Thomas Knick was born on the old family homestead a half mile west of Casstown, in Lost Creek township, August 13, 1837. His parents were William and Rachel (Armstrong) Knick, natives of Virginia, who came to this county among the early settlers. Mr. and Mrs. Knick had a family of nine children. The father served in the war of 1812, and after his death his widow was granted a pension. He died December 14, 1848, at the age of fifty-six years, two months and seven days, and his wife passed away October 3, 1864, at the age of seventy-one years and seven months, their remains being interred in the Knoop cemetery in Staunton township.

Mr. Knick, whose name introduces this review, spent his boyhood days on the home farm, assisting in the work of field and meadow through the summer months, while in the winter season he pursued his education in the public schools. After attaining the age of twenty-five years he operated the old homestead on his own account for two years. He remained with his mother after her husband's death until she, too, was called to her home beyond, when the old farmstead was sold. Mr. Knick thus realized a little more than thirteen hundred dollars from the estate, and with what he had saved he had eighteen hundred dollars with which to begin life for himself. He rented his brother's farm, the old Stroch place, near Addison, Clark county, and operated it for two years, after which he removed to the Joseph Fuller farm in Clark county, upon which he resided one year. On the expiration of that period he came to his present farm in Brown township, Miami county, becoming the owner of eighty acres of land, for which he paid forty-eight hundred dollars. After making a payment upon it he was still in debt to the amount of twenty-five hundred dollars, but his crops brought him good financial returns and he was soon enabled to clear his farm from all indebtedness. The greater part of it was covered with timber at the time he took possession and the improvements consisted only of a small log house and barn. He at once began the work of clearing away the trees and has placed seventy-two acres under a high state of cultivation. He has also laid one hundred and sixty rods of tiling and thus reclaimed what was before wet land. He feeds most of the grain raised on his farm to his stock and is recognized as one of the successful and extensive stock- dealers of the community. About nine years ago he erected a commodious and substantial residence and has since made other modern improvements, so that he is to-day the owner of one of the desirable farms of his neighborhood.

In 1865 occurred the marriage of Mr. Knick and Miss Beckie Croy, of Miami City. Their union has been blessed with the following children: Maggie; Riley; Firman, who at the time of this writing has just returned from a hunting trip on the Mississippi, laden with trophies of the chase; William Harley, who is twenty- one years of age and is a student in the blind institution of Columbus; Bessie, wife of Lewis Kiser, a farmer of Brown township; Ervin; Gracie; and Clarence B., who died in infancy. The family is one of prominence in the community, the members of the household occupying a leading position in social circles. Mr. Knick votes with the Democracy, but his time and attention are fully occupied by his business affairs, and he is known as one of the most energetic and capable farmers of his neighborhood. His success has come to him as the direct result of his own efforts and his example shows what may be accomplished by determined purpose when guided by honesty and supplemented by careful management.