An Meter Stipp Hulse

As printed in 1906

AN 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.]

After passing his early life in France, Mr. Joseph came to America when 17 years old and located in Cincinnati, where he remained for one year, clerking in a clothing store. In 1871 he removed to Circleville and took a position as clerk in the clothing store of Isaac Levy, where he remained until 1882; during the last five years of this period he was junior partner of the firm of Isaac Levy & Company. He then moved to Centralia, Illinois, where he conducted a clothing store until 1891, when he sold the store and returned to Circleville and established his present business, having at that time but one room. In 1901 he enlarged the store by renting another room, thus practically doubling his capacity for business. Mr. Joseph also owns the residence the family occupy on North Scioto street, which he purchased in 1900.

Mr. Joseph was married in 1880 to Emma Weill and they have five children: Merle, who was graduated from the Everts High School in 1905; Clara, Fanny, Helen and Samuel. Fraternally our subject is connected with the Masons; Knights of Pythias; Modern Woodmen of America and Knights of Honor.

As printed in History of Pickaway County, Ohio and Representative Citizens (1906). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.