W. C. HANKINSON, farmer and stock raiser; P. O. Blue Ball, Butler Co.; born in Franklin Township Dec. 3, 1831. He is a son of James and Sarah (Cheeseman) Hankinson, natives of Monmouth Co., N. J. Mr. Hankinson was born Nov. 14, 1787, and Mrs. Hankinson March 5,1798; they were married in 1815, and in 1818 came to this township, where the former died April 5, 1879, and the latter Oct. 1, 1867. They had seven children, of whom our subject is the youngest; their names are as follows: Deborah A., Lydia, Rachel, Eleanor, Margaret J., James and William C. Our subject was reared on his father's farm and received only a common-school education. May 9, 1853, he was married to Miss Hannah J. Craig, a native of Franklin Township, born May 9, 1834, and a daughter of Obadiah Craig, an old pioneer of Warren County; this union resulted with six children, viz., Clara, Sarah A., Craig, Nancy J., William and Charles. In 1869, Mr. Hankinson purchased of his father 100 acres of land, for which he gave $130 per acre, and in 1877 he erected on it a magnificent frame residence, at a cost of $3,000. Mr. Hankinson's farm, with its excellent improvements, ranks with the best in Warren County. Mr. Hankinson is by occupation a farmer and stock-raiser; he makes a very prominent specialty in the breeding of Poland-China hogs, and ranks with the leading breeders of the State; he has been a member of the Executive Committee of the Poland-China Swine Record Association since its organization. Mr. Hankinson also breeds Buff and Partridge Cochin fowls. Mr. Hankinson has dealt quite extensively in horses, and to some extent in thoroughbred cattle; he is a man of wide reputation as a stock-breeder and dealer, and is a man of worthy enterprise. Politically, he is Democratic. http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~ohwarren/Beers/V/frt/0806hankinso...

Founder of the premium line of Poland-China Hogs

Poland China Hog Monument:

The inscription reads: 'The first pedigree of a Poland China Hog was written on this farm in August, 1876, by W.C. Hankinson, owner of farm and Carl Freigau, compiler of the original record. This strictly American breed of swine originated within a radius of a few miles of this place, and in the making occupied the period from 1816 to 1850. The first volume of pedigrees was printed in 1878. This monument was erected by the Ohio Poland China Breeders Associations. Unveiled, June 15, 1922.'" The monument was originally located outside of a farm 1 mile north of the village of Blue Bell and was moved in 1976 to its current location, across from Towne Mall. A opening was left in the foundation for a copper box containing a duplicated of the first pedigrees printed and other valuable articles, which was later sealed inside. Polish China swines are derived from many breeds including the Berkshire and Hampshire. It is the oldest American breed of swine. The hogs are typically black, sometimes with white patches, and are known for their large size. Big Bill, the largest hog ever recorded, was a Poland China.
http://www.ohiomemory.org/cdm/singleitem/collection/p267401coll34/i...

The only monument to a pig in the United States was dedicated on June 15, 1922. The pig, the Poland-China Hog, was developed in Butler and Warren Counties. Its success paid many farmers' mortgage payments.
http://middletownlibrary.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/singleitem/collecti...

Hankinson Farm:

Located at the Cincinnati-Dayton Road (Dixie Highway) entrance to the Towne Mall, the Hankinson farm is where the first pedigree for the Poland-China hog was written.
http://middletownlibrary.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/singleitem/collecti...

The Pig Farm was once one of the area's most prosperous farms. It was operated by William C. Hankinson, who was a breeder of pedigreed hogs, including Lady Pugh, and founder of the premium line of Poland-China Hogs. The farm was located along Dixie Highway in Warren County at the entrance to what is today's Towne Mall. This photograph was used by June Hill to make her drawing of the farm (see file 16-1-9).
http://middletownlibrary.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/singleitem/collecti...

W.C. and Hannah Hankinson lived in this house on their farm just north of Blue Ball. It was at their house that the first records of a new breed of pig, the Poland-China hog, was recorded. By that time the couple had moved into a much nicer home, but this old building was left to fall down on its own. http://middletownlibrary.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/singleitem/collecti...