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BIOGRAPHIES
The following biographies are extracted from:
Source:
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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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: The County of Ross: a history of Ross County, Ohio
by Henry Holcomb Bennett -
Published by S. A. Brant, Madison, Wis., 1902 - Page |
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ALBERT WAGNER,
a busy and well-to-do young man of Kingston, is a son of
John Wagner, a sketch of whom appears above. He
was born in Chillicothe, May 18, 1875, and reared on the
farm, where he was trained to industrious habits from early
youth. He attended schools in Springfield and Union
townships as well as at Chillicothe, and being ambitious to
do something for himself started out at the age of eighteen.
He came to Kingston and worked for his brother, Valentine
Wagner, for about three yeas, after which he determined
to enter business on his own account. In 1896 he
opened a retail saloon in Kingston and has since enjoyed a
good trade in that line. He votes the Democratic
ticket, but is not a seeker of office, although he
takes an interest in politics and works for the success of
the principles in which he believes. Mr. Wagner
is a member of Congo tribe, No. 51, Improved Order of Red
Men, and also belongs to the Knights of the Royal Arch, at
Chillicothe, and to the German Lutheran church. June
15, 1897, he was married to Bertha Roby, of Fairfield
county, by whom he has one child, Myrtle Marie, born Oct.
11, 1898.
Source: The County of Ross: a history of Ross County, Ohio
by Henry Holcomb Bennett -
Published by S. A. Brant, Madison, Wis., 1902 - Page 718 |
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VALENTINE WAGNER,
during his fourteen years of residence in Kinston, has not
only become a popular and successful merchant but has fully
demonstrated his ability in various lines of business.
His parents, John and Catherine (Duerstine) Wagner,
were born in Baden, Germany, married there, and in 1854 came
to New York city. The father had spent four years in
the United States in his younger days and thus had some
acquaintance with the customs of the country. After
arriving in New York he tried his fortune there for a while
in the grocery business but soon abandoned this to work at
the cooper's trade in Cleveland. In 1859 he came to
Chillicothe, where he resumed the cooperage business for a
year or two and then went to farming in Springfield
township. He met with a fair measure of success, being
elected to the offices of school director, trustee and
supervisor of his township, and holding membership in the
Odd Fellows lodge at Chillicothe. His life was
tragically ended Nov. 6, 1881, by downing in the Scioto
river. Of his nine children, John, Barbary, Katie,
Henry and Jacob are dead. The living
are: Valentine, Annie, wife of John Knab,
of Springfield township; Lizzie, wife of George
Smith, of Chillicothe; and Albert, a resident of
Kingston. Valentine Wagner, second of the
children, was born in Cleveland, Ohio, Nov. 23, 1i57.
He was brought to Chillicothe in infancy and received his
education there, including a course in the City high school.
He engaged in farming and followed that occupation until
1887, when he changed his base of operations to Kingston and
there, with a capital of $375, launched into the grocery
business. Pluck and energy, aided by excellent
judgment in buying, won the day and Mr. Wagner has
become one of the substantial men of the place. His
original capital of a few hundred dollars has grown until
his possessions now include two store buildings, two
residences and a farm of eighty-two acres, on which he
raises stock and all the customary cereal crops. He
held the office of assessor in 1901 and for several years
was treasurer of the building and loan association. He
is a member of the Improved Order of Red Men at Circleville,
in the neighboring county of Pickaway. Sept. 20, 1881,
he was married to Alice G. daughter of Peter
Mettler, a well-to-do farmer of Springfield township.
The living children are: Oscar, law student at the
State university, at Columbus; Edith, Bessie, Earl
and Glenn. Bertha, Clyde and Grace
are dead. The family attend the Lutheran church.
Source: The County of Ross: a history of Ross County, Ohio
by Henry Holcomb Bennett -
Published by S. A. Brant, Madison, Wis., 1902 - Page 717 |
Wm. A. Wallace |
WILLIAM ARTHUR WALLACE,
who since his twentieth year has enjoyed high reputation as
a political speaker and later prominently identified with
the business interests of Chillicothe, is a popular
representative of the younger generation of citizens.
He comes of most excellent blood both on the side of father
and mother. As far back as 1808, Cadwallader
Wallace, of Virginia, was found among the pioneers
settled at Chillicothe, and for many years thereafter he was
connected with the United States government land office.
By his wife Ruth he became the father of Augustus
Wallace, who in due course married Ann Elizabeth
McGinnis, a member of one of the most distinguished
families in Ohio. Her parents were James S. and
Margaret (Tiffin) McGinnis, the former coming from
Massachusetts in 1825, and the latter a daughter of Dr.
Joseph Tiffin and niece of Hon. Edward Tiffin,
first governor of Ohio. This lady is still living at
the venerable age of eighty-four years and is a resident of
Indianapolis, Ind. Augustus and Ann E. were the
parents of William Arthur Wallace, who was born
in Chillicothe Sept. 24, 1867, and when four years old was
deprived of a father's care by death. He was sent at
an early age to the excellent public schools in his native
city, and after going through the usual period of attendance
was graduated in the high school with the class of 1886.
For a year or more thereafter he was a student of law in the
office of Lawrence T. Neal, chiefly, however, for the
educational benefits, as he never applied for admission to
the bar. In the fall of 1887 Mr. Wallace made
his first appearance "on the stump" as a political speaker
and made an instantaneous success, having been in demand
since then at every recurring campaign as one of the
foremost workers and orators of the Republican party.
During the Harrison campaign in 1888, his work as a
canvasser was so especially brilliant and noteworthy as to
earn for him the sobriquet "Young Eagle of Ross." In
1891 he accepted the position of cashier in the freight
office of the Baltimore & Ohio Southwestern railroad
company, with a view to training and disciplining himself
for a business career, and he remained there five years.
In May, 1895, he rented offices in the Foulke block
for the purpose of conducting a business in general loans,
insurance and real estate, and he is thus engaged at the
present time. Jan. 5, 1899, he was married to Anna
Marie, daughter of William A. and Jane Jones, of
Twin township, members of one of the old and wealthy pioneer
families of southern Ohio. During the years 1899 and
1900 Mr. Wallace was city clerk of Chillicothe.
He holds membership in the following named organizations and
orders: the First Presbyterian church; Chillicothe lodge,
No. 52, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks; Paint
Valley Lodge, No. 808, I. O. O. F., of Bourneville; Scioto
lodge, No. 6, Free and Accepted Masons, serving for five
years as its secretary; Chillicothe chapter, No. 4, Royal
Arch Masons; Chillicothe council, No. 4, Royal and Select
Master Masons; Chillicothe commandery, No. 8, Knights
Templar. Mr. Wallace, aside from his naturally
brilliant mind, is a man of wide general information due to
much reading of standard authors in all departments of
literature. He is always ready and willing to aid, as
much as lies within his power, all enterprises directed
toward public improvements and progress.
Source: The County of Ross: a history of Ross County, Ohio
by Henry Holcomb Bennett - Published by S. A. Brant, Madison,
Wis., 1902 - Page 719 |
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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: The County of Ross: a history of Ross County, Ohio
by Henry Holcomb Bennett -
Published by S. A. Brant, Madison, Wis., 1902 - Page 720 |
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PETER
WEGERLE is a native of Germany, born Mar. 21, 1843.
His father, George Wegerle, also a German, was born
in 1815 and married Marguerite Herbert in 1840.
Of their four children, Marguerite is dead, Adam
and Jacob reside in the old country and Peter
is the only one living in America. He came here in
1869, eight years after his father died, and located in
Chillicothe, where he worked for several years in the shops
of the Baltimore & Ohio railroad. After he did farm
work by the mouth and later bought the place where he now
resides. Jan. 2, 1870, he was married to Lottie
Griesheimerer, a native of the same place in Germany
where he himself was born. This union resulted in the
birth of eight children, all of whom are still at home and
whose names are Marguerite, Peter, Charles, Lotta,
Tillie, Minnie, Clara and Bessie. Mr. Wegerle
was educated in his own country, where they have the
best schools in the world, and also learned the business of
farming before he came to the United States. Four
years ago he moved to his present place, which is a farm
consisting of sixty acres, and is engaged in general farming
and stock-raising. His only fraternal connection is
with the Odd Fellows lodge, No. 83, at Chillicothe.
Politically his predilections are Democratic and his
religious connections are with the German Presbyterian
church.
Source: The County of Ross: a history of Ross County, Ohio
by Henry Holcomb Bennett - Published by S. A. Brant, Madison,
Wis., 1902 - Page 720 |
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JOHN H. WEST,
residing near Kingston, has spent his life in farming in
Ohio and Illinois, but principally in Ross county. His
ancestors for several generations back were natives of
Maryland, mostly of Frederick county in that state.
The grandfather was Charles West, who spent his life
as a farmer in the locality mentioned and became a soldier
in the war in 1812. His son John married
Annie Sane, a neighbor of the family, whose father was a
blacksmith, and died in 1851 at the foot of the Blue Ridge
mountains. John and Annie (Sane) West became
the parents of John H. West, who was born in New
Market, Md., Dec. 20, 1826. He grew up in Jefferson
county, Va., where he learned the blacksmith trade, and in
1850 came to Ross county, settling at Chillicothe. He
worked at his trade in that city for ten years and with his
accumulations bought a farm in Green township, within two
miles of Kingston, which by subsequent additions was
increased to 151 acres. In 1883 Mr. West
purchased a farm of 321 acres in Clark county, Ill., and
lived there for seventeen years, but eventually came back to
Ross county for permanent residence. He has devoted
much attention to raising thoroughbred stock and deals in
Poland-China hogs and Shorthorn cattle. All of his
property, whether real or personal, has been accumulated by
himself, as he started life a poor boy and had nothing to
depend on but his own head and hands. A long life of
industry and careful management have given him a competence
and made him one of the well-to-do farmers of Green
township. He has always taken the interest of a good
citizen in public affairs, voting first with the Whigs and
afterward with the Republicans. While in Virginia,
more than fifty years ago, he was initiated into the order
of Odd Fellows and on arriving in Ohio he united with
Tecumseh lodge, No. 80, at Chillicothe, of which he is now
the oldest member. In 1852 Mr. West was married
to Mary Carmean, a native of Ross county, who died
after giving birth to one child, the latter also dying in
infancy. Afterward he married Martha Carmean, a
sister of his first wife, by whom he had eight children:
Irene, wife of Charles May; Mary Shanton, now on
home farm; Zora, living in Kansas; Pearl,
resident of Chillicothe; Ollie, wife of Jacob
Duestin; John, deceased; Martha E., at home;
Jesse, deceased.
Source: The County of Ross: a history of Ross County, Ohio
by Henry Holcomb Bennett -
Published by S. A. Brant, Madison, Wis., 1902 - Page 756 |
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MILON D. WHALEY,
civil war veteran with an excellent record and one of the
influential citizens of Concord township has long been
connected with the agricultural interests of Ross county as
a dealer in live stock. He comes of New York
parentage, his father, Lyman Whaley, having come from
the Empire state of Ohio in the early part of the nineteenth
century and located in Athens county. Lyman Whaley
was a cooper and though he lived on a farm most of the time,
he depended rather upon his trade than agriculture as a
means of procuring a livelihood. In 1830 he married
Elizabeth Stiffle, a native of Virginia, by whom he had
eight-children: Ruth, of Chicago, Ill.; Adeline,
of Guysville, O.; Timothy, Emily, Milon D., Mary, Sarah
and Nancy, all residents of Ross county.
After several removals to different parts of Athens county
the family located in 1863 at Roxabell, Ross county, where
the old gentleman died in 1869 and his wife in 1894.
Milon D. Whaley was born in Athens county, O., Feb.
14, 1841. He was a little over twenty years old when
the firing on Fort Sumter in Charleston harbor signalized
the opening of the great civil war. His decision was
prompt to become a soldier of the Union and in furtherance
of this desire he joined the Eleventh Ohio battery, an
independent organization, which was originally intended to
act as part of General Fremont's body guard.
Accordingly they were sent first to St. Louis, but owing to
the political complications that led to Fremont's removal,
it became necessary to assign the battery to other duty.
Subsequently it saw much hard and dangerous service during
which Mr. Whaley made a brilliant and highly
honorable record, such as any soldier might be proud of.
During the three years and three months that he was with
this command, he did not lose a single day nor was he off
duty at any time. But this is not all. Entering
as a private he received steady promotions until he was
finally commissioned as first lieutenant of his company.
The specific record of the successive honors reached by
Mr. Whaley is as follows: Jan. 20, 1862, promoted
to corporal; May 21, 1862, made sergeant; Dec. 3, 1862,
commissioned second lieutenant; and on July 12, 1864, he
received his commission as first lieutenant. Apr. 4,
1864, Lieutenant Whaley was detached as brigade
inspector of artillery, and was mustered out of the service
Nov. 3, 1864, at Columbus, O. He took mart with his
command in the following named engagements, sieges and
battles; siege of New Madrid, Mo., and that of Corinth,
Miss.; battle of Iuka, second battle of Corinth, battles of
Raymond, Jackson and Champion's Hill, in Mississippi,
winding up with the long siege of Vicksburg. From
Vicksburg, the command went into Arkansas and participated
in an engagement at Little Rock. They remained in
Little Rock the following winter and in the spring were sent
to Pine Bluff, Ark., where they had a small engagement.
After his retirement from the army Mr. Whaley came to
Roxabell, Ross county, to which place his parents had
removed during his absence. He farmed a few years,
worked in a saw mill for a while and then engaged in buying
and selling live stock, which business he has continued
until the present time. Mr. Whaley was trustee
of Concord township several terms and held the office of
assessor for seventeen consecutive years. He is a
member of Chillicothe lodge, No. 80, I. O. O. F., and
Frankfort post, Grand Army of the Republic. Nov. 24,
1880, he was married to Jennie M., daughter of
Charles Parker, one of the respected old settlers of
that part of the county. The two children of Mr.
and Mrs. Whaley are Frederick T., who lives
at Cleveland, O., and Strawder J., at the Roxabell
home. The religious affiliations of the family are
with the Baptist church.
Source: The County of Ross: a history of Ross County, Ohio
by Henry Holcomb Bennett -
Published by S. A. Brant, Madison, Wis., 1902 - Page 722 |
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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: The County of Ross: a history of Ross County, Ohio
by Henry Holcomb Bennett -
Published by S. A. Brant, Madison, Wis., 1902 - Page 723 |
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WILLIAM H. WILLSON,
is one of the most popular and promising of the young
professional men who make Greenfield, Ohio, their center of
operations. He is a native of Highland county, and was
educated in her public schools and has spent most of
the years of his life in her confines. At an early age
he conceived a great admiration for the noble science of
healing and determined to make a study of the same with a
view to its professional practice. With this end in
view, he became a student at the Medical College of Ohio in
1894 and continued in diligent attendance at all the
lectures during the three subsequent winter terms. In
the spring of 1897 he was made happy by the reception of the
degree of M. D., conferred upon him by his alma mater.
Immediately after his graduation, Dr. Willson located
in his native town of Greenfield and entered upon the active
practice of his profession among old friends and neighbors.
He was so engaged at the outbreak of the Spanish-American
war in the summer of 1818. Actuated by a patriotic
desire to do what he could in the cause of his country,
Dr. Willson joined the Fourth regiment hospital corps
and served with it during the Porto Rico campaign.
Returning from war, he resumed his practice at Greenfield,
which extends over portions of Highland, Ross and Fayette
counties. In addition to his regular professional
duties Dr. Willson holds the position of
medical examiner for several leading insurance companies.
He is a member of the Highland County Medical Society, a
Master Mason and communicant of the First Presbyterian
church. On Feb. 26, 1902, Dr. Willson was
married to Bessie E. Hendry, daughter of Richard
and Minnie T. Hendry. Her father, a native of
Scotland, has been a resident of Cincinnati for a number of
years.
Source: The County of Ross: a history of Ross County, Ohio
by Henry Holcomb Bennett -
Published by S. A. Brant, Madison, Wis., 1902 - Page 724 |
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FRANK L. WILSON
Source: The County of Ross: a history of Ross County, Ohio
by Henry Holcomb Bennett -
Published by S. A. Brant, Madison, Wis., 1902 - Page 725 |
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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: The County of Ross: a history of Ross County, Ohio
by Henry Holcomb Bennett -
Published by S. A. Brant, Madison, Wis., 1902 - Page726 |
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JOHN M. WILTSHIRE
Source: The County of Ross: a history of Ross County, Ohio
by Henry Holcomb Bennett -
Published by S. A. Brant, Madison, Wis., 1902 - Page 727 |
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JOSHUA R. WISEHART
Source: The County of Ross: a history of Ross County, Ohio
by Henry Holcomb Bennett -
Published by S. A. Brant, Madison, Wis., 1902 - Page727 |
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OTTO WISSLER
Source: The County of Ross: a history of Ross County, Ohio
by Henry Holcomb Bennett -
Published by S. A. Brant, Madison, Wis., 1902 - Page 729 |
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CHARLES W. WOOD
was born in Twin township, Ross county, Sept. 23, 1858.
His parents were John and Elizabeth (Slagle) Wood,
the latter being a daughter of Jacob and Elizabeth
Slagle, who were early settlers of Highland county.
John Wood's father was William Wood, who
settled in Pike county with his parents at a very early
date, became a farmer, and married a Miss Wilson, by
whom he had several children. After living for several
years in Pike county, they removed to Ross county, near
Greenfield, where both died on the same day. Their son
John, who was born on Feb. 25, 1825, attended the
district school and later studied for the ministry at
Wittenberg college in Springfield. During his school
days he had acquired a knowledge of civil engineering, which
he followed for some time after coming to Ross county.
In the spring of 1850, he left for California with a party
of gold seekers, which trip consumed about two years of
time. During his absence he kept a journal of each
day's happenings which was later published in pamphlet form
and is now considered quite valuable. Shortly after
returning from California, he married Miss Slagle and
went to live on the farm in Ross county which was
subsequently given to them by his wife's relatives.
Besides general farming, he dealt extensively in the buying
and selling of stock. John Wood died Sept. 1,
1896, and his wife in 1892. Of their children,
Alice and Mary are dead; and Anna is
married to Albert L. Slavens, of Greenfield.
Charles W. Wood, the eldest of the children, attended
school until he was fifteen, at which age he went to work
and engaged in different pursuits at different places for
the next five years. When twenty years old he went to
sea as a shipper of live stock, sailing between coast towns
in all foreign ports. This occupation he followed for
twenty years, when he returned to Ross county and took
charge of the old home place. After a year's time,
however, he went back to the stock-shipping business, which
he followed until about six months ago, when he again
resumed possession of the farm for permanent occupation.
Oct. 20, 1901, he was married to Bertha C. Allen of
Chillicothe, a daughter of Frank Allen, a descendant
of one of the early families of that ancient Ohio capital.
Mr. and Mrs. Wood own 564 acres of the best land in
Ross county and occupy a home that is as pretty and cosy as
heart could wish. J. William Wood, younger and
only brother of Charles, was born in Twin township,
Ross county, in 1860. He was educated in the public
schools and upon reaching manhood he engaged in the business
of shipping live stock, which he has always followed and is
still so engaged. For the past three years his
headquarters have have been in New York City. His
business comprises the shipping of stock to England and the
continent. He has never been married.
Source: The County of Ross: a history of Ross County, Ohio
by Henry Holcomb Bennett -
Published by S. A. Brant, Madison, Wis., 1902 - Page 729 |
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MORGAN WOOD
was born in Franklin township, Ross county, O., Oct. 28,
1862. The first of the name to settle in Ross county
was his grandfather, John B. Wood, a man of English
descent, born in Kentucky during the troublous times of
1797. His father dying when he was still an infant,
his mother brought him to Ohio in 1800 and located in Ross
county. There he grew up and in 1831 was married to
Mary Austill, a native of Pennsylvania. They
became the parents of seven children, of whom two died in
infancy, the others being Wilson, Samuel, Mary, Rebecca
and Minerva. John B. Wood died in March,
1875, and the mother in January of the same year.
Samuel Wood, the second of the above mentioned children,
was born in Franklin township in 1837. At the outbreak
of the civil war he enlisted in Company C,
Thirty-third Ohio infantry, as a private, and served in this
capacity until the siege of Atlanta in the summer of 1864,
when, during one of the engagement before the city, he was
so badly wounded in the left arm as to necessitate its
amputation. Previous to this he had taken part in all
the battles and hard marches in which his regiment
participated. Receiving an honorable discharge on
account of his injuries, he came home unfitted for manual
labor. He filled the position of justice of the peace
for twenty-seven years and was pension agent for about the
same length of time. His death occurred Mar. 17, 1898.
Morgan Wood, the subject of this sketch, was educated
in the common schools and upon reaching manhood worked at
various occupations, mainly railroading. On Aug. 12,
1886, he established a general merchandise store, and its
management has constituted his occupation since that time.
Mr. Wood's perseverance and good judgment have
conducted him to prosperity. When he made his
investment, the first invoice of stock amounted to $142,
which was his entire capital. This has been so greatly
increased and the business has so flourished that he is now
regarded as one of the substantial men of the community.
He has always taken a lively interest in public affairs
occasionally filling offices of trust, among them that of
township clerk, a position he held for twelve years.
Mr. Wood is an Odd Fellow and a member of the Knights
of the Ancient Essenic Order, being a charter member of the
local lodge in Chillicothe. Feb. 21, 1886, he was
married to Jennie Say, of Jackson county, and they
have six children, Etta, Roy, Minnie, Ada, Edna and
Alma.
Source: The County of Ross: a history of Ross County, Ohio
by Henry Holcomb Bennett -
Published by S. A. Brant, Madison, Wis., 1902 - Page 730 |
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WORTHEN
BROS. is the firm name under which two popular an
enterprising young merchants are conducting a general
mercantile business at Kingston. They are sons of
James Worthen, a merchant and farmer; but best known as
one of the most extensive fruit-growers in Ross county.
A native of Meigs county, where he grew up and was educated,
he removed to Pike county in 1868 and came to Ross county in
1882, settling in Huntington township where he soon came to
the front as a skillful horticulturist. One of the
hundred and sixty acres of land owned by him, seventy acres
are planted in fruit trees, principally apple and peach, and
this is one of the finest orchards in the county.
Though Democratic in his views, James Worthen has
been too busy a man to seek office, but held the office of
justice of the peace for eight years. He is a member
of the Masonic order, and connected with the lodge at
Waverly. He married Elizabeth, daughter of
Bazel and Mary A. (Tuttle) Carter, natives of Meigs
county who went to Missouri and died there in 1892.
Charles W., eldest son, of James and Elizabeth
Worthen, was born in Meigs County, O., Dec. 17, 1867,
attended Hurdland college in Missouri and afterward
qualified himself for a business career by a course at the
Commercial college in Lexington, Ky., where he was graduated
in 1892. He learned telegraphy and was engaged as an
operator for six years, after which he associated himself
with his brother in the mercantile business. He is
clerk of the board of health in the mercantile business.
He is clerk of the board of health and member of several
fraternal orders, including Chillicothe lodge, No. 28,
Knights of Pythias, and Kingston lodge, Independent Order of
Odd Fellows. May 30, 1890, he was married to Miss
Katie Overly, of Green township. George B.
Worthen was born in Meigs county, Apr. 24, 1871, and
like his brother Charles was educated at the Hurdland
(Mo.) college. In 1893, he established a store at
Denver in Ross county, and conducted it alone until 1897,
when his brother Charles W. joined him in forming the
firm of Worden Bros. In 1899 they decided to
remove to Kingston, in Green township, where they soon
established a good business, carrying a fine line of general
merchandise and enjoying a liberal trade with the
surrounding territory. George B., the junior
member of the firm, served as postmaster for several years
during his residence at Denver and was also clerk of the
township. He was married, Apr. 15, 1902, to Miss
Ethel Titus, of Kingston.
Source: The County of Ross: a history of Ross County, Ohio
by Henry Holcomb Bennett -
Published by S. A. Brant, Madison, Wis., 1902 - Page 731 |
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STEPHEN WRIGHT
was born in 1828 in Union township, Ross county, Ohio, the
son of Peter Wright, whose birth occurred in the
state of Delaware, near Bridgeville, as far back as 1786.
Shortly after reaching full age, Peter Wright
married Nancy Corbin, this event taking place in 1808, and
at the opening of the war of 1812, he was employed as a
teamster. He then determined to seek a home in the
West, and removed to Ross county, where he settled near
Bear's run and engaged in farming. Some years
afterward he purchased a tract of land in Union township and
at the time of his death was the owner of 286 acres.
Peter Wright had but limited educational
advantages in his youth, but was a man of good sense and
sound judgment in business affairs. He had a numerous
family of children, of whom Joshua was born in
Delaware, and all others in Ohio. Of the latter,
Eliza, John, Nancy, Vena, Drusilla, and Peter are
dead. Peter lived near New Holland when he
died; Vena was the wife of Joshua Noble; and
Drusilla was married to P.
Justice. Stephen Wright lived with
his father until he reached the age of twenty-one.
What education he received, and that was limited, was
obtained by brief and broken attendance at a subscription
school. Shortly after reaching manhood he married
Nancy Justice, that
important event in his life taking place on February 14,
1852. Immediately thereafter he secured possession of
a farm near his father's place and commenced business for
himself. He met with the usual experiences of small
farmers and has had his full share of what are called "ups
and downs: of life. On the whole, however, he has
succeeded fairly well, owning at the present time 108 acres
of good farming land on which he has made a number of
improvements. Mr. Wright became the
father of eleven children, of whom Queen Victoria,
Katherine, Charles and William have passed away.
The others, in order of birth, are Lafayette; Mary,
now Mrs. Charles White; Peter, of Greenfield;
Sarah, wife of Thomas Tortle; John, Elmer and
Douglas.
Source: The County of Ross: a history of Ross County, Ohio
by Henry Holcomb Bennett -
Published by S. A. Brant, Madison, Wis., 1902 - Page 732 |
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STUART
V. WRIGHT, merchant, of Lyndon, was born in Buckskin
township, Ross county, in 1850. He is a son of Esby
Wright and grandson of Joseph Wright, who came
from Pennsylvania about 1810 and settled in Buckskin
township. There Esby Wright, was born in 1813
and after growing up became a farmer and stock-raiser.
He continued this occupation until 1868, when he embarked in
the mercantile business at Lyndon under the firm name of
Wright & Sonner. This continued for three yeas,
when the partnership was changed to Wright & Son, and
so remained until the early eighties, when the father
retired from the firm. He led a quiet life until the
time of his death, which occurred in 1890. Esby
Wright had a family of ten children, of whom Oscar
F., Mary and Charles W. are dead. The
living are Stuart V., the subject of this sketch;
Rev. John Newton Wright, who has been a
Presbyterian missionary in Persia since 1878; Cyrus W.,
with the Burlington railway company in South Omaha;
George A., traveling salesman of Marshall, Mo.;
Edward M., business man of same city; Emily J.
and William Scott, at the old home. Stuart
V. Wright was educated in the public schools and at the
Salem academy. In 1868, at the age of eighteen, he
entered his father's store as clerk and three years later
became a full partner. After his father's retirement
from business about 1885, the firm became Wright
Brothers, the new partner being Edward M. Wright.
They conducted a large general merchandise store at Lyndon
and a dry goods establishment at Marshall, Mo.
Stuart V. Wright has served as treasurer of Buckskin
township and is an official of the Presbyterian church in
South Salem. He is also a member of the board of
trustees of the Salem academy and takes an active interest
in the cause of education. In 1872 he was married to
Mary E., daughter of John Clark, a well known
stockdealer. They have two children whose names are
Hugh Otis and Clark C.
Source: The County of Ross: a history of Ross County, Ohio
by Henry Holcomb Bennett -
Published by S. A. Brant, Madison, Wis., 1902 - Page 733 |
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