William Hoxter's obituary, Adrian, Lenawee County, Michigan

Copyright © 1998 by J Miller. 

This copy contributed for use in the 
USGenWeb Archives. 

************************************************

Copyright.  All rights reserved.

http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm

http://www.usgwarchives.net/mi/mifiles.htm

************************************************


     William Hoxter

In the death of William Hoxter, mention of which is made elsewhere, Lenawee
County loses one of its oldest and most respected pioneers, a man who played
an important part in the early history of Michigan. Mr Hoxter was born in
Romulus, Seneca County, New York, January 12, 1808. When 18 years old he went
to learn the blacksmith trade. In May 1836, he came to Adrian, Michigan,
purchased a farm in the town of Rome.  He then returned to New York.  In
September of the same year he returned to Adrian with his family, and lived
there for about 4 years.  He then traded for a farm on the Territorial Road
known as the "old Plank road," seven miles west of Adrian.

In 1843 he erected a blacksmith shop at the forks of the road, nearly opposite
his house, and for 25 years "Hoxter's Blacksmith Shop" was a landmark for
travellers going west.  Besides running this shop and doing work for all the
travellers and farmers as far west as Coldwater, Mr. Hoxter found time to
clear 80 acres of land for himself.  Mr. Hoxter never kept a tavern, but no
traveller who desired accomadations was ever turned from his door.  In the
spring of 1869 he left his farm in charge of his son, moved to Adrian, and
built the house on Madison Street where he died.

In religion Mr. Hoxter was affiliated with the Methodist Episcopal Church,
having united with that denomination in Rome in 1839.  In politics he was
originally a Whig, but at the formation of the Republican Party he identified
himself with that organization, and always remained loyal to it.