William Colbourm Adkins

As printed in 1906

ILLIAM COLBOURM ADKINS, a prosperous farmer of Monroe township, who is operating the farm of W. M. Heath, of Mount Sterling, owns a farm of 105 acres, which is also located in Monroe township. Mr. Adkins was born January 3, 1873, in Fayette County, Ohio, and is a son of Leonard and Ellen (Clariadge) Adkins.

The Adkins family was established in Ohio in the time of the great-grandfather of our subject, Stanton Adkins, who came from Virginia and died in Monroe township, Pickaway County, many years later. Pie purchased a farm in the vicinity of Mount Sterling and any other large tract of land near Five Points. He was the father of 20 children, one of whom was Elijah, who became our subject's grandfather.

Elijah Adkins was born on his father’s farm in Monroe township. He married Nellie Adkins, who so far as known was not a relative, and they had these children: Leonard, Amelia, Kendall M., Susan, Alice and Marion. Elijah Adkins was a well-known man throughout Pickaway County. He ran a livery stable at Mount Sterling and he also operated a mill. He was one of the pioneer mail carriers and made the trip from Mount Sterling to Circleville and Washington Court House and back to Mount Sterling and then to Columbus, on horseback. The greater part of his life was spent at Mount Sterling.

Leonard Adkins, father of William C. Adkins, was born at Mount Sterling and attended school there, assisting his father, as he grew older, in carrying the mails. In 1861 he enlisted for service in the Civil War, and after three months of service returned to his father’s farm in Monroe township. Later he re-enlisted and served with the rank of ist lieutenant until the close of the war. He took part in many important engagements but survived all dangers and returned safely to the old farm. He had married after his first return from the army, and now he and his wife took up their residence on the home place and remained until after the birth of two children, Maggie and Flora. The former married Elmer Beal and they live in Madison County. The latter died in 1901.

Leonard Adkins then settled on the William Jones farm in Monroe township and while the family lived there, one daughter was born, Emma, who married Harvey Keller and lives in Fayette County. Later the family removed to the Isaac Moor farm in Fayette County, and there three children were born, namely: William C., of this sketch; Anna, who married Smith Dennis and lives at Detroit, Michigan; and Omer, who resides at Columbus. Leonard Adkins then settled on his farm of 124J2 acres in Monroe township, which he had bought five years previously, where both he and wife still reside, most highly esteemed residents of the locality. Two children were born to them: Lora FI., who married Johnnie Davis and lives in Darby township; and Ross, who lives at home with his parents.

William C. Adkins has been an agriculturist all his life. After reaching man's estate, he was united in marriage with Emma Owen, a daughter of Frederick and Mary A. (Davis) Owen, the former of whom is a veteran of the Civil War and a prominent citizen of Monroe township.

Frederick Owen was born on his father’s farm in Marion County, Ohio, in May, 1843, and is a son of Jesse and Barbara (Hoffman)

Owen, who were early settlers in Ohio. The father of Mr. Owen was a farmer and also a carpenter. Fie died in Marion County, when Frederick was four years of age. In the following year, with his mother and four brothers, Frederick Owen came to Pickaway County, settling in Muhlenberg township, with his mother’s parents. After their death, he and his mother lived at Darbyville and there she died and he became a member of the family of Joseph Merrill, for whom he continued to work for his board and clothing until he was 19 years of a.ge, w'hen he entered the army.

The date of Mr. O wen’s enlistment was July 19, 1862. Pie served as a private in the 90th Regiment, Ohio Vol. Inf., from that date until the close of the war, being discharged on June 16, 1865. Mr. Owen participated in many serious battles, including Stone River, Chickamauga, Nashville and Atlanta, and being so often at the post of danger he did not altogether escape injury. He suffered a bullet wound in his right leg which confined him to a hospital for three months.

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Mr. and Mrs. Owen have had eight children, namely: Amanda, who married Smiley Plughes and at her death left two children — Sylvia and Mabel; Sarah Jane, deceased, who was the wife of D. M. Hampsheer; George W., deceased; Millard F., a twin brother of George W., deceased in July, 1905; Roscoe, deceased at the age of three years; Emma, who

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After marriage, our subject and wife started to keep house on the farm of William Wolfe, in Monroe township, where they remained for one year and then removed to the farm of Leo Evans. Mr. Adkins operated that farm for three years and then moved to the Van Buskirk farm, which he managed for 14 months. He then rented the farm on which he resides. It is a tract of 101 acres, on the Clark's Run road, which belongs to W. M. Heath, of Mount Sterling. Mr. Adkins also has a farm of 105 acres which he devotes to general farming and the grazing of cattle. This property was given Mr. and Mrs. Adkins by Mr. Owen, his father-in-law.

Mr. and Mrs. Adkins have had two children, Frederick and Leaia. The former was born November 25, 1894, and died July 1, 1902. The latter was born May 29, 1896, and is a bright little maiden at school. Mr. Adkins has served in numerous township offices, has been supervisor for two terms and a member of the School Board for two years. He belongs to the Masonic fraternity. With his wife he is a member of the Christian Church at Five Points. The family and its connections are among the most highly esteemed citizens of Monroe township.

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.