General Notes

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Family tradition says that both John and Sarah are buried on their farm in the Varner Cemetery.  Although John left no will, his heirs are listed in a deed, recorded in Belmont County .  After John's death, his widow broke up housekeeping and went to live with her children, staying for a few months at a time with each one.

John and Sarah made the long journey to Belmont County Ohio from Greene County, PA.  John pur chased their homestead on April 19, 1826.  Two years later John purchased 65 acres from Thomas Smith for $300.  By then, he had one horse and two head of cattle, for which he paid 38 cents, 5 mils taxes.  By 1830 John's sons, Samuel and Isaac also appeared on the Belmont County tax rolls.

Most of John and Sarah's children migrated to Linn County, Iowa by 1860, to Kansas by 1872 and to Kay County, Oklahoma Territory at the time of the land rush in the late 1800's.  These early Varners were farmers in Ohio and Iowa, and were intelligent, hard-working people.  After moving to Kansas, they went into the building industry.  Education was important, and even the earlier generation of Varner men were taught to read and write.