| Other People | Frank J. Bradley | Olive Rambo Cook | Jerry Litton | | |||
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Past and Present of Livingston County Volume 2. Biographies by Major A. J. Roof. 1913 |
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Pages 189-190
Since receiving his honorable discharge as a soldier in the Civil war John H. Hoyt has lived upon his farm of three hundred and twenty acres in Livingston county and as the years have passed has made it a most excellent and productive property. He was born in Ohio in February, 1846, and is a son of Caleb R. and Mary (Taylor) Hoyt, both of whom have passed away, the mother dying in 1853 and the father in 1873. The former is buried in Adams county, Illinois, while the latter was laid to rest in Maybury cemetery, in Fairview township.
In the acquirement of an education John H. Hoyt attended the country schools of Adams county. Illinois, whither his parents had removed when he was still a child. At the age of eighteen he laid aside his books in order to offer his services to the Federal government and was sent to the front as a private in an Illinois volunteer regiment. After one year of able and loyal service he received his honorable discharge and coming to Missouri bought forty acres of land, adding thereto, as he was able, until his holdings comprised three hundred and twenty acres, all located in range 23, Livingston county. He has continued to improve the property, building a good house, barns, granaries and outbuildings and installing the necessary farm equipment. He has thus added greatly to the value of the property. Mr. Hoyt engages in mixed farming, raising grain and keeping eight horses, fifty head of cattle and about one hundred swine. He makes a specialty of raising thoroughbred Galloway cattle, a line which he has followed for the past twenty years and enjoys a high reputation for the results which he obtains. Two hundred and fifty acres of this farm are under cultivation and all of the work is done
under his supervision and direction.
Mr. Hoyt has been twice married. His first union was with Miss Amanda Messer, a daughter of Isaac and Margaret (Patterson) Messer, both of whom have passed away. Mr. Hoyt's first wife died in November, 1880, leaving two children: Charles T., a general merchant in Blue Mound; and John M., a farmer in Dawn. On August 22, 1883, Mr. Hoyt was again married, his second union being with Miss Octa Bowen, a daughter of James A. and Amelia (Purcell) Bowen, both deceased, who are buried at Blue Mound. To this marriage seven children have been born: Carrie, the wife of G. D. La Munyon, a railroad man with headquarters in Whitefish, Montana; Grace, who is a teacher in Columbia Falls, Montana; Verna, who is also engaged in teaching at that place; and Burt A., Mary, Gladys and Eugene F., all of whom are still pursuing their studies.
Mr. Hoyt is a democrat in his political beliefs, and fraternally affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He is numbered among Livingston county's successful citizens, but the most envious cannot grudge him his prosperity, so honorably has it gained and so worthily used.