USA > Ohio > Fayette County > History of Fayette County, Ohio : her people, industries and institutions > Part 42
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Richard Huchison and Zipporah Hanna were married January 22, 1853. and began housekeeping at Slate Mills, Ohio, but lived near Washington C. H. until the death of the husband and father, Richard H., after which the mother took up the tasks of rearing the family of five children. Two of the daughters died in childhood, but she reared the three sons to lives of usefulness and honor. She sent them all to school and kept the family together, even buying a small farm, where William, whose history is here recorded. is now living. She was a life-long and devout member of the Presbyterian church, being a faithful attendant for more than half a century. She is now buried in the cemetery at Washington C. H. Richard Huchison,
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the father of the immediate subject of this review, settled in Ross county, Ohio, after his marriage and from there moved to Fayette county, this state. In 1857 he finally located in Union township, this county, where he was liv- ing in 1862, when he enlisted in the Civil War. He was mustered in as a member of Company C, One Hundred and Fourteenth Regiment Ohio Volun- teer Infantry, and was killed during the siege at Vicksburg, on May 22. 1863, leaving his widow with five children, William S., Mary, James M., Eliza and John. The two daughters are deceased, while the three sons are still living.
William S. Huchison was about ten years of age when his father was killed and he was brought up by his mother, who gave the three sons every possible advantage. At the age of sixteen years he began renting land and has always been known as a man who was not afraid of honest labor. That he has been successful is shown by his land holdings, ninety acres in Fayette county, one hundred and sixty acres in the state of Nebraska, and ninety acres in Greene county, this state.
Mr. Huchison was married in 1879 to Maria Thompson, the daughter of John and Virginia (Brown) Thompson, of Paint township. John Thompson was born in Virginia in Monroe county, and was the son of Alex- ander and Margaret (Dickinson) Thompson. Alexander Thompson was also a native of Virginia and came to Jackson county, Ohio, early in its history. Thomas Brown, the father of Virginia Brown, the mother of Mrs. Maria Huchison, took part in three wars, the War of 1812, the Mexican War and the Civil War. He died in Newton, Jasper county, Illinois. John Thompson and wife were the parents of nine children, Mrs. Maria Huchison, Mrs. Emma Pine, Mrs. Alice Wood, Alexander, Mrs. Susan Pinkerton, Frank, Ella, Charles and Mrs. Winnie Irvin. Alexander and Ella are de- ceased, while the others are still living. Mr. and Mrs. Huchison have five children : Herbert, deceased; Ethel, who married Wilbur Hire, and has two daughters, Evelyn and Virginia; Warren, who married Icy Hidy, and has one daughter, Velma; and two, Loren and Walter, who are still unmarried and living with their parents.
Politically, Mr. Huchison is a Democrat and has always taken a deep interest in political matters, particularly in local affairs. He has been a member of the school board of Union township. Fraternally, he is a loyal member of the Sons of Veterans, and is commander of the B. H. Millikan Camp. Mr. Huchison is a man of open-hearted frankness and unaffected simplicity, and has a host of friends throughout the township and county who admire him for his many good qualities.
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HARLEY T. WILKIN.
It matters much less where a man may be born and how he comes into this life, or rather the conditions surrounding his entrance on to the stage of action, than the environment thrown around him in his boyhood days. Undoubtedly heredity and environment establish a man's position in the world and the individual who is well born and whose surroundings make for his best development is the man who makes a success of life. Harley T. Wilkin, of Washington C. H., has been peculiarly blessed in both respects, having come from old and highly esteemed ancestors and having been reared under excellent home influences.
Harley T. Wilkin, of the firm of H. T. Wilkin & Company, clothing and dealers in gents' furnishing goods, was born in Highland county, Ohio, August 15. 1887. His parents, Charles A. and Susanna ( Nesbit) Wilkin, were natives of the same county and are still living in Hillsboro, that county. They were the parents of four children : Blangie Z., of Hillsboro: Harley T., of Washington C. H .: Roger L., of Hillsboro, and Henry M., also of Hillsboro. Charles A. Wilkin was reared as a farmer's lad in Highland county, this state, and became a general merchant at Newmarket, Ohio, where he was engaged in business for thirty years. At the present time he is engaged in the Inmber business at Hillsboro, with the C. F. Whistler Lumber Company. Ile is also interested in agricultural pursuits, owning a fine farm in Highland county. He is a member of the Baptist church, while his wife adheres to the Presbyterian faith.
The parents of Charles A. Wilkins were Isaac and Matilda ( Edwards) Wilkins, natives of Virginia and Ireland, respectively, and early settlers in Highland county, Ohio. Isaac Wilkins was a farmer and he and his wife reared a family of five children in that county, Hamilton E., Charles A., Effie, Thomas and Arthur. The parents of the wife of Charles A. Wilkin were William and Lucinda ( Eakins) Nesbitt, natives of Highland county, this state. William Nesbitt died in that county at an advanced age, while his wife still survives him, residing in the county where she was born. Will- iam Nesbitt and wife had two children, Henry and Susanna, the wife of Charles A. Wilkin.
Harley T. Wilkin was reared in Newmarket, Ohio, and attended the public schools there until fifteen years of age, after which he took the course in the high school at Hillsboro, Ohio. He then began clerking in a clothing store in Hillsboro, and continued working there until he was twenty-four
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years old. While clerking he made it a point to become acquainted with every detail of the clothing business and when he came to work in Washing- ton C. H., in August, 1911, and established his present business, he was al- ready in close touch with the management of this particular line of business. He is a wide-awake and progressive young man and is rapidly building up a large trade in the city and surrounding community. He has a neat and attractive store with modern equipment and displays his goods in such a way as to attract his customers. He carries a large and well assorted stock of everything worn by men and boys, and by his courteous treatment and affable manner he is rapidly forging to the front as one of the successful business men of his adopted city.
Mr. Wilkin was married on Christmas day, 1909, to Lucy Scott Bean. the daughter of William N. and Mary ( Scott) Bean, and to this union has been born one son, Daniel Scott William Wilkin. Mrs. Wilkin was born in Hillsboro, where her parents are now living, and is one of two children, the other being Lois, who is still with her parents. The paternal grandparents of Mrs. Wilkin were the parents of three children, William, John and Mollie. The maternal grandparents of Mrs. Wilkin were Daniel and - (Pulse) Scott, who also had three children, Mary, Sarah and Charles.
Mr. Wilkin is identified with the Democratic party, but has been too much engrossed with his business affairs to take an active part in political matters. He and his wife are members of the Presbyterian church. Fra- ternally, he is a member of the Knights of Pythias and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks.
HENRY L. HIRE.
One of the largest land owners of Fayette county is Henry L. Hire. who has spent his whole life in this county. In the course of a life of sixty- five years he has accumulated a farin of seven hundred and thirty acres, and, according to the 1910 census, is one of the thirty-three men who own more than five hundred acres of land in this county. His parents were pioneers in Fayette county, having located here shortly after the organization of the county in 1810. His father dying when he was a youth of sixteen, he was compelled to assume the responsibility of managing the home farm, and from that time until he retired from active farm life he lived on the place where he was born.
Henry L. Hire, the son of Jackson and Anna ( Kessler) Hire, was born
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November 6, 1849, in Jefferson township. Fayette county, Ohio. His father was also a native of this county, his grandfather having been one of the first settlers in this section of the state. Jackson Hire and wife were the parents of two children, Henry L., and Sarah, deceased.
Henry L. Hire was educated in the district schools of his home town- ship and finished his education in the schools of Bloomingburg. His father died when he was sixteen years of age and two years later he took charge of the home farm, his mother residing with him until her death. His farm, known as the Blue Grass Stock Farm, is located north of the town of Jeffer- sonville, and consists of six hundred and thirty acres of fine farming land, on which he lived until a few years ago, when he retired from the active life of the farm and bought his present home adjoining the town of Jeffer- sonville, with which is connected a farm of one hundred acres and one of the most beautiful country homes in the county. While in active farm life he has made a specialty of stock raising, breeding and handling Shorthorn cattle and Jersey Red hogs.
Mr. Hire was married in 1869 to Angeline Brock, the daughter of Jack- son and Sarah (Little) Brock. Mr. Hire has been a life-long Democrat and in his younger days was active in political matters. He served on the school board of his township and was president of the board for several years. At the present time he is serving as trustee of Jefferson township, and in this capacity is furthering the interests of his fellow citizens in every possible way. He and his wife are loyal and consistent members of the Methodist Protestant church, in whose welfare they are interested and to whose sup- port they are generous contributors.
HON. HORACE LANGDON HADLEY.
An enumeration of the representative citizens of Ohio who have won recognition and success for themselves and at the same time conferred honor on their community, would be incomplete were there failure to make definite mention of the gentleman whose name introduces this review, Hon. Horace L. Hadley, whose name is a familiar one in this section of the state, where he has held worthy prestige in legal and political circles. He has been dis- tinctively a man of affairs, wielding a wide influence among those with whom he has associated, ever having the welfare of his community at heart and do- ing what he could to aid in its progress and development. He firmly believes
HON. HORACE L. HADLEY
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the old Buckeye state to be one of the most attractive, progressive and pros- perous of any in the Union and it has always been due to such men as Alr. Hadley that she could justly claim a high order of citizenship and a spirit of enterprise which conserved consecutive development and marked advance- ment along all lines of upbuilding. Mr. Hadley early achieved a splendid record at the bar and through the subsequent years he enjoyed an acknowl- odged standing in the front ranks of the legal fraternity, being connected, as counsel, with much of the more important litigation in the courts of Fayette and neighboring counties. In discussions of the principles of law, Mr. Hadley has always been noted for clearness of statement and candor, his zeal for a client never leading him to urge an argument which in his judgment is not in harmony with the law. By a straightforward, honorable course, he built up a large and Incrative legal business, and financially has been successful above the average of his calling.
Horace L. Hadley comes of sterling old Yankee stock, having been born in Sandwich, New Hampshire, on May 7, 1837, and is a son of Winthrop and Sybil ( Worthen ) Hadley. The subject's paternal grandparents were Daniel and Hannah ( Ordway ) Hadley, whose children were Lydia. Hannah. Daniel, Joseph, David, Dorcas, Samuel, John. Mary, Keziah, Cynthia, Betsy and Winthrop ( father of the subject ). By a prior marriage, to Mehitabel Whit- taker. Daniel Hadley had two children, Tamar and Mehitabel. On the ma- ternal side, the subject's grandparents were Deacon Joseph and Hannah ( Meacham) Worthen, to whom were born four sons and four daughters, namely, Sybil, Hannah, Sallie, Mary, Moses, Joseph. Amos and Samuel.
Horace L. Hadley is indebted to the common schools of his home neigh- borhood for his elementary education, which he supplemented by attending the private academy conducted by Daniel G. Beede, at Center Sandwich. Having early determined to adopt the legal profession as his life work, in 18co he began the tudy of law in the office and under the direction of Sidney C. Bancroft, of Salem, Massachusetts. He was thus engaged at the out- break of the Civil War, when, feeling that his country's necessity super- seded all personal ambitions, he laid aside his books and, on August 26, 1862. enlisted in Company C, Fifth Regiment Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry. He served with this regiment until it was mustered out in July, 1863. at Wenham, Massachusetts. On September 16. 1862, while the Fifth Regiment was in camp at Wenham, Mr. Hadley was admitted to the bar and, securing a furlough, he went to Newburyport, where the court was then in session, and took the oath as an attorney and counselor at law. Mr. Hadley's mili-
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tary service was characterized by duty faithfully and uncomplainingly per- formed and after his return from the army he entered at once upon the active practice of law at Danvers, Massachusetts. He was successful, but, desiring a wider field for the exercise of his talents, in April. 1870, he came to Washington C. H., Ohio, arriving here on April 8th. He at once opened an office and his abilities were soon recognized by his new-found professional brethren. Four years after locating here, Mr. Hadley formed a professional partnership with Judge Maynard, an association which was maintained from October 1, 1874, to May 1, 1885. As stated before, Mr. Hadley was suc- cessful both in the practice of his profession and also in business affairs of a private nature, so that during the past few years he has to a considerable extent relinquished his professional labors and is giving his attention chiefly to his real estate interests, a part of his holding being four valuable farms in the vicinity of Washington C. H.
On September 1, 1868, Mr. Hadley married Sarah Elizabeth Emerson, who was born in Danvers, Massachusetts, January 5. 1846, the daughter of Daniel and Elizabeth ( Batchelder) Emerson, of Danvers, and a granddaugh- ter of Col. John Batchelder, who served in the War of the Revolution; on the paternal side, she was a granddaughter of Darius and Sarah (Thomas) Emerson. To Mr. and Mrs. Hadley were born the following children : Olive Batchelder, born May 1I, 1879, was married on May II, 1903, to William E. Springer, of Washington C. H., Ohio, and they have two chil- dren, Elizabeth Louise and Wilhelmina. The subject's other child, Harry Lawrence Hadley, is a minister of the Episcopal church, having charge of a parish at Martin's Ferry, Ohio; he remains unmarried.
In his political affiliations, Mr. Hadley is a strong Republican and for many years has been a conspicuous figure in the councils of his party. His ability and services were recognized and in October, 1881, he was elected a member of the Legislature, his term commencing on January Ist following. In October, 1883, he was re-elected and served until the close of the session of 1885. a period of four years, during which he ever stood for such measures as promised to be of the greatest benefit to the people generally. In 1900 and 1901 Mr. Hadley served as city solicitor of Washington C. H., and was also a member of the city council for one term.
Religiously, Mr. and Mrs. Hadley have long been active and earnest members of the Presbyterian church, of which Mr. Hadley is a retired deacon. Fraternally, he is a member of Temple Lodge No. 227, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and also belongs to the encampment branch of that order. He
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keeps alive his old army associations through his membership in R. B. Hayes Post, Grand Army of the Republic.
Thus briefly have been outlined the leading facts in the career of one who has rightfully earned a place in the permanent annals of his county. He has given to the world the best of an essentially virile, loyal and noble nature and his standard of integrity and honor has ever been inflexible. He has been the architect of his own fortune and upon his entire career there rests no blemish, for he has been true to the highest ideals and has lived ,and labored to worthy ends.
HENRY CASEY.
The gentleman of whom the biographer now writes is one of the widely known and honored citizens of Fayette county, where for over half a cen- tury he has been a valued factor in the development of the same, prominently identified with the various interests of his community. Almost his entire life has been given to the vocation of farming and he is now living in com- fortable retirement in Bloomingburg where both he and his good wife are quietly enjoying the fruits of their earlier and more strenuous years.
Henry Casey was born in Fayette county, Pennsylvania, on December 28, 1837, being a son of George and Catherine (Brakiron) Casey, the former of whom was also a native of the same county. During the earlier portion of his life he was a blacksmith by trade and resided in a number of towns in his native state. His later years he devoted to farming and was located at vari- ous points in Illinois and Iowa, where he went in search of a suitable location. His death occurred while he was residing in Wayne county, Iowa, as did also that of his wife, and both lie buried in the cemetery at Allerton, that state. They were the parents of eleven children, seven of whom have passed from this life. They are Susan, Rebecca, David, Calvin, Daniel, Elizabeth and Malinda. Henry, the immediate subject, was the fourth child in order of birth and the others living are James, the eldest of the family, Ashibal and Mary.
The subject's early education was very limited indeed, he having had the advantage of only six months schooling, but he later realized something of what he had missed and endeavored in every possible way to acquire useful information along various lines. He was early trained in the work about a farm and when a young man served two years on boats plying the Mononga-
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hela river. He soon became dissatisfied with this life and returned to the life of the soil, in which he passed the remainder of his active years. He first came to Fayette county on November 18, 1860, and secured work on a farm. Here he remained for several months and, early fired with patriotism, he enlisted for service with the Union early in the struggle between the two factions of our nation. On September 8, 1861, he enlisted as a private in Company C, Twentieth Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, his regiment being assigned to the Army of the Tennessee. This regiment saw much active service during the next three years, among the leading engagements being that of Fort Donelson, the battle of Shiloh, engagements at Bolivar, Tennessee: luka, Mississippi; Raymond, Mississippi : Champion's Hill, Vicks- burg and Jackson ( Mississippi), Baker's Creek. Kenesaw Mountain. Jones- boro, Lovejoy Station, Orangeburg, Raleigh, Nickajack and Savannah (Georgia). Although having seen so much active service. Mr. Casey was so fortunate as to escape without injury and after the close of the war he returned to Washington C. H. Here, on February 8, 1866, he was united in matrimony with Katharyn Holland, a daughter of Charles and Elizabeth ( Windle ) Holland. Charles Holland was a native of the state of Mary- land and was brought to this state by William Ogden when he was four years old. They settled first in Ross county, but remained there only a short time, when they removed to Madison county. Here young Charles grew to manhood and when still young began farming on his own account. Here he married Elizabeth Windle. Their union was blessed with three children : Katharyn, the wife of the subject, being the youngest of the family : Rachael. the eldest, is Mrs. Brown and Susan, who became Mrs. Baldwin, is dead. The Holland family were among the early settlers of this part of the state and. being people of intelligence and high moral status, they were early prominent in the best interests of the county and left the impress of their individualities upon many of its institutions. Both Mr. and Mrs. Holland have passed from this life and were laid to rest in the cemetery at Blooming- burg.
Mr. and Mrs. Casey were blessed with nine children, namely: Eva. who married Wesley Eberhart and who is the mother of four children, Arley, Arthur, Merritt and Gladys, all of whom are in school. Frank, the oldest son of the family, married Margaret Ball and they have three children, Bliss, Bessie and Mary. Carrie is the wife of Frank McCoy and has borne four children, but three of whom, Geneva, Charles and Howard, are living, and Marie is dead. Cora became the wife of Claud Andrew and is the mother
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of two children, Dorris and Dwight. Myrtle married Elmer Clever and has one child, Marjorie. Ollie married Herbert Plummer, while Calvin chose as his wife Elizabeth Porter, who has borne him five children, Walter, Calvin, Mary, Herbert and Francis.
Mr. Casey's fraternal affiliation is with the ancient order of Free and Accepted Masons and he is also a member of Miram Judy Post No. 449. Grand Army of the Republic. Both he and his good wife are earnest mem- bers of the Methodist Episcopal church and for many years have sought to live in strict conformity with its teachings and to advance its interests in every way possible. Mr. and Mrs. Casey have enjoyed a wedded life ex- tending over a longer period than that of the average and are hoping soon to celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of that event. Mr. Casey attained a gratifying degree of success during the years of his labor and owns an ex- cellent farm of one hundred and seventy-five acres. They are spending their latter years in comfortable retirement, surrounded by their children and many grandchildren who bring untold pleasure into their lives. Both Mr. and Mrs. Casey are enjoying excellent health and bid fair to live many more years in full possession of all the faculties which make life enjoyable. They have always been regarded as among the very best families of the community and have an ever widening circle of friends and acquaintances, a fitting tribute to their worthy and useful lives.
KELLEY DIXON.
The man who has lived ninety years in this country was born when John Quincy Adams was President of the United States. One of the oldest men of Fayette county is Kelley Dixon, who was born in Bedford county, Virginia, in the year 1823. His life has been replete with interesting inci- dents and this brief sketch can do little more than mention most of then. As a young man he made the trip overland to California in 1849, but, unlike most of those who made the trip, he came back with his pockets full of gold. He promptly invested his money in Fayette county land and is now probably the largest land holder in the county. He has eighteen hundred acres of fine land in Wayne township, being one of the four men of the county to own more than a thousand acres of land.
The parents of Kelley Dixon were Thomas and Margaret ( Clance ) Dixon, both natives of Kentucky. Early in their married career they moved
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to Kentucky where Thomas Dixon became the overseer of the slaves on a large plantation. In 1834 Thomas Dixon and his family moved to the state of Ohio and located on the river near Ripley in Brown county. A few years later they permanently settled in Fayette county and bought land in Wayne township. Thomas was a soldier in the War of 1812, his father, also called Thomas, being a Revolutionary soldier. Thomas Dixon, Sr., and wife are buried in Kentucky and his son, Thomas, Jr., and wife are buried at Good Hope. in Fayette county. To Thomas Dixon, Jr., and wife were born eight children, Abner. Ellis, Kelley, Susan, Richard, Henry. Jane and Giles. All of these children are now deceased with the exception of Kelley. Giles, Rich- ard and Jane.
Kelley Dixon removed with his parents from Virginia to Kentucky and thence to Ohio, arriving in the latter state when he was eleven years of age. Consequently his education was received in Kentucky and Ohio, but, owing to the limited school facilities of his day, his education was very meager. In 1849, at the time the California gold fever was at its height, he went over- land with a party to that state to seek his fortune in the gold mines. They had considerable trouble with the Indians on the way to the west. but finally reached there safely. He met with good success in his mining operations and returned a few years later with considerable gold. The return trip was made by way of the Isthmus of Panama and was filled with many exciting experiences.
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