OHIO GENEALOGY EXPRESS

A Part of Genealogy Express
 

Welcome to
Greene County, Ohio
History & Genealogy

BIOGRAPHIES:

Source:
HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY

together with
Historic Notes on the Northwest
and
The State of Ohio.
Gleaned From Early Authors, Old Maps and Manuscripts,
Private and Official Correspondence and
all other Authentic Sources, Ohio - Publ. 1881
By R. S. Dills
Illustrated.
Dayton, Ohio
ODell & Mayer, Publishers.
1881
 
AB CD EF GH IJ KL MN OP QR ST UV WX YZ

  Xenia Twp. -
GEORGE WATSON, farmer, Xenia, was born in Virginia, in the year 1816, and is a son of Francis and Martha Watson - both Virginians - who immigrated to Ohio in 1818, with a family of three sons and six daughters.  George, the youngest, was married in 1840 to Miss Cynthia A. McDaniel, who bore him one son.  His wife died in April, 1841.  Mr. Watson was again married, the lady being Miss Margaret Richardson, by whom he has four children:  James W., John F., William H., Sarah E., Robert L., and Thomas R., all living.  Mr. Watson received a common school education in this county.  His son, James, served over three years in the Union army, in the Thirty-Fourth Ohio Regiment.  William was in the one hundred days service, and his son, John enlisted, but was sent back from Camp Dennison.  All were honorably discharged.  Mr. Watson and his sons are among the most energetic farmers in the county.
Source: History of Greene County, Ohio - Publ. 1881 - Page 531
  Xenia Twp. -
DAVID B. WATT, farmer, was born in this county, in the year 1855, and is a son of William and Sarah G. Watt, both natives of Scotland.  His father immigrated to this country in 1833, and his mother in 1837.  They had a family of ten children, all of whom are now living but three daughters.  David, the subject of our sketch, was married Sept. 2, 1880, to Miss Anna Fleming daughter of J. B. Fleming, of Xenia.  He received his education in this county, where his life has been passed.  Mr. Watt and his wife are members of the First Presbyterian Church, of Xenia.  They own a farm of one hundred and fifty-five acres, one and a half miles east of the city, and it is a model for those who seek to find only that which is best.
Source: History of Greene County, Ohio - Publ. 1881 - Page 531
  Xenia Twp. -
GEORGE WATT, physician and dentist, Xenia, was born in this county in the year 1820, and is a son of Hugh and Isabella Watt; his father a native of Belfast, Ireland, and his mother of Pennsylvania.  The former immigrated to Ohio in 1790, and was the youngest brother of the famous Scotch chemist, James Watt, of Glasgow, Scotland, who was the discoverer of the composition of water for which the University of Glasgow awarded him a medal, which his nephew George, the subject of this sketch, now has in his possession.  His father had a family of six sons and three daughters, Mary, John, Hugh, Jane, Thomas, Nancy, Andrew, James M., and George, our subject, who was married, in the year 1845, to Miss Sarah J. McConnell, of this city.  Having no children, they adopted a daughter, now Mrs. William H. Sillito, of this city.  Mr. Watt was surgeon of the One Hundred and Fifty-Fourth Ohio Volunteer Infantry from May 2, 1864, to Sept. 4, 1864, and was compelled to resign on account of physical disability.  Held a professorship in the Ohio College of Dental Surgery, in Cincinnati, for twenty years, and also edited the Dental Register for fifteen years.  Received his professional education at the Medical College, and Ohio College of Dental Surgery, at Cincinnati.  Is also the author of Watt's Chemical Essays, published in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1867, and also author of the one hundred-dollar prize essay of the Mississippi Valley Association of Dentists, besides many other articles of note.  He was twice elected professor of chemistry of two different colleges in New York city, but was compelled to refuse all on account of ill-health.  He and his wife are members of the United Presbyterian Church, and has held the position of elder for many years.  With the exception of about five years, his life has been spent in Ohio, where he is extensively known.
Source: History of Greene County, Ohio - Publ. 1881 - Page 532
  Beaver Creek Twp. -
JOHN N. WEAVER, farmer, was born in Frederick County, Virginia, in the year 1815, and is a son of John, and Martha (McCoole) Weaver.  His father was born in Pennsylvania, and his mother in Virginia, where they were married.  In 1823 they removed to Ohio, and located in Clinton County, where they remained two years, after which they came to Greene County and settled in Caesar's Creek Township, where they remained until his death, which occurred in 1849, in the sixty-second year of his age.  His mother departed this life in 1864, aged seventy-two years.  Mr. Weaver was raised on the farm, and received his education in the common schools.  He labored for his parents till past the age of twenty-six.  In 1841 he was married to Elizabeth Boots, and for a short time afterward lived in the southern part of this county, and in Clinton County.  Dec. 26, 1866, came to where he now resides, which consists of one hundred and seventy-three acres, nicely improved  - his house being a model of taste and convenience.   To Mr. and Mrs. Weaver four children have been born: Martha, Libbie, John, and Mary, now Mrs. J. E. MungerLibbie is one of the successful educators of the country, having taught in the home schools for a period of ten or twelve years.  Mrs. Weaver was born in Hardin County, Virginia, in 1814.
Source: History of Greene County, Ohio - Publ. 1881 - Page 624
  Miami Twp. -
PROFESSOR J. B. WESTON was born on a farm, about five miles from Skowhegan Falls, in Madison, Somerset County, Main, July 6, 1821, living on the same until after he was of age.  His great grandfather, Joseph Weston, who died from the effects of a cold, caught in assisting General Benedict Arnold to pass Skowhegan Falls, on his expedition to Canada, one of hate first settlers of the county, removing from Concord Massachusetts before the revolutionary war.  The descendants are numerous.  Ex-Governor Coburn, of Maine, is one of the great grandsons.  Professor Weston's father, Stephen Weston, was a farmer in moderate circumstances, and of very industrious habits.  The son was brought up in the habits of the father.  His school district afforded usually only about two months' school in summer, and two in winter.  The former he attended till he was eight years old, and after which he worked in summer, and attended the winter schools until he was fifteen, reading     ................MORE TO COME UPON REQUEST.

Source: History of Greene County, Ohio - Publ. 1881 - Page 705

  Cedarville Twp. -
S. K. WILLIAMSON, farmer, Cedarville, was born near Jamestown, this county, Oct. 26, 1846.  Is the son of John S. and Jane (Kyle) Williamson.  His father was born in Pennsylvania, and his mother in this county.  Our subject was married, in November, 1872, to Miss Isabel Collins, daughter of Samuel and Rebecca (McClellan) Collins, natives of York County, Pennsylvania.  Four children have been born by this union, two of whom are now living, E. C. and Ella R.  The deceased are George S., infant, and John Clarence.  His wife and himself are members of the United Presbyterian Church of Xenia.
Source: History of Green County, Ohio - Publ. 1881 - Page 573
  Xenia Twp. -
S. S. WILSON, physician and surgeon, was born in Xenia, in the year 1853, and is a son of Samuel and Mary (Cunningham) Wilson, whose sketch will appear in this work.  The boyhood of our subject was passed on the farm, and received the rudiments of his education in the school of Xenia, which was afterwards developed in the West Minster College of Pennsylvania, in which he prosecuted his studies for three years, graduating from the institution with honors.  After which he entered the Miami Medical College of Cincinnati, where he took a full course and graduated in March, 1880, receiving a diploma of graduation, and immediately entered upon the duties of his practice.  Previous to his last course of lectures, he served one year as resident physician of the Mercy Hospital at Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, where he received a broad experience, such as could not be practically gained in any other way, even in a much longer time.  Thus fitting the doctor for the demands of a practice, into which he merged in the spring of 1880.
Source: History of Greene County, Ohio - Publ. 1881 - Page 949
  Bath Twp. -
WILLIAM WILSON, retired, Fairfield, was born in this township, Oct. 14, 1812.  Is a son of William and Catharine (Heffley) Wilson.  The former was a native of Kentucky, and came to this county about the year 1800; his wife about 1805, she being a native of Maryland.  Soon after his arrival he entered the land in the eastern part of this township, which he began to improve, but was called into the service in the war of 1812, where he contracted a disease which carried him off about three months before the birth of his son William.  After his death his wife left the farm, and made her home with his father, Michael Wilson, where she died six months after the birth of William.  Our subject continued living with his grandfather on the farm till he was seventeen years old, and then went to learn the blacksmith trade with Jacob Griner, at Byron; here he spent three yeas as an apprentice, and after one year's work as a journeyman, bought the shop and tools, and carried on business for himself, remaining there eighteen years; after which he sold the shop, and bought a small farm near there, which he held till 1855, and then traded for a larger farm, about a mile and a half northeast of Byron, where he remained till April, 1872, at which time he removed to Fairfield.  In May, 1834, he married Elizabeth Watts.  They had ten children, two of whom survive.  His wife departed this life Mar. 13, 1877.  Mr. Wilson is a member of the Reformed Church, with which he has been connected forty-four years, and is one of the oldest resident children of this township, having spent his entire life here, nearly sixty-eight years, and has witnessed the change from the wilderness filled with deer, turkeys, and other game, to fertile fields and fruitful orchards, with attendant changes in society, and the condition of schools, churches, etc.  Mr. Wilson held the office of justice of the peace while at Byron, nearly two terms, resigning, the last term, on account of the amount of his private business.
Source: History of Green County, Ohio - Publ. 1881 - Page 735
  Cedarville Twp. -
ANDREW WINTER, physician, Cedarville, was born, Aug. 18, 1820, at Fayetteville, North Carolina.  Removed to South Carolina with his parents, when quite small.  Received his early education at Pendleton, South Carolina.  Commenced the study of medicine at the age of seventeen, graduating at Charleston Medical College in 1841, at the age of twenty-one, and commenced practicing the same year.  Removed to Columbia, South Carolina, remaining there until the commencement of the rebellion, when he enlisted in the First Regiment, East Tennessee Volunteer Infantry, served one year, and was wounded at the battle of Mill Springs; was appointed assistant surgeon shortly after, filling that office about two months; was transferred to the Fourth East Tennessee Infantry, and promoted to first surgeon, holding that position until the Union forces retreated from Cumberland Gap, under General George Morgan; was taken sick at Gallipolis, and transferred to the Veteran Reserve Corps.  Resigned, Aug. 28, 1864, and came to his place, where he has followed his profession until the present time.  The doctor was a personal friend of John C. Calhoun, but differed very radically in politics.  He is the son of Andrew Winter, sen., and Hannah (Baxter) Winter.  His father was born in what was then called Marion District, South Carolina, and was a schoolmate of General Andrew Jackson.  His mother was born at Wilmington, North Carolina, and was a grand-daughter of Richard Baxter.  The doctor, we are pleased to record, is one of the true Union gentlemen who left that notorious hot-bed of rebeldom to fight for his country.  He was married, in 1868, to Nancy Turnbull, a grand-daughter of Judge Kyle.  Three children have been born by this marriage, Elizabeth B., Maria A., and Andrew.
Source: History of Green County, Ohio - Publ. 1881 - Page 573
  Miami Twp. -
CHARLES WINTER, ex-postmaster, was born in this county, in the year 1834, on the twenty-fifth day of December, and is a son of John and Nancy Winters, of Ohio; who came from Virginia, and had a family of seven sons and two daughters.  Charles H., the subject of our remarks, was married on the 5th day of June, 1857, to Miss Pauline G. Brewer, daughter of John G., and Sarah Brewer, of this county.  They have had five children: Allie, Georgia, and Clara, deceased; and the two living, Lillie L., and Frankie, are bright studious children.  When the war broke out, he enlisted in Company F, Captain Aaron Spangler, in the One Hundred and Tenth Regiment in nearly all its hard fought battles; some of which are the battle of Winchester, Virginia, Locust Grove, the Wilderness, Spottsylvania, and a great many others.  He was wounded in the last named battle on the 12th of May, 1864, by a shot striking him in the foot, which, to save his life, was amputated just above the ankle.  After the close of the war, he was appointed postmaster at Yellow Springs, which position he filled for some ten years; in the meantime in keeping a boarding house, both for home and transient custom, and the writer can testify to it being the first class place to stop; as Mrs. Winters a woman among a thousand adapted for the place, making every one feel at home, and is accomodating beyond a fault.  Mr. Winter is also engaged in conveying goods to all parts of the city, and is doing good financially; as we are glad to see of all our soldiers who were unfortunate enough to loose a limb in the service of our glorious old country.
Source: History of Greene County, Ohio - Publ. 1881 - Page 705
  Bath Twp. -
SAMUEL F. WOODWARD

Source: History of Greene County, Ohio - Publ. 1881 - Page 735

  Bath Twp. -
DANIEL WOLFE, retired, Byron, was born in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, Dec. 6, 1798, and is a brother to Simon Wolfe (See sketch.)  Daniel came to this state with his father, when only a child.  After growing to manhood, he followed farming, in connection with distilling, as was customary at that time.  For many years past, however, he has farmed exclusively  Mar. 30, 1824, he married Rosanna Kershner.  They are parents of ten children, four living, William, Christina, Barbara Ellen, and Rosa; Simon, Margaret, Anna E., John M., Sarah M., and Thomas, deceased.  Mr. Wolfe has lived where he now resides since he first came to the state, and he and his wife have been together nearly fifty-seven years.  Mr. Wolfe enjoys fair general health, though not able to move around with ease and freedom.  Mrs. Wolfe is active, and enjoys excellent health for a lady of her years - nearly seventy-five.  Two of their children live in this state, and two in Indiana.  Mr. and Mrs. Wolf are members of the German Reformed Church, to which they have been connected for three score years.
Source: History of Greene County, Ohio - Publ. 1881 - Page 736
  Bath Twp. -
SIMON WOLFE, retired, was born in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, Mar. 14, 1805, and is a son of John and Christina (Idenire) Wolfe.  His father was a native of Pennsylvania, and his mother of Germany.  They immigrated to this state, in 1807, locating in Bath Township, part of the land on which they settled, being now in the village of Byron.  The land at that time was nearly all covered with timber.  He was a tailor by trade, and followed the business all his life.  Soon after coming to this state, one of those episodes then so frequent, but now so rare, was enacted, in which they were the victims, in common with several of their neighbors.  A party of masked men entered the house of several of the citizens, robbing them of all the valuables within their reach.  They came into the house of John Wolfe, and holding a pistol at his head, demanded the key to the chest in which he kept his money.  They then ransacked the trundle-bed, in which Simon and his sister were sleeping, thinking that part of the treasure was hidden there, and of course, throwing the children around promiscuously in the meantime.  It happened that the eldest son, and a Mr. Sidenstick were sleeping in an adjoining room, and Mr. Sidenstick climbed to the top of the house, and parting the clapboards, which were laid on with cross poles to hold them in their places, made his escape.  The watch on the outside saw him, after he had started away and gave the alarm.  They then broke the chest open with a flat-iron, and hurriedly took all the money - some four hundred dollars - together with other articles of value, and made their escape.  They robbed Mr. Folck and several others the same night.  One of the gang was afterwards identified by a young lady, and he only, Jacob Kent, by name, was arrested and placed in jail at Xenia.  On the day set for trial, however, one of the bailiff's accidentally discharged a pistol, the ball taking effect in Kent's shoulder, preventing the trial.  He afterwards escaped from jail and fled to Canada, where he was seen some years later.  John Wolfe was the father of ten children, Mary, John, Jacob, George, Daniel, Henry, Sarah, Simon, Elizabeth, and Louis.  Three only are now living, Sarah, Mrs. Durst of Dayton, aged ninety-three; Daniel, now eighty-two, and Simon seventy-five.  Our subject has followed farming all his life in connection with distilling, which he carried on in earlier years.  He was married, in 1828, to Anna Kershner.  They are parents of four children; three survive.  One daughter died at the age of nineteen. Mrs. Wolfe died July 9, 1875.  Mr. Wolfe is still active and hearty, and has just returned (September, 1880,) from a trip to the west, visiting relatives in Kansas.  He describes the first school he ever attended, as being a log structure with dirt floor; large cracks were left between the logs, and these covered with greased paper served as windows.
Source: History of Greene County, Ohio - Publ. 1881 - Page 737
  Xenia Twp. -
DAVID M. WRIGHT, farmer, was born Mar. 3, 1852.  Is a son of Merritt and Mary B. Wright.  His father was a native of Virginia and his mother of this county.  His father came to Ohio about the year 1837, and has a family of eight children living.  David, the subject of our sketch, was married, Oct. 7, 1879, to Lura M. Tiffany, daughter of the late Thomas Thomas Tiffany, one of Xenia's old settlers.  Both himself and wife are very zealous member of the Second Presbyterian Church of Xenia.  Received a common school education in this county, where he has spent his life.  His father  died while he was quite young, and he was put with Stephen Ledbetter to be raised, who was a cousin of his father, and judging from the looks of things, he has been well paid for his trouble in raising him; for he has certainly a model farm, and it tells what kind of a man is at its head.  In politics he is a staunch Republican, and a great reader, and for a man of his age, is well posted on most of the important topics of the day.
Source: History of Greene County, Ohio - Publ. 1881 - Page 533
  Xenia Twp. -
JAMES E. WRIGHT, engineer in fire department, was born in Xenia, on the 13th day of February, 1846, and is a son of William and Ursula Wright.  His father was a native of Washington County, Maryland, and his mother of Xenia.  Our subject is the only one living out of a family of five children.  Received his education in Xenia, where his youth was spent.  At the age of eighteen he left school, and entered the army, and after receiving an honorable discharge, engaged in railroading through the states of Ohio, Indiana, and Kentucky, which he followed a number of years.  After becoming tired of the railroad business, he entered the Xenia Fire Department, as engineer, where he still remains.  This is acknowledged to be one of the best trained fire departments in Ohio, a full notice of which is given in another part of this work, and a man can feel proud to belong to it.  He was also in the one hundred day service, and is a member of Shawnee Encampment No. 20, and Lodge No. 52, I. O. O. F.  He was married in Dayton, Ohio, in January, 1879, to Miss Carrie E. Drake, daughter of John and Kate Drake, of Janesville, Ohio.  They have one child, Maine D., born Oct. 20, 1879.
Source: History of Greene County, Ohio - Publ. 1881 - Page 535
  Xenia Twp. -
JOHN B. WRIGHT, farmer, was born in South Carolina, in the year 1808, and is a son of William and Nancy Wright, both natives of that state, who immigrated to Ohio in the year 1830, with a family of eight children, four sons and four daughters.  John B., the subject of our sketch, was married, in 1835, to Miss Sidney Simpson, daughter of William and Mary Simpson, of Xenia.  Their family consisted of three children, William, Mary, and Samuel, all of whom have been called to their final home.  He and his wife are members of the Third Presbyterian Church of Xenia.  Received his education in South Carolina, and has spent most of his life in this county, having lived here fifty-one years.  Speaking of the past, he remarked that the year 1812 was the hardest time ever known in his history, many families begging to work for their board and clothes.  In that year, also, was seen the largest and plainest comet ever known, which caused much alarm, many thinking the day of judgment had come.
Source: History of Greene County, Ohio - Publ. 1881 - Page 535
  Xenia Twp. -
JOHN F. WRIGHT, retired farmer, Xenia; born in South Carolina, in the year 1818; son of Andrew and Rachel R. Wright, natives of South Carolina, who immigrated to Ohio in the year 1832, with a family of eight children, three sons and five daughters: Mary E., Jane D., William F., John F., Sarah A., Margaret L., Rachel, and Andrew E.  Our subject, John F., was married, in the year 1842, to Miss Eliza Ann Jackson, daughter of David and Anna Jackson, of Cedarville, Ohio.  He had one child by his first wife, Andrew J., who died in 1848.  In the year 1852, he married Miss Rebecca Van Eaton, daughter of John and Sarah Van Eaton, of Xenia, and by her had three children, one son and two daughters: George L., Sarah E., and Mary.  Their son died in 1870, leaving them their two daughters.  Mr. Wright received his early education in South Carolina, and spent his wild boyhood days there, as one of many of his boyhood adventures, on an old gray horse, will show.  At the age of ten, his father sent him on an errand, on the old horse, and wishing to make a quick trip, he put on a pair of spurs.  Planting them in the sides of the old gray, he had his desired wish, for off he went at full speed; and a hunter seeing him coming, mistook him for a deer, and came very near shooting him.  But the old horse kept on, and landed him, luckily, at the very house to which he was going, and he was well enough satisfied not to repeat the operation in returning home.  Both his wife and himself are now members of the United Presbyterian Church.  He is on the shady side of life, but is a man of uncommon energy and activity; is of a genial disposition, and well beloved by all who know him.  He is on the retired list of farmers, and in his old age has plenty of this world's goods to ease his journey the remaining days of his pilgrimage.
Source: History of Greene County, Ohio - Publ. 1881 - Page 534

NOTES:
 
CLICK HERE to RETURN to
GREENE COUNTY, OHIO
INDEX PAGE
CLICK HERE to RETURN to
OHIO GENEALOGY EXPRESS
INDEX PAGE
FREE GENEALOGY RESEARCH is My MISSION
GENEALOGY EXPRESS
This Webpage has been created by Sharon Wick exclusively for Genealogy Express  ©2008
Submitters retain all copyrights