Hoskinson Location History

History of Hoskinson

According to the “History of Licking County”, the roots to the Hoskinson Funeral and Cremation Service can be traced as far back as 1893, the year that William Larimore established his business in Kirkersville. In 1906, Mr Larimore erected a “magnificent cement residence” of nine rooms of modern style architecture which was located on the corner of East Main and S. Third St. The Funeral business was conducted from this residence. 

Mr Larimore also built a building to the west of his residence beside the Kirkersville Savings Bank (Now Park National Bank). This is the building which became the Emerson Funeral Home. H. Lee Emerson, a third generation funeral director from Johnstown, Ohio, purchased the funeral business from William Larimore on January 13, 1920. As was customary in those days, Lee also operated a furniture business from 1920 to 1925, when the store and its contents were fire damaged. The Emerson Funeral Home provided the southwest Licking County area with ambulance service until the 1970′s when the local fire departments acquired emergency squads. In the height of popularity of Buckeye Lake amusement park and dance halls, the firm was kept quite busy providing ambulance services.

New Building

H. Lee. Emerson had dreamed of building a new funeral home at 285 E. Main Street and had acquired the land. His dream never materialized during his lifetime as he died suddenly on October 4, 1959. However, his wife, M. Gladys Emerson and children made the dream come true when construction began on the new funeral home just four years to the day of his death. Renowned local contractor Jess Ours of Hebron built the facility which was completed in 1964. The spacious new building provided to the community the latest in funeral home facilities. It gave families the ability to hold visitation and funeral services in a modern chapel area that is accessible to all.

H. Lee Emerson Dies

After H. Lee Emerson’s death, the business continued under the directorships of his son-in-law Harold J. Newkirk and William C. Leeper. At the time, Harold was working another job but he returned full time to the business in 1966. He became a partner with M. Gladys Emerson in 1968 and it became the Emerson-Newkirk Funeral Home. When Rosa Lee Emerson Newkirk obtained her funeral director’s license in 1969, she became the fourth generation of the Emerson family to be licensed.

The Emerson-Newkirk Years

In 1968, Harold Newkirk returned to the business full-time. He operated the Funeral Home along with his wife, Rosa Lee Emerson Newkirk for the next 15 years until their retirement in 1983. Rosa Lee continues to live in the community and takes an active interest in the affairs of the Funeral Home. She works evening visitations and acts as a consultant to the Funeral Home. Her knowledge of the families and history of the area along with her experience are greatly appreciated.

The History Continues

Mr Larimore also built a building to the west of his residence beside the Kirkersville Savings Bank (Now Park National Bank). This is the building which became the Emerson Funeral Home. H. Lee Emerson, a third generation funeral director from Johnstown, Ohio, purchased the funeral business from William Larimore on January 13, 1920. As was customary in those days, Lee also operated a furniture business from 1920 to 1925, when the store and its contents were fire damaged. The Emerson Funeral Home provided the southwest Licking County area with ambulance service until the 1970′s when the local fire departments acquired emergency squads. In the height of popularity of Buckeye Lake amusement park and dance halls, the firm was kept quite busy providing ambulance services.

Another Chapter

On January 1, 2012, the Hoskinson Funeral Home and the Schoedinger Funeral and Cremation Services entered into a partnership to better serve the communities surrounding Buckeye Lake area. With Mr. Hoskinson as managing partner, we are now able to service those living in Licking, Fairfield, Perry and Franklin counties with the continued level of care known throughout the area.

On January 1, 2014 the Schoedinger Family added the Criss-Schoedinger Funeral Home, located at 179 Granville Street in Newark, to the Hoskinson Group of Funeral Homes. The firm name was changed to Criss Wagner Hoskinson Funeral Home to reflect the partnership and ownership of the firm with Rick Hoskinson, who began his funeral service career in the fall of 1978 at the then Criss Brothers Funeral Home in Newark and Jon Wagner, who has been the Chapel Manager at Newark since 1995. 

West Licking Crematory Added

October of 2016 saw the grand opening of the West Licking Crematory located at our Kirkersville Chapel. We are able to provide complete care for the families that we serve who choose cremation. Your loved ones never leave our care, custody and control, giving you greater confidence than those funeral homes who send their bodies out of town for cremation.