My paternal third great-grand uncle, John Ackley, is my hero du jour. Meet Dr. Daddy Hague:
--FROM THE ATHENS MESSENGER AND HERALD newspaper, Athens, Ohio, 8 AUG 1895, p. 5.
TRANSCRIPTION READS:
JOHN ACKLEY DEAD
Everybody was startled and surprised when it was announced Saturday morning that John Ackley died Friday of apoplexy at his home a short distance south of Mechanicsburg. He had been apparently in his usual health until within a few hours of his death. Mr. Ackley was born in Washington County, Pennsylvania May 31, 1825. His mother died when he was but 11 years old and he lived with his father until he was twenty years old, working on a farm and attending common school in the winter. In 1846 he entered the Ohio University and took an irregular course, studying and teaching till 1849 when he was elected Surveyor of Athens County and continued in office six years.
However, on account of his superior knowledge of the plat of the county, he has been engaged in surveying in this county ever since quitting the Surveyor's office. In his later years he amused himself by sending contributions to his party paper, calling attention to the eccentricities of the Republican leaders and displaying no mean ability as a humorous writer. These letters always appeared over the signature of Daddy Hague, MD. Mr. Ackley was a good citizen, and a public servant whose advice and knowledge of the surveys of the county will be greatly missed.
He was a member of the State Board of Equalization for the ninth senatorial district, composed of Athens, Hocking And Fairfield Counties for the last decennial period.
The funeral services occurred Monday afternoon and the remains were interred in the Haning Cemetery.
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FYI to my relatives: John Ackley was an older brother to Samuel Ackley-- both sons of Jehu Ackley (b.1798 New Jersey) and Elizabeth (Ator) Ackley (born in the Netherlands). Yes, that's right. My father's third great-grandmother was allegedly born in Holland, according to our cousin, Adolphus W. Ackley, Jr.
Those of us who descend from Eva (Baker) and Sam Childers might recall John Ackley's little brother, Sam Ackley (1827-1908). THAT same Sam homesteaded in Oklahoma Territory after the 1893 Cherokee Strip land run, made his final home in Keystone, Oklahoma, and was the grandfather to Sam Childers (1881-1962).
BTW, I'm STILL looking for old letters to the editor signed by Daddy Hague. Will update should I find some in newspaper archives. What a guy!