The Adkins Families of Pickaway County, Ohio

DAVID ADKINS, a representative citizen anil experienced farmer of Jackson township, is the proprietor of “Wildwood Park Farm/' a magnificent expanse of 418 acres, which is situated on the Darbyville turnpike, three and a half miles northwest of Circleville. David Adkins was born in Harrison township, Pickaway County, Ohio, January 12, 1844, and is a son of David and Christena ( Hott) Adkins.

The Adkins family is of English descent and was founded in America in Colonial times by ancestors of our subject, who settled in

Maryland. David Adkins, father of our subject, was born in Carroll County, Maryland, October 31, 1807. His parents died before he reached his maturity, leaving a family dependent upon their own resources. When 18 years old, David decided to strike out for himself. and started out on foot. Sometime in the year 1826 he reached Pickaway County, Ohio, and first located in Walnut township. He died in April. 1863. aged 55 years. He was a brickmaker by trade and this occupation he followed for a long time, being an expert burner. It was lie who burned the brick used in the construction of the Everts School Building in Circleville. During the ’6o’s he was appraiser of j land in Harrison township. Pie was what might be termed a mechanical genius, being able to turn his hand to any craft or trade. He left an estate of 200 acres, all of which he had accumulated by his own efforts. He was a man of responsibility in the township but accepted no offices except those of appraiser and trustee. He was one of the early members and liberal supporters of St. Paul's Lutheran Church.

The mother of our subject, Christena (ITott) Adkins, was born February 9, 1809. in Berkeley County, Virginia, and was a daughter of Peter and Margaret Hott. who came to i this section before Pickaway County was or-; ganized. Mrs. Adkins died April 12, 1904, aged 95 years and two months. The children born to David and Christena ( Hott) Adkins were: Mary, who became the-wife of Enos Burton, both now deceased; Margaret, who married James Reid, both now deceased; William, who served for four years in the Civil ! War in the 90th Regiment, Ohio Vol. Inf., and is now an inmate of the Soldiers' Home at Dayyton, Ohio; Arexena and Adeliza (twins), deceased at the age of nine months; Nancy, who married John Balmer and died in Illinois; George, a resident of Walnut township, who served four years in the Civil War. and was a veteran of the 27th Regiment, Ohio Vol. Inf.; Susan, who married T. D. Slocum and died in Illinois; David; Melissa, who married G. G. Brentlinger, of Pickaway County; Eliza Jane, deceased, who was the wife of Daniel W.

j Whitehead, of Ashville; and Christena, who is I the wife of George \V. Pierce, of Duvall.

David Adkins was reared on the home farm and assisted his father, who died when David was about 20 years old. He then took charge of his father’s large interests and continued to operate the farm for his mother and three sisters for some years, remaining on the old place for six years after his own marriage, in 1864. He had enjoyed only the educational opportunities afforded by the local schools, but he had had a very thorough and practical training as a farmer and stock-raiser. His aged mother made her home with him until her death.

In 1870 Mr. Adkins rented the homestead farm to a brother-in-law and purchased a property in Marion township, Franklin County, just outside the corporate limits of Columbus, where he lived for six years, during this time being a member of the township School Board and one of the township trustees. On this farm he engaged in farming and gardening, finding 1 an excellent market in the adjacent city. After leaving the Marion township farm and renting it to other parties, he returned to the old home farm for four years and then traded his property in Franklin County for 200 acres of farming land in Deer Creek township, Pickaway County, on which he resided for 12 years. Here Mr. Adkins also became a man of prominence in the township, served as a justice of the peace for two terms and was elected township trustee and a member of the School Board.

The next change made by Mr. Adkins in order to carry out his own ideas of farming and stock-raising was the renting of property and the purchasing of 100 acres located along the Jackson turnpike, on which he lived for three years and then he rented the McCarthy farm, which was located just opposite his present property. This contained 320 acres and here he carried on extensive farming operations for three years. Pie then disposed of his Deer Creek farm and bought his present valuable property of 418 acres, located not far from Circleville. It bears the pleasant name of “Wildwood Park Farm,” but the name in no wise describes what is one of the best improved and valuable properties in the township.

A part of the property Mr. Adkins lias retained for park purposes and duringthe summer seasons it is very generally utilized for church and Sunday-school picnics. It is known all over this section as “Wildwood Park.” There are three fine groves on his property, the trees being mainly white and sweet oak. Mr. Adkins has made this a very pleasant resort, making many improvements in the line of amusement facilities and it is well patronized throughout the summer season, people coming from long distances to enjoy the attractions provided.

Mr. Adkins carries on his farm as a grain and stock farm and he also devotes some attention to raising sweet corn and peas for market. His cattle and horses are noted for their excellence all over the county. In the fall of 1905 Mr. Adkins was induced to make an exhibit which attracted wide attention and favorable notice from the neighboring press. It was successfully photographed and is entitled “The Produce of Wildwood Park Farm and gives a fair idea of one of the successful enterprises of Pickaway County.

[This passage is too damaged in the scanned book to reproduce. See the original book.]

Mr. Adkins has been a life-long Democrat. He has served two terms as county commissioner and is serving out his second term as justice of the peace. He has been connected with the Board of Education ever since he located in Jackson township. For a long time he has been a party leader in his locality and has served as a delegate to county, district, State and congressional conventions. He is one of the leading members and supporters of the English branch of the Evangelical Lutheran Church; in which he is a deacon.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

WILLIAM COLBOURM ADKINS, a prosperous farmer of Monroe township, who is operating the farm of W. M. Heath, of Mount Sterling, owns a farm of 105 acres, which is also located in Monroe township. Mr. Adkins was born January 3, 1873, in Fayette County, Ohio, and is a son of Leonard and Ellen (Clariadge) Adkins.

The Adkins family was established in Ohio in the time of the great-grandfather of our subject, Stanton Adkins, who came from Virginia and died in Monroe township, Pickaway County, many years later. Pie purchased a farm in the vicinity of Mount Sterling and any other large tract of land near Five Points. He was the father of 20 children, one of whom was Elijah, who became our subject's grandfather.

Elijah Adkins was born on his father’s farm in Monroe township. He married Nellie Adkins, who so far as known was not a relative, and they had these children: Leonard, Amelia, Kendall M., Susan, Alice and Marion. Elijah Adkins was a well-known man throughout Pickaway County. He ran a livery stable at Mount Sterling and he also operated a mill. He was one of the pioneer mail carriers and made the trip from Mount Sterling to Circleville and Washington Court House and back to Mount Sterling and then to Columbus, on horseback. The greater part of his life was spent at Mount Sterling.

Leonard Adkins, father of William C. Adkins, was born at Mount Sterling and attended school there, assisting his father, as he grew older, in carrying the mails. In 1861 he enlisted for service in the Civil War, and after three months of service returned to his father’s farm in Monroe township. Later he re-enlisted and served with the rank of ist lieutenant until the close of the war. He took part in many important engagements but survived all dangers and returned safely to the old farm. He had married after his first return from the army, and now he and his wife took up their residence on the home place and remained until after the birth of two children, Maggie and Flora. The former married Elmer Beal and they live in Madison County. The latter died in 1901.

Leonard Adkins then settled on the William Jones farm in Monroe township and while the family lived there, one daughter was born, Emma, who married Harvey Keller and lives in Fayette County. Later the family removed to the Isaac Moor farm in Fayette County, and there three children were born, namely: William C., of this sketch; Anna, who married Smith Dennis and lives at Detroit, Michigan; and Omer, who resides at Columbus. Leonard Adkins then settled on his farm of 124J2 acres in Monroe township, which he had bought five years previously, where both he and wife still reside, most highly esteemed residents of the locality. Two children were born to them: Lora FI., who married Johnnie Davis and lives in Darby township; and Ross, who lives at home with his parents.

William C. Adkins has been an agriculturist all his life. After reaching man's estate, he was united in marriage with Emma Owen, a daughter of Frederick and Mary A. (Davis) Owen, the former of whom is a veteran of the Civil War and a prominent citizen of Monroe township.

Frederick Owen was born on his father’s farm in Marion County, Ohio, in May, 1843, and is a son of Jesse and Barbara (Hoffman)

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

JOSEPH W. ADKINS, a well-known member of the bar at Circleville, was born in 1864 in Pickaway County, Ohio, and is a son of Hon. Barzillai Adkins, one of Circle ville's most prominent men, whose sketch appears elsewhere in this work.

Mr. Adkins was reared in Pickaway County and was educated at the Normal University at Lebanon after completingthe common-school course. He then entered the law department of the Ohio Northern University at Ada, where he was graduated with the degree of B. L. in 1898. He was admitted to the bar in June of the same year. Following his admission to the bar, Mr. Adkins located in his native county and for the two succeeding years taught school, but in 1900 he opened a law office at Circleville, where he has continued in active practice ever since. Flis standing in the profession is high and he enjoys the confidence and esteem of his fellow-citizens.

Mr. Adkins belongs to one of the old and honorable families of this section. He is actively interested in the general welfare of Circleville and, aside from his profession, devotes time and influence to promoting the growth and development of this city. While not a very active politician, he is a good citizen and gives his support to candidates and measures which promise good government.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.