The Workman Families of Knox County, Ohio

URIAH C. WORKMAN.

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Joseph Workman, father of James and grandfather of Uriah Workman, was born in Maryland and came to Knox county about 181 3 and located in Union township, where he owned a tract of land which embraced the present site of Buckeye City. He died in 1852, and is buried in the Workman cemetery, which is on sections 6 and 7, Union township. He was of German descent, and his first American ancestor was one of three brothers who came early from Germany to Maryland. Four settlers of the name came to Union township about 1813. two brothers named Stephen and Joseph and two brothers of another family named David and Abraham. Joseph and Stephen remained in Union township, David went to Howard township. Knox county, and.Abraham settled finallT in Coshocton county. Ohio.

James Workman, son of Joseph Workman, married Mary A. Rolston, a native of Harrison township, Knox county, Ohio, whose parents came from Virginia. She died in 1874. Rev. James Workman is living in Brown township, Knox county. They had five sons and a daughter, all of whom grew up, married and had children. Frank, the youngest, was accidentally killed. Silas H. and J. C. live in Berlin township. Knox county. Alonzo R. lives in Brown township, Knox county. Alice married A. Helser and lives in Brown township.

The subject of this sketch, the eldest of his father's family, was only a year old when his parents settled in Brown township, where he was reared and educated in public schools. His educational proficiency was so satisfactory that he was early in life employed to teach two terms of school in Brown township. He remained under his father's roof until September 21, 1873: he married Barbara Workman, daughter of Stephen and granddaughter of David Workman, who has been referred to as a pioneer. Mrs. Workman was born, reared and educated in Howard township, Knox county.

After his marriage Mr. \\workmen located in BroAvn township, where he remained three years, devoting himself to farming. He removed thence to Pike township, where he bought a farm, on which he lived three years or until he came to Buckeye City, then known as Roseville, and embarked in the hardware trade, in which he continued successfully for twenty years. Eventually he bought out an old established undertaking business, which he conducted in connection with his hardware store until two years ago, when he disjXJsed of his hardware interest and ]nit in a line of furniture. In 1892 he took lessons in embalming and holds a diploma as an expert in that art. His trade is large and lucrative and as a business man he enjoys the confidence of the entire community. Duringthe first administration of President Cleveland he filled the office of postmaster. He was elected mayor of Buckeye City in 1894 and by re-election has held the office continuously since. He has been called to other important local offices, and has filled them all with ability, discretion and the strictest integrity. Politicallly he is a Democrat. He and his wife are members of the German Baptist church, in which his father is a minister and in which his grandfather Workman was also a minister. His son, Clifford A. Workman, born July 7, 1882, assists him in his business and is a young man of much ability and promise.

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

ANDREW J. WORKMAN.

Hon. Andrew J. Workman, a member of one of Ohio's old and influential families, Tias for a number of years been recognized as one of the leading lawyers of his locality. He is a native son of Howard township, his birth having occurred on the 29th of May, 1853. His paternal grandfather, David Workman, was a native of Maryland, but became one of the early pioneers of Knox county, Ohio, where he became a prominent farmer of Howard township. The maternal grandfather, John Davis, was a native of the state of Vermont. Stephen D. Workman, the father of our subject, also claimed Maryland as the state of his nativity, but when twelve years of age he accompanied his parents on their removal to Knox county, Ohio, the family locating in Howard township, and there the son was reared to years of maturity. At Loudonville, this county, he was united in marriage to Phelena Davis, a native of Ashland county, Ohio, and after their marriage they took up their above in Howard township, where they spent the remainder of their lives, each passing away at the age of about seventy-two years. They became the parents of four children, three daughters and a son.

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36o ing to enter the field of professional life ]\Mr. Workman then took up the study of law, and after gaining a thorough theoretical knowledge of the profession he opened an office in Danville, where he has since carried on an extensive general practice in all the courts. In politics, too, he has been a leader among Republicans and has upheld the principles of his chosen party with firmness and unwavering fidelity. For eighteen years he served as justice of the peace of Union township, while for twelve years he was the efficient mayor of the town, and in 1895 he was elected to represent his district in the state legislature.

In 1879 occurred the marriage of Mr. Workman and Miss Izora Smith. The lady is a daughter of Jonas and Elizabeth (Kremerick) Smith. The union of this subject has been brightened and blessed by the presence of two sons and one daughter, — Orlin, Eva, and Harley. Orlin will graduate in Kenyon College with the class of 1902. Mr. Workman has long been a member of the Masonic order, holding membership in the lodge at Danville, and in his life he exemplifies its beneficent and ennobling spirit. Religiously he is a worthy member of the Christian church, in which he has long served as a deacon. As might be expected of one who has spent his entire life in this county, Mr. Workmian is deeply interested in all movements relating to its progress and the development of its resources. In the many positions to which he has been called it has been his aim to advance the interests of his fellow citizens and promote the welfare of the county. While he has been successful in his profession, his aim and purposes have not been selfish, but he has aided the worthy poor by substantial gifts and those just starting out in life by words of kindly counsel, striving in his life and actions to make the world better for his having lived in it.

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

REV. JOSEPH T. WORKMAN.

Rev. Joseph T. Workman is a minister of the German Baptist church and is also identified with the farming interests of Knox county. He is numbered among its native sons, for his birth occurred in Brown township, on the 15th of October, 1847. Flis father was also a minister of the gospel. He was the Rev. John J. Workman and well known in connection with Christian activity in Knox county. His wife bore the maiden name of Lucretia DeWitt. They maintained their home in Brown township, and under the parental roof the subject of this review was reared. He attended the district schools for some time and afterward spent four and one-half months as a student in a select school. He then returned home and for some time followed the profession of teaching in the winter months, while in the summer season he assisted in the further development and cultivation of the home farm. After his marriage he located upon a farm, where he yet resides, and has since conducted agricultural pursuits, his thorough understanding of the business, combined with knowledge and perseverance, making his labors of excellent financial benefit. He began his ministerial work in 189 1, and as pastor of the German Baptist church at Danville he is exercising an excellent influence over the moral development and religious welfare of his community.

On the 5th of November, 1873, Rev. Workman was united in marriage to Miss Lucinda Grubb, who. is the tenth in a family of twelve children born unto Daniel H. and Elizabeth (Brumbaugh) Grubb, who were early settlers of Pike township. There Mrs. Workman was born, reared and educated. By her marriage she has become the mother of three children, Cora A., Elizabeth and Walter D., all at home. The family reside upon the farm of one hundred and eleven acres in Brown township and Mr. and Mrs. Workman enjoy the hospitality of the best homes of the neighborhood. He votes with the Democracy and is interested in the welfare of the party whose principle he endorses. Every movement which he believes to be of benefit to the community receives his endorsement and his work and influence are of no restricted order. He is most earnest and zealous in behalf of the church, and by example as well as by precept is extending the power of the denomination which he represents.

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

Many are the representative farmers of Knox county who have spent their entire lives in this portion of the state, a fact which indicates unmistakably the excellence of the country and the advantages offered to its citizens. Among this number is Mr. Workman, who was born in Brown township, December 17, 1849, being the fourth son and sixth child of the Rev. John J. and Lucretia (DeWitt) Workman. His childhood and youth were passed upon the home farm, and the district schools of the neighborhood afforded him his educational privileges. Through the summer months he worked in the fields and thus became familiar with farm labor in all of its departments. He remained with his parents until his marriage, which important event in his life was celebrated June 12, 1878, the lady of his choice being Mary C. Pryor, a native of Brown township, and a daughter of Hammond and Elizabeth (Lydic) Pryor, who came from Belmont county, Ohio, to Knox county, the ancestn, however, being Irish. Mrs. Workman is the eldest daughter in her parents' family, and the second among nine children, all of whom were born in this county. She was reared in Brown township and educated in the-district schools. After their marriage our subject and his wife began their domestic life on the old homestead where they still reside, and their union has been blessed with three children: Charlie H., who died at the age of one year and five days; Ada G. and Ora D., both at home.

Mr. Workman has always carried on general farming and in the home place he owns and operates one hundred and forty-six acres of rich land. He also raises fine stock, including hogs, sheep, cattle and horses, and has a large number of fine chickens, which enabled him to sell sixteen hundred dozen eggs in the year 1900. His business is managed with excellent skill and ability, and its various departments returns to him a good income. In addition to his other interests he is agent for the Eureka Fertilizer Company, of Sandusky, Ohio. He carries on his work in accord with progressive spirit and methods of the twentieth century, and his labors are bringing to him a creditable prosperity. He has been a life-long Democrat in national affairs, but at local elections votes for the candidate regardless of party affiliations. With the German Baptist church he holds membership, taking an active part in its work, and his life has ever been in consistent harmony with his professions.

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

Mark Workman, deceased, was a native son of the Buckeye state. For many years he made his home on the farm which his widow still owns, and was successfully engaged in agricultural pursuits, being an industrious, enterprising and energetic man, of good business and executive ability. His birth occurred in Brown township, Knox county, on the 19th of April, 1852, and he was early injured to the labors of field and meadow, while the educational advantages which he received in his youth were those afforded by the common schools of his locality. After putting aside his text-books as a scholar he again entered the school room as. an instructor, and for a considerable period instructed the young along lines of mental advancement. On the 27th of December, 1876. he was united in marriage to Miss Angeline Hays, and their union was brightened and blessed by the presence of one daughter, Estella, who became the wife oT V. L. Horn, a prominent and successful agriculturist of Pleasant township, Knox county.

Soon after their marriage the young couple removed to the farm in Pleasant "township which Mrs. Workman still owns, and here our subject was extensively engaged in agricultural pursuits until his life's labors were ended in death, passing away on the nth of April, 1885, in the faith of the Brethren or German Baptist church, of which he was a worthy and acceptable member, ever doing his full share to promote the cause of Christianity. His life was one of marked industry and enterprise, in which a resolute spirit and untiring labor enabled him to advance steadily step by step until he occupied an enviable position on the plane of affluence.

Mrs. Workman resided upon the farm in Pleasant township until 1889, when she removed to Gambier and erected the beautiful residence which she now occupies, but she still retains possession of the homestead farm, which consists of two hundred and ninety-seven acres of rich and fertile land. She still holds faith in the same religious society, and her life has been one in which many acts of kindness have gained for her the esteem and friendship of all who know her.

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

HIRAM W. WORKMAN.

Agriculture has been an honored vocation from the earliest ages and as a usual thing men of honorable and humane impulses, as well as those of energy and thrift, have been patrons of husbandry. The free outdoor life of the farm has a decided tendency to foster and develop that independence of mind and self-reliance which characterizes true manhood, and no greater blessing can befall a boy than to be reared in close touch with nature in the healthful, life-inspiring labor of the fields. It has always been the fruitful soil from which have sprung the moral bone and sine of the country and the majority of our nation's great statesmen, famous warriors, renowned scholars and distinguished men of letters were born on the farm and are indebted to its early influence for the distinction which they have attained.

Hiram W. Workman, of Union township, Knox county, is a farmer and he comes of a family of tillers of the soil, who have been thus engaged for a livelihood for generations. He was born on February 26, 1861, in Tiverton township, Coshocton county, Ohio, the son of Stephen and Mary (Johnson) Workman, both natives of the same vicinity in which the subject was born and there they were reared, grew to maturity and married, the father spending his entire life on the old homestead on which his birth occurred. He farmer all his life and was a substantial and influential citizen. Politically, he was a Democrat and adhered to the Baptist belief religiously. His death occurred in December, 1907, having survived his wife thirty years, she having preceded him to the grave on February 12, 1877, and they are both buried in the Baptist cemetery, near Tiverton Center, Coshocton county.

Sixteen children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Workman, six of whom are living at this writing, four having died in infancy, and twelve grew to manhood and womanhood, namely: Hiram W., of this sketch: Robert W. lives in Holmes county, Ohio; Elizabeth married William R. Parsons, of Holmes county; Emma married Charles Englehart, of Howard township; Allen Thurman lives in Holmes county, and Asa is a resident of Orville, Wayne county.

Hiram W. Workman Avas reared on the home farm and there worked in the summer months as soon as he was old enough, attending the public schools in the winter time. He remained under his parental roof-tree until he was married, on November 17, 1881, to Alice Singer, daughter of John and Ellen (Prost) Singer, the mother having died when Mrs. Workman was an infant. The father is now a resident of the state of Idaho.

Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Workman, named as follows: Sadie, who married Earl Ackert, of Tiverton township, Coshocton county; Grover C. is at home assisting with the work on the place; Walter is deceased.

Hiram W. Workman began farming on the home place in Tiverton township, Coshocton county, and in 1886 he came to Union township, Knox county, locating one mile west of Cavilla, where he is the owner of eighty acres of good land which he farms and on which he raises live stock and feeds considerable stock each year.

Politically, Mr. Workman is a Democrat and he has always been an active party man. He was assessor of Union township for two years. His popularity in his home community is shown by the fact that this is a strong Republican district and that he was elected on the Democratic ticket. He has also served as a member of the township board of education for several years, and he has been a frequent delegate to party conventions where he has always made his influence felt for the good of the community which he represents and the party in general.

As printed in the source². Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.