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Our 3rd great-grandfather Jonathan Abel who was born February 2, 1783, in Montgomery (now Wythe) County, Virginia. He was the son of Lewis Henry Abel and Elizabeth Wampler. Jonathan's name appears in the baptismal records of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Wythe County. Martin Kimberling and his wife Elizabeth were listed as witnesses to the baptism.
On May 10, 1800, Jonathan's father, Lewis Abel, Sr. was listed on the Wythe County personal property tax list as paying taxes on 2 tithes (two free white males above the age of 16). The tithes were for Lewis and his son Jonathan. Jonathan's name appeared for the first time on the tax books of Wythe County on April 13, 1802. After the death of his father in 1801, Jonathan could no longer be taxed with his father, so had to be taxed individually. The last time Jonathan's name appeared on the Wythe County tax list was in early 1813, when he was assessed for one tithe.
Jonathan married our 3rd great-grandmother Catherine Cleaver on January 12, 1809, at Wytheville, in Wythe County, Virginia. Catherine Cleaver was born about 1790, possibly in Montgomery (now Wythe) County, Virginia. She was the daughter of Frederick Ray Cleaver and Mary Cooke.
About 1813, Jonathan moved his family to Tennessee, where they settled in Greene County.
The 1830 Greene County census shows Jonathan, age 40-49; one male 15-19; one male 10-14; one female (Catherine) 40-49; one female 15-19; one female 10-14; and two females 5-9 years old.
Catherine died between 1835 and 1840, in Greene County, Tennessee.
The 1840 Greene County census shows Jonathan, age 50-59; one male 5-9; one male under 5; one female 30-39; one female 15-19; and one female 5-9 years old. Living nearby was Jonathan's son Hezekiah and his family.
The 1850 Greene County, Tennessee, census shows Jonathan, age 64, a farmer, real property valued at $300; Joseph, 19; Margaret, 17; and Aurelius, 14 years of age. Hezekiah's family was again living nearby.
About 1853, Jonathan moved, with his son Joseph, to Keokuk County, Iowa.
A special Iowa census shows the family was living in Jackson Township, Keokuk, Iowa in 1856. The census shows Joseph Abel, 25, had lived in the state of Iowa for 3 years, born in TN, was a farmer; his wife Christiana, 25, lived in state 3 years, born in TN; son Rufus, 4, lived in state 3 years, born in TN; son Columbus, less than a year old, born in IA; and his father Johnathan Abel, 71, widowed, has lived in state 3 years, born in VA.
Jonathan died between 1857 and 1860, in Keokuk County, Iowa.
Children of Jonathan Abel and Catherine Cleaver
1. Hezekiah Abel was born 1810, in Wythe Co, VA.
2. Catherine Elizabeth Abel was born 1813, in TN.
3. Jonathan Abel, Jr. was born 1815, in TN. He married Sally Snider on Apr 23, 1840, in Greene Co, TN.
4. Mary Abel was born 1817, in TN.
5. Sarah Rebecca Abel, was born 1821, in Greene Co, TN.
6. Unknown Daughter Abel was born 1824, in TN. She was shown as 5-9 years of age on the 1830 Greene Co, TN census. We believe she died prior to 1840, in Greene Co.
7. Joseph Abel was born 1831, in Greene Co, TN. (our line)
8. Margaret Jane Abel was born 1833, in Greene Co, TN.
9. Aurelius Abel was born 1835, in Greene Co, TN.