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 OHN HOOTS, one of the earliest pioneers of North Okaw Township, came to this section of country when, as he says, “the principal productions were wolves, rattlesnakes and badgers.” He purchased a tract of eighty acres, and in connection with this also carried on farming on land adjacent, which had been partially improved. In the meantime he put up a house on his own land, of which he and his young wife took possession, and commenced in earnest the struggle of life in a new country. This was long before the advent of railroads, and the nearest milling facilities were at Decatur and Terre Haute, Ind. Charleston was then but an embryo village, and Mr. H. was acquainted with every man in it. There was no market for corn, and they consequently fed it to their hogs. These were transported on foot to market, to Chicago, Terre Haute and St. Louis, and then they brought but $1.25 per hundred. Those were days which truly “tried men’s souls,” and the changes which Mr. Hoots, in common with his brother pioneers, has witnessed, might form the theme of a tale which would amply prove that truth is stranger than fiction. Our subject was made of the stern stuff common to the men of those days, and persevered through every difficulty until he had established a comfortable homestead where a blooming family grew up around him. He is now retired from active labor, living perhaps as much in the past as in the present, and many a time regales the present generation with stories of the olden days. He has lived worthily and enjoys the confidence and respect of all who know him. Mr. Hoots was born in Stokes County, N. C., Dec. 12, 1816, and is the eldest in a family of eleven children, the offspring of David and Sarah (Wright) Hoots, also natives of that State. David Hoots was a farmer by occupation, and spent his entire life in North Carolina. Our subject was reared there on a farm in a region of country which afforded very few facilities for learning, and his education was consequently sadly neglected. Upon reaching his majority lie began farming for himself, which he sensibly pursued four years, unmarried, and laid the foundations for a future home. He was then united to Miss Sarah J. Fuller, Sept. 22, 1841. Mrs. Hoots is the daughter of Jesse and Catherine (Webb) Fuller, natives of Virginia, who emigrated to North Carolina at an early day. Our subject removed from his native State to Indiana with his parents, settling in Montgomery County in 1824, where he remained three years, and in 1837 took up his abode in this county, one mile from his present homestead, and in this vicinity he met the lady who afterward became his wife. Of this union there were born thirteen children, nine still living. They were named respectively, William Augustus, Albert Henry, Sarah Catherine, Mary Ann, David F., John J. and Robert Jesse (twins), Rebecca J., Orlando B., Ida, Josiah, Sidney J. and Miranda. |
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