BIOGRAPHIES

The following biographies are extracted from:
Source #1 - The County of Ross: a history of Ross County, Ohio
By Henry Holcomb Bennett
Published by S. A. Brant, Madison, Wis., 1902
Source #2 - A Standard History of Ross County, Ohio
Vol. II.
Published by The Lewis Publishing Company, Chicago & New York 1917

A - B - C - D - EF - G - H - IJ - K - L - M - N - OPQ
R - S - T - UV - W - XYZ

WILLIAM WADDLE, M. D.  Prominent among the skillful physicians and surgeons who were successfully engaged in the practice of their profession in Chillicothe a half century and more ago, was the late William Waddle, M. D., who was especially skillful in his treatment of the various diseases which human flesh is heir to.      He was born in Chillicothe, September 19, 1811, in the family residence which then stood on the southeast corner of Paint and Second streets.      Alexander Waddle, the doctor's grandfather, was born in Ireland, of Scotch ancestry, and was there reared and married.  In 1784, accompanied by his wife and children, he came to America, and having purchased land in Franklin County, Pennsylvania, was there engaged in agricultural pursuits during the remainder of his life.  His wife, whose maiden name was Elizabeth McCormick, was also born in Ireland, of Scotch lineage.  She survived him, and spent the later years of her life in Portsmouth, Ohio.  She was the mother of five children, Mary, Alexander, John, Joseph and William.      John Waddle was born in 1783, in Belfast, County Tyrone, Ireland, and was little more than an infant when brought by his parents to this country.  Brought up in Franklin County, Pennsylvania, he was apprenticed at the age of fifteen years to Alexander McLaughlin, a prosperous merchant in Pittsburgh.  In 1803 he was sent by his employer to Chillicothe with a stock of merchandise, which he disposed of at an advantage.  After his return to Pittsburgh, he formed a partnership with John Carlisle, in Chillicothe, with whom he was associated for a short time, later having as partners Thomas Worthington and Amaziah Davidson.  During the War of 1812 he was associated in business with General Denney, supplying the Government with provisions.  In 1822 he retired from mercantile pursuits, and in 1830 removed to Clark County, Ohio, where he had acquired title to considerable land, in Clark and Greene counties, which he intended to improve.  In 1831 he again visited Chillicothe, and having been suddenly taken ill with pneumonia, died in this city.      John Waddle married, in 1806, Nancy Mann, who was born in Kentucky.  Her father, William Mann, a native of Augusta County, Virginia, married Eleanor Raeburn, and soon after moved to Kentucky, locating in the Blue Grace region, between Lexington and Georgetown.  Mr. Mann died leaving three daughters, Elizabeth, Nancy and Mary.  His widow subsequently married Captain Lamb, and in 1797 came with him and her children to Chillicothe.  Mrs. John Waddle survived her husband forty-three years, dying in 1874, at the advanced age of eighty-five years.  She reared eight children, six of whom were living at the time of her death.  She reared eight children, six of whom were living at the time of her death.  They were Alexander, William, John, Eleanor, Lucy Ann, and Angus Laugham.      Having laid a good foundation for his education at the Chillicothe Academy, William Waddle continued his studies for two years in the Ohio State University, at Athens, leaving that institution at the age of eighteen years.  Returning to his home in Clark County he worked on the farm for a year, and then began the study of medicine in Chillicothe, under the preceptorship of Doctor Fullerton.  Subsequently entering the Jefferson Medical College, in Philadelphia, he was there graduated in 1836, and during the ensuing year traveled in the South. In 1838 Doctor Waddle located in Chillicothe, where his skill and ability found recognition.  He built up a large and highly remunerative practice, and continued a resident of this city until his death on August 23, 1895.  In 1863 the doctor appointed trustee of the Ohio University, and in 1868 was made a trustee of the Athens Insane Asylum, and for ten years filled the office, resigning in 1878.  In 1880 he was appointed a trustee of the Central Insane Asylum at Columbus.      Doctor Waddle married, in 1845, Jane S. McCoy, a native of Chillicothe.  Her father, John McCoy, was born in Franklin County, Pennsylvania, a son of Alexander McCoy, coming on both sides of the house of Scotch-Irish ancestry.  Migrating to Ohio, he was for many years engaged in mercantile business in Chillicothe, as a merchant meeting with excellent success.  The maiden name of the wife of Mr. McCoy was Janet McCracken, who was born in Pennsylvania, of Scotch-Irish ancestry, and of honored Revolutionary stock.  Nine children were born of the union of Doctor and Mrs. Waddle, namely:  John McCoy, Elizabeth, William, Eleanor, Jane, Lucy, Edward F., Nancy, and Charles C.      Doctor Waddle's was pre-eminently a pioneer spirit.  In all that related to the betterment of mankind, he was ever foremost.  Especially was this true of the profession he loved, and of his native town, which he had seen grow from such small beginnings, and for which he entertained such an enthusiastic devotion.  He served for many years on the school board, and when the question of making a public library of the small school library arose, he threw himself with ardor into the project using both his influence and his means to secure for the town so desirable an improvement.      When the question of reclaiming the swamp of the "old riverbed" for a park was mooted by Mr. Bovey, he carried his plan to Doctor Waddle, who gave enthusiastic approval to the scheme.  Being at that time a trustee of the Athens Asylum, he invited Mr. Haerlein, who was landscape gardener there, to visit Chillicothe as his guest, to decide whether the scheme was feasible, and when his report was favorable, the doctor used every energy, every influence, to make possible the park of which all Chillicotheans are now so justly proud.  Major Poland, Doctor Waddle, and Mr. Meggenhofen were the original park board, each one of them having a deep interest in the park which was born under their auspices.      The words of his friend, Judge Milton L. Clark, delivered in the Constitutional Convention of 1873-1874, will most fittingly close this imperfect sketch:      "Of my townsman, Dr. William Waddle, no words of mine can exaggerate his merits.  Eminent in his profession, second to few, if any in the state, a gentleman of large mind and superior mental abilities, a native of the 'Ancient Metropolis' and foremost in every good work, his humanity and philanthropy know no bounds. Source #1 - The County of Ross: a history of Ross County, Ohio by Henry Holcomb Bennett - Published by S. A. Brant, Madison, Wis., 1902 JACOB WARNER, proprietor of the Warner House, of Chillicothe is a native of Germany, born in 1830.  He was only one year old when brought to America by his parents.  In youth he learned the blacksmith's trade and worked at for some years.  He also cut cord wood and did all kinds of hard labor, with the persistence and patient industry so characteristic of the German people.  After spending one year in Newark, Ohio, young Warner found his way to Chillicothe, the city that was destined to be the scene of his busy life and his residence for seventy years.  Finally he secured a place as bell-boy in a hotel that proved to be the beginning of a successful career.  This was fifty years ago, the Maderia House being his first employer, and since then he has had all the ups and downs incidental to this business.  From the first humble position he rose by slow but steady degrees until he reached the proprietorship of one of the finest hotels in southern Ohio.  For twenty years he conducted a hotel called the Warner House, now the Hotel Carson.  Sixteen years ago he took possession of the present Warner House, which is one of the most popular hostelries to be found in any city of the size of Chillicothe or even much larger.  It is curious to contrast the past with the present, the then with the now in Mr. Warner's experience as a boniface.  When he first essayed the roll of hotel keeper he had but one table in a small room called a "restaurant."  He now has forty-five people on his pay roll, and caters only to first class trade.  No labor or expense is spared to render the Warner Hose up-to-date in every detail.  IT may be said with truth that few men in the Jacob Warner or better understand it in all its intricacies.  In 1856 Mr. Warner married Elizabeth Barr.  Their only son, John, died ten years ago at the age of thirty-five.  Their daughter, Margaret is superintendent of the Warner House since the loss of her mother, who died in 1891. Source #1 - The County of Ross: a history of Ross County, Ohio by Henry Holcomb Bennett - Published by S. A. Brant, Madison, Wis., 1902     ANDREW H. WILKINS, prominent in educational and agricultural circles of Deerfield township, belongs to a family long connected with the development of that part of Ross County.  The stock is a Delaware origin, John and Nancy Wilkins having come from that state in the early part of the nineteenth century, and settled in Concord township in 1816.  They engaged in farming and lived to advanced age, the father dying July 30, 1869, when ninety years old.  This couple had four sons, Thomas, Peter, Lemuel and Samuel and two daughters who married and moved to the west.  Thomas, who resides in Illinois, is the only one of the sons now living.  Samuel, the oldest of the sons, was born in Delaware in 1808, married Nancy A. McCafferty, Nov. 7, 1830, and located on what is known as the Squire Hides land.  After several years' residence at this place, he purchased a farm in Twin township on which he lived for twenty years, when this was disposed of and a homestead secured in Deerfield township, where he spent the remainder of his days.  The father died February 12, 1888, in his eighty-first year, and his wife Mar. 29, 1888.  They had nine children, of whom Nancy, John M., Joseph, Sarah, Spencer and Francis are dead; the living are David, Andrew H. and Druzilla, wife of Isaac N. Dyer  Andrew H. Wilkins was born Dec. 14, 1841, in Twin township, Ross county.  After the opening of the civil war he enlisted in Company E, One Hundred and Fourteenth Ohio infantry, which, after some necessary drilling, was sent to take part in the campaign in Mississippi for possession of the great river.  The first hard battle of the command was at Chickasaw Bluffs, after which it was at Arkansas Post and from there moved to the rear of Vicksburg, on the way taking part in the engagements at Thompson's Hill, Champion's Hill, Black river, and subsequently the operations during the siege.  While at Vicksburg, Mr. Wilkins became sick and was taken to the hospital in New Orleans where he was detained two months.  As soon as discharged he rejoined his regiment in Texas and later saw much service and fighting at various points, including Red River, Ark., Mobile, and other places, finally being mustered out at Houston, Tex., July 29, 1865.  Returning home as soon as possible, Mr. Wilkins immediately went to work on the farm and so continued until his marriage, May 30, 1867, to Margaret, daughter of Edward and Julia Ulm, old settlers of Ross county.  They lived ten years in Pickaway county, and then returned to Ross which has since been the family home.  Mrs. Wilkins died Mar. 25, 1902, and was buried in Brown's chapel three miles south of Clarksburg.  Besides general farming and stock-raising, which is his main pursuit, Mr. Wilkins for years has handled a threshing machine and done a large amount of business in that line.  His services are also in demand for public purposes, he having been township trustee for ten years and a member of the school board for eighteen years.  He belongs to the New Holland post, Grand Army of the Republic, and is a member of the Republican party.  Mr. and Mrs. Wilkins have had nine children: Edward J., of Dayton; Andrew E. (deceased); Samuel S., of Indiana; Julia A., wife of Amos Bowman, living near Chillicothe; Jesse M., Etna C., Laura O., wife of Strawder Fletcher, of Deerfield township; Nettie B. and Amelia L., at home. Source #1 - The County of Ross: a history of Ross County, Ohio by Henry Holcomb Bennett - Published by S. A. Brant, Madison, Wis., 1902 - Page 723 JOSEPH WILLIAMS.  Especially worthy of mention in a work of this character is Joseph Williams, a veteran of the Civil war, and a highly respected resident of Chillicothe, who, having accomplished a satisfactory work as a farmer, is now living retired from active business.  A son of Robert Lee Carter Williams, he was born Apr. 23, 1842, in Springfield Township, Ross County, Ohio.  His paternal grandfather, John Williams, was of English ancestry, and a life-long resident of Virginia, where he followed the trade of a carpenter.  One of his sons, James, settled permanently in Gainesboro, Tennessee; another son served for a long period in the United States navy; and another son was a sailor, engaged in the merchant marine service.      Born and reared  in Orange County, Virginia, Robert Lee Carter Williams learned the shoemaker's trade at a time when all footwear was made to order, by hand, before the establishment of shoe factories.  Leaving his native state in 1830, he and his two brothers-in-law, Washington Peecher and Samuel Partlow, came with their families to Ohio, making the entire journey overland, with teams, and bringing all of their worldly goods with them.  The party forded the river at Galliopolis, and for a time after coming to Ohio Robert L. C. Williams lived near Schooley's Station.  Removing to Springfield Township, Ross County, he located on land belonging to his father-in-law, and there in addition to farming he worked at his trade to some extent, making shoes to order, living there until 1857.  Going in that year to Pickaway County, he resided in the vicinity of Kinderhook for a time, and on his return to Ross County settled in Union Township, where his death occurred in the seventy-third year of his age.  The maiden name of his wife was Nancy Partlow.  She was born in Spotsylvania County, Virginia, daughter of John Partlow, a native of Virginia, born in English ancestry.  The owner of a large plantation, which he operated many years with slave labor, John Partlow sold his landed estate in 1834, and, coming to Ohio, freed his slaves.  Purchasing several tracts of land in Ross County, he subsequently resided here until his death, making his home with his children.  Mr. Partlow married Mildred Ballinger, who spent her entire life in Virginia, dying in 1833.  She reared two sons, Daniel  and Samuel, and three daughters.      Mrs. Nancy (Partlow) Williams died Nov. 19, 1879, aged seventy-six years.  To her and her husband, seven children were born, as follows:  John M.; Sarah; Ursula; Joseph, the subject of this brief personal narrative; Orland; David M.; and Jeremiah.  John M. enlisted twice for service in the Civil war; he first joined the Seventy-third Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and while scouting in Virginia was severely wounded, and honorably discharged from the service.  Recovering his strength, he enlisted in the Twelfth Ohio Cavalry, and continued with his company until the close of the war.  Orland enlisted for a period of three months in an independent company.      As a boy and youth Joseph Williams attended the rural schools when opportunity offered, between sessions in the care of the farm, being thus engaged when the tocsin of war rang throughout the land.  In 1862 he enlisted in Company G, Sixtieth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and continued with his regiment in all of its engagements until honorably discharged from the service, Mar. 10, 1864.  Mr. Williams again enlisted, in June,1864, in Company H, One Hundred and Twenty-ninth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and with his command went first to Kentucky, and thence to Knoxville, Tennessee.  In the fall of 1864, he was sent out with a foraging party into the Powell Valley, in Southwest Virginia, and there being captured by the enemy was held a prisoner-of-war for three days and nights.  Mr. Williams and two of his companions dug under the cabin walls, and made their escape.  They separated immediately after getting out of their prison, and Mr. Williams never again heard from the others.  He, however, made his way through the darkness to a small cabin occupied by a negro, who gave him some corn bread, the first morsel of food which he had tasted since his capture.  The negro then piloted him across the mountains, and at daybreak Mr. Williams hid in the top of a tree, where the negro left him, promising to send him another guide.  About nine o'clock he heard firing, which he felt sure was from his own side of the army, and starting in the direction from which the sound came he reached a Union camp in about two hours.  Mr. Williams was then sent to Knoxville by train, and subsequently remained with his command, which he there rejoined, until after the close of the war, receiving his honorable discharge in June, 1865.      Returning home, Mr. Williams worked as a farm hand for two years.  In 1867, desirous of establishing himself as an independent farmer, he bought a team and some agricultural implements, rented a tract of land and began work on his own account.  Very successful in his undertakings, he bought, in 1875, a farm lying near Andersonville, and for more than thirty-five years managed it with the same systematic skill and enterprise that he had previously shown in his work, making many and valuable improvements on the place.  This farm, which he still owns, he occupied until 1911, when he removed to Chillicothe, where he is now living, retired from active labor.      Mr. Williams married first, in 1872, Mary E. Thompson, who was born n Ross County, a daughter of John and Maria (Anderson) Thompson.  She died in 1879, leaving one daughter, Viola, wife of Jacob Pabst.  In 1886 Mr. Williams married for his second wife Nora C. Michael, who was born in Union Township, Ross County, a daughter of John and Catherine (Hauser) Michael.  Of this union two children have been born, namely: Selora and Joseph C.   Selora married Grover C. Stout, and they have two children, George Williams and Bernice Catherine.  Completing the course of study in the district schools of Union Township, and in the public schools of Chillicothe, Joseph was graduated from the Chillicothe Business College and has now a position as bookkeeper.      Mr. and Mrs. Williams are both members of the Union Chapel Methodist Episcopal Church at Andersonville.  Mr. Williams was a charter member of the W. H. Lutz Post, No. 338.  Grand Army of the Republic of which there are now but four surviving members, and served as chaplain during the existence of the organization.  Although not a politician in the accepted sense of the term, he has filled various offices of trust and responsibility in the township, having been supervisor of roads, a member of the school board, and for a number of years was justice of the peace. Source #2 - A Standard History of Ross County, Ohio - Vol. II. - Published by The Lewis Publishing Company, Chicago & New York 1917 - Page 584 JOHN E. WILSON, the energetic and popular agent of the United States express company at Chillicothe, is a representative young business man of that city.  His parents were John R. and Melissa A. (Aten) Wilson, the former a native of Maryland and the latter a Pennsylvanian, who met and married in Jackson, O.  The father had embarked in the iron and coal trade with a bright promise of success which was blighted by his untimely death at the early age of twenty-eight.  Just one month after this untowed event, or November 1, 1874, at Jackson, O., his only son, John E. Wilson, was ushered into the world.  The mother was called on for a double mourning, as four weeks previous to her husband's demise she had lost her only daughter at the age of two years and three months.  She still resides at Jackson and has not been disappointed in the fond hopes centered upon her remaining child.  John E. Wilson attended school a while in his native county and city, but found it necessary to begin work at an early age and made is first venture as a messenger boy.  Securing employment later in the train service on the Ohio Southern railroad he spent three years in that business.  Meanwhile having been learning telegraphy he secured a position as operator and station agent at Bond Hill, a suburb of Cincinnati, taking charge October 5, 1898, and remaining there until August 22, 1900.  On the date last given he was appointed agent of the United States express company at Chillicothe and entered immediately upon the discharge of his duties.  Mr. Wilson was given exclusive charge of the company's business, with four assistants, and under his management there has been a great increase.  The business for the closing month of 1901 was the largest ever transacted by the company in all its history at Chillicothe.  This, of course, makes a very complimentary showing for the young agent's capacity and energy, and one which is pleasing both to himself and his many friends.  September 11, 1897, he was married in Cincinnati to Louis Rapp, an accomplished and well educated lady of Jackson.  Mrs. Wilson was graduated at the high school of her native city with the class of 1894 and in addition to this had the benefit of a college course at New Philadelphia.  Mr. and Mrs. Wilson have one son, Louis La Mar, born June 28, 1898, at Jackson.  Mr. Wilson is a member of the Christian church, while his wife, like her parents before her, is of the Roman Catholic faith. Source #1 - The County of Ross: a history of Ross County, Ohio by Henry Holcomb Bennett - Published by S. A. Brant, Madison, Wis., 1902

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