They lived in Cabarrus County and are buried at St. John’s Church in that County. They were the ancestors of Gen. Barringer.

12. Elizabeth was the 12^th and youngest child of Pioneer Andreas Killian. She is supposed to have been born about 1764-65. She married Michael Houk. This Elizabeth

may be the same as Mariah E1izabeth Killian who was received into the Lutheran Church, Catawba by Rev. J.G. Arndt, June 9, 1776 (Salem L.R. Church in Lincoln County). Michael Houk was received into South Fork (St. Paul’s) Church by J. Godfrey Arndt, August 1776.

The United Census of 1850 shows that Michael Houk, age 95, and his wife, Elizabeth age 90, were residing in Benton, now Calhoun County, Alabama. Michael was pensioned for Revolutionary services rendered while residing in Lincoln County, North Carolina. Nothing more is known of Elizabeth.

I present to the Killian Clan these compiled historical records of Pioneer Andreas Killian and his descendants – not a complete history of the Killian Family, but rather a skeleton or framework on which to build a complete history of Andreas Killian’s descendants. The facts herein set forth, beginning more than two centuries ago, have been worked out slowly and tediously the work has been done from various sources such as legal documents, land grants, deeds, wi11s, marriage bonds, tombstone inscriptions, dates and names in old Bibles, etc., and these facts can be depended upon as reasonably accurate to have been gathered at so late a date.

The purpose of this manuscript is for the descendants of the pioneer Killian to build from the generations given, the descendants from these pioneer families, an accurate history of their following descendants down to the present generation, even including the babies now in the cradles.

It is too great a task for the historian to write a complete up-to-date history of our family without the aid of other descendants, but if a representative of each family receiving this manuscript will begin on their respective family line where this history stops and continue the work of such line to the present day and send this data to the Killian Family Organization, in a very short time we could compile a complete history of our family from the pioneer down to the present generation.

Please take your branch of the KILLIAN TREE and write all that you know and can learn (accurately) about it and forward to me so we can soon begin to write the final (and I hope complete) history of our Killian Family.

Please work up “your line” at once and forward promptly. Can I depend on you?

Enclosed are suitable blanks for your convenience in 1isting the necessary information.

I wish to acknowledge here with thanks the help that many have given me in this undertaking, and especially do I mention Mr. T.D. Killian of Atlanta, Georgia, the pioneer of this work; Mrs. H.C. Groom of Brownville, Texas, for the history of Leonard Killian’s family; Mrs. D.M. Carpenter of Maiden, N. C. for the history of Marillis Killian, who married Jacob Yount; and Mr. John A. Lawing of Charlotte, N.C. for the history of Jean Killian, who married William Lawing.

On Sunday, October l9, 1952, a monument was erected and unveiled at Old Saint Paul’s Lutheran Church about two miles West of Newton, North Carolina, in memory of Andreas Killian, the original pioneer, and his descendents, Andreas Killian having been born in 1702 and died in the year 1788, the monument being erected near his grave in the old cemetery at Saint Paul’s Church. There were approximately 1000 descendants and friends in attendance at this unveiling, which was presided over by Jesse C. Sigmon, Sr., President of the Killian Klan, the invocation given by Rev. John A. Koons, now deceased, the dedication by J. Yates Killian, now deceased, the unveiling by Robert Mayo Hefner and Roslyn Reid (eighth generation), the principal address made by Hon. C.H. Killian, of Brooklyn, New York, who was introduced by Hon. Charles Raper Jonas of Linco1nton, North Carolina.

The sum of approximately $l500.00 covering the cost of the erection of this beautiful monument was donated by the descendants and friends of this great pioneer, the Memorial and Finance Committee in charge was as follows:

In 1771 Paul Anthony and wife, Froney, deeded an eleven acre tract of land lying about one mi1e northwest of the present city of Newton, N. C., to the Lutheran and Reformed de- nominations to be used for Church and school purposes. On these 1ands Old Saint Paul’s Church was erected.

The exact date of its founding is not known, but a Swiss Reformed minister, Martin, preached here in 1759. In 1764 Dupert, also of the Reformed Church was recognized as pastor. The first regu1ar Lutheran pastor was the Rev. Johann Gottfried Arndt.

The origina1 “Dutch Meeting House” was built of 1ogs. It became dilapidated about 1818 and was torn down. The sound 1ogs went into the present building a short distance west of the old site. It is said that the nails used in its construction were made by blacksmith, Paul Suttlemyre. It is probably the oldest church now in use in western North Carolina, having high type pulpit, and a gallery that accommodated slaves. A modern new Lutheran church has been erected near this old church.

Under date of May 29, 1819, fifty-three members of “Saint Paul’s Meeting House” each signed a pledge to pay to the Reverend John S. Ibeck of Hagerstown, MD., a stipulated amount in case he would come and “preach or teach” on one Sunday of each month for a year, “in the German or English 1anguage as will be most suitable to the congregation.”

It is presumed that he did not accept the call since the list was crossed out. Family surnames affixed were: Bolick, Boovey, Bullinger, Cline, Coulter, Deal, Dietz, Fry, Gross, Hahn, Herman, Huffman, Huit, Ikert, Killian, Lutz, McHaffee, McRee, Miller, Propst, Punch, Ramseur, Robinson, Setzer, Shel1, Smyer, Star, Whitener, and Wilfong. - RLH

J. Yates Killian, the historian of Newton, North Carolina, a well known nurseryman and farmer, who represented Catawba County in the General Assemb1y of North Carolina several years, and who was the most prominent leader in organizing the Killian Klan, and high1y respected citizen, died on September 24, 1953.

Raymond L. Hefner, a descendant of the original pioneer, a citizen of Hickory, North Carolina, a prominent and active member of the Killian Klan, a former President and active leader in all of its activities, died on December 1, 1953.

The Kil1ian Klan was organized on August 22, 1935, at old Salem Lutheran and German Reformed Church, located about six miles north of Lincolnton, North Carolina, near the Lincoln-Catawba County line, and on the road leading to Startown and Hickory. At this first meeting officers were elected as shown on page 1.

The Klan meets annually at said Old Salem Church on the second Sunday in September, and all descendents are invited.

This history is not complete, and we request that any additional information on the descendents of the pioneer Andreas Ki1lian be forwarded to the Secretary or to any of the undersigned. This the 1^st day of May 1955. Odus C. Carpenter, RFD #2, Lincolnton, N.C. Mrs. P.W. Whitener, Secretary - Treasurer, Linco1nton, N.C. Jesse C. Sigmon, P.0. Box 70, Newton, N.C. Guy C. Killian, P.O. Box 1022, Gastonia, N.C. COMMITTEE

In Pioneer Andreas Killian’s family there were twelve children six boys and six girls. His will was made September 2, 1785.

In the name of God I, Andrew Killian of the County of Lincoln in the State of North Carolina, being sick of body but of sound and disposing memory do make and ordain this my Last Will and Testament in manner and form as followeth (to wit)

After all my lawful debts are paid, which I allow to be paid out of the debts now due to me; I give to Mary my beloved wife the sole and proper use of the house in which I now live with the benefit of a garden one half acre of the tendable land, firewood, etc. Enduring her natural life together with the gray mare and colt and her choice of any of my milk cows with her calf and wintering for the same on my plantation yearly as long as she lives, and also twelve bushels of wheat, seventy bushels of Indian corn, and two hundred weight of hog meat to be paid her annually by my sons Daniel Killian and Samuel Killian jointly as long as she lives, or otherwise enduring her widowhood, likewise her bed and furniture, spinning wheel, and such part of my pewter and dresser furniture as she may desire, and such other part of my household furniture as she may reasonably need for housekeeping, these things to be for her only proper use and behoove forever.

I give to my son-in-law Michael Price, the husband of my daughter Margaret, one-shilling sterling.

I give to my son-in-law William Lewin, husband of my daughter Jean, one-shilling sterling.

I give to my son-in-law James Pritchet, husband of my daughter Brina, one-shilling sterling.

I give to my son Daniel Killian one half of all my land in fair division, quantity and quality considered - together with one seventh part of all the profits arising from the sale or division of my unbequeathed moveable estate and outstanding debts, whom I also appoint one of my executors of this my last will and testament.

I give to my son Samuel Killian the one half of all my lands in fair division with his brother Daniel Killian together with one seventh part of my unbequeathed personal estate - whom I likewise appoint one of my executors of this my last will and testament.

I give to my son—in-law John Barringer, husband of my daughter Christina (Catrina) one-seventh part of my unbequeathed personal estate.

I give to my son-in-law Michael Houk, husband of my daughter Elisabeth one-seventh part of my unbequeathed estate and outstanding debts.

I give to my grandson Andrew Killian, son of my son Andrew Killian, one-fourteenth part of my unbequeathed personal estate.

I give to my grandson Daniel Killian, son of my son Andrew Killian, one-fourteenth part of my unbequeathed personal estate.

I likewise give to my son George Killian one-seventh of my unbequeathed personal estate.

I likewise give to my son-in-law James Pritchet one-seventh part of my personal estate not heretofore bequeathed, etc.

Ratifying and confirming this and no other to be my last will and testament, in testimony of which I have unto set my hand and seal in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred eighty five on the twenty second day of September, in the ninth year of the American Independence.

Margaret – Leonard – John – Jean – Crate – Andrew – George – Brina – Daniel – Samuel C. – Christianna – Elizabeth – Our pioneer ancestor came from Germany on the ship Adventure, landing at Philadelphia where he took the Oath of Allegiance September 2, 1732. He came to North Carolina about l747 and later established a home about 0 miles northwest of here.

Erected by Descendants with the cooperation of The Catawba County Historical Association, Inc. – 1952