BIO: Hezekiah K. HOY, Centre County, PA

Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Patty Millich

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Commemorative Biographical Record of Central Pennsylvania: Including 
the Counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion: Containing 
Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens, Etc. 
Chicago: J. H. Beers, 1898.
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  HEZEKIAH K. HOY, who is prominently identified with the agricultural 
interests of Benner township, Centre county, was born in 1835, a son of 
John and Susannah (Hoy) Hoy, who came from Union county, Penn., as did 
also the grandparents of our subject.  By trade the father was a 
miller, which occupation he continued to follow until 1840, when he 
purchased a farm in Benner township, on a portion of which Hezekiah H. 
now resides.  He died in 1864, at the age of sixty years, and his wife 
passed away at the age of forty-six.
  Their family comprised of eight children, in order of birth as 
follows:  Henry, born in 1829, died in 1895, in Arkansas, where his 
family still make their home; Lydia married Jacob Hartman, and died in 
1893, leaving a family who reside in Illinois; Sarah is the wife of 
John Rishel, a farmer of Centre county, Penn.; Hezekiah K. is next in 
order of birth; Catharine is the wife of John Houser; Mary A. is the 
wife of W. H. Miller; Susannah is the wife of Michael Corman, of Walker 
township, Centre county; and Emeline is the wife of Samuel Fravel, of 
College township, Centre county. 

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.  228

  The boyhood and youth of our subject were passed after the manner of 
most farmers' sons, he aiding in the labors of the fields and attending 
the district schools when his services were not needed at home.  He 
chose farming as his life occupation, and is now the owner of the old 
homestead, a tract of 138 « acres. The well tilled fields and neat 
appearance of the place shows his careful supervision, and the neat and 
commodious buildings are models of convenience.  In 1860 he married 
Miss Mary E. Fishburn, and eight children have come to bless their 
union, namely: Ettie, born in 1861, is the wife of Dr. Austin Shuey, of 
Prospect, Ohio; Anna M. is the wife of Grant Pifer, a clerk in a 
railroad office in Wilkinsburg, Allegheny Co., Penn.; Catharine and 
Harry (twins), the former being the wife of Rev. W. J. Wagner of Muncy, 
Lycoming Co., Penn., while the latter married Sally Garbrick; Jacob and 
Minerva (twins) are next in order of birth; Ursinus H. married Blanche 
Dale and lives in Benner township, Centre county; and Caroline is at 
home.
  Politically Mr. Hoy has ever been an ardent supporter of the 
principles of the Democratic party and favors the free coinage of 
silver.  He is a valued citizen of the community, has been an active 
agent in promoting the various schemes for its advancement, and has 
taken a conspicuous part in the administration of public affairs.  He 
is an earnest and useful member of the Reformed Church, and upright and 
honorable in all the relations of life.