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JAMES F.
HECK. Those who meet
the oncoming years with dignified capability, backed by the
realization that they have spent their time wisely and successfully,
and strengthened by the knowledge of men and conditions gained
through many aggressive movements as well as the calm performance of
duties, are the most useful members of any community. James
F. Heck, justice of the peace of Twin township, a resident of
Arcanum, Ohio, is just such a man whose words and actions ring true
whenever circumstances strike against the metal of his personality.
A man of high moral courage, he has been unafraid in the pursuit of
his goal, and in his office has wielded the power invested in him,
wisely and judiciously, his verdicts not only being according to
law, but also are meted out with a due sense of the equity of the
case in hand. He is a man of whom Darke county is justly
proud, although he is not a native of it, as he was born in Jackson
township, Montgomery county, Ohio, Nov. 23, 1845, a son of Samuel
M. and Catherine (Warner) Heck, natives of Virginia.
David Heck, the paternal grandfather of James
F. Heck, was born in Virginia, as was his wife, who bore the
maiden name of Magdalena Spitler, both coming of German
descent. Like many of their day and locality, they became
pioneers of Ohio, settling in Montgomery county, where the
grandfather entered land eight miles west of Dayton, upon which he
and his wife resided until death claimed them, when well advanced in
years. Their seven children were as follows: Samuel
M., David L., John, Catherine, Susanna, Elizabeth and
Polly. During the war of 1812, David Heck proved
his sturdy Americanism by enlisting and serving his country as a
soldier. The maternal grandfather was Abraham Warner
and his wife was named Sarah. Both were born in
Germany, but became early settlers of a farm near Liberty eight
miles southwest of Dayton, Ohio. Mr. Warner cleared off
and improved a farm, upon which he and his wife died when past
middle age. Their children were: Daniel, David, Catherine,
Elizabeth and Sarah.
Growing up in Montgomery county, Ohio, Samuel M.
Heck developed into a school teacher and civil engineer,
although he later became the owner of land in Jackson township, that
county, upon which he reared his family, believing that rural
surroundings were healthier and better in every way for growing
young people. His death occurred upon his property when he was
seventy-six years old, his wife having passed away several years
prior to his demise, at the age of sixty-five years. They were
sincere members of the German Reformed church. At one time he
was elected county surveyor and proved himself so expert in this
kind of work, owning to his civil engineering training, that his
decisions were accepted by order of the court in all disputes which
arose relative to land surveys in Montgomery county. Six
children were born to Samuel M. Heck and wife, as follows:
Mary, who died unmarried; James F., whose name heads
this review; Amanda, who is unmarried, resides at Germantown,
Montgomery county, Ohio; David B., who resides near
Abbottsville, Darke county, Ohio; and one who died in infancy.
Until he was sixteen years old James
F. Heck had the advantages offered by a residence at home,
during which time he assisted his father and attended the schools of
his district. Being an ambitious lad, at that age he began
working in sawmills in Montgomery county, and later pursued the same
calling in Johnson county, Mo., where he went in 1865. Two
years later he returned to Ohio, and located near Gettysburg, Darke
county, where he erected a sawmill, and spent several years at this
point, during which time he was married. his next change was
when he moved to a farm four miles east of Arcanum, and conducted a
sawmill. Still later he located at Arcanum and operated a saw
and hoop mill for a number of years, or until his plant was
destroyed by fire in 1902. Subsequently he purchased a small
farm of fifty-four acres, one an done-half miles west of Arcanum,
which he still owns. In 1887 he built his beautiful home place
at Arcanum, which has continued his place of residence ever since.
A consistent Democrat, it was but natural that he should have been
called upon to hold numerous offices, never failing to live up to
the expectations of those who elected him. For two terms he
occupied the executive chair of Arcanum, being, perhaps, one of the
best mayors the city has ever had, and he has also filled many of
the lesser offices. However, it is as justice of the peace
that he is best known, for he has served as such for a great many
years. In fraternal circles he affiliates with Arcanum Lodge
No. 341, I. O. O. F., and the encampment of the same order, No. 206.
On Jan. 4, 1868, Mr. Heck was married to Miss
Laura A. Puls, a daughter of Samuel and Margaret (Worley)
Puls, born in Montgomery county, Ohio, in the town of
Farmersville. Her father was a native of Ohio, but her mother
was born in Pennsylvania. They became pioneers of Montgomery
county, Ohio, where both died. Their five children were:
George Sylvester, Oliver, Laura, Ada and Samuel.
The paternal grandfather of Mrs. Heck married a Miss
Fishburn, and both were natives of Pennsylvania. They had
seven children, namely: Jacob, Samuel, George, Solomon, Daniel,
Mary and Catherine. The maternal grandfather of
Mrs. Heck, Jacob Worley, married a Miss Mellinger, and
their children were: Michael, Jacob, Margaret, Susanna, Dana,
Elizabeth, Caroline, Rebecca and Mary Ann. Mrs. Heck
is a consistent member of the United Methodist church.
Mr. and Mrs. James F. Heck became the parents of
children as follows: Franklin V., Ada, Margaret, Alonzo, Omar,
Roscoe, Fern and one who died in infancy. Of these
above mentioned children, Franklin V. is in the hoop mill
business at Columbus, Ohio, and doing well, although it is doubtful
if he will equal his father who has the distinction of having
handled more timber than any man in Darke county. Franklin
V. married Catherine Sissel, now deceased, by whom he had
one child, Dale. He married for his second wife
Clara Schaar, and they have one living child, Kenneth.
Ada married Harry DeLapp and they live at Urbana, Ill.
Their children, four in number, as follows: Paul, Margaret,
Robert and Lucile. Margaret married J. B. Wider
and they live at Fremont, Ohio, having had two children, Madonna
and Fred. Alonzo was a railroad engineer when he died
unmarried at the age of twenty-four years. Omar is a
telegrapher at Emporium, Pa. He married Christina McDonald,
and they have one daughter, Helen. Roscoe is a civil
engineer, who is unmarried and lives at Great Falls, Mont.
Fern married Stanley Frizzell, and they live at
Greenville, Ohio. They have no children. Mr. Heck
is and has been for at least fifteen years notary public of Darke
county.
Source: History of Darke County,
Ohio
From its earliest Settlement to the Present Time -
Vols.
I & II -
Milford, Ohio - The Hobart Publ. Co. - 1914 - Page 215 |
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BERT HUNT.
Probably there can be no more satisfactory business connection than
that which exists between father and sons. the older man's
experience and hard-earned knowledge, added to the enthusiasm and
progressive ideas of youth, produce a combination that is one hard
to defeat, and some of Darke County's most successful partnerships
are thus composed. There is no exception to this rule in the
field of agriculture, and an example of success gained by father and
sons is found in Neave township, where Washington Hunt
and his two sons,
BERT and RALPH HUNT, have carried on
farming and stockraising for a number of years. Bert
Hunt, the direct subject of this review, is known as one of the
youngest stock buyers and shippers of the county, and at this time
is operating three hundred and eighty-six acres of excellent land on
the Eaton turnpike, opposite the poor farm in Neave township.
He was born northwest of Greenville, near Weimer’s grist
mill, on the Union City pike May 21, 1880, and is a son of
Washington and Mary (Snyder) Hunt. The father, a native of
St. Louis, Mo., was brought to the northern part of Darke county,
Ohio, when still a lad, and was here reared and educated, and has
since spent his life in tilling the soil and in raising valuable
livestock. He and his wife have been the parents of eight
children, as follows: Jesse, Nettie and an infant,
all of whom are deceased; Bert, of this review; Ralph,
who is in partnership with his father and brother; Ada, who
is now the wife of Orville McEowen, and Clara
and Ed, who live at home with their parents.
Bert Hunt received the greater part of
his education in the country schools, commencing at the Sugar
Valley school house and ending at the Pewee school in Neave
township. He was thoroughly trained from earliest youth in the
numerous subjects which it is necessary for the successful farmer to
know, and even as a lad showed himself an excellent judge of cattle
and other livestock. Accordingly, when only sixteen years of
age he was admitted to full partnership with his father, and when
his younger brother reached that age he also was taken as a partner,
this connection having since proved a most satisfactory one in every
particular. The extent of the stock business built up by this
firm may be seen, when it is known that about one hundred and fifty
to three hundred head of cattle are kept on hand all the time, and
that in addition to this great numbers of hogs are shipped annually.
Mr. Hunt, it would seem, is an extremely busy young
man with these large interests under his control, yet he has found
time to take an active and helpful interest in all matters that
pertain to the welfare of his township and county, and no movement
is considered complete that does not have his co-operation and
support. A man of genial personality, loyal to his word and
sincere in his friendships, he is popular all over this section and
few men are better known. In politics he has allied himself
with the new progressive party. A friend of education, he has served
for some time as a member of the school board.
On Aug. 22, 1903, Mr. Hunt was married to
Miss Rose Suter, daughter of John and Lizzie (Smallenberger)
Suter, and to this union there have been born five children:
Hildred, John, Carl, Washington, Jr.,
and an infant.
Source: History
of Darke County, Ohio From its earliest Settlement to the Present
Time - Vols. I & II - Milford, Ohio - The Hobart Publ. Co. - 1914 -
Page 365 |
