OHIO STATEWIDE FILES OH-FOOTSTEPS Mailing List ----------------------------------------------------------------------- USGENWEB NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OH-FOOTSTEPS-D Digest Volume 99 : Issue 175 Today's Topics: #1 CHRISTIAN W. HOCKER - COLUMBIANA C [AUPQ38A@prodigy.com (MRS GINA M RE] #2 WILLIAM H. VODREY - COLUMBIANA COU [AUPQ38A@prodigy.com (MRS GINA M RE] ------------------------------ X-Message: #1 Date: Mon, 22 Mar 1999 09:29:05, -0500 From: AUPQ38A@prodigy.com (MRS GINA M REASONER) Subject: CHRISTIAN W. HOCKER - COLUMBIANA COUNTY BIOGRAPHICAL AND HISTORICAL RECORD OF ADAMS COUNTY INDIANA The Lewis Publishing Company, 1887 CHRISTIAN W. HOCKER, a prominent business man of the village of Monroe, and the present trustee of Monroe Township, is a native of Indiana, born in Decatur County, January 5, 1851, the fourth son of Stephen and Susannah (Wefler) Hocker, natives of Switzerland, the father born in 1812, and the mother in 1819. While in his teens the father immigrated to America, and first located in Columbiana County, Ohio. He afterward went to Stark County, Ohio. About 1850 he removed to Decatur County, Indiana, and in 1851 returned to Stark County, Ohio, In the spring of 1864 he returned to Adams County, Indiana, and engaged in farming in French Township. He was married in Columbiana County, Ohio, and was the father of eight sons and one daughter. Mr. and Mrs. Hocker were formerly Lutherans, but afterward united with the Albright church. Mr. Hocker died in 1872, and the mother now resides at Newville, in Wells County, Indiana. Christian W. Hocker, whose name heads this sketch, came with his parents to Adams County when twelve years old, where he was reared on the home farm, receiving his education in the common schools of the county. At the age of twenty-one years he engaged in the sawmill and lumber business, which he has since followed with success, although he started with barely enough to pay for the freight, running in debt for the price of the mill. In 1880 he engaged in the mercantile business in Monroe, in company with John W. Hendricks, under the firm name of Hendricks & Hocker, until the fall of 1883, when the partnership was dissolved. Mr. Hocker then became associated with his brother, Franklin P. Hocker, until the fall of the same year, since which he has conducted the business alone. He is also engaged in farming, and has a fine farm of 160 acres in Monroe Township. Mr. Hocker has been twice married. He was first married February 10, 1871, to Lucinda A. Bell, who died February 28, 1872, leaving one child - Viola B. He was again married January 10, 1876, to Mary I. Hofer, a former resident of Berne, Adams County, coming to this county in 1856. He was a tailor by trade, and now resides at Fall City, Nebraska. Two children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Hocker - Bessie L. and Gertrude E. Mrs. Hocker is a member of the Presbyterian church. Mr. Hocker has been successful in his business enterprises. In 1886 he erected his fine residence at Monroe, at a cost of $2,000, and also erected a commodious business house, which on the morning of March 30, 1886, was entirely destroyed by fire, including the total loss of stock, amounting to about $4,000, no insurance. Although a serious blow financially, through the influence of his many friends he is again building a new block, and will be actively engaged serving his trade within six weeks of time of fire. The entire community wishes him success. In politics he is a Democrat. He takes an active interest in public affairs, and has held several local offices. He was elected to his present office in 1884, and re-elected in 1886. ------------------------------ X-Message: #2 Date: Mon, 22 Mar 1999 10:50:42, -0500 From: AUPQ38A@prodigy.com (MRS GINA M REASONER) Subject: WILLIAM H. VODREY - COLUMBIANA COUNTY HISTORY OF OHIO, The American Historical Society, Inc., 1925 Volume V, Page 16 WILLIAM H. VODREY. Representing a name and family intimately connected with pioneer and later developments of the great pottery industry of East Liverpool, William H. Vodrey chose the law as his profession, and for over a quarter of a century has been one of the able and dignified members of the East Liverpool bar. He is also a director of the pottery business established by his father and uncles. He was born at East Liverpool, Columbiana County, March 4, 1873. The Vodrey family comes from the same locality in England, a great pottery center, from which other pioneer American potters came. His grandfather Jabez Vodrey was born at Burslem, England, came to this country when a young man, and lived for a time at Louisville, Kentucky but about 1846 established his home at East Liverpool and helped make the beginnings of the pottery industry there. He lived in East Liverpool the rest of his life. His wife, Sarah Nixon, was also born at Burslem, England. Col. William H. Vodrey, father of the East Liverpool attorney, was born at Liverpool, Kentucky, in August, 1830, spent part of his boyhood in Troy, Indiana, and was sixteen years of age when his parents settled at East Liverpool. For the rest of his life he lived in that Ohio city, and after leaving school went to work for the pottery manufacturers Woodward, Blakely & Mitchell. Subsequently he and his two brother, James N. and John W., acquired part of the pottery plant in which they had been employed, and this was the beginning of an industry with which the Vodrey name has ever since been associated. For many years the firm was Vodrey Brothers, but in 1896 the business was incorporated as the Vodrey Pottery Company. Vodrey products contributed to some of the remarkable fame attaching to East Liverpool pottery. One of the founders of the business gave up his life as a sacrifice to the cause of the Union in the Civil war. He was John W. Vodrey, who was killed while the Union armies were near Atlanta. Col. William H. Vodrey was also an officer, being commander of the One Hundred and Forty-second Ohio Infantry, and was all through the war. He was a staunch republican, a member of the Masonic fraternity, and for a quarter of a century served as a member of the East Liverpool School Board. Colonel Vodrey married Elizabeth Jackman, who was born in 1843 near Fredericktown in St. Clair Township, Columbiana County. Her father, Rev. John Jackman, was a farmer and also a minister of the Disciples Church. One Sunday morning, when Gen. John Morgan was progressing through the southeastern counties of Ohio in his memorable raid, Rev. Mr. Jackman dismissed his congregation to join the volunteers to stop the raider. Col. William H. Vodrey died at East Liverpool, November 15, 1896, and his wife, in 1911. Of their three children William H. Vodrey is the youngest. Oliver C., the oldest, is a fruit grower in East Liverpool. Mary, of East Liverpool, was a Young Men's Christian Association worker in the canteen service in France during the World war. William H. Vodrey attended public schools at East Liverpool, and in 1894 graduated with the Bachelor of Arts degree from Bethany College at Bethany, West Virginia. He received his law degree from the University of Michigan in 1896, and in 1897 was again graduated in law, this time from the Cincinnati Law School. Admitted to the bar in June, 1897, he has since that date been identified with the general law practice of East Liverpool and his offices are in the Potters Savings and Loan Building. Mr. Vodrey is a director of the First National Bank of East Liverpool, is a director in the Vodrey Pottery Company, and has some other property interests, including his residence on Park Boulevard. In politics he has acted with the republican party. He was elected and served two terms, four years, as city solicitor, and was also for two terms, four years, prosecuting attorney of Columbiana County. He is a member of the First Christian Church at East Liverpool, Riddle Lodge No. 315, Free and Accepted Masons, East Liverpool Lodge No. 379, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, East Liverpool Lodge No. 258, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. He belongs to the Ohio State, the Columbiana County and the American Bar associations. On May 16, 1902, at East Liverpool, Mr. Vodrey married Miss Dorothy Kelley, daughter of Joseph M. and Margaret (Thompson) Kelley, now deceased. Her father was an oil and gas producer. Mrs. Vodrey, who finished her education in Wilson College at Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, is the mother of three children. William H. III, and Joseph K., are both in their second year at Princeton University. Margaret Louise, the daughter, is a student in the public schools of East Liverpool. -------------------------------- End of OH-FOOTSTEPS-D Digest V99 Issue #175 *******************************************