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CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO
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BIOGRAPHIES

Source:
HISTORY OF CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO
Its People, Industries and Institutions
Judge Evan P. Middleton
Judge of the Court of Common Pleas, Second Sub-Division of Second Judicial District of Ohio.
Supervising Editor
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With Biographical Sketches of Representative Citizens and
Genealogical Records of Many of the Old Families
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Vols. I & II
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Illustrated
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B. F. Bowen & Company, Inc.
Indianapolis, Indiana
1917

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

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  CHARLES WILLIAM WILLIAMS.     The late Charles William Williams, for years one of the best-known and most progressive merchants of Mechanicsburg, who died at his home in that city on May 6, 1905, and whose widow is still living there, was a native of the state of Ohio, born at Mechanicsburg on May 4, 1841, son of Richard Duxal and Jane (Cleggett) Williams.  He early became engaged in the mercantile business, continuing in that business at Mechanicsburg until his death, which occurred on May 8, 1905.  He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and was for years regarded as one of the most active supporters of the work of the local congregation, his father before him also having been an active worker in the church.  Politically, he was a Republican and had ever given a good citizen's attention to local civic affairs, interested in all movements having to do with the general upbuilding of his home community.
     Mr. Williams was twice married.  His first wife, who before her marriage was Rebecca Guy, died, leaving three children, Edwin, now of New York City; Alta Rebecca, wife of Charles W. Martin, of Mechanicsburg, and Frances G., a music teacher at Columbus, this state.  On Sept. 26, 1878, C. W. Williams married Mary H. Horr, who was born at Mechanicsburg, in the property now owned by Milton Cheney, Mar. 7, 1854, daughter of William and Alary (Cone) Horr.
     Both William Horr and his wife were born in the village of Denmark, not far from Carthage, in Lewis county, New York, where they grew up and were married.  Not long afterward they drove through to Ohio and located at Mechanicsburg, where William Horr bought a farm in the vicinity of the same, in Goshen township, and there established his home, he and his wife spending the remainder of their lives there, useful and influential members of that community.  They were members of the Methodist Protestant church and were active in good works.  Mr. Horr was a Republican, but was not particularly active in political affairs.  He and his wife were the parents of eight children of whom six grew to maturity; those besides Mrs. Williams being Pierce, who died on the old home place in Goshen township, which place is still in the possession of the family; Jacob, who died at Mechanicsburg; Anna, wife of V. S. Magruder, of Mechanicsburg; Lewis, of St. Joseph, Missouri, and William, of Richmond, Indiana.  Mary H. Horr completed her schooling in the Mechanicsburg high school and grew to womanhood on the home farm, where she was living at the time of her marriage to Mr. Williams.  To that union were born four children, namely: Richard, who died at the age of two years and six months; May, wife of E. W. Johnson, who is making her home with her mother in Mechanicsburg; Helen J. B., wife of J. B. McConica, of Luceland, Canada, and Howard H., a May, 1917, at New York City, in the Reserve Engineering Corps, now in France, a first sergeant.
Source:  History of Champaign County, Ohio, Vol. II - publ. 1917 - Page 943
  BENONI R. WILSON.     Benoni R. Wilson, a veteran of the Civil War and one of Champaign county's best-known and most substantial farmers, now living practically retired at Urbana, which has been his place of residence since 1902, is a native son of this county and has lived here all his life.  He was born on a farm two and one-half miles southwest of St. Paris, in Jackson township, Aug. 24, 1843, a son of John and Margaret (Johnson) Wilson, the former of whom was born in this state and the latter in Virginia, whose last days were spent on their farm in Jackson township.
     John Wilson was born on Buchanan's Hill, in Butler county, this state, Dec. 8, 1804,. a son of Andrew and Jemima (Robins) Wilson, the former of whom was born in the old fort at Harrodsburg, Kentucky, and the latter in Butler county, this state.  In 1807 Andrew Wilson came up into Ohio and settled on Lost creek, ten miles east of Troy, in Miami county, and remained there five years, at the end of which time he went over into Indiana and settled on a half section of land he had traded for in Owen county.  He later returned to Ohio with his family and settled on a farm at the head of Honey creek, one mile north of Christianburg, in Jackson township, this county, and there he and his wife spent the remainder of their lives.  They were the parents of nine children, Benoni. Sarah, John, Samuel, Abigail. Robert K.. Ann, Elizabeth and Andrew.
    
By the time he was seventeen years of age John Wilson had cleared five acres of land and had thus earned his father's permission to leave home and start out on his own account, and in 1821 went over into Indiana and in Owen county, that state, began working in the general store and still-house of a Mr. Bigger.  While thus employed he was required to make a trip of twenty-five miles with an ox-team to a salt-works in the middle of winter and on the trip both of his feet were severely frozen.  He later made a trip to New Orleans on a flatboat with stuff for the Southern market and while in that city saw oysters for the first time.  He was told that for twenty-five cents he could have all the oysters he could eat and he tackled the proposition, but after downing the first oyster concluded that he had had his money's worth and from that day forward never again ate an oyster.  In 1825 he returned to this county and located at St. Paris, where he remained until his marriage in 1831 to Margaret Johnson, who was born in Giles county, Virginia, Nov. 13, 1804.  After his marriage he located two and one-half miles south of St. Paris and there entered on a contract to split rails for twenty-live cents a hundred.  He later bought a tract of land near there, paying live dollars an acre for the same, and on that tract established his
home and spent the remainder of his life.  He was a Republican and he and his wife were members of the Honey Creek Baptist church.  They had two children, the subject of this sketch having had a sister, Elizabeth Jane, who died at the age of eleven years.
     Benoni R. Wilson was reared on the home farm in Jackson township and received his schooling in the schools of that neighborhood.  From the days of his early boyhood he was a valued assistant to his father in the labors of developing and improving the home farm.  On May 2, 1864, then being but twenty years of age. he enlisted for service in the Union army, a member of Company T. One Hundred and Thirty-fourth Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and served for three months, that command being then stationed at Point of Rocks, on the James river in Virginia.  Upon the completion of his military service he returned home and after the death of his parents came into possession of the home farm, where he continued to live until 1902, when he retired from the active labors of the farm and moved to Urbana, where he and his wife are now living, though most of their winters are spent in Florida or California.  Mr. Wilson has been successful in his farming operations and has a well-improved farm of three hundred and two acres.  He has also given considerable attention to the raising of tine horses and a good grade of cattle, long having been recognized as one of the leading stockmen in the southwestern part of the county.  He is a member of the board of directors of the Urbana Canning Company and has other interests.  Mr. Wilson is a Republican and has served as a member of the county central committee of that party, as well as a frequent delegate to the county conventions of his party.
     On Feb, 21, 1867, Benoni R. Wilson was united in marriage to Mary Frances Maxey, who was born near South Charlestown, a daughter of John and Charity (Starr) Maxey, the former of whom also was born at South Charlestown and the latter at Xenia, this state.  John Maxey, who was born in 1814, was a farmer and extensive stockman at South Charlestown and lived there all his life.  He was a Republican and served for some time as a member of the board of county commissioners from his district.  He died in 1877 and his widow, who was born in 1821, survived him for about five years, her death occurring in 1882.  They were earnest members of the Methodist Episcopal church and their children were reared in that faith.  There were six of these children, of whom Mrs. Wilson was the second in order of birth, the others being as follow: Stephen William, of South Solon, this state: Elizabeth, who for more than thirty years served as a missionary in Calcutta, Indiana; Laura, who is living at London, this state, widow of George Cannon; Charles S., of Fresno, California, and John W., deceased.
     Mr. and Mrs. Wilson have one daughter, Laura Jane, who married Dr. C. B. Forward, of Urbana, and has one child, a daughter, Frances LottieMr. and Mrs. Wilson retain their membership in the Honey Creek Baptist church and have for years have been active in church work, as well as in all neighborhood good works.  Mr. Wilson is a member of Brand Post No. 98, Grand Army of the Republic, and takes an active interest in the affairs of that patriotic organization.
Source:  History of Champaign County, Ohio, Vol. II - publ. 1917 - Page 148

John D. Wilson
FORRY WILSON.     Forry Wilson, farmer of Concord township, Champaign county, was born just west of where he now resides, Jan. 1, 1860.  He is a son of John D. and Sarah (Forry) Wilson.  The father was born on the same farm where the subject of this sketch first saw the light of day, and he was a son of John and Miah (Dickey) WilsonJohn Wilson was born in Washington county, Pennsylvania, where he spent his boyhood, but when a young man, in 1817, he threaded the wilderness trails in Champaign county, Ohio, and entered the land from the government on which John D. and Forry Wilson were born, in what is now Concord township.  The country was at that time very sparsely settled and vast woods prevailed, but the elder Wilson, like all the pioneers, was a man of grit and courage, and he carved out a home in the midst of the forest, where he spent the rest of his life.  He married a Miss Runyan.  In whom two children were born.  She died in early life and he then married Miah Dickey, a native of Fayette county, Ohio, and to their union three children were born, of whom John D. Wilson was the youngest.  John Wilson became one of the leading farmers and influential citizens of Champaign county in his day.
     John D. Wilson grew to manhood on the home farm in Concord township and there he married Sarah Forry, who was born in Logan county, Ohio.  She was a daughter of Randolph and Sarah Forry and of Pennsylvania stock.  He enlisted during the Civil War in the one-hundred-day service in the One Hundred and Thirty-fourth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, under Capt. Miles Wilson.  They saw active service in Virginia and around Cincinnati, Ohio (where they were known as the "Squirrel Hunters"), to stop Morgan on his famous raid.  He contracted typhoid fever and never was strong thereafter.  After his marriage John D. Wilson remained on the homestead, following general farming the rest of his life there.  He was, a Republican, and he and his wife belonged to the Presbyterian church at Spring Hills, in which he was an elder for many years and active in church work all his life.  His family consisted of six children, two of whom died in infancy; those who grew up were named as follow: Emma,  now deceased, was the wife of William Daniels: Forry, subject of this sketch; Walter S. lives on the home farm in Concord township; Miah Jane, now deceased, was the wife of James McCroskey.
     Forry Wilson grew up on the home farm and received his education in the district schools.  He lived at home until his marriage, on Mar. 9, 1886, to Flora V. Journell, a daughter of Crocket and Margaret (Taylor) Journell.  After his marriage he located in Harrison township, but remained there only a short time, then returned to the home place, where he continued to reside until 1907, when he bought his present farm, nine miles northwest of Urbana, Concord township.  He owns two hundred and seventy acres in his home farm and ninety-seven acres in Salem township.  His land is well improved and well cultivated and he has been very successful in general agricultural pursuits.  He makes a specialty of feeding cattle and hogs, preparing large numbers annually for the market.  He has a modern home and substantial outbuildings, everything about his place denoting good management and thrift.
     Three children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Wilson namely:  Alta Fern, died aged one month; Otto M., married Lenora Colbert and they live on the home farm, which he helps his father operate; Leo B. is also at home and helping with the farm work.  The mother of these children died on May 4, 1911.
     Politically, Mr. Wilson is a Republican.  He is active in local public affairs and has served two terms as township assessor.  He is a member of the Presbyterian church at Springs Hills and has been an elder in the same for a member of years.  His wife also belonged to that church.
Source:  History of Champaign County, Ohio, Vol. II - publ. 1917 - Page 104
  FRANK E. WILSON.     Frank Earl Wilson, farmer of Salem township, Champaign county, was born in Concord township, this county, Jan. 28, 1879, and while yet a young man he has won definite success at his chosen life work.  He is a son of Henry Page Wilson and Emma (Couchman) Wilson, who established their home on a farm in Concord township.  A history of this family is found on another page of this work.
     The subject of this sketch, known to his acquaintances as Earl Wilson, was reared on the home farm in Concord township, and there he received a common school education, then attended high school at Urbana.  After leaving school he continued farming on the home place with his father for four years, then began farming for himself on the place where he still lives.  He first farmed one hundred and ten acres belonging to his father, which he added to by a purchase later until the farm now contains one hundred and ninety acres.  His land is well cultivated and well improved and he is making a success as a general farmer and stock raiser.  He feeds most of his grain to live stock, preparing large numbers annually for the markets.  He has a silo with a capacity of one hundred and forty tons.  He feeds about one hundred head of hogs and forty head of cattle each year.
     Mr. Wilson was married in 1900 to Edna Craig, a daughter of E. Clay and Louise Craig, and to their union two children have been born, namely: Elizabeth and Robert, both of whom are attending school in Salem township.
     Politically, Mr. Wilson is a Republican.  He belongs to the Masonic order, also the Salem Grange.  He was a member of the local school board for a period of eight years.  He belongs to the Concord Methodist Episcopal church in which he was formerly deacon.  He is active in the affairs of the church.
Source:  History of Champaign County, Ohio, Vol. II - publ. 1917 - Page 532
  HARRISON A. WILSON.     Harrison A. Wilson, former trustee of Harrison township, vice-president of the Farmers Banking Company of West Liberty and the proprietor of a fine farm of one hundred and fifty-eight acres where he is now living in Harrison township, was born on that farm and has lived there all his life, one of the best-known and most substantial citizens of the northern part of Champaign county.  He was born on Dec. 1, 1862, son of Andrew and Elizabeth Jane (Wright) Wilson, the former of whom also was born in that neighborhood and the latter in the state of Virginia, whose last days were spent on the farm on which their son, Harrison, is now living.
     Andrew Wilson was born on Dec. 3, 1813, son of pioneer parents, whose home was on the farm adjoining the present Harrison Wilson farm on the east, and there he grew to manhood and married a neighbor girl, Elizabeth Jane Wright, who was born in Virginia on Apr. 4, 1829, and who was but a girl when her parents, Benjamin and Peggy (Ruddell) Wright, who were married in Virginia in June, 1828, came to Ohio and settled in Clark county, presently moving from there up into Champaign county and settling on the farm just east of the present Ben Wilson farm in Harrison township.  In later years Benjamin Wright and his wife moved to Illinois, where their last days were spent, the latter dying there on July 3, 1866, and the former surviving for many years, his death occurring on Sept. 29, 1894.  After his marriage Andrew Wilson settled on the quarter section of the old home place now owned and occupied by his son, Harrison, and there he and his wife spent the remainder of their lives, influential and useful residents of that community.  He was a Republican and in his younger days took an active part in local politics, serving for several years as trustee of his home township.  He was one of the leaders in the local Grange in the early days of that organization and did much to promote the cause of the same.  His wife was a member of the Spring Hill Presbyterian church and their children were reared in that faith.  Andrew Wilson and wife were the parents of ten children, of whom the subject of this sketch was the eighth in order of birth, the others being as follow: Sarah Jane, born on Jan. 22, 1847, who is the wife of A. S. Nelson, of Noblesville, Indiana; Rebecca V., Oct. 3, 1848, who died in March, 1913; William H., Feb. 27, 1851, now deceased; Margaret, Apr. 11, 1853, who married E. D. Robinson and is now deceased; Martha J., Apr. 7, 1855, wife of Henry Lee, of Thackery, this county; Mary Ann, Feb. 11, 1857, now a resident of West Liberty; Benjamin W., Jan. 27, 1860, also a resident of West Liberty; Ellen E., Jan. 19, 1867, who married T. C. Hines and is now deceased, and Charles F., Apr. 11, 1869, who died on June 19 of that same year.
     Harrison A. Wilson grew to manhood on the farm on which he was born and on which he is now living.  He received his early schooling in the district schools in the neighborhood of his home and was later graduated from the Capital City Commercial College at Columbus.  From the days of his boyhood he was a valued assistant in the labors of improving and developing the home place and after his marriage in the spring of 1888 established his home there and has ever since made that his place of residence.  Mr. Wilson has a fine farm of one hundred and fifty-eight acres and has done well in his farming operations. For several years he has been identified with the Farmers Banking Company of West Liberty, a member of the board of directors of the same, and is now one of the company's vice-presidents.  An earnest Republican, he has ever given his thoughtful attention to local civic affairs and for several years served as trustee of his home township and for several years as a member of the local board of education.  In addition to his general farming, Mr. Wilson has given considerable attention to the raising of high-grade stock and has some fine Shorthorn cattle, Poland China and Duroc hogs and one of the best flocks of sheep in the northern part of the county.
     On Mar. 13, 1888, Harrison A. Wilson was united in marriage to Julia A. Carr, who was born on a farm in the vicinity of Degraff, in the neighboring county of Logan, daughter of Frederick Carr and wife, and to this union seven children have been born, namely: Darcy A., born on Jan. 7, 1889, who died on May 14 of that same year;  Herman W., Aug. 16, 1890, who is now living six miles east of West Liberty; Ivan C., Feb. 7, 1892, who died on Apr. 1, 1893; Bertha, Feb. 11, 1895, who is at home; Helen, Dec. 27, 1896, also at home; Ruth, Dec. 14, 1898, at home, and Warren A., Jan. 26, 1901.  All the members of this family are members of the Spring Hill Presbyterian church with the exception of Herman, who is a member of the Wesley Chapel Methodist Episcopal church.  The Wilsons have a very pleasant home and have ever given their interested attention to the community's general social activities.
Source:  History of Champaign County, Ohio, Vol. II - publ. 1917 - Page 448

Mr. & Mrs.
Henry Page Wilson
HENRY PAGE WILSON.     Henry P. Wilson, a farmer of Concord township, this county, was born in Salem township, June 3, 1853, a son of Ebenezer and Lucinda (Muzzy) Wilson.  The father was born in Harrison township, this county, Mar. 10, 1821.  He was a son of Joseph and Eleanor (Fullengton) Wilson, who came to Ohio in pioneer days, locating in Harrison township, and there they spent the rest of their lives.  He was first a Whig, later a Republican.  He belonged to the Presbyterian church, in which he was an elder, an active worker and liberal contributor.  His family consisted of the following children:  Miles, Henry, Ebenezer, Joseph, James F., Elizabeth J., and Ellen.  All these children but the eldest were born after the family came to Champaign county.
     Ebenezer Wilson was reared on the farm in Harrison township.  He was a son of Joseph Wilson and his first wife.  The father was married a second time and the following children were born to his last union:  Nancy, Thomas Sarah, Mary, Price and David.  Ebenezer Wilson was married in Salem township, and nine children were born to him, three of whom are living in 1917, namely:  Henry Page, the subject of this sketch; Jennie, who has remained unmarried and lives in Urbana, and Nellie, also single, who also lives in Urbana.
     Henry P. Wilson was reared on the home farm and attended the district schools until he was nineteen years old.  He remained on the farm, assisting his father with the work on the same until he was married, in March, 1877, to Harriet E. Couchman, by whom he had four children, namely: Frank Earl, born on Jan. 28, 1879, who married Edna Craig and is now living on a farm in Salem township, this county; Lucinda E., who married Leroy Craig and who died in 1910; Blanche, also deceased, and Helen, also deceased.  Mrs. Harriet E. Wilson died on Jan. 22, 1903, and in August, 1904, Mr. Wilson married Alta Delma Fidler, by whom one child was born, which died in infancy.
     Mr. Wilson has been very successful as a general farmer.  He owns one-third interest in a two-hundred-and-forty-acre farm, also owns two-thirds interest in another farm of one hundred and ten acres in Salem township.  He raises graded stock of all kinds.
     Mr. Wilson is a Republican.  He belongs to Urbana Lodge No. 46, Independent Order of Odd Fellows.  He belongs to the Methodist church of Concord, of which he is treasurer and a member of the official board.  He has been active in politics and is now serving his second term as trustee of Concord township.  He also has served on the school board and on the county fair board, of which latter organization he was for twenty years treasurers.
Source:  History of Champaign County, Ohio, Vol. II - publ. 1917 - Page 936
  J. T. R. WILSON.     J. T. R. Wilson, a well-known substantial farmer and president of the Farmers and Merchants Bank at Christiansburg, this county, was born near Lexington, Rockbridge county, Virginia, on Aug. 31, 1845.  He was the son of Hugh and Mary (Robinson) Wilson, the former of whom was born in the state of Virginia in June, 1815, and the latter in the province of Nova Scotia, Canada, in 1819.
     Hugh and Mary (Robinson) Wilson grew up together on neighboring farms in the state of Virginia, where Mrs. Wilson's parents had taken her when she was one year old.  The Robinson and Wilson families lived on adjoining farms and the friendship formed between the young couple culminated in marriage, which took place in 1840.  Hugh and Mary Wilson, following their marriage, continued to live in Virginia until 1855, in which year they arrived in Ohio and located in Miami county, west of Christiansburg, where they lived until his death.  Mrs. Mary Wilson, following the death of her husband, moved to Troy, Ohio, where she died.
     When Hugh Wilson came to Ohio he settled in Miami county where he bought one hundred and sixty acres of fine land on which he carried on general farming for several years.  He and his wife were the parents of nine children, three of whom are living at the present time: J. T. R., the subject of this sketch; H. M., of St. Louis, Missouri, where he is engaged as an optician, and Frank, an insurance man, of Troy, this state.  Hugh Wilson was a member of the Presbyterian church, in the good works of which he was warmly interested and in which he served as a deacon for several years.  He was a Democrat, but never sought public office.
     J. T. R. Wilson was reared on the farm in Miami county and went to the district schools.  After finishing school he remained at home working on the farm until he was twenty-one years old.  Some time later he went to the state of Nevada and to the Pacific coast, where he remained for about three years, at the end of which time he returned to Champaign county.  In August, 1873, he was married to Nancy J. Furrow, who was born in Miami county.  They had been playmates from early childhood and attended the same schools, the acquaintanceship thus formed later terminating in marriage.  After their marriage they settled on a farm in Miami county, on which they continued to reside until 1900.
     Mr. Wilson was one of the organizers of the Farmers and Merchants Bank at Christiansburg and was elected its first president, which office he still holds.  The other officers are J. R. Marshall, vice-president, and R. L. Powers, cashier.  In addition to his banking interests Mr. Wilson is the owner of one hundred and twenty-five acres of prime land in Jackson township.  Mr. Wilson is a member of the Presbyterian church and also attends the services of the Christian church.  His wife died on Apr. 21, 1916.  They were the parents of five children as follow: Blanch, who married O. S. Walker, of Dayton, Ohio; Eva, deceased: Osie, the wife of W. H. Coble, of Christiansburg; Grace, a graduate of the Troy high school, who married Howard Ellis, of Lancaster. Ohio, and Josie, a high school graduate, wife of Frank Grove, and lives with her father.  Mr. Wilson is a member of the Addison Lodge No. 139, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and of Addison Encampment No. 75.  He is a past noble grand and past chief patriarch.  In politics he is a Democrat, but has never sought public office.
Source:  History of Champaign County, Ohio, Vol. II - publ. 1917 - Page 97

W. W. Wilson
W. W. WILSON.     W. W. Wilson, president of the Citizens National Bank of Urbana and an honored Veteran of the Civil War, is a native son of this county and has lived here practically all his life.  He was born on a farm in Concord township on May 1, 1842, son of Elias R. and Mary (Russell) Wilson, both of whom were born in that same township.  Elias R. Wilson died in 1846, leaving his widow and two sons, the subject of this sketch having a brother, John R. Wilson.  The widow Wilson later remarried, but this fact did not materially increase the prospects of the boys and when eight years of age W. W. Wilson found himself face to face with the serious responsibilities of life, beginning then practically to look after himself. He took up farming and was thus engaged when the Civil War broke out.  Later he worked his way through school and was graduated from the Urbana high school.
     Upon the first call to arms in April, 1861, W. W. Wilson became a member of a company of Home Guards, of which A. F. Vance, Sr., was captain, and in September of that year he enlisted for a period of three years as a member of Company G, Sixty-sixth Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and in the following January went to the front with his command, bearing the rank of sergeant.  In the following June, at the battle of Port Republic, Virginia, Mr. Wilson received an injury to one of his legs which totally disabled him from further service and which later necessitated three different stages of amputation.  While thus suffering Mr. Wilson was captured by the enemy and for four months was held prisoner, being confined successively in the Weier's cave prison at Waynesboro, in the prison at Lynchburg and in Libby prison, until he finally was exchanged, and in December, 1862, he received his honorable discharge on a physician's certificate of disability.
     Upon the completion of his military service Mr. Wilson returned to Urbana.  During the sessions of the Ohio Legislature in 1866 and 1867 he served as journal clerk for the House of Representatives and in the latter part of 1867 was appointed United States revenue collector for this district.  That position he held for eleven years, or until the time of his appointment to the position of cashier of the Citizens National Bank of Urbana, a position he held until his promotion, in 1916, to the presidency of the bank, which position he now occupies, one of the best-known and most influential fitures in financial circles in this part of the state.  Mr. Wilson is an active member of W. A. Brand Post No. 98, Grand Army of the Republic, at Urbana, and has for years taken a warm interest in the affairs of that patriotic organization.
     In 1868 W. W. Wilson was united in marriage to Anna Virginia Russell, who died in 1898, leaving three children, William R., Carrie V. and Frank C.  In 1900 Mr. Wilson married, secondly, Mrs. Mary B. Murray, widow of Rev. James MurrayMr. and Mrs. Wilson are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, of which Mr. Wilson has been a steward for fifty years.  He also for years was superintendent of the Sunday school and for many years has been and is still a teacher in the same.
Source:  History of Champaign County, Ohio, Vol. II - publ. 1917 - Page 384
  WALTER S. WILSON.     Walter S. Wilson, farmer of Concord township, Champaign county, was born on the farm where he now lives, Sept. 23, 1864.   He has been contented to spend his life at home, rather than seeking uncertain fortune in some remote county or city.  He is a son of John D. and Sarah D. (Forry) Wilson.  The father was born on the same farm as his son, the subject of this sketch.  He was a son of John Wilson, who came to Ohio, from Pennsylvania, entering the land from the government, where Walter S. Wilson now lives.  He was one of the pioneer settlers here, and he carved out a home from the wilderness and spent the rest of his life here. His son, John D. Wilson, remained on the home place all his life.  The latter kept the land well improved and was a successful general farmer.  He was a Republican.  He was a member of the Presbyterian church at Spring Hill, in fact, was for many years an elder and a pillar in the same.  He was always active in church affairs. His family consisted of four children, namely: Emma, deceased, was the wife of William Daniels of Harrison township, this county; Forry lives in Concord township; Walter S., of this sketch; Jennie, deceased, was the wife of James McCoskey, of Urbana.
     Walter S. Wilson grew to manhood on the homestead.  He attended the public schools in his district.  He assisted with the work on the farm until his marriage on Nov. 20, 1885, to Emma Abbott, a daughter of W. J. Abbott and wife, who formerly lived in Concord township, but are now residing in Urbana.
     Two children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Wilson, namely:  Marie is the wife of George Russell and they live in Harrison township, this county, and have three children, Lloyd Russell, Raymond and Ruth; Adrie is at home.
     Mr. Wilson owns a well improved and well managed farm of one hundred and sixty acres in Concord township, near the line of Harrison township. In connection with general farming, he raises hogs on an extensive scale, preparing large numbers annually for the market, selling about two hundred head annually.  He built the present barn and other improvements on the place.
     Politically, he is a Republican.  He and his wife belong to the Methodist church at Concord.
Source:  History of Champaign County, Ohio, Vol. II - publ. 1917 - Page 582

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