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JAMES
T. HOY.
The
story of Philip Hoy, founder of the family of that name in Hancock
county, is interesting because so typical of the early pioneer
period. Born in
Pennsylvania
in 1793, he made his way to
Kentucky
at a time when the " dark and bloody ground " was still
unsettled in its government and not the most desirable place for
peaceful pursuits. About
the end of the first quarter
of the ninteenth century Philip Hoy crossed the river to
Cincinnati
, later went to
Columbus
and from there to
Fairfield
county, finally " winding up " in Hancock county in 1834.
During all his wanderings Philip was accompanied by his faithful
wife, Tilitha, who was bom in 179S and shared her husband's fortunes
for weal or woe for more than sixty years. Philip Hoy entered one
hundred and twenty acres of land in what is now Amanda township,
erected a rude log cabin after the universal custom of those times
and moved in with his family. At this stage of the game Philip made
an inventory of his resources and found he had just fifty cents with
which to begin life in the new country. But, as a matter of fact,
the lack of money was little regarded by the pioneers, who lived
principally upon game and fish until they could realize something
from their crops. Thus, though there might not be a cent in actual
money about the house for a year, there would be an abundance of
excellent food and comfortable though coarse material for clothing.
By dint of the usual digging and hacking Philip Hoy finally
brought his farm into fair shape and improved in circumstances as
the years went by. He was very
religious in his temperament and became a local minister of the
United Brethren church, in which capacity he was instrumental in
building and keeping alive several churches for use of pioneer
preachers. In other respects Philip Hoy became a man of influence in
his community, holding some of the important township offices and
enjoying prestige as a soldier of the war of 1812. He passed away in
1879, in the eighty-eighth year of his age, and five years later was
followed to the grave by his faithful widow. This worthy couple
became the parents of eight children: Caliste Ramsay, Mary A.
Clapper, Daniel, Lewis, Wilson, John, Lewis H. and James T. Of the
children above enumerated only four are now living, and among these
is James T. Hoy, who was born in
Fairfield
county,
Ohio
, April 19, 1829. He was therefore an infant of tender years when
brought by his parents to Hancock county and installed as one of the
occupants of the log cabin in Amanda township. Schools in those days
were as scarce as other comforts of civilization, and pioneer
children seldom secured much learning in these crude academies of
the wilderness. Young Hoy got his share
as he grew up, but depended much more on the carpenter's trade he
had learned than on book knowledge as a means of making his way in
the world. Many years of the early part oŁ his life were devoted to
carpenter work, which was then much in demand and well remunerated,
and from his general work he finally saved up enough to buy a farm.
His first purchase of real estate was made in 1872 and consisted of
one hundred acres, to which he added forty acres more three years
later. Since then his holdings have been
greatly improved as well as increased in value by the erection of
suitable buildings and other beautifying processes which indicate
the progressive farmer. In fact everything on or about the Hoy home
has an appearance of prosperity and up-to-dateness that prove better
than words can the presence of a master who understands his
business. In 1856 Mr. Hoy was united in marriage with Euphemia,
daughter of Rufus and Harriet Bennett, old settlers of Hancock
county. They arrived from
Pennsylvania
in 1835, just one year after the advent of the Hoys, and from that
time on the two families were intimately connected in their
social relations. The Bennetts entered one hundred and twenty acres
of land in
Jackson
township, but subsequently increased their estate to five hundred
acres, which is now in the hands of their seven surviving children.
Mrs. Hoy was born near Wilkes-Barre. Luzerne county,
Pennsylvania
, January 1, 1833., and was consequently an infant in arms when her
parents reached their destination in
Ohio
. Mr. and Mrs. Hoy have
three children: Bennett G., Serelda V.
and Harriet T. The parents are members of the Methodist Episcopal
church, and Mr. Hoy is connected with the Independent Order of Odd
Fellows. He has served as township trustee, and in 1875 was
nominated as a candidate for county commissioner.
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