The Hulse Family of Pickaway County, Ohio

HENRY S. HULSE, one of the well-known citizens of Circleville, where he is engaged in a windmill and pump business, owns a fine *farm of 200 acres in Circleville township, which claims a part of his attention. Mr. Hulse was born in Jackson township, Pickaway County, Ohio, July 1, 1852, and is a son of James R. Hulse.

The late James R. Hulse was born on the old Hulse homestead in Jackson township, January 20, 1828, and with the exception of two years he passed *the whole of his life in this township, September 6, 1899, when he was one of the leading citizens. His father, also named James R. Hulse, was born in New York and was one of the earliest settlers in Pickaway County. The family has always been one of prominence here. The mother of our subject, Eleanor (Stipp) Hulse, was born in Ross County, Ohio, April 2, 1826, and is a daughter of Henry and Sarah Stipp, natives of Virginia, of German extraction. Mrs. Hulse lives with her son, William A. Hulse, in Jackson township.

Henry S. Hulse remained in Jackson township until he was 17 years old and then took a trip through the country, partly lor the sake of adventure and partly to secure the means that would enable him to take a course at Xenia College. He started out with a kit of tools and mended clocks and jewelry through the rural regions and earned the money he needed. After graduating at Xenia in 1877, he taught school for 14 years during the winter seasons, in the summer working for binder companies. In 1892 he moved to Circle vi lie where he engaged in a windmill and pump business, in connection with overseeing his farm.

On September 16, 1888, Mr. Hulse was married to Elizabeth Runkle, a daughter of Henry Runkle, who was born in Walnut township, Pickaway County, Ohio, and was one of the early settlers of the county. Mr. and Mrs. Hulse have three children, viz.: Helen, Mary and Hepzibah, all pupils in the Circleville schools.

Mr. Hulse has always taken an active part in public affairs and has held a number of township offices. He is a member of the Odd Fellows, having membership in both lodge and encampment, and belongs also to the Elks and the Foresters. He is one of Circleville’s enterprising, progressive and useful citizens.

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

VAN METER STIPP HULSE, one of the substantial citizens and representative agriculturists of Jackson township, was born in this township, March 27, 1856, and is a son of James R. and Eleanor (Stipp) Hulse. He owns 135.32 acres of fine land in his home farm on the Five Points turnpike; he also has 61 Yi acres on the McLean Mill road, besides 96 acres in Pike County, Ohio.

James R. Hulse, Sr., the grandfather of our subject, was born in New York. He was a wheelwright by trade and when he came to Ohio it was as a young man seeking his fortune, with all he possessed done up in a pack on his back. He found favor in the eyes of the daughter of a substantial farmer of Pickaway County, Rebecca Van Meter, and 'after their marriage he had command of her small fortune. He was a man of fine business instincts and invested the money wisely in land and stock. He owned many cattle and on occasion drove them to favorable markets in the East. He accumulated a large fortune, a part of this being 3,000 acres of land. After the death of his first wife, he married again. He had nine children by the first union and two by the second. Politically he was a Democrat.

James R. Hulse, father of our subject, was born in Jackson township, Pickaway County, Ohio, January 20, 1828, and spent his whole life in this locality, except a short period when he resided in Ross County. His death occurred September 6, 1899, at the age of 71 years. He inherited some 800 acres of land from his father’s estate and on this he carried on extensive farming and stock-raising operations. Like many men of his time, he was unduly hospitable and generous and a large part of his fortune passed out of his hands. He was a stanch Democrat and served as township trustee for a long period. He married Eleanor Stipp, who was born in Ross County, Ohio, April 2, 1826, and who now at the age of 80 years resides with her son, William A. Hulse, in Jackson township. Her parents, Henry and Sarah Stipp, were both natives of Virginia. The children bom to this marriage were: Henry Socrates, of Circleville; Sarah Rebecca, deceased at 21 years; Van Meter Stipp, of this sketch; James Rfeeves, of Jackson township; William A., of Jackson township; Stephen Arnold Douglas, deceased at 14 years; and Mary and George, both deceased.

Van Meter Stipp Hulse, our immediate subject, remained at home until he was 21 years of age and then worked out by the month for some three years prior to going to Moultrie County, Illinois, where he remained some 18 months and a like period in Iroquois County, in the same State. He then returned to Jackson township and worked on the farm for his father. At the death of the latter, he inherited his present home farm of 135.32 acres. Mr. Hulse also owns a farm of 61 acres in Jackson township, and one of 96 acres in Pike County, 35 of which is timber land. He continues to operate his farm as a grain and stock farm, it being well adapted to both industries.

Mr. Hulse is one of the well-known, re-

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

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

WILLIAM A. HULSE, a member of one of the old and prominent families of Jackson township, residing on his farm of 196 acres, situated on the Five Points turnpike, was born on the Hulse homestead on the old State road, in Jackson township, November 18, 1859. He is a son of James R. and Eleanor ( Stipp) Hulse.

The Hulse family is of German extraction and it was founded in Ohio by the grandfather, James R. Hulse, Sr., a wheelwright by trade, who was born in Orange County, New York, came here in 1841 in young manhood and married Rebecca Van Meter. She was able to provide the capital with which her husband bought land and stock and which resulted in the family becoming very wealthy, through Mr. Hulse’s good management. At death he left an estate comprising 3,000 acres of land. He was twice married. By his first marriage there were nine children and by his second marriage two.

James R. Hulse, father of our subject, was born in Jackson township, Pickaway County, Ohio, January 20, 1828, and spent the whole of his life as a farmer in this township with the exception of the years 1860-61, which he passed in Ross County, Ohio. He owned a number of fast horses and for a number of his later years was interested in racing them. He died on the old homestead on September 6. 1899. He inherited 800 acres from his father’s estate. He was a stanch Democrat and for a number of years he served as township clerk and trustee, holding the latter office at the time of his death. He was a well-informed man, a genial, generous one, and was well acquainted all over the county. He married Eleanor Stipp, who was born in Ross County, Ohio, April 2, 1826, and is a daughter of Henry and Sarah Stipp, both natives of Virginia, who came as pioneers to Ross County. The children of James R. and Eleanor (Stipp) Hulse were: Henry Socrates, of Circleville; Van Meter Stipp, of Jackson township; James Reeves, of Jackson township; William A., of this sketch; and Sarah Rebecca, Stephen Arnold Douglas, Mary and George, all deceased. The venerable mother resides with our subject, who is unmarried.

William A. Hulse was reared in Jackson township and was educated in the common schools. He has always been interested in farming and stock-raising and carries on large operations on his well-improved farm, which is a part of the old Hulse homestead. He raises fine stock but makes grain growing his main feature. He does not take any very active interest in politics, but votes with the Democratic party.

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

ISAIAH HULSE, deceased, was one of the leading men of Jackson township, proprietor of “Lick Run Stock Farm” — an estate of 600 acres, situated on the Dawson turnpike. He was born on the old Hulse homestead, not far from the present home of his widow in Jackson town- 1 ship, on October 15, 1850, and died February 19, 1898. He* was a son of Aristes and Lucinda (Alkire ) Hulse.

The parents of Mr. Hulse were born in Pickaway County and spent their whole lives here. They had four children, namely: Isaiah; Rebecca, wife of Eugene Halstead, of California; Mary, wife of James G. Hayes, of Pickaway County; and Ida L.

Isaiah Hulse remained on the home farm in Jackson township until he married and then removed to “Lick Run Stock Farm,” having previously erected the handsome brick residence now occupied by his widow and son. Mr. Hulse operated the farm as a stock farm, devoting his entire attention to the raising of fine horses and cattle, making a feature of the latter.

Mr. Hulse was married on January 8, 1895, to Martha Anderson, who was born in Wayne township, Pickaway County, Ohio, and is a daughter of James H. and Sarah (Fleming) Anderson, both natives of Wayne township. The father died on the farm in Wayne township on which he was born, but Mrs. Anderson resides in Columbus. Mr. and Mrs. Anderson had seven children, namely: Martha (Mrs. Isaiah Hulse); William, who married

Mary Holderman, daughter of Louis Holderman; Minerva, wife of James Swearingen, of Jackson township; Ida, wife of Thomas Woodrow, of Xenia, Ohio; Elizabeth S., wife of J. Sines, of Columbus; and Benjamin and Edward, who live with their mother in Columbus.

Mrs. Hulse has one son, Isaiah Smith, who was born July 19, 1896. Since the death of her husband, she has had the entire management of the farm and has shown great capacity as a business woman. A part of her land she rents and the rest she utilized in raising stock.

The late Isaiah Hulse was an excellent business man but he was much more. He was a kind and tender husband and father and a great over of home. It is remembered how fond he was of flowers-and never felt time wasted in their cultivation. He had many friends all over the county; all wished him well and borrowed when he died. Politically a Democrat, he held some minor offices, being too busy to accept more important ones. He was a good man in every sense of the word.

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