My Genealogy Hound

JOHN HIVLING. Whenever the pioneer settlers of this county are mentioned, prominent among them is noted the subject of this sketch who migrated hither from Maryland as early as November, 1808. He settled on the Little Miami River, three miles west of the present site of Xenia, which was unmarked, save by a few dwellings. He had previously visited this region and purchased mill property and land. At one time he owned all the land north of Church Street, as far out as the Fair grounds.

Mr. Hivling, however, only resided a short time where he first located but about 1810 removed within the town limits and opened an hotel in a log building, situated upon the present site of the Xenia National Bank, at the corner of Detroit and Main Streets. A few years later he retired to a farm where he lived a few years but not being quite contented with the change from city to country life, came back and purchased a store on Main Street, where he followed merchandising for many years and until retiring from the active duties of life. He was a citizen highly respected in the community and rounded up the ripe old age of eighty-one years, dying in 1860. He carried a musket during the War of 1812, and later served as Sheriff of Greene County while he was keeping hotel.

Mr. Hivling was united in marriage with Miss Sally Ankney in 1799. Mrs. Hivling was born about 1775, and they became the parents of fourteen children: Margaret, the eldest, married John McPherson and is now dead; Mary, Mrs. Nunnemaker, is now eighty-nine years old; Susan, Mrs. Engel, deceased; Abraham was for many years a leading merchant of Xenia and is now dead; Eliza, Mrs. Baker, is eighty-four years old; Sophia is eighty-two years; Harriet, Mrs. Winters, deceased; Abigail was the wife of Jonathan Harshman, of Dayton, and deceased; Joana G., Mrs. Leaman, lives in Xenia; Sarah A. died when about sixty-two years old; Emily is the wife of President George W. Willard of Heidelberg College at Tiffin; John is deceased; Martha was the wife of John Bell, of Hillsboro, and deceased. Mr. Hivling was a prominent member of the Masonic fiaternity of whose principles he was a warm admirer and defender. Religiously he was connected with the Reformed Church. His father, Nicholas Hivling, was a native of Germany and emigrated to America at an early day, settling in Maryland, where he died.