History of Knox County, Ohio, its past and present, Part 137

Author: Hill, N. N. (Norman Newell), comp; Graham, A. A. (Albert Adams), 1848-; Graham, A.A. & Co., Mt. Vernon, Ohio
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Mt. Vernon, Ohio : A. A. Graham & Co.
Number of Pages: 1096

USA > Ohio > Knox County > History of Knox County, Ohio, its past and present > Part 137

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HARVY, JAMES, blacksmith, Fredericktown, was born in Jeromeville, Ashland county, in 1830, and -married Gracie Hicks, who was born in England, in 1838. They had a family of seven children, named as follows: Elizabeth, Philena, Amanda, William, Carrie, Dollie, and Charlie .:

Mr. Harvy learned the blacksmith trade in Mt. Vernon with Stephen Bishop. He came to Fredericktown in 1849 ; started in business and still continues. Through his industry and economy has secured a good home, and is otherwise in com- fortable circumstances.

HART, WILLIAM T., Gambier, son of John D. and Mar- garet Hart, was born near the Hopewell church, Pleasant town- ship, Knox county, Ohio, September 18, 1840. John D. Hart, a native of Fayette county, Pennsylvania, was born March 13, 1816, married Miss Margaret Taylor, June 5, 1834, who was born in Fayette county, Pennsylvania, May 17, 1816.

In 1835 they moved to Richland county, Ohio, and remained one year. In 1836 they moved to this county and located in Pleasant township, near the Hopewell church, where they lived until 1853, when they migrated to Noble county; Indiana, where they passed the remainder of their days. His compan- ion died November 17, 1854. He survived her until October 1, 1864, leaving a family of eleven children to mourn their loss, viz: Mary A., born May 10, 1835; Nancy, born May 14, 1837; Matthew, born December 4, 1838; William T., born September 18, 1840; James, born May 4, 1843 ; Samuel, born January 12, 1845 ; Sarah F., born October 12, 1846; George W., born May 30, 1848; John, born August 29, 1850; Margaret, born May 14, 1852; Susannah, born June 4, 1854. Samuel and Margaret have died.

William T. Hart married Miss Mary A. Wright, December 28, 1865, born in College township, this county, June 29, 1840, daughter of William and Mary Wright. They settled in Gam- bier, where they are now living. Their union resulted in three children, viz : Lewis E., Eva M., and Frederick W. Eva M. is dead.

Mr. Hart is a carriage-maker by trade and is carrying on the business of manufacturing all kinds of carriages and vehicles of every description in Gambier. He is also engaged in undertaking, and is doing a first class business. In April, 1861, he enlisted in the three months' service in company B, Fourth Ohio volunteer infantry. June 5th, of same year, he re- enlisted in same company and regiment for three years, or dur- ing the war. His time expired June 5, 1864, and was discharged from the service June 23d, same year. February 16, 1865, he enlisted as a veteran and served until the close of the war. He received two wounds, the first was at the battle of Chancellors- ville, the second at North Anna river, on the twenty-third day of May, 1864.

HART, WILLIAM R., carriage painter, Mt. Vernon, is the second son of father Abel Hart, sr., who is now in the eighty- sixth year of his age. William was born June 1, 1828, in the city of New Bedford, Massachusetts, and when about seven years of age came to Ohio with his parents, who settled in Mt. Vernon in 1835, where they have continued to reside. His mother died in 1864. He received such an education as the

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HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY

schools of that day afforded. His first business engagement was made with Mr. Noah Hill, where he learned the chair mak- ing and painting trades. With Mr. Hill he worked four years, and then engaged with Mr. John A. Shannon, as carriage painter, where he worked some eighteen months. . The follow- ing six years he spent in travelling and working He worked as journeyman painter in different places in the State, and in 1855 returned to Mt. Vernon. He worked for the different firms in the city up to 1874. That year he established his present business, which consists in the getting up of a fine grade of single and double carriages and buggies. Carriage paint- ing is a specialty in all its branches. He does none but first class work.

Mr. Hart became a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows in 1850, and joined a lodge of the order in Tiffin, Ohio, a member of lodge No. 20, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, on card. In 1875 he was elected grand junior warden in the grand encampment branch of the order. In 1878 he was elected in the same branch grand high priest. In 1879 he was elected most worthy grand patriarch of the encampment branch in Ohio. Mr. Hart is the only member of the order in Knox county who has attained to the honor of these offices. He has also served as representative of both the grand lodge and the grand encampment. Mr. Hart has represented his ward in the city council.

HART, ABEL, SR., Mt. Vernon was born at Little Compton in the State of Rhode Island, on the twenty-second of Septem- ber, 1794. His father, Noah Hart, was a soldier in a Massa- chusetts regiment in the Revolutionary war. He raised twelve children, all of whom lived to a good ripe age, and a number of whom are still living. His ancestors settled in Massachusetts about the year 1634.

The subject of this sketch came to this part of the country in the year 1817. He first lived with his brother Isaac, who had previously lacated on the Mohican, twenty miles east of Mt. Vernon. After remaining in Ohio a few years, he returned to the east, and in the year 1834 removed to Mt. Vernon with his family, and in the year 1835 built a house on East Gambier street, where he has resided ever since.

Mr. Hart was made Master Mason at Parkersburgh, Virginia, in 1820, and is now, perhaps, the oldest Mason in Knox county. He was one of the charter members of the Knox Mutual Insur- ance company, and was one of its directors for over twenty years. He is the only charter member now living. Hr. Hart was one of the military escort that accompanied General La- fayette, when he visited Boston in the year 1824. He was well acquainted with General Andrew Jackson. Mr. Hart raised a family of four children, all of whom are living.

HART, ABEL, JR., Mt. Vernon, attorney at law, is the youngest son of Abel Hart, sr., and was raised in Mt. Vernon. He had a common school education, and learned the carriage making trade. The subject of this sketch read law with Dun- bar & Banning, and after that firm dissolved, finished his studies with John Adams, now judge of the court of common pleas. He was admitted to the bar at the March term of the supreme court at Columbus, Ohio. In the year 1868 he was a candidate for prosecuting attorney of Knox county, and was defeated by four votes. In 1870 he was a candidate for the same position, and was elected, and in 1872 was reelected. In r875 he was elected representative, and reclected in 1877.

HART, W. T. undertaker, Gambier. Gambier has one of

the best and most extensive undertaking establishments in the county, opened in 1878 by Mr. W. T. Hart, who keeps on hand first-class burial material of all descriptions. He is also prepared to embalm bodies, and can respond to a call on short notice. Special attention is given to this branch of undertaking. He has for his use one of the best and finest hearses and teams in the county. His success in the business has been beyond his most sanguine expectation, He has calls from and attends funerals in a territory of more than ten miles around Gambier. Within thirty months he has received ninety-three calls, and has promptly attended the same. His past experience in that line is a guarantee that the work in the future as in the past will give equal satisfaction to the bereaved.

HART & DICKESON, proprietors carriage shops, Gambier. Messrs. Hart & Dickeson in 1873 established their manufactory, from which they have succeeded in supplying the wants of the community with remarkable success. They manufacture bug- gies, light and heavy farm wagons, phætons, and all vehicles necessary to the wants and luxury of man. They also do all kinds of repairing at short notice, and what is more to the point, they warrant every vehicle manufactured by them, and every repair job that leaves their shops. Horseshoeing is a specialty with them, and in which branch they acknowledge no superior in the county.

In their shops they have recently built one of the finest hearses in the county, which is now used by Mr. William T. Hart, the undertaker at Gambier. The people of the county will find Hart & Dickeson enterprising gentlemen, always ready to attend to the wants of their customers.

HARTMAN, WILLIAM (deceased), a native of Cumber- land county, Pennsylvania, born December 20, 1807, and a son of Casper Hartman. March 5, 1833 (at the age of twenty-five years), he united in marriage with Sarah Ramsey, a daughter of Thomas Ramsey, who was born in Berks county, Pennsylvania, May 14, 1808. After their marriage, he, in company with his wife, came to Ohio, locating in Wayne county, where he re- mained about four years, and then moved to Knox county, locating in Harrison township, on a farm of one hundred and eleven acres he purchased, where he raised a family of eight children, six sons and two daughters. His death occurred No- vember 29, 1879, in his seventy-second year. Mrs. Hartman, his companion, survives him in her seventy-second year.

HASSON, MARVIN FREW, Hilliar township, station agent of Cleveland, Mt. Vernon & Columbus railroad at Centreburgh, was born in Venango county, Pennsylvania, April 13, 1844, is the second child of William and Rachel Hasson, nee Black, who were born and married in Venango county, Pennsylvania, and still reside near Utica, Pennsylvania.

The youth of Mr. Hasson was spent on a farm, and attend- ing the schools of the vicinity. He also attended an academy at Utica, and was preparing for college, but when the late war broke out he went with the three months' men, but the quota being full he was not mustered into service. He returned home and resumed his studies until August, 1862, when he enlisted in company I, Sixty-fourth Pennsylvania volunteers, and partici- pated in many of the hardest struggles on the field during that ever memorable conflict. He carries the scars of two wounds. At High Hill bridge he received a wound in the knee which kept him in the hospital for about two months and a half, and he was again wounded at Dinwiddie Court House, being struck on the forehead with a minnie ball. He was in the battle of An-

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HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY.

tietam, Maryland; Fredericksburgh, Virginia; Brandy Station, Virginia; Gettysburgh, Pennsylvania; Sulphur Springs, Vir- ginia; Kilpatrick's raid; Malvern hill; Deep Bottom; Wyatt's farm, and Stony creek, besides twenty-two smaller engagements. He never missed roll-call nor duty until he was wounded. After his return home he worked at carpentering and teaching school. While teaching he learned telegraphy. About 1871 he came to Ohio and was engaged in Akron in telegraph and railroad ser- vice. In 1873 he came to Mt. Vernon, and in the fall of the same year was appointed agent at Centreburgh, for the Cleve- land, Mt. Vernon & Columbus railroad. From his quick busi- neas habits and his systematic regulations he has given general satisfaction to the business and travelling public. He is a posi- tive man, being governed by principle; is decisive in his opinion and convictions. He was married to Miss Hattie F. Rinehart, November 30, 1873. They have a family of three children, viz: Jessie, born September 27, 1874; Emma G., March 10, 1876; and John W., April 12, 1879.

HAWKINS, ISAAC, Liberty township, a successful farmer and stock raiser; was born in Hampshire county, Virginia, May 31, 1821. Joseph Hawkins, his father, was born in Hampshire county, Virginia, January 18, 1789, married Sarah Larimore about 1811, and remained in Virginia until about 1829, when they came to Ohio, remaining three years in Lick- ing county and then removed to Milford township, Knox county, where Mr. Hawkins died August 11, 1870. Mrs. Haw- kins died there also. They had a family of ten children, viz: John, born June 23, 1812, died in Tazwell county, Illinois, and left a large family; Margaret, born in 1815, died in infancy; Harriet, born November 19, 1817, married Charles Hall, and died November 12, 1859, left a family; James, born March 25, 1819. He is an influential farmer in Licking county near Lock; Isaac, the subject of this sketch; Elizabeth, born December 16, 1824, married Edward Wilson. She is deceased, left a family ; Joseph, born June 26, 1826. He is a resident of Milford town- ship; Sarah Jane, born June 29, 1828, married Henry Row. She died August 9, 1877, left a family; Thomas H., born Sep- tember 6, 1831; he is a resident of Mt. Vernon, Ohio; Wil- liam D., born December 28, 1833.

The parents of this family were of the renter class; they owned no land, and hence their sons and daughters were in early life under the necessity of making for themselves almost their own way. They all became substantial and useful citizens in after life. Indeed it might be truthfully said that there are few families who had started in life in moderate circumstances that did so well. The subject of this sketch spent his youth at home until he was about nine years of age. From nine to thirteen he was on a farm away from home. He then returned to assist his parents on the farm, as his older brothers were doing for themselves. He aided in keeping his younger broth- ers and sisters at home. He remained at home until January 24, 1841, when he married Miss Pennennah W. Huddlestun, a native of Virginia who was born November 4, 1822. From this time he began for himself. The following summer he farmed with his brother James, and in the fall sold his share of the crops for seventy-five dollars out of which he paid sixty dollars of debts, leaving fifteen dollars as net gain for a summer's work. He then went to Licking county, near Granville, and put out a wheat crop, and when the crop was sold he had fifty-one dollars clear of all expenses.

It might be mentioned here, to show how Mr. Hawkins

started, the way he obtained his first smoothing-iron. Wishing to have that necessary article in the house, and not having the money to buy it, he contracted to split two hundred and fifty rails, for which he was to have a smoothing-iron made at Porter's foundry, near where he then lived. This iron he still possesses, as a reminder of his early start. He remained over three years at Granville, sold out his crops, and had two hun- dred and sixty dollars in money. He returned to Milford town- ship, Knox county, and five years after, he purchased ninety head of ewes and thirty lambs for one hundred dollars. This was his beginning in sheep-raising, and in which he has been eminently successful. He purchased a farm of one hundred and twenty-eight acres for two thousand three hundred dollars. He had eight hundred dollars in cash, which he paid as hand money. On the balance he had seven years' time, but was able to pay for it in four years.

The first buying and selling of stock was commenced on the farm, and carried on with eminent success until 1877. In 1868 he moved from his farm to Mt. Liberty, where he has since re- sided.

Mr. Hawkins, it will be remembered, commenced life with no aid. His advantages for education were limited. In fact, he never learned to write, and it was not until in after years that he learned to read. This was no fault of his, as his time was so occupied in his youth that it was impossible for him to ac- quire any education. He was kept at work early and late, and when evening came he needed rest. He has been successful in life. He worked under the disadvantage of having no educa- tion. He is naturally a business man. His judgment has in some degree made up for his lack of education. But had he 'been so fortunate as to have had the advantages of education, he would have added much more largely to his property. He deserves more than passing notice in thus overcoming the many obstacles which met him at every turn. He has given largely to each of his five children as they were married. He made it a point to give them five thousand dollars' worth of real estate, besides an outfit of at least a thousand dollars extra, making at least thirty thousand dollars.

The children are, Levina, married to S. T. Vannatta, of Miller township; Mary, married to J. T. Robertson, of Hilliar townsnip; Ann, widow of J. L. Evans; Louisa married W. A. Wintermute, of Milford township, and Charles O., married to Ella Snyder.

HAWKINS, WILLIAM H., Milford township, brick mason and farmer, Milfordton post office, was born in Rhode Island, near Providence, April 26, 1814. His parents, Stephen and Sallie Hawkins, nec Belknap, came to what is now Milford township in 1818. They came in a three-horse wagon, bring- ing with them their three sons-Emor B., William H. and Joseph S.

Emor B. and Joseph S. have died. There were three more children born to these parents in Milford township, viz .: Stephen, Sallie Ann, and Laura M. Of these Stephen and Laura M. are dead.

The subject of this notice recollects very distinctly when his parents went to locate the site of the cabin. His mother, when she saw the dense forest, and the recollections of her former eastern home filled her mind, she wept bitterly. This site was on the farm on which Mr. Hawkins now resides on the Mt. Vernon and Hartford roads. Here Mrs. Hawkins died in 1841. Mr. Hawkins' second marriage was with Mrs. Petitt, by whom

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HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY.

he had one daughter, Mary P., wife of William Pickering. Mr. and Mrs. Hawkins both died on the old homestead.

William H. spent his youth in the cabin. When old enough he assisted his father in clearing up the land. At about the age of eighteen years he learned brick laying with his brother, Emor B. He has built many of the brick dwellings in Milford and surrounding country. He frequently made the brick and contracted for the dwellings. He is an estimable citizen. He was married to Miss Emily Beach January 25, 1838. They have one child, Emily C., born September 26, 1844, wife of George Disney.

HAWKINS, THOMAS, Liberty township, was born in Licking county, September 6, 1831. He is the son of Joseph and Sarah Hawkins, of whom mention is made in the biography of Isaac Hawkins.

The subject of this notice remained with his parents until about eleven years of age. From eleven until twenty-two he was with his brother James. In the fall of 1854 he went to Tazwell county, Illinois, where he remained until the fall of 1860, engaged on a farm. On October Ir, 1858, he married Miss Mary A. McClees, who was born in Tazwell county, Illinois, April 12, 1839.

In the fall of 1860 Mr. Hawkins returned to Licking county, where he remained six years, being engaged in farming, when he moved to Knox, and farmed one year, and then moved to Mt. Liberty. In 1872 he engaged with J. P. Wintermute in huckstering, at which he has since been engaged. He is an efficient salesman and was instrumental in building up a large trade, which he still holds. He enjoys the confidence of the trading public.

His marriage has been blessed with a family of four children: Joseph W., born September 2, 1858; Mary E., wife of Emmett M. Ramey, born March Ir, 1860, married November 25, 1880; Emma, born February 24, 1862; and Thomas Clifford, born July 5, 1871.

Mr. and Mrs. Hawkins have the esteem of the community.

HAWKINS, WILLIAM D., Liberty township, farmer, was born in Licking county, Ohio, December 28, 1833, is the son of Joseph and Sarah Hawkins, of wbom mention is made in the biography of Isaac Hawkins, of Mt. Liberty.

The subject of this notice was raised on a farm, and has con- tinued farming as his occupation. In his younger days he drove stock east, and upon several occasions he took entire charge, and was successful.

March 29, 1863, he married Mary Lucretia Wilkins, of Mt. Liberty, daughter of Abner and Susan Wilkins.

Mr. Hawkins has held a number of offices in the township and has always filled them to the satisfaction of the citizens gen- erally. In 1879 he was elected land appraiser.

Mr. Hawkins is a social, pleasant gentleman, hospitable to all who call upon him, and has the esteem of the community.

HAWKINS, JAMES, JR., Milford township; farmer and sheep raiser, Lock post office, was born in Knox county, in January, 1850, is the oldest child of Joseph and Ann Hawkins, of Milford township. August 24, 1871, he was married to The- resa M. Coe, who is the daughter of David Coe. They have four children, viz: Mallie, Burton, Edward, and Elizabeth Ann.

Mr. Hawkins, from his experience, fully understands the rais- ing of first class sheep. His flock consists of choice registered rams and ewes. His first sheep were eight ewes numbered in Vermont register, volume second, Nos. 178, 182, 185, 225, 221,

208, 208. From ewe No. 182, two choice rams, Nos. 5 and 20; ewe 185, one choice ram, No. 1; ewe No. 10, ram No. 50; ewe No. 12, ram No. 22. Ram No. 40 originated from purchase of Hiram Rich, sired by J. T. Stickney's stock ram.

One of the largest clips from one sheep in this county was from ram W. S. Grant, shorn by Torrence Mitchell, Lock, Ohio, second fleece, April 1, 1880; weight of fleece, twenty-six and one- fourth pounds. His weight, after being shorn, was one hundred and thirty pounds- his age two years.

Mr. Hawkins has a flock of pure Spanish merino ewes. He is determined not to be outdone by any sheep raiser in the county, and makes sheep raising a special business, Those who contemplate purchasing would do well to call upon him. He resides near Lock, Ohio.

HAWN, G. B., Howard township, farmer, post office, How- ard .- He was born February 22, 1809, in Mt. Vernon. In 1827 he came to Millwood, Union township. At an early day his father came to Millwood and bought large tracts of land. He surveyed and laid out the lots in Millwood. The work was done in 1825, and he built a flouring and carding mill, as well as a distillery, and conducted his farm besides. G. P. Hawn was married to Hattie Gifton, May 20, 1830, and settled in Mill- wood. They had eleven children-Louisa, Charles, Hattie, Sarah, John, Marion, Rebecca, George, Catharine, Robert and Lola. John enlisted in the late war in 186r, for three years. At Lookout Mountain he was taken prisoner, and was in the hands of the rebels three months. He was taken to Atlanta to be exchanged, but a misunderstanding came up among the officers in regard to the exchange, and he was started back; but by some good fortune he, with another of the prisoners, es- caped from the trail while they were returning. Marion enlisted in the same company, and died in the hospital, in 1863. G. B. Hawn's grandfather was in the Revolutionary war and his father, John H., was in the War of 1812, serving as quartermaster. His brother, John H., was orderly sergeant in company B. in the Mexican war. His son John served in the late war. It ap- pears from above statement that a John Hawn represented each of the three generations past, one serving in each of the wars of our country. G. B. Hawn's wife died March 27, 1870. He is now cared for by his children.

HEAD, THOMAS R., Gambier, a native of Virginia, and son of Nathan and Penelope Head, was born in Hampshire county, August 5, 1823.

His parents were natives of Maryland, and moved to Vir- ginia in the spring of 1823. In May, 1835, they came to this county, and located in College township, near Gambier, and remained sixteen years. In 1851 they moved to the State of Indiana, where Mrs. Head deceased, in February, 1877, aged eighty-two years. Mr. Head, father of Thomas R., is now liv- ing in Mt. Vernon, aged eighty years.

They reared ten children, viz: Nathan, Mary A., Thomas R., Hannah, Joseph, Sarah A., Nancy J., Penelope, John, and Benjamin F. Only four of the number are now living, viz: Mary A., Thomas R., Hannah, and Benjamin F.

On the twenty-first day of October, 1849, Mr. Head was united in marriage with Miss Angeline Derby, daughter of Ru- fus Derby. Miss Derby was born in the State of New York, July 17, 1826, and came with her parents to Morrow county, Ohio, in 1836. After their marriage they settled in Gambier, where they have since resided. Mr. Head engaged in butcher- ing and dealing in stock, having made the former his principal

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HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY.

vocation for twelve years, In 1861 he gave up the butchering business, and turned his attention to farming, stock raising and dealing, which he has been actively engaged in since, for twenty years. At present he owns a large farm in Harrison township, this county.

HEADINGTON, J. N., Mt. Vernon, surveyor of Knox county. Burder, in his history of all religions, in speaking of the Roman church, says "the first important movement in gaining a footing in the United States was made by Lord Balti- more. In 1832 he reached the shores of the Potomac with about two hundred gentlemen of rank and fortune." In the company were two young unmarried men named Headington. They married and located at Gunpowder falls, a few miles above Baltimore, and from there as far as known descended all the Headingtons in the United States.

This introduction is not to establish nobility of birth, for the per cent. of this gentility or ranking blood remaining, after being reduced with geometrical rapidity through a series of eight or ten generations, would be too small to estimate. He therefore lays no claims to gentility except that resulting from poverty; or to greatness, except the essential part of it-goodness.

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History of Knox County, Ohio, its past and present, Part 137

Author: Hill, N. N. (Norman Newell), comp; Graham, A. A. (Albert Adams), 1848-; Graham, A.A. & Co., Mt. Vernon, Ohio Publication date: 1881 Publisher: Mt. Vernon, Ohio : A. A. Graham & Co. Number of Pages: 1096

Author: Hill, N. N. (Norman Newell), comp; Graham, A. A. (Albert Adams), 1848-; Graham, A.A. & Co., Mt. Vernon, Ohio
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Mt. Vernon, Ohio : A. A. Graham & Co.
Number of Pages: 1096