My Genealogy Hound

JOSEPH E. HOON, an extensive property owner now living retired at West Fairview, is one of the progressive citizens of Cumberland county. He was born at Halifax, Dauphin county, in 1835, of German origin.

John Hoon, his grandfather, was also a native of Dauphin county, where he learned and followed the trade of blacksmith, and also worked in East Pennsboro township, where he became the owner of sixty acres of land. His remains were interred in Dauphin county. His children were; John, Henry, George, Abel, David, Benjamin and Julian.

Benjamin Hoon, son of John and father of Joseph E., was born in Dauphin county, where he attended school and grew to manhood. In 1854 he located in East Pennsboro township, Cumberland county. For an occupation he followed hunting and fishing. He died at the age of seventy-nine years and ten months, and was buried in Zion cemetery, East Pennsboro township. His wife. Anna Meets. died when her son Joseph E. was ten years old, and is buried in Dauphin county. Their children were: John W., who died in Missouri; Harriet, who died in Harrisburg in 1902, and is buried in Zion cemetery; Joseph E.; Sarah, of Dauphin county; Clara, who makes her home in West Fairview with her brother, Joseph E.; Mary, living in Harrisburg; Teresa, who died young; and Benjamin, of West Fairview.

Joseph E. Hoon received a limited education in the schools of Halifax, and was early thrown upon his own resources. For eight years he followed rafting between Lock Haven and Columbia, on the Susquehanna river. During the Civil war he enlisted in Company F, 130th Pennsylvania Volunteers. for nine months’ service, but was discharged early in his term of enlistment because of ill health. He was one of the men to lay the first rail of the N. C. Railroad in Cumberland county. Then entering the sand business, selling his produce to the N. C. Railroad Company, he continued in that line for forty years, winning a comfortable competence by steady and persistent effort. He had, at this time, a part of his grandfather’s old farm in East Pennsboro township, along the river, but this was wanted by the Pennsylvania Railway Company, and he sold out. In 1903 he came to West Fairview, and is now living retired in a comfortable and thoroughly equipped modern home he recently erected. He also built several other houses, which he rents.

Mr. Hoon has lived a busy, honorable life, and richly deserves the comfort that he has gained for his later years. He is well liked by all who know him. Broad-minded and liberal, he is ready at all times to assist in every way all progressive movements tending to benefit his town. He has traveled extensively throughout the United States.

Mr. Hoon married Miss Ida Fink, daughter of William Fink, of Hogestown, Cumberland county. She died in December, 1895, and was laid to rest in Zion cemetery. The children born of this union were: (1) Clarence B., living in New Cumberland, is running a ferry to Steelton; he married Emma Springer. (2) Roy T. who married Edith Holmes, lives in Yuba City, Sutter Co., Cal. (3) Joseph E., Jr., married Florence Wagner, and had one child. Josie; he was killed in 1899, by catching his foot in a switch and being run down by a train. He was buried in Zion cemetery. Mr. Hoon has always been a stanch Republican, and he is an active worker in the United Brethren Church at Fairview.