Elder Peter K. Honn, retired; P. O. Ashmore; was born in Nicholas Co., Ky., July 22, 1814; he is a son of Daniel and Anna Honn; he passed his early years upon a farm, and at the age of 18 years, began the trade of a blacksmith; in 1835, he decided to follow Horace Greeley’s advice, ” Go West, young man, go West,” and accordingly joined the family of Jeremiah Powell, and with them made the journey to Illinois, with a horse-team and two ox-teams; they stopped in Edgar Co., where Mr. Powell settled, and where many of his descendants still reside; after spending a short time in Edgar Co., and about six months in Sangamon Co., working at his trade, he came in 1836 to Hitesville, and opened a blacksmith-shop; about five years later, he purchased a quarter-section of land, which he began to improve in connection with his trade; after a number of years, he abandoned his shop and devoted his entire attention to farming; he continued on the farm until 1875, when, having accumulated a comfortable competence, he retired to his present home where he enjoys the harvest gathered in the summer of life. During his whole life, Mr. Honn has always been ready to assist in carrying forward any public enterprise; he has served the public in various offices of trust-having held four commissions as Justice of the Peace, covering a ‘period of sixteen years; Le was Postmaster for three years, and has served one term as Chairman of the Board of Supervisors; he takes an active interest in educational matters, and has been School Director most of the time since the organization of the public-school system in the county. He has never failed to meet an obligation as agreed upon, and was never before a court as plaintiff or defendant in a suit at law; it has been a rule of his life not to become security for any one, a course which has proved beneficial not only to himself but to others. About five years after coming to the county, he was ordained a minister of the Christian Church, and has devoted himself more or less to the work of the ministry ever since. He was married June 22, 1837, to Miss Matilda Woods, who was born in Madison Co., Ky., April 19, 1817, and came to Coles Co. with her mother’s family in 1835. They have raised a family of six children – William S., now occupying the old homestead in Ashmore Tp.; Martha A., wife of D. R. Bain, of Edgar Co..; Peter K., who died in 1872; Sarah E., wife of F. M. Shaver, of Monroe Co., Ind.; Samuel H., a practicing physician in Ashmore, and Mary E., wife of R. L. Tremble, of Coles Co.
