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Submitted: 2/6/14 • Approved: 2/6/14 • Last Updated: 8/13/15 • R178926-G0-S3
John Phillip A. Biars was born on 03 Feb 1875 in Harrison Township, Gallia County, Ohio, a son of Gustava Biars and wife Kate Kraus Biars.
His parents were German-speaking immigrants. Gustava came to the U.S. in 1869 and Kate in 1870, according to census records. John was one of six children. His siblings were Emma Catherine, Christopher William, Augustus, Frederick and Henry Biars.
Biars family members said John left his parents’ home and was never heard from again. In 2007 the mystery was solved. John died in 1918 in Scioto County, Ohio, during The Influenza Pandemic as did three of his children, according to his great grandson Randall Morrison. John and daughters Marion and Opal are buried in the Milldale (School Land Hollow) Cemetery, New Boston, Scioto County.
John married Catherine Middleton (27 Aug 1887 Greenup County, Ky./18 Aug 1931, Bonser Run, Sciotoville, Ohio) on 16 Oct 1905 in Scioto County. She was a daughter of James Middleton and wife Eliza Sparks Middleton. (Alternative spelling of Catherine’s name – Sarah Cathryn Middleton.)
They had seven children: 1. Nora Marie Biars (30 Sept 1911/13 April 1980). Married Earnest Frederick Morrison in Greenup, Ky., 11 April 1933. Buried in Sunset Memorial Gardens, also known as Floral Hills, Franklin Furnace, Scioto County. 2. Fanny Biars (19 Mar 1906, Ohio/15 Sep 1983). Married Wesley H. Purtee. Fanny was buried in Evergreen Memorial Gardens in Finksburg, Md. 3. John Henry "Jack" Biars (19 Jan 1909/30 July 1972). Buried in the Clapboard Cemetery, also known as the Pine Creek Baptist Church Cemetery, Wheelersburg, Scioto. 4. Pearl Biars - died as a child, no dates. 5. Lisa Biars - no information. 6. Marion Jane Biars (30 Nov 1915/30 June 1916). Buried in School Land Hollow Cemetery, also known as, Milldale Cemetery, Scioto County, Ohio. 7. Opal Biars (12 June 1917/04 Nov 1918), buried in School Land Hollow Cemetery.
After John Biars’ death, Catherine married John Edward Rice.
In a 1982 survey of Milldale Cemetery, it was noted that John’s tombstone was “Off base and down.” The 1997 inventory said his tombstone was a “Dove cut into stone.” The tombstone was upright and in good condition in 2010.
Tombstone photo by Randall Morrison. Sources: 1. Family members including Randall and Kim Morrison and Eda Smith Ellison. 2. 1982 inventory by Virgil and Marguerite Ramsey 3. 1997 inventory and map by Wayne Campbell, Brenda Campbell and Richard Underwood. This inventory and a map of the cemetery showing mostly fieldstones are available at the Portsmouth Public Library, Ohio. John’s grave is No. 84 on the map. 4. Ohio, Births and Christenings Index, 1800-1962, FHL Film Number: 317661. 5. Scioto County Chapter, Ohio Genealogical Society.
Contributed on 2/6/14 by wvamemories-graves
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Record #: 178926