| Notes |
From Clement Matheny:
This information was written by Percy Doles, grandson of Benjamin Matheny.
Benjamin Matheny was born in 1798 in Ireland of Scotch parents who stopped there two years on their way from Scotland to Pennsylvania, where they settled in 1800.
His father died when he was 12 years old and later he was placed as a cooper's apprentice. (making wooden tubs, staves, hoops, etc.) But not caring for his master, when the war of 1812 began, he ran away and enlisted as a Private at Morgantown, Virginia. He later told his daughter, Berthena, he was only 14, but enlisted as a 16 year old, as he was large physically for his age.
The Official war record is filed in the Dept of Interior.
His war record in the Bureau of Pensions at Washington, DC filed under Surviror's Certificate #16,106 reads: "Benjamin Matheny enlisted Morgantown, Virginia, as a private and served September 1, 1812 to March 1, 1814 in Captain James P Paxton's Company, 12th regiment US Infantry, engaged in battle of Chrysler's Field on St. Lawrence River. Pension March 25, 1871. 75 years of age, living at Stock Township, Nobel County, Ohio." Further states he died in 1875, age 79 but of course he was really only 77. his pension (57 years after service) was $6.00 per month, which he drew for four years. Cause of death was listed as "old age".
Buried in Boblett cementery three miles east of Gillespieville in Vinton Co., Ohio. he was married October 8, 1860 to Catherine Saenger (pronounced Songer) Hix, they being widow and widower at the time and each having had 14 children by their first marriage, and following this second marriage for both there were 2 girls, Berthena born June 4, 1861; died 12:30am February 22, 1926 and buried in Doles Cem. Death caused by heart condition due to period of spasmodic convulsions when unconscious resulting from "bed fever" following birth of Harry in October 1893 and a prolonged illness. and Jane born January 28, 1864; Died Dec 20, 1922, buried Orient, Ohio, which is near Columbus, Ohio.
Jane married Wesley Arganbright, childrens names Wesley, Maude, Benjamin and Phillip.
Catherine Saenger Hix Matheny was born in Floyd County, virginia in 1813 of German parentage and she had 5 brothers, no sisters. Her father was employed by Governor Floyd and had charge of his farm, mill and distillery in Floyd County.
Her parents being opposed to her marrying Hix, in 1831 they ran away and married, establishing their home near Zanesville, Muskingham County, Ohio, but not long after moved to Noble Co., Ohio, thence about 1850 to Vinton Co., when after being widowed, she married Benjamin Matheny in 1860. Following his death in 1875, she was married a 3rd time to John Swackhammer in 1878 who died in 1880.
The Mathenys in 1863 made a trip by wagon to Illinois, to Noble County in 1871, again to Illinois in 1872 (each move with the idea of relocating but returned to Vinton Co. subsequent to each move.) Catherine Seanger Hix Matheny Swackhammer died in 1884 of dropsy which developed in the last 2 years of her life. She is buried in Doles Cementery as she had other childeren and relatives buried there.
Record incomplete of Benjamins first marriage to Elizabeth and no children to his 2nd wife listed.
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West Virginia Pioneers
1798 - 1875 (77 years)
[1] 
