James N. Hook
James N. Hook was born on a farm near the Ebenezer Church on the line between Adams and Brown Counties, November 22, 1882. His father's name was William, who. with his father, James, and two brothers of his father, John and Zaddock, their families and worldly belongings, left Snow Hill on the eastern shore of Maryland, in the Spring of 1809, and crossing the Chesapeake Bay and the Appalachian Mountains, came to Pittsburg. From that point, they passed down the Ohio River and landed at Maysville, where they crossed over to the Ohio side and settled near the place above mentioned. Here they purchased land and began the building of houses and barns, and in time were able to surround themselves with the comforts and conveniences of the farmers of the country districts of Southern Ohio. These people could all read, write and cipher, but knew nothing of the nativity of their ancestors, and it is probable that they had lived for generations near the place from whence they emigrated. William Hook married Elizabeth Neal, and the subject of this sketch was the eldest of a number of children born to them. His education was obtained in the country school of the district where they lived, except for a term or two, when he was a pupil of William McCalla, who taught a select school at Manchester, and who, in his day, was one of the leading educators of this part of Ohio. From Mr. McCalla, he learned surveying, which he followed, more or less, all his life.
When quite young, he commenced teaching school which occupied a part of his time for a number of years until his marriage to Sarah J. Baird, a daughter of Joshua and Susan Baird, which occurred November 5, 1846, near Bentonville, Ohio, the Rev. John P. Van Dyke performing the ceremony. Seven children were born of this marriage, Joshua B., who died in the service of his country, in the War of the Rebellion, December 25, 1864; Robert N., William H., Elizabeth Susan, John W., Benjamin F., and Sarah Jane. But two of these survive, William H., and John W. Hook. After his marriage, he followed farming most of the remainder of his life.
In 1846, he was elected Surveyor of Adams County, which office he held for three years. In 1851, he was elected Clerk of the Courts, holding that office for one term. During this time he was admitted to the bar but was never an active practitioner. He was a candidate for re-election on the Democratic ticket, but was defeated, this being the Know-nothing year of 1854, when that party swept everything before it.
While living on his farm, one mile west of West Union, on January 19, 1860, his wife died, and on September 3, 1860, he married Martha Jane Brawner, of West Union. Eight children were born of the marriage, five of whom are now living, James N., Joseph, May, Sara and Anna Lou.
In 1864, he was elected County Auditor on the Republican ticket and re-elected in 1866, after which he again resumed the business of farming, having purchased the James Anderson farm, one mile east of West Union. He died on his farm in Franklin Township, September 15, 1885, and at that time was a Justice of the Peace of the Township. His wife survived him three years, having died September 6, 1888.
James N. Hook was a shrewd politician. He could anticipate what would please the public better than any man of his time. Had his ambition been equal to his sagacity and foresight, he might have held some of the best offices in the land. There was no better judge of human nature than he, but while he could tell all his friends what was best to do, he was unwilling to avail himself of his own knowledge. He was one of the most sociable and companionable of men, and was universally liked by his neighbors.
From "A history of Adams County, Ohio: from its earliest settlement to the present time" By Nelson Wiley Evans, Emmons B. Stivers, 1900