David Adkins

As printed in 1906

AVID 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 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.