ADAMS COUNTY, INDIANA
BIOGRAPHIES
He is a comrade of
John P. Porter Post, No. 83, G. A. K.
SOURCE: Biographical
and historical record of Adams and Wells counties, Indiana. Chicago:
Lewis Publishing Co., 1887
(Transcribed and Contributed by Larry
Wells)
Abel J. Hawk, a retired mill
owner and farmer at Rockford in Mercer County, is a citizen of
phenomenal enterprise and industry, and during his active lifetime many
undertakings have felt the stimulus of his energy. This energy has been
manifested not alone in business affairs, where he is preeminently
successful. He has been equally public spirited and generous of his
time and labor in behalf of community welfare, and over a large section
of Mercer County, Ohio, and of Adams County, Indiana, the impress of
his work and influence is still apparent.
Mr. Hawk was born in Adams County, Indiana, near Decatur, August 19,
1857, a son of Adam and Nancy (Johnson) Hawk. His father was a native
of Pennsylvania, from which state he moved to the vicinity of Dayton in
Montgomery County, Ohio, from there to St. Paris, Ohio, and a little
later, in 1833, to Adams County, Indiana. Most of his early youth was
spent in Adams County, Indiana, and he attended one of the log
schoolhouses kept there in the early days. The teacher of that school
was a Mr. Johnson, and Nancy Johnson was a daughter of the teacher. The
friendship that began between Adam Hawk and Nancy Johnson in school
days was later cemented by marriage. For a time after his marriage Adam
Hawk worked on his father- in-law 's farm and later bought forty acres
in that county. Selling that land he moved further south in the county
and secured 120 acres. This was covered with woods, and the four years
spent there were directed to clearing up and making the land ready for
cultivation. He then sold that property and bought other land in St.
Mary's Township of Adams County. Adam Hawk was a very industrious man
and by that trait he was able to provide liberally for his family. He
was reared in the Lutheran Church but afterwards became a Methodist and
was one of the leaders in the church of that denomination and a member
of its official board. Politically he was a democrat until the campaign
for the election of U. S. Grant, and after that steadily adhered to the
republican alliance. Adam Hawk and wife had six children, three of whom
are still living: Valentine E., a machinist in Indiana; Sarah I. is the
wife of Noah A. Lung, and for many years she was a teacher in the
public schools.
Abel J. Hawk spent his early life on an Adams County farm in Indiana.
His education came from district schools and also from the public
schools of Decatur, and he was given a license to teach, though his
career from an early age has been devoted to practical affairs rather
than to educational or book interests. When he was twenty-one years of
age his father died and thenceforward he had to make his own way in the
world.
On March 2, 1880, Mr. Hawk married Almira Carter. She was born in St.
Mary's Township of Adams County January 13,1852, a daughter of Ardelius
and Hannah (Gulic) Carter. She is a descendant of a noted Virginian,
General Carter. Mrs. Hawk was reared on a farm and like her husband
attended the common schools of Adams County.
After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Hawk located on a farm 5Vb miles east
of Decatur, lived there two years and then bought a farm six miles east
of Berne in Adams County. He lived there for nine years. Mr. Hawk
bought this land because of its timber, and that was the beginning of
his extensive operations as a timber buyer and mill man. He lived on
his farm in Adams County from 1887 until he removed to the Town of
Berne, which was his home up till 1902. Mr. Hawk has built and owned
several different mills for the manufacture of lumber products,
including a hoop factory at Berne and also a large industry of that
kind at Fort Recovery.
He still owns a large amount of acreage which he originally bought
because of its timber. His ownership includes 120 acres in Jefferson
Township of Adams County, 500 acres in Mercer County, Ohio, 160 acres
in Noble Township of Defiance County, Ohio. Since 1904 Mr. Hawk and
family have lived in Rockford, Ohio. He is the heaviest stockholder in
the Bank of Berne, Indiana.
Mr. and Mrs. Hawk had six children, five of whom are still living:
Adrian W., a graduate of Voorhees Business College of Indianapolis, is
in the hardware business at Atlanta, Indiana; Charles E. is actively
associated with his father in business; Rufus W. is also in business
with his father; Nora M. is the wife of William Berry; Edith C. is the
wife of Hugo Pierstorff.
The family are members of the Bethel Brethren Church of Adams County,
Indiana, and both Mr. and Mrs. Hawk were charter members of that
church. He helped organize it, was class leader and for many years an
official. In politics he is a republican, and in every community where
he has lived has proved an energetic influence for upbuilding and civic
betterment. He was a member of the Berne Council and president of the
board and he brought out the first petition for the construction of a
pike road in Adams County. Every public improvement has found in him a
steady supporter and his public spirit is not confined to words alone.
Capt. Charles M. Sidees, still a young man, not yet forty, has used the
time and talents allotted him to splendid purpose. He has prospered in
business affairs, has recently completed two full terms of service as
clerk of courts in Van Wert County, and was long active and prominent
in military circles, having attained the rank of captain in the
National Guard, and having served with his regiment during the
Spanish-American war.
He was born in Van Wert June 11, 1879. His people were very early
settlers in Southern Ohio. His great-grandfather was a farmer and died
in Galia County, Ohio, and came to this state after having served in
the Revolutionary war. Joseph Siders, grandfather of Captain Siders,
was born in Galia County, was reared there, and when a young man went
to Indiana and bought a tract of timbered land in Union Township of Jay
County. He improved that land, but in 1876 sold out his possessions
there and removed to Van Wert County and lived in .the county seat
until his death at the age of seventy-five. He married Almira Rhea, who
was born in Preble County, Ohio, and is still living at Van Wert at the
age of seventy-eight, having reared five children. Her father, Robert
Rhea, was an extensive farmer in Jay County, Indiana, and gave to each
of his children 200 acres of land. Robert Rhea died in Jay County.
Robert Siders, father of Captain Siders, was born on a farm in Union
Township of Jay County, Indiana, February 21, 1857, came to Van Wert in
1876 and is still living in that city. He married Eva Tomlinson, who
was born in Mercer County, Ohio. Her father, Lewis Tomlinson, was a
prominent pioneer, a native of Madison County, Ohio, and on going to
Mercer County he owned and operated a flour mill on St. Marys River.
That was before the days of railroads and people living over a vast
extent of country brought their corn and wheat by horseback or other
conveyance for long distances to his mill. Mr. Tomlinson operated his
mill on St. Marys River several years, and then removed to Van Wert,
where he was engaged in the boot and shoe business until he retired.
The maiden name of his wife was Richard Boroff, who was born in
Cincinnati and died in Van Wert. Lewis Tomlinson and wife were both
active Methodists, feared their families in the same faith, and Mr. and
Mrs. Robert Siders are regular attendants at that church. Capt. Charles
M. Siders was the oldest of five children, the others being Foster,
Ethel, Edith and Vernal.
While growing up in Van Wert Charles M. Siders attended the public
schools, and then seeking a means of self support he spent two years
working in the Eagle Stave Works. His next employment was as clerk in
the Boston Store at Van Wert. In the meantime he had enlisted in
Company D of the Second Regiment Ohio National Guard, and on the
breaking out of the Spanish-American war in 1898 he went with his
regiment when it was called into service. He was with his comrades in
the southern concentration camps until they were mustered out and
honorably discharged in 1899. Captain Siders retained his membership in
his company and regiment until 1910, and was promoted from the ranks
through the different grades until he became captain of his company.
After the close of his military service in the field he spent a year
and a half with the Allen Grocery Company as a clerk, and then set up a
business in that line of his own. Captain Siders was one of the
prosperous merchants of Van Wert until 1912, when he was elected clerk
of courts of the county. He was re-elected in the fall of 1914 and at
this writing is closing his second term of efficient handling of the
duties of office.
In 1909 he married Miss Mary E. Thomas, who was born in York Township
of Van Wert County, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph E. Thomas. Mrs.
Siders' maternal grandfather, Richard Jarvis, was born in Wales, was
reared and married there, and about 1845 came to America accompanied by
his family. From Cincinnati he removed in the spring of 1848 to Van
Wert County, and his was one of the first white families in this
section. He bought sixty acres of timbered land in York Township from
William Belt, and after improving that place and occupying it for
several years he sold out and bought 200 acres in Jennings Township. He
lived there until his death. At the age of twenty- one Richard Jarvis
married Mary Bebb, who was born August 2, 1821. Her cousin George Bebb
was a member of the Calvinistic Methodist Episcopal Church and served
as a trustee and superintendent of the Sunday school. Mr. and Mrs.
Siders have two children, Richard and Robert. In politics Captain
Siders has always been a loyal democrat and besides his county office
has served on the city council. He is affiliated with Van Wert Lodge
No. 130, Knights of Pythias, with Van Wert Lodge of the Benevolent and
Protective Order of Elks, and with Aerie No. 886 of the Fraternal Order
of Eagles.
Source: A History of Northwest Ohio: A Narrative Account of Its
Historical Progress and Development from the First European Exploration
of the Maumee and Sandusky Valleys and the Adjacent Shores of Lake
Erie, Down to the Present Time By Nevin Otto Winter Published by The
Lewis Publishing Company, 1917
