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BIOGRAPHIES
The following biographies are extracted from:
Source:
A Standard History of Ross County, Ohio
Vol. II.
Published by The Lewis Publishing Company, Chicago & New York
1917
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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 Grass
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.
They were Alexander, William, John, Eleanor, Lucy Ann,
and Angus Laugham.
Having laid a good foundation for his future 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 was 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: A Standard History of Ross County, Ohio -
Vol. II. - Published by The Lewis Publishing Company, Chicago &
New York 1917 - Page 490 |
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MRS.
BENJAMIN WALKER, whose home is at Gillespieville in
Liberty Township, is a member of a very old and prominent
family of Ross County, and her own lifetime of fully three
quarters of a century has been spent within its limits.
Her maiden name was Jones. She was born in
Liberty Township, on the Londonderry Pike, April 16, 1841.
Her parents were Jacob and Elizabeth (Clayton) Jones.
Jacob Jones, who was born in New Jersey, was the
youngest in a family of eleven children, their father being
Thomas Jones. Thomas Jones
brought his family to Ross County at a very early day, and
was one of the leading settlers in influence as well as in
time in Liberty Township. A large number of the Jones
name and relationship located in that section of Ross
County, and the place of their location was long known as
the Jones Settlement. Members of this large
and prominent family acquired land from the Government, and
went through all the hardships attendant upon making homes
in the wilderness. Jacob Jones grew up in that community and
married Elizabeth Clayton, who was also a
native of Liberty Township. They spent the rest of
their years on the old homestead established by Thomas
Jones, and there Jacob managed the cultivation of about
300 acres. He was prosperous and a man of no little
influence in his community. The lasting influence of
the Quaker religion in that section can be traced in an
important degree to members of the Jones family,
and Jacob Jones was one of the leaders in that
church and did much to upbuild and strengthen the influence
of his denomination. For many years he held an office
in the Friends Church, in Liberty Township. Jacob
Jones and wife were the parents of four children:
Mary, now deceased, married Thomas Schooley;
Hope, deceased, married S. Haddle; Rebecca
is now Mrs. Benjamin Walker;
Margaret, deceased, married Joseph Clyde.
Miss Rebecca Jones grew up on the
old homestead in Liberty Town ship, attended the district
schools, and was quite young when she was first married. On
June 10, 1860, she became the bride of Mahlon L. Dixon.
To their marriage were born seven children: Eugenia,
now deceased, who married Ezeriah Peecher;
Homer, who lives with his mother; Edgar, a
resident of Seymour, Indiana; Edna, wife of
Jeremiah Ratliff of Liberty Township; Walter;
Fulton, of Dayton, Ohio; and Auretta, deceased, who
married Elmer Steigler.
After the death of Mr. Dixon his widow
married in October, 1878, the late Benjamin Walker,
a well known resident of Ross County, who died in 1898.
Since his death Mrs. Walker has occupied the
old home near Gillespieville.
After her marriage to Mr. Dixon they lived for a number
of years on Salt Creek, in Liberty Township, and at the time
of his death they had a farm of 400 acres. This farm
was subsequently sold, and Mrs. Jones then
removed to Londonderry. The late Mr. Dixon
was a very active church man and also stood high in
political circles. Benjamin Walker was
an active Quaker, and in politics a republican. Mrs.
Walker is a birthright Quaker and has always been one
of the active members of the Friends Church in her
community.
931 |
John H. West |
JOHN H. WEST
Source: A Standard History of Ross County, Ohio -
Vol. II. - Published by The Lewis Publishing Company, Chicago &
New York 1917 - Page 756 |
| |
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: A Standard History of Ross County, Ohio -
Vol. II. -
Published by The Lewis Publishing Company, Chicago & New York 1917
- Page 584 |
| |
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: A Standard History of Ross County, Ohio -
Vol. II. -
Published by The Lewis Publishing Company, Chicago & New York 1917
- Page 584 |
| |
JOHN
WRIGHT is one of the sterling agriculturists of
Deerfield Township, and represents some of that sturdy and
industrious stock that first
peopled this section of Ohio.
He was born in Union Township of Ross County January 1,
1866, a son of Stephen Wright and a grandson
of Peter Wright. Peter Wright
was a native Virginian. From that state he moved to
Ohio, and was one of the early men to establish a home in
Ross County. The land he purchased was covered with
timber and located in Union Township. His hard work
enabled him to clear a farm from the woods, and he lived
there honorable and upright until his death, November 16,
1861. Peter Wright married Sarah
Corbin, who was born in the State of Delaware, a
daughter of William Corbin. She died
January 28, 1875, at the age of seventy-four, having reared
four sons, named Peter, Joshua, John and Stephen,
and four daughters, Eliza, Luvina, Nancy and
Drusilla.
Stephen Wright was born in Union Township
of Ross County in 1833. As a young man he rented land from
his father, and his success enabled him to purchase the old
homestead, which he occupied and managed very successfully
until his death, on October 23, 1906. On February 14, 1852,
Stephen Wright married Nancy Justice.
Mrs. Wright, who is still living, at the age
of eighty-three, was born in a log cabin in Newton Township,
November 8, 1833. Her father, Lemuel Justice,
was a son of Isaac and Mrs. (Evans) Justice, both
natives of Virginia and early settlers of Union Township,
where they spent their lives. Lemuel Justice
as a young man assisted in constructing the Erie Canal.
His sons purchased a home for him in Pickaway County, not
far from Yellowbud, and there he passed away March 11, 1876.
Mrs. Stephen Wright was one of four sons and five
daughters, namely: William, Matilda, Mary, Jane, Nancy,
Sarah, Lemuel, Stephen Corbin and James Polk.
Mrs. Stephen Wright grew up among pioneer
scenes. As a young woman she learned to cook by the
open fireplace, and there was no stove in her home until she
had been married more than a year. She also learned to
spin both flax and wool. She still has at her home two
beautiful coverlets which represent the intricate handiwork
of the women of an older generation. Though bearing
the weight of many years, she is still possessed of all her
mental faculties, and talks very entertainingly of pioneer
days in Ross County. She reared nine children,
Lafayette,
Mary, Peter, Sarah, Douglas, John, Elmer, Charles and
William.
Mr. John Wright has always lived at home with
his parents. He was the solace and standby of his
father and mother in their old age,
and after his father's death he and his mother continued to
occupy the old homestead until 1912, when he bought a
pleasant home in Deerfield
Township, where he and his mother still reside.
Source: A Standard History of Ross County, Ohio -
Vol. II. - Published by The Lewis Publishing Company, Chicago &
New York 1917 - Page 650 |
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