W. M. BOCKIUS, a
progressive farmer of Shenango Township, owns a fine farm of forty
acres, on which he has passed his life since he was ten years old. He
was born in Hickory Township, Lawrence County, Pennsylvania, January 27,
1848, and is a son of John and Elizabeth (Martin) Bockius.
The grandfather was Daniel Bockius, who took part in
the War of 1812. He was born in 1782, in Holland, where he learned the
trade of bookbinding. This he followed in Philadelphia, and also after
settling in Lawrence County, on the State line, about one-half mile
above Eastbrook, and in the libraries through this section may yet be
found specimens of his skill. Little is known
of the grandmother except that her name was Rachel and that she
was of Scotch birth.
John Bockius was born in 1820 and was the oldest child
of his parents. In 1858 he left the home farm and moved to Shenango
Township, securing land on the Princeton road, which later became very
valuable. He died on this farm in the fall of 1886, aged sixty-six
years. In politics he was a Democrat and had frequently served his
township as school director. He married Elizabeth Martin, who was born
in Washington County, Pennsylvania, a daughter of William Martin. They
bad three children: W. M., the only survivor; Augustus, and Maude. The
parents were members of the Presbyterian Church.
W. M. Bockius received his educational training in the
schools of Shenango Township. His life has been passed in agricultural
activity. The home farm originally included a part of what is now
Cascade Park, and also a number of acres now utilized by the Lake Erie
Railroad. Mr. Bockius raises abundant crops of corn, oats, wheat and hay
on his land, which he cultivates according to modern methods. He has one
of the finest apple orchards in this section.
Before marriage, Mrs. Bockius was Miss Elizabeth
Riley. She was born in Ireland and is a daughter of Thomas Riley. Mr.
and Mrs. Bockius have the following children: W. S. Augustus, Mary, who
is the wife of Frank Stalter, of Allegheny; Ann, Frances, John and
Sarah, twins, and Maude. In politics Mr. Bockius is a Democrat, but
takes no active interest in political campaigns.
Source: History of New Castle and Lawrence County, 1908, page 564
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