My Genealogy Hound

W. W. Hockman. Among all classes and in every calling in life may be found those who excel in whatever they undertake, whether of a professional, agricultural or commercial nature, and prominent among them stands the name of Mr. Hockman, who is closely associated with the farming interests of the county. He was born in Pickaway County, Ohio, in 1834, and is the son of Jacob D. and Angeline (Cummins) Hockman, natives of Woodstock, Va., and Preble County, Ohio, respectively. The father was of German descent, and a cooper and farmer by occupation. He immigrated to Boone County, Ind., in 1844, and was among the first settlers of that county. He located at Thorntown, and there died in 1849. The mother was of Irish descent. After the death of her husband she married John Hughs. She died in 1881. W. W. Hockman was the third child born to his parents, and remained at home and managed the farm until the death of his mother. In 1853, or when nineteen years of age, he married Miss Jane Wallace, a native of Ohio and the daughter of John Wallace. In 1855 Mr. and Mrs. Hockman moved to Northwestern Iowa, where they, resided two years, and then returned to Indiana, and settled in Clinton County, where they remained until 1862. In August of that year Mr. Hockman enlisted in the One Hundredth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, serving as orderly-sergeant of Company I until 1863, or up to the surrender of Vicksburg, when he received a sunstroke, which disabled him from service for some time. He then returned home, remaining there four months, when his health improved, and he again enlisted, in the Fifty-first Indiana Volunteer Infantry, as a private, and participated in the Hood and Thomas campaign. He was in the battles of Pulaski, Franklin, Columbus and Nashville, being in the various charges of the last-named place. He was discharged at Victoria, Tex., in September, 1865, and then returned to Indiana. Later he sold out and moved to Ford County, Ill., where he remained four months, and then moved to Dade County, Mo. After a residence there of five years he moved to Fort Smith, Ark., where he lived two years, and then moved to Pettis County, Mo., where he also remained two years. He then came to Benton County, where he has resided ever since. He is the owner of 400 acres of land in Benton County and a tract of land in Camden County. To Mr. and Mrs. Hockman were born eight children: Angeline (deceased, wife of William Jones; she died in 1881, leaving two sons), Theodore, a farmer and carpenter of Benton County, and a minister in the Methodist Protestant Church; Margaret, wife of E. Gibbs, of Texas County; Samantha, wife of Cyrus Newman, of Camden, lumberman at Climax; Minnie, at home; Amy, now attending school at Frankfort College, Indiana; Myrtie, at home, and Morton. Mr. Hockman is a member of the A. F. & A. M., also a member of the G. A. R., and is one of the prominent and much esteemed citizens of the county. He takes an active interest in politics, and is president of the Republican club; is a great reader, and is well posted on all subjects. He is one of the most enterprising men of the county; has spent much time and money in inducing immigration, making two trips East for that purpose.