hoke-whoke-mrs WILLIAM F. HOKE.-Prominent among the more prosperous and extensive agriculturists of Sullivan county is William F. Hoke, a well-known farmer and stock raiser of Haddon township. A man of good business qualifications, thoroughly acquainted with the work in which he is so busily engaged, he is meeting with unquestioned success, and is an important factor in advancing the farming interests of this section of Indiana. He was born, August 8, 1844, on the old Hoke homestead, about three miles south of Carlisle, a son of Jacob Hoke.


Born, in 1807, in Jefferson county, Kentucky, he was there reared and educated. Coming to Sullivan county, Indiana, soon after his marriage, he sought a favorable location, and after looking about for a time took up government land in Haddon township, anti by dint of industry and perseverance cleared and improved the valuable homestead, on which he resided until his death, in 1873. He carried on general farming on an extensive scale, and was quite a heavy stock feeder. He made much money in his operations, and having invested it wisely, owned at the time of his death about one thousand acres of choice land. He was a Democrat in politics, and served one term as county commissioner. He married Rosanna Brentlinger, who was born in Jefferson county, Kentucky, about 1807, and died in Haddon township, Indiana, in 1874. Ten children were born to them, as follows: The two oldest, twins, died in infancy; Susan, deceased; George, engaged in farming in Knox county; Sarah, deceased: Jacob, president of the Sullivan State Bank, at Sullivan; John, residing on the old homestead; William F., of this sketch; Charles, deceased; and Richard, deceased.


Acquiring an excellent knowledge of the various branches of agriculture while young, William F. Hoke selected farming as his life occupation, and until twenty-seven years of age assisted in the management of the home farm. In 1872, his father having at that time purchased the old Hinkle farm, he assumed its possession, and has since resided here. Succeeding in his efforts from the first, he now owns three hundred and thirty acres of the best land in southern Indiana, and on it has made improvements of an excellent character. In the fall of 1906, he erected his present fine home, which stands upon a natural rise of ground, and is of modern construction, its building having been necessitated by the burning of his former home about three years ago. Mr. Hoke makes a specialty of raising and feeding stock, having now, in 1908, over a carload of choice hogs that he is raising for market. He is now turning his attention to the breeding of black Poll-Angus cattle, having recently purchased a thoroughbred sire of that grade.


On December 18, 1873, Mr. Hoke married Virginia Belle Turner, who was born November 16, 1851, in Virginia, where her parents, Thomas K. and Lucy (Gilson) Turner, settled when coming to Sullivan county from Pennsylvania, where they had gone from their native state, Virginia, and where they spent their remaining years. The union of Mr. and Mrs. Hoke has been blessed by the birth of eleven children, namely: Myrtle, deceased; Bessie, unmarried; Ella, wife of Marvel Nash, a telegraph operator in Greene county, has two children, James and Dorothy; Allie, a twin sister of Ella, has passed to the higher life; Jacob, living on the home farm; Thomas and Lue, twins; Thomas is deceased, and Lue, single, lives at home; Anna, living at home; William, single; Lillie, single; and a child that died in infancy. Politically, Mr. Hoke supports the principles of the Democratic party by voice and vote.