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ALONZO C. WEST, proprietor of the Palace Livery and Feed Stable, on Market Street, between Fayette and Main Streets, Washington C. H., is an active and enterprising young man and controls a good business.  Fayette is his native county, Jefferson Township the place of his birth, and June 13, 1861, the date with carriages, buggies, sleighs, and all vehicles that are in demand in a city like this, and the horses, which are well kept, are good roadsters, combining speed and endurance.  One subject conducts his business in a manner that has won the confidence of his patrons, his name is good in financial circles, and he has a good deal of custom.  He is a man of pleasant social qualities, and he stands high among the young Republicans of his native county in politics.      Mr. West and Miss Armeada A. Cramer were united in marriage Oct. 10, 1886, and they have made for themselves a home as comfortable and cozy as possible, and the scene of true hospitality.  Three children complete their household: Mary, Nina and Roy.  Mrs. West is a daughter of William A. Creamer, an old settler of Jasper Township, this county. Source:  Portrait and Biographical History of Fayette,  Pickaway and Madison Counties, Ohio. Publ. Chicago: Chapman Bros. - 1892 - Page 140

JOHN G. WILSON, M. D.  The witness of the transformations wrought by fifty years in the improvement and development of Fayette County, Dr. Wilson not only endured the hardships of pioneer life, but it has also been his privilege to enjoy the fruits of his early toil.  He is the sole survivor of the little band of physicians who were engaged in practice at Washington C. H., in June, 1841, when he cast in his lot with the pioneers of the place.      The childhood years of our subject were passed amid the scenes of Ross County, Ohio, where he was born Mar. 19, 1811.  His father, John Wilson, was a soldier in the War of 1812, and came to Ross County from his native State, Pennsylvania, at a very early day, taking up a tract of unimproved land.  He married Miss Lucy Taylor and unto them were born eleven children, our subject being the fifth in order of birth.  Few events of importance occurred to break the monotony of our subject's youth, his time being diligently devoted to tilling the soil in the summer and attending school during the winter seasons.  The temples of learning" in those early days were primitive in construction, made of logs, with split rails for seats, and with greased paper instead of window lights.  At a somewhat later date, a better house was erected, and gradually the opportunities afforded the children for acquiring an education were improved, both in regard to the furnishings of the building and the method of instruction.      Upon attaining to his majority, our subject commenced to read medicine with Dr. James Robbins, of Greenfield, Highland County, Ohio, who was a member of the board of examiners appointed by the State to examine for fitness to practice.  After gaining a thorough practical knowledge of therapeutics, the young Doctor removed West as far as Dayton, then a town of four thousand inhabitants.  He practiced his profession there in 1835 and 1836, in partnership with Henry Van Tuyl a prominent physician.  He next proceeded to Indiana, locating nineteen miles p the river from the old Tippecanoe battleground, where at the time there were plenty of Indians and wild animals.  At that time, the Wabash Canal was being built, along which he had a large practice.  He voted for William Henry Harrison for president in 1836, and again four years later, when he was the successful candidate.      Coming to Washington C. H. in the spring of 1841, Dr. Wilson purchased the property on the corner of Court and North Streets, which was then in the suburbs of the village, but is now in the center of the city.  Here he has resided for fifty years and more, while those who were children when first he settled on the old homestead have grown to maturity, entered the world of active business, and some, grown old and weary with the cares of life, have sunk into the slumber of death.  But all of them - youth, and middle-aged and old - have known Dr. Wilson and have been proud to regard him as their friend.  To his patients, he was more than the kind, considerate, skillful physician - he was the unchanging friend.      For twenty years, Dr. Wilson was an attendant at the County Infirmary.  President Grant appointed him Examining Surgeon of Fayette County, and he served as President of the Board until the election of President Cleveland, when he resigned.  He had established a splendid practice, which, together with his position at the Infirmary, he resigned when he accepted the position of Examining Surgeon.  Some four years ago, he retired from active labors, and now is passing his declining years in quiet seclusion.      In 1838, Dr. Wilson was united in marriage with Miss Lucinda Mackerley, whom he had known in childhood, her father's farm adjoining that belonging to his father.  At the time of his marriage, the Doctor rode on horseback to hundred and fifty miles to the bride's home, and, after the ceremony was performed, drove back to Washington C. H. with his young wife, the journey being made in a buggy which he had purchased.  They have had two daughters:  Mary L. the wife of Jared L. Millikan, who now resides with our subject, and Lucinda, who died when about twenty-one years old.  Politically, the Doctor has always been an active Republican and is firm in his adherence to the principles of the party. Source:  Portrait and Biographical History of Fayette,  Pickaway and Madison Counties, Ohio. Publ. Chicago: Chapman Bros. - 1892 - Page 779

JOHN W. WILSON.  Washington C. H. was furnished many examples of the success attendant upon persistent industry, fortified by the intelligence which impels to the improvement of opportunities.  Notable in its history is the fact that many business men, while still quite young, have attained to success in their chosen occupations and have become important factors in the financial circles of the community.  Among the successful young business men who are contributing to the rapid advancement of the city, may be mentioned the subject of this sketch, who is, perhaps, the youngest business man of the place.      Mr. Wilson was born near Leesburgh, Highland County, this State, Apr. 24, 1869.  He was less than one year old when death entered the parental home and removed from earth his father and mother, Joseph and Emma (Cox) Wilson.  Thus sadly orphaned when too young to realize the extent of his bereavement, he was taken to the home of friends and lived at several places during his childhood.  His education was acquired principally in the schools of Greenfield, although after coming to Washington C. H., in 1882, he attended school for a short time.      Early compelled to be self-supporting, our subject entered the shop of the Washington Stamping Company, where he remained four years.  Later, he was in the employ of Messrs. Huling & Stubbs, in the stove and tinware business, for two years, during which time he learned the business thoroughly, and, being a tinner by trade, was fitted for first-class work in that line.  In 1890, he opened a stove and tinware store, in which he carries a full line of cook, heating and gasoline stoves.  He also does all kinds of tin work, as roofing, spouting, etc., and has worked up a large and flourishing business in his chosen occupation.      June 15, 1890, Mr. Wilson and Miss Rosa Fults were united in marriage, at the bride's home near Parrott Station, Fayette County, and one child has blessed their union, Emma May.  Mr. and Mrs. Wilson are identified with the Presbyterian Church at Washington C. H., and take an active interest in religious and charitable projects.  Socially, he is a member of the Knights of Pythias and the Improved Order of Red Men of America, in both of which organizations he is prominent and popular.  He owns two residences in Washington C. H., and has every prospect of gaining wealth in the prosecution of his business affairs. Source:  Portrait and Biographical History of Fayette,  Pickaway and Madison Counties, Ohio. Publ. Chicago: Chapman Bros. - 1892 - Page 580

SAMUEL O. WILSON is Superintendent of the Fayette County Infirmary and is well fitted by character and ability for this responsible position.  He is a native of Fayette County, born in Greene Township Mar. 6, 1845, and is a son of Joel Wilson.  His father was a Virginian by birth, and, when young, came to Ohio with his parents, who were among the early settlers of Greene Township.  He married Eliza Wain, a daughter of Joseph Wain, who was a resident of the southern part of the county, his farm joining that of Joel Wilson.   The Wains were also from Virginia.  Of the five children born to Joel Wilson, and his wife, all grew to manhood and womanhood, and the thee still living are Elizabeth, wife of Lawrence Patton; Nancy, wife of J. N. Moon, of Madison County, Iowa, and our subject.      S. O. Wilson was educated in the district schools of his native township, and when his school days were over, he commenced life in earnest as a farmer, in which occupation he has always been interested.  After his marriage in the spring of 1865, he continued his occupation in Wayne Township for eleven years.  Mar. 1, 1886, he was appointed Superintendent of the Fayette County Infirmary, and has been re-appointed every year since.  When he entered upon the duties of his office, he had a hard task before him, as the place was in a very bad condition, the buildings were in bad order, the fences were poor and the farm had run down.  But he has wrought a great change by his vigorous management, bringing to his work a clear and comprehensive mind, untiring diligence and unceasing vigilance in looking after matters under his jurisdiction, and the institution and the farm connected with it are now all that can be desired, the buildings kept in good repair and always neat and orderly; and the land by judicious cultivation raised to the highest state of productiveness.  Formerly the amount of money turned into the county treasury from the infirmary was very small.  The proceeds of the farm placed in the county treasury from that institution average from 13,000 to $4,000 per year.  The cost per capita for keeping the inmates in the infirmary was $42.20, which, by the wise economy exercised by the Superintendent, was reduced for the year ending Sept. 1, 1891, to $25.12, the second lowest rate in the State, and at the same time the inmates were just as well fed and cared for as heretofore.      Our subject is genial, polite, gentlemanly and hospitable, and is eminently humane and thoughtful in his conduct toward the people under his charge.  He is ably assisted by his wife, who acts as matron, a position for which she has a peculiar gift, as she has an amiable, cheerful disposition, is invariably patient, kind and sympathetic, and has the ready tact so requisite in dealing with others.  Both she and her husband have the full confidence of all concerned, and under their care the Fayette County Infirmary is said to be undoubtedly the best in the State.      The marriage of our subject with Miss Sarah C. Pavey was solemnized May 18, 1865, and has resulted in the birth of five children, viz.: Mattie, Harvey, Maggie, Fannie and Fred.  Mrs. Wilson is a daughter of Jesse Pavey, a native of Bourbon County, Ky., and at the time of his daughter's marriage a prominent farmer of this county.  Mr. Wilson is a Republican in politics; in his social relations, he is a member of the Knights of Pythias, and religiously, he and his wife are members in high standing of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Source:  Portrait and Biographical History of Fayette,  Pickaway and Madison Counties, Ohio. Publ. Chicago: Chapman Bros. - 1892 - Page 184

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