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BIOGRAPHIES
Source:
Portrait &
Biographical Record of Stark County, Ohio
Containing Biographical Sketches of
Prominent and Representative Citizens,
Together with Biographies and Portraits of all the
Presidents of the United States.
Chicago - Chapman Bros. -
1892
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JOSEPH
FOLK, one of the representative citizens of Stark
County, was born in Nimishillen Township, Stark County,
Ohio, on the 6th day of July, 1847, and is the son of
Peter and Lydia (Reese) Folk, both natives of Ohio, the
former born in Stark County, October 26, 1826, and the
latter in Washington Township, the same county, on the 22d
of October, 1822.
Our subject's paternal grandparents, Peter and
Catherine (Miller) Folk, were from the Eastern States,
and former born close to the line between Pennsylvania and
Maryland, and the grandmother born in Westmoreland County,
Pa. The great-grandfather of our subject, George
Folk, was born in Germany, and came with his parents to
America when but four years of age. Peter Folk,
Sr., grew to manhood in Pennsylvania, where he was
married, and where all his children were born, three
daughters and two sons. One of the daughters died in
infancy. Elizabeth married Frederick
Herbster whose home was in Stark County, Washington
Township, where her descendants still live. She left
eight children by her first husband, and one by her second
husband, Abraham Lutz. Catharine married
Joshua Lentz, and they resided in Washington Township,
this county; she died leaving four children. John
resided for many yeas in Nimishillen Township, on the old
homestead, where he died about 1881, when over eighty years
in Nimishillen Township,,, on the old homestead, where he
died about 1881, when over eighty years of age. He
left four children.
Peter Folk, Jr., the father of our subject, was
born in Ohio, after the family had removed to that State,
and he was thirteen years younger than any of the other
children. His grandfather had entered a section of
land in Nimishillen Township, and he gave that section to
his three sons, two of whom made their homes on it.
Peter Folk, Jr., attained his growth on the farm entered
by his grandfather, and received a fair education for his
day. His early life was spent in hard labor in
clearing the farm, and amid pioneer scenes. He was
married a little before his twenty-first birthday, on the
11th of December, 1846, to Miss Reese, and shortly
afterward his father gave him one hundred and six acres of
land. This young couple began housekeeping in a log
house, and although they had little else to begin with save
willing hands and any amount of energy, they met with much
success, and were classed among the substantial and
representative citizens of the county. In 1858, Mr.
Folk purchased one hundred and sixty acres in Michigan,
but sold that in 1878. In 1847, he erected a good bank
barn, and in 1861, a fine residence, which still stands.
The farm now belongs to his son Joseph, the subject
of this sketch, and has been in the family for four
generations. Only two children were born to them,
Joseph and Nancy.
The latter married Peter Yader
(see sketch). The father of these children is a
Republican in politics, and his first Presidential vote was
cast in 1848, for Gen. Taylor. He has been
School Director for fourteen or fifteen years in succession,
and is a member of the Progressive Brethren Church, in which
he is a Trustee.
The original of this notice, like the majority of boys
reared on the farm, passed his youthful days assisting his
father and attending the district school, where he received
a fair education. On the 4th of September, 1864, he
enlisted in Company I, One Hundred and Seventy-eighth Ohio
Infantry, and was in the Twenty-third Corps. He was
first in Tennessee, but subsequently joined Sherman's
army at Goldsboro, N. C., and was there at the surrender of
Johnston. He was under fire at Cedar Flats, and
also at Kingston, N. C., and had a number of narrow escapes,
but was never wounded. He was never taken prisoner,
and he was never off duty but one day. On the 28th of
June, 1865, he was honorably discharged, and returned to the
parental roof, where, in connection with farming, he ran a
threshing machine, he and his partner operating the first
steam-thresher in the county. In 1872, he bought a
one-half interest in a sawmill on his father's place, and
this he still operates."
Mr. Folk was married on the
14th of December, 1873, to Miss Eliza A. Miller, of
Louisville, Ohio, where she was born on the 3rd of December,
1847. Her parents, Peter and Barbara (Kloffenstein)
Miller, were natives of France and America,
respectively. After marriage, our subject and wife
resided with the former's father for five years, and then
our subject purchased the home place. He resided on
this until December, 1891, and then removed to his fine
residence in Louisville, where he now makes his home.
He has no children. Like his ancestors before him, our
subject advocates the platform of the Republican party, and
is deeply interested in politics. He has been Trustee
for three years, and in 1889 he was nominated by his party
for Director of the County Infirmary, but as the county is
largely Democratic, he was beaten. He is a member of
the Reformed Church, as is also Mrs. Folk. He
is a member of Canton Post No. 25, G. A. R., of Canton; is
also a member of the Junior Order of United American
Mechanics, Louisville Council No. 152.
Source: Portrait & Biographical Record of Stark County, Ohio
- Chicago - Chapman Bros. - 1892 - Page 334 |
James Fraunfelter |
JAMES FRAUNFELTER Source:
Portrait & Biographical Record of Stark County, Ohio -
Chicago - Chapman Bros. - 1892 - Page 181 |
NOTES:
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