JOHN A. HOKE.-Numbered among the practical and progressive agriculturists of Sullivan county is John A. Hoke, who is successfully employed in his chosen occupation on the old Hoke homestead, which lies three miles south of Carlisle. He was born on the homestead where he has spent his entire life, May 6, 1842, being a son of Jacob and Rosanna (Brentlinger) Hoke, and a brother of William F. Hoke, in whose sketch, on another page of this work, further parental history may be found.
Assisting in the clearing and improving of the home farm, Mr. Hoke remained with his parents as long as they lived, and subsequently succeeded to the ownership of the original tract of land that his father took up from the government, and the title to which has never been changed. He has now one hundred and eighty-three acres of rich and arable land, and also one hundred and twenty acres in the same township, which is well improved and judiciously cultivated, constituting one of the model farms of the vicinity. He carries on general farming and stock raising, making a specialty of the black Poll-Angus cattle. He feeds each year about a half carload of cattle, from one to two carloads of Poland China hogs, and raises Shropshire sheep. He is a stockholder in the First National Bank of Carlisle, and is a Democrat in his political affiliations.
Mr. Hoke married, January 3, 1875, Elizabeth Brentlinger, who was born, March 12, 1849, in Clark county, Indiana. Her parents, Joseph and Camellia (Wells) Brentlinger, were born and reared in Kentucky, but shortly after their marriage settled in Clark county, Indiana, where they improved a farm, on which they spent their remaining years. Five children have been born of the union of Mr. and Mrs. Hoke, namely: Estella, born in July, 1878, married Austin Wortman, who lives on a part of Mr. Hoke's farm, and they have one child, Helen; Evelyn, born December 24, 1880, married Ivan Lisman, and they live just across the street from Mr. Hoke; Albert and Allie, twins, born in December, 1882, are unmarried, and live with their parents; and Camellia, born in July, 1887, lives at home. Mr. Hoke's daughters are members of the Methodist church.