George Marion Wikoff
George Marion Wikoff was born December 31, 1837, on Scioto Brush Creek, in Adams County, ten miles north of Rome. His father was James Wikoff and his mother, Rachel Prather, a daughter of John Prather, one of the old citizens of Adams County. Her brother, Henry Prather, is the one who started the West Union and Manchester Hack Line, and maintained it all his life. His parents had ten children and he was the fifth. He was reared near Blue Creek Postoffice and attended school there. He learned the vocation of a farmer, and when of age, purchased a farm in the vicinity of his birth place. He was married October 8, 1863, at Otway, Ohio, to Miss Sarah Freeman, daughter of lsma Freeman.
In 1867, our subject sold his farm and moved to Rarden, Scioto County, Ohio, where he carried on the business of merchandising with the exception of three years, until 1888, since which time he has been engaged in farming and trading. His wife died on October 22, 1887. In 1894 and 1895, he was Mayor of the village of Rarden. He has had four children. His son James, his daughter Minnie, wife of John R. Davis, and his son John W., all reside in Rarden. His son, William, reached the age of twenty, a young man of the finest health and physique. In the Spring of 1898, he accepted employment in the C. P. & V. R. R., and on July 6, 1898, died of a blow received while riding on the top of a freight car while passing through the tunnel at Arion. Thus was this most promising young life cut off.
Our subject is a Democrat in his political views and a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Wikoff tries to live according to the Golden Rule to the best of his ability, and comes as near to it as the average of humanity.
From History of Adams County, Ohio from its Earliest Settlement to the Present Time - by Nelson W. Evans and Emmons B. Stivers - West Union, Ohio - Published by E. B. Stivers - 1900