| S U R N A M E S | B I R T H S | Richman Biographies | Bowen Biographies | C E M E T E R I E S |
| L I N K S | D E A T H S | M A R R I A G E S | C E N S US | O B I T U A R I E S |
Zachary Taylor Adkins, the son of William and Rebecca (Grubb) Adkins, was born in Virginia on April 4, 1851. His
parents were natives of Virginia, where they lived and died, the mother at the age of eighty-seven years. William
and Rebecca Adkins were the parents of the following children who grew to maturity: Julian, Zachary Taylor, William
Edward, Leonard Thomas, Filmore, Frank, Alfred Hughs, Mary and George Woodard.
Zachary Taylor Adkins was reared in Virginia and never had the opportunity to attend school, hence his lack of
not being able to write. The fall, after the close of the Civil War, he being then sixteen years of age, Mr. Adkins
came to Henry county, Indiana. There were five other families that came at that time to their new homes in the
West, as Indiana was then known. After remaining here for one year, during which time he worked on a farm, he went
to Kansas, where he remained for five years, after which he came to Hancock county and rented for a time. In 1878
he bought the farm where he now resides. The original farm consisted of forty acres, but Mr. Adkins owns one hundred
and twenty acres adjoining, making the home place a tract of one hundred and sixty acres. Here Mr. Adkins does
general farming and stock raising. Most excellent buildings have been erected and the farm is one of the best in
the community.
On August 4, 1877, Mr. Adkins was married to Anna Bell Keller, who lived just across the road from where the present
home is situated. She is the daughter of Enos and Elizabeth Loy) Keller, the father being born in West Virginia
and the mother in Ohio. The parents of Enos Keller, David and Cynthia (Ellis) Keller, were both natives of Virginia
and came to Hancock county at a very early day, locating in Lick Creek about 1835. After living here for a time
they moved to the place where Henry Keller, a cousin, now lives. Here David Keller bought one hundred and sixty
acres of land, making the first clearing and erecting the first buildings. After a life of usefulness he died at
the age of sixty years, Mrs. Keller surviving him some twenty years.
John and Elizabeth (Heartwritter) Loy, the maternal grandparents of Mrs. Adkins, were born in Ohio and West Virginia,
respectively, and were of German descent. They came to Indiana and John Loy bought land in Madison county, about
one-half mile north of the Hancock county line; here he lived and died.
Enos Keller received his education in the early schools of the county and began farming early in life. His father
gave him eighty acres of land, where Mrs.Keller was born, and here he moved when he was married. This place he
made his home until his death. Elizabeth Keller, the widow, died at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Adkins, in September,
1905. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Enos Keller are Willard S., who died at the age of seven years, and Mrs. Adkins.
Z.T. Adkins and wife are the parents of the following children: Oscar E., Rosa A., Nellie M., deceased; Florence,
Willard E. and Charles C. Mr. Adkins and his family are members of the United Brethren church. Mr. Adkins enlisted
in the army while in Kansas, and served under Custer, fighting the Indians.
Sourc: History of Hancock County, Indiana, Its People, Industries and Institutions by George J. Richman, B. L.,
Federal Publishing Co., Indianapolis, Indiana, 1916. Page 972-973.
source: History of Hancock County, Indiana, Its People, Industries and Institutions by George J. Richman, B. L., Federal Publishing Co., Indianapolis, Indiana, 1916. Pages 872-873.