In the books' own words, not ours, with obvious scanning errors fixed. The later printing (1912) is folded below the first. Families often supplied these stories to the publisher, so check key dates.
From Past and present of Knox County, Ohio (1912), The Biographical record of Knox County, Ohio : to which is added an elaborate compendium of national biography (1902)
J. CALVIN LONEY.
The reward of a well spent life is an honorable retirement from labor, and it is meet that after years of industry and strightforward dealing one should enjoy rest from business cares. This has Deen vouchsafed to Mr. Loney, who is now located in North Liberty, but who through a long period was identified with farming interests in Pike township. He was born in this town- I ship January 29, 1835, and is a representative of one of the oldest families of Virginia. His grandfather, John Loney, was born in the Old Dominion and emigrated westward, setting in Harrison county, Ohio, Avhere he engaged in farming. Subsequent- he came with his familjto Knox county, and here he entered alxiut five eighty-acre tracts of Ian(h afterward giving one to each of his sons. He also assisted his daughters in starting in life. In his family were four sons and two daughters, the third child and second son being John Loney, the father of our subject. His birth occurred in Harrison county, Ohio, and there he was reared until his reached the age of twenty-one years, when he came with his parents to Knox county. He afterward returned to Harrison county and was there married, following which he brought his bride to this county. He wedded Miss Elizabeth Kirkpatrick, a native of the former county, and through a long period they were representative farming people of Pike township. They had three sons and two daughters, of whom J. Calvin Loney was the second. The father gave his political support to the Democracy, and held nearly all the township offices. He had a very wide acquaintance and the salient characteristics in his career commended him to the confidence and good will of all with whom he was associated. He died in his eighty-seventh year.
A life-long resident of Knox county, J. Calvin Loney first opened his eyes to the light of day in a little log cabin which had been built by his father, and when si.x years of age he began his education in a log school house, walking two miles in order to attend school. Throughout the period of his youth he pursued his studies for about three months during the winter season, and during the summer months he aided in farm work. On the 13th of December, 1855, he was united in marriage to Miss Mary C. Ridenour, a native of Washington county, Maryland, who when about fifteen years of age came to Pike township, Knox county, Ohio, with iier parents, Daniel and Sarah (Bene) Ridenour. They, too, were natives of Maryland, and in their family were eight children. On making their way westward they established their new home in a log cabin and experienced the toil and hardships and also the pleasures of pioneer life.
Mr. and Mrs. Loney began their domestic life upon the farm of one hundred and sixty acres which was owned by his father and on which they lived for thirteen years, when he purchased a tract of land on section 3, Pike township, continuing there to make his home until 1892, when he built his present residence in North Liberty. In the meantime he had added to his original tract of land and had become the OAraer of six hundred acres, but as his children started out in life he divided with them, thus enabling them to secure goc*d homes. He is now living retired, leaving the development of his farm to others, the rented farm bringing to him a good income.
The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Loney was blessed with six children, three sons and three daughters, namely: Clarence, who married Louisa ood and is living in Pike township; John Alvin, who married Sylvia Hibbitts and also resided in Pike township; Daniel W., a graduate of the medical department of the state university of Michigan, who married Hallie Fulchs and is now practicing medicine in Norwalk, Ohio; Annie, the wife of George Ridenour, a cousin, of Wayne township: Alice Belle, the wife of R. D. Horn, M. D., of Butler, Ohio; and
Bernice, wife of Charles M. Leedy, a prominent farmer of Pike township. They also have lost three children in infancy. They have twenty-one grandchildren and these and the children of our subject were all born in Pike township with the exception of the two children of Dr. Loney. The family is one of prominence, and its representatives enjoy the hospitality of the best homes of this section of the county. Mr. Loney is and has been one of the leading men of Pike township, and in his political views he is a Democrat. He has held local offices and has ever discharged his duties in a prompt and capable manner, betraying no political trust in the slightest degree. Industry formed the foundation upon which he reared the superstructure of his success. His name in business dealings is synonymous with honesty and in all life's relations he has been found true to upright principles.
As printed in The Biographical record of Knox County, Ohio : to which is added an elaborate compendium of national biography (1902). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
JOHN CALVIN LONEY.
We are carried back to the pioneer days when we contemplate the life history of John Calvin Loney, one of the honored citizens of Pike township, who needs no introduction to our readers, for he has spent his long and useful life in this locality, taking no little part nor mere passing interest in the transformation of the same. One could not spend an hour-better, if one is interested in the history of the early days here, than to listen to his interesting and instructive reminiscences, for he has always been a keen observer" and has therefore seen and noted things as they are and he has an excellent memory, so that, covering a period of over three score years, we may look through an inverted horoscope, as it were, as the events of those decades troop before us in review. He has not only led a life of industry, but one of honor, keeping singularly free from all besmirching agents the bright escutcheon of the family name, and therefore those who know him best are glad to honor him now that the twilight of age is gathering around.
Mr. Loney was born in Pike township, this county, on January 29, 1835. He is the son of John and Eliza (Kirkpatrick) Loney. The paternal grandparents, John Loney and wife, were natives of Harrison county, Ohio, their parents having been early settlers there from Virginia. They came to Knox county in a very early day and the grandmother was killed here by being thrown from a horse. Both are buried in this county. The grandfather of the subject was a shoemaker by trade, and he had saved six hundred dollars with which he established himself here, having spent the first winter near Mt. Vernon and entered land from: the government for himself, his father-in-law and children.
The maternal grandparents of the subject, Hugh and Ann (Morrow) Kirkpatrick, were natives of Harper county, Maryland, his birth having occurred on June 1, 1772, and her birth occurred on December 19, 1793. They came to Ohio in the early pioneer days and located first in Harrison county, then in Knox county, where they entered government land, which they developed into a farm on which they spent the balance of their lives.
John Loney, father of the subject, was born March 12, 1805, in Harrison county, Ohio, and his wife, Eliza Kirkpatrick, was born in the same county on November 1, 1804, and there they grew to maturity and were married on October 1, 1829. The father devoted his life to agricultural pursuits. Politically, he was a Democrat, and he and his wife belonged to the Presbyterian church. Their family consisted of six children, two of whom are living at this writing, namely: John Calvin, of this review, and Mrs. Margaret Ann
Ridenour. John Loney, the father of the subject, came to Knox county prior to his marriage, entered land in Pike township, then returned to Harrison county and there married, after which he came back to Knox county and established his home, becoming one of the large landowners here, owning five or six hundred acres, and he was one of the substantial and influential men of his day. Plis death occurred on October 5, 1891, at an advanced age, his w ife having preceded him to the grave on November 3, 1868. He was twice married, his last wife being Arvilla Hibbitts.
John C. Loney, of this review, was reared on the home farm where, when of proper age. he assisted with the general work, and he received his education in the common schools of his community. Early in life he took up farming for a livelihood and this has been his life work. He began by renting a farm in order to get a start, then purchased land, and prospering through close application and good management, he added to his holdings until he became owner of over six hundred acres, which he farmer on a large scale. He raised various grades of live stock, and, laying by a competency, he gave away his large landed interests to his children, now owning only thirty acres on the outskirts of the town of North Liberty, and is now living practically retired from all activities, enjoying a well-earned respite.
Politically, Mr. Loney is a Democrat, but be bas always preferred to devote his attention to his family and business interests, leaving the cares of office to others. His wife is a member of the Lutheran church.
Mr. Loney was married on December 13, 1855, to Mary Ridenour, daughter of Daniel and Sarah (Bean) Ridenour, a highly respected old family of this county, having come here about 1852 from Hagerstown, Maryland. Nine children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Loney, named as follows: William Clarence, John Alva, Daniel W., Anna Alberta, Alice Belle, Bernice and Lizzie; two infants died unnamed.
Personally, Mr. Loney is a man whom to know is to respect and admire for his many estimable characteristics.
As printed in Past and present of Knox County, Ohio (1912). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
Named in this biography: D. Horn (b. 1858)
The printed record stops around 1912. We trace your line from there down to you, with every source cited.