Maj Joel Wilson Hortenstine1

b. 7 February 1841, d. 2 January 1926
FatherJohn Hortenstine2,3 b. 1795, d. 1869
MotherMargaret Wilson2,3 b. 1803, d. 19 Mar 1857
Birth7 Feb 1841 Maj Joel Wilson Hortenstine was born on 7 Feb 1841 on the old family homestead in Washington County, Virginia.1,3,4 
Military Joel fought in the Civil War as part of the Army of Tennessee. After the war he served as a Major in the Virginia militia.3,5 
Occupation Although Joel was enumerated on census records as a farmer, he also served as notary public and was employed as a surveyor.3 
Marriage26 Sep 1867 He married first Mary Virginia Campbell, daughter of Col. James Lafayette Franklin Campbell and Rosannah E. McConnell, on 26 Sep 1867 in Washington County, Virginia.6,3 
Cens-18801 Jun 1880 Joel and Mary raised a family of 10 children in the Goodson district of Washington County, Virginia.7 
Widowed1890  Mary died in 1890. At the time 4 of their children, all boys, were age 10 or younger. 
Marriagecirca 1895 He married second Minnie Barnes, daughter of John Thomas Barnes and Mary Susan Zimmerman, circa 1895.5,8 
  Minnie was close to 30 years younger than Joel. 
Cens-191028 Apr 1910  By the time the 1910 census was enumerated they had been married 15 years. Minnie was 39, which was two years younger than Joel's eldest son Edward, who was also living with them. Joel and Minnie's daughter Mary was 7; another daughter had died two years earlier. Minnie's mother was living with them too. She was the same age as Joel.8 
Death2 Jan 1926 Joel died on 2 Jan 1926 at age 84.1,4 
Burial He was buried at Hortenstine Cemetery in Washington County, Virginia.4 

Research Comment:

Joel and Mary's family is interesting in that only 2 of their 10 children remained in Washington County, and only one is known to have pursued farming as an occupation. Joel's work as a surveyor must have been of interest to his sons as 2 of them became civil engineers. Another son was the plant manager for an iron company and one became a postal clerk. One son died from illness during the Spanish American War and the occupation of one is unknown (James). Only Edward, the eldest, stayed on the family farm. Even the daughters did not marry farmers. Two ended up in Shenandoah, Virginia where their husbands were probably associated with either the iron works or the railroad, one as a physician and one as a "trainmaster". A third daughter married a college teacher and moved to Oklahoma. Edward and James apparently stayed in Virginia (I have little information on James) but the other sons settled in places such as Birmingham, Pittsburgh, New Orleans, Memphis and Dallas. This pattern of leaving the land and settling in large urban areas was a little unusual among their cousins and neighbors in Washington County.

Family 1

Mary Virginia Campbell b. 30 Oct 1847, d. 22 Jun 1890
Children

Family 2

Minnie Barnes b. 20 Nov 1870
Children
Last Edited21 Jun 2011

Citations

  1. [S49] Hortenstine Memorial Marker and Genealogy, Hortenstine Cemetery, Washington Co. VA. Maj. Joel Wilson Hortenstine, son of Capt John Hortenstine and Margaret Wilson; b. 2-7-1841; d. 1-2-1926.
  2. [S1637] King Albert Hagey and William Anderson Hagey, Hagy Families in America, p. 167.
  3. [S1198] Virgil Lewis, "Residents of Washington County," in Virginia and Virginians, p. 731.
  4. [S2] Catherine McConnell, High On A Windy Hill, p. 58. Stone reported to read: Major Joel W. Hortenstine, 7 Feb. 1841-2 Jan. 1926.
  5. [S49] Hortenstine Memorial Marker and Genealogy, Hortenstine Cemetery, Washington Co. VA.
  6. [S6] Thomas Colley, Washington Co. VA Marriages 1853-1880, p. 172. Joel W. Hortenstine, 26y, sgl, b. & res Washington Co. VA, farmer, s/o of John and Margaret Hortenstine AND Mary V. Campbell, 19y, sgl, b. & resid WCV, d/o James L.F. & R.E. Campbell; 26 Sep 1867.
  7. [S163] J.W. Hortenstine household, 1880 U.S. Cens., Washington Co., VA, pop. sched., Goodson District, ED 80A (stamped), p. 1, dwelling 1, family March 2005, image 1 of 66. Enumeration includes: J.W. Hortenstine, 39, farmer; Mary V.,32, wife, keeping house; Edwin C., 11, son; Annie W., 9, dau; Susan [B. or R], 7, dau; Margaret S., 5, dau; John A., 3, son; Bernard, 2, son; Henry R. 4/12, b. Jan, son; all b. VA; all parents b. VA.
  8. [S237] Joel W. Hortenstine household, 1910 U.S. cens., Washington Co., VA, pop. sched., Goodson district, ED 129, sheet 7A (242 stamped), dwelling 119, family 120, viewed online at Ancestry.com, March 2005, image 13 of 21. Enumeration includes: Joel W. Hortenstine, 69, marr #2, marr 15 yrs, farmer; Minnie B., wife, 39, marr #1, marr 15 yrs, mother of 2 children, 1 living; Edward C., son, 41, farmer; Marie V., dau, 7; M.S. Barnes, 69, mos-in-law, marr 45 yrs, mother of 5 children, 4 living; Myrtle Girtie, 11, servant, mu; all b. VA; all parents b. VA.
  9. [S1916] "Kentucky Death Records 1852-1953", subscription database with digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : entry for Sophia H. Buchanan, 28 Dec. 1949 [sic], death certificate 116-27773).
  10. [S49] Hortenstine Memorial Marker and Genealogy, Hortenstine Cemetery, Washington Co. VA. Ella Hortenstine, d/o J.W. & his second wife, Minnie: 4-5-1897 to 3-7-1908.
  11. [S49] Hortenstine Memorial Marker and Genealogy, Hortenstine Cemetery, Washington Co. VA. Mary Hortenstine, d/o J.W. & his second wife, Minnie: b. 6-12-1902.