Copyright USGenNet Inc., 2013, All Rights Reserved U.S. Data Repository Please read U.S. Data Repository Copyright Statement on this page: Transcribed and submitted by Linda Talbott for the US Data Repository http://www.us-data.org/ ========================================================================= U.S. Data Repository NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization. Non-commercial organizations desiring to use this material must obtain the consent of the transcriber prior to use. Individuals desiring to use this material in their own research may do so. ========================================================================= Formatted by U.S. Data Repository Chief Archivist, Linda Talbott All of the above information must remain when copied or downloaded. =========================================================================== SOURCE: History of St. Clair County, Mich. A. T. Andreas & Co., Chicago - 1883 [558] H. J. BOCKIUS is a native of Canton, Ohio, and was born February 22, 1831. His ancestors landed in this country with WILLIAM PENN; his grandfather on his father's side was a soldier in Revolutionary war and was in the battle of Yorktown; after the war, he went to England and from there crossed over to France, where he held the position of drill-master in the army; while there his son, JOHN C. BOCKIUS, the father of the subject of this sketch, was born; his mother died when he was twelve years old. He went with his father through Bonaparte's campaigns; at the age of nineteen he returned to this country and landed in Philadelphia, where he sought his uncles - his father's brothers; from that city he walked to Lancaster, Penn., to visit an uncle there, and from there walked to Canton, Ohio, where he had another uncle, and reached that place in 1820. At the age of twenty he opened a boot and shoe shop, and began working at his trade; by industry and application to the inter- ests of his business, and fair dealing, he built up a large established trade. He was systematic in everything, and was very successful in all of his business operations, and was actively identified with the interests and material growth of the city and county; he was well known in Northeastern Ohio, and was noted for his liberality and readiness in aiding and assisting the worthy and deserving; he was successfully engaged in business in Canton for fifty-eight years and until his death, which occurred in 1878. He left six children. Mr. H. J. BOCKIUS, the subject of this sketch, spent his boyhood in his native town and attended school there; entered his father's store, where he acquired the correct principles of commercial life, which have always governed him in the management of his business. Upon reaching manhood he came to Port Huron in 1853, when it was a small place; rented a store and engaged in the boot and shoe trade, and since then for the past thirty years he has been successfully engaged in the business here, except a few years he gave it up on account of ill-health. He was the pioneer in the boot and shoe trade in Port Huron, and there are only two merchants in trade here now that were here when he established his business in 1853. Mr. BOCKIUS has always been actively identified with the interests of the Republican party, and is pronounced in his views. He is not an office seeker, and would never permit or allow his name to be used as a candidate for any office, though frequently solicited to do so; yet he has given his time, influence and means for others, and has been frequently chosen as delegate to the county congressional con- ventions. Mr. BOCKIUS was united in marriage November 27, 1857, to Miss HYANTHA M. WALTON, of the city of Milwaukee. They have one son - JOHN W., who is engaged in business with his father. ===========================================================================