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.

Transcribed from 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.

Submitted by Sylvia (Rose) Duda, Laingsburg, MI October 19, 2001.

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