Dr. Jasper Yeates Hand

Named after his great uncle (Katherine Ewing's uncle) and his father Edward's good friend, Justice of the Supreme Court, Hon. Jasper Yeates, (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jasper_Yeates).

https://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=147817707

Dr. Jasper Yeates Hand

Birth: 1780 Death: Feb. 20, 1828

See McBrides' cemetery book, 1972 edition, p. 217.

Surgeon Key's Regt., Ohio Mil., War of 1812.

The 1780 date of birth used on this memorial is fromthe bio in Elsie Johnson Ayres' book, cited below, but it may be wrong. Other dates of birth listed for him are 1786 and 20 Feb 1784. Which is correct?

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Many thanks to fellow Find A Grave contributor Marianna Kerns Morgan for contributing all of the following to this memorial:

"Highland Pioneer Sketches & Family Genealogies" by Elsie Johnson Ayres, Pages 115-116:

Dr. Jasper Hand, Pioneer Physician and Surgeon of Hillsborough.

Jasper, the only child of Gen. Edward Hand to emigrate to this section of Ohio, was born in 1780. He attended local schools, then graduated from the Philadelphia Medical School after his father's death. He was granted land for his father's services in the Revolution, which he chose to locate in our county. Dr. Jasper Hand brought with him several books, scales, bleeders and doctor's items used by Gen. Hand. After a short stay in Chillicothe, Dr. Hand arrived in Hillsboro in the spring of 1809. He opened an office in partnership with Dr. George Smith in a log cabin north of the site of the Armory. Historians have referred to the early doctor as James Smith, but courthouse records show that deeds, etc. were signed by "Dr. George Smith and wife Phebe."

Dr. Smith died in 1811, and Dr. Hand continued to operate the apothecary shop. A Hand descendant, corresponding with the author concerning the Hand genealogy, stated, "Jasper Hand not only took over Dr. George Smith's shop and practice, but his wife as well."

Dr. Smth had married Phebe, daughter of Stephen Ogden, Soldier of the Revolution, who also emigrated to the county and is buried on our soil. Soon after the doctor's death, Dr. Hand married Phebe Ogden Smith.

Dr. Hand was a gentleman of extremely good manners, and, like his father, was an ardent and devoted patriot. He served in the War of 1812 as a surgeon of the First Rifle Regiment. He re-enlisted under the General Call of 1813, and served as a surgeon to Col. William Keyes' Regiment. At the close of the war, Dr. Hand was elected Brigadier General of the Highland Militia. On parade, he wore the military chapeau and the Revolutionary War uniform worn by his father, Gen. Edward Hand.

Dr. Hand was a fine, outstanding figure and an expert horseman. He was a man of high morals, [imposing?] in appearance, with a good practice. Medical bills were paid in poultry, beef, port, candies, butter, corn, potatoes, or any product his patients could produce. Dr. Hand's family were growing in number, and he was embarrassed by lack of financial means.

Dr. Jacob Kirby received his diploma in 1825. He came to Hillsboro to form a partnership with Dr. Hand, who was suffering from consumption. The esteemed doctor succumbed in August, 1828, grieved by the rich and by the lowly. He was laid to rest in the old Presbyterian Cemetery on E. Main. His body was removed to the new burying ground now called the Hillsboro Cemetery. Dr. Kirby was appointed administrator of the estate and guardian of the children. Phebe Hand became the wife of William Keyes, after the death of his first wife who came across the mountains with him.

Dr. Jasper and Phebe Ogden Smith Hand were the parents of seven children (1) Margaret, who became the wife of Dr. W. W. Dawson, professor of surgery at the Ohio Medical College, Cincinnati; (2) Edward, whose wife was Kate Huson; (3) Stephen, who, as far as the author was able to ascertain, remained a bachelor. He was an extensive land owner in the county. He took over the comfortable pioneer cabin on the north side of E. Walnut. Later, James E. Gregg erected the beautiful brick house on the lot, now the home of Dr. Arthur Homes and family; (4) John, like his forebears, became a physician and surgeon. He married Anne Fox and they made their home in Pittsburgh, Pa. (5) Catherine married James M. Keyes, son of William Keyes, her mother's third husband. He was well known in political and religious life of Hillsboro. He served as recorder of the county and held other offices. Later the family moved to Indiana. James and Catherine Hand Keyes were the parents of William Lyle, Jane Ann, Florence Agusta, Margaret Dawson, and Donald McDowell Keyes. The James Keyes home was on the east side of N. High. (6) Sarah Ann married James Williamson. They had five children before he died at the early age of 34 by consumption. At the time, he was postmaster of Hillsboro. His wife was appointed postmistress, the first and only woman to hold that position in the town to date. (7) Mary Della (Molly) born 1/28/1828, was less than eight months old when her father died. She succumbed in Greenfield, July 6, 1892. Molly Hand became the wife of William W., son of the pioneer William Bell of Greenfield.

The Bells made their home in Greenfield. Their son, Harry Ruthven, became a prominent dentist of Highland County. He fell heir to his mother's possessions which included a small table, a tea service and china used by his maternal great-grandparents, Gen. and Mrs. Hand. They were used when the Hands entertained Gen. Washington and his Martha in Lancaster, Pa.

Dr. Jasper Hand, pioneer physician and surgeon, traveled the pathways from one pioneer cabin to another in our county when roads and settlers were scarce, He was indifferent to the circumstances of his patients, treating the poor with as much care as the rich, never complaining when they could not pay. His life allotted was short, but he left behind one of the most enviable records of a pioneer doctor in our area.

1850 United States Federal Census
Name: Phebe Hand Age: 49 Estimated Birth Year: abt 1801 Birth Place: Virginia Gender: Female Home in 1850(City,County,State): Hillsborough, Highland, Ohio Family Number: 23 Household Members: Name Age Phebe Hand 49 Margaret Y Hand 22

"The Press Gazette", Hillsboro, Ohio 4/26/1963 (In Part)
The Ayres Drug Store at 114 E. Main St. in Hillsboro has the distinction of being the oldest drug store in Ohio. It was founded in 1808 by Jasper Hand, son of the Revolutionary War soldier, General Edward Hand. The firm has been at its present location since 1847 and has several other "firsts" to its credit. It had the first furnace in a business establishment in Hillsboro (1887); it was the first steel front store in town (1887) and had the first plate glass windows (1897).

Family links:

Children:

 Catharine B Keys (1817 - 1864)*

 Stephen Ogden Hand (1820 - 1872)*

 Margaret Yeates Hand Dawson (1826 - 1883)*

 Mary Dorothy Hand Bell (1828 - 1892)*

*Calculated relationship

Burial: Hillsboro Cemetery Hillsboro Highland County Ohio, USA

Created by: Jay Wright Record added: Jun 13, 2015 Find A Grave Memorial# 147817707