Monroe Twp. -
WILLIAM WAGNER, farmer, P. O. La Fayette, was born in Franklin County, Ohio, Montgomery Township, Sep. 2, 1842; he is a son of Martin and Sarah (Devore) Wagner.  He is a farmer, and owns thirty acres of land near where he lives.  He was married, Aug. 7, 1873, to Elizabeth Akerson daughter of William Weslely and Susannah (Tillman) Akerman.  She was born Jun. 23, 1854.  Her father was a native of Ohio, and her mother of Vermont.  Our subject's grandfather was Henry Tillman  Our subject is the father of five children, viz."  Cora Melissa, born Sept. 1, 1874;  William Harvey, born Dec. 15, 1875, and died Jul. 6, 1877; Christopher Martin, born Sep. 11, 1877, died Oct. 23, 1877; Virginia Mayne, born Nov. 3, 1878; and Robert Jefferson, born Jan. 5, 1881.  Mr. Wagoner served eighteen months in the United States cavalry, Company E, with Capt. Sandford, and participated in several battles.  He was wounded at the battle of Gettysburg, Penn., in the hand for which he receives a pension.
Source: History of Madison County, Ohio - Publ. Chicago: W. H. Beers & Co., 1883 - Page 1069

Union Twp. -
JOHN WALLACE, editor and proprietor of the London Enterprise, London, was born in London June 4, 1838. At the age of twelve years, owing to the want of means, he was compelled to leave school, and entered the office of the London Sentinel, then published by G. W. Sprung, where he remained until the winter of 1855-56, when through the influence of friends, he was appointed as page in the Ohio Senate by Lieut. Gov. Myers. At the organization of the Senate, in January, 1860, through the influence of Hon. R. A. Harrison, he was elected Second Assistant Sergeant-at-Arms, and given the post office department. On May 26, 1862, he was married to Miss E. F. Baker, of Franklin County. In 1863, in connection with J. B. Stine, he bought out the London Union, now the London Times, and operated it one year, which embraced the famous Brough-Vallandigham campaign. On Jan. 1, 1872,  Mr. Wallace established the London Enterprise as an independent newspaper. In April, 1879, the Enterprise was made Republican at the solicitation of the Republican County Executive Committee, and is today the Republican organ of Madison County. Mr. Wallace has printed the paper eleven years, three of them under the disadvantage of loss of sight. During the eleven years, the paper has neither changed hands or name, or missed a publication.
Source: History of Madison County, Ohio - Publ. Chicago: W. H. Beers & Co., 1883 - Page 951

Oak Run Twp. -
JOHN WALTERS, farmer, P. O. Big Plain, was born Feb. 18, 1841, in Ross County, this State.  He is the son of Levi and Sarah ( Riley ) Walters.  In his seventh year he lost his father, and the family then moved into Pickaway County, May 26, 1861.  He enlisted in Company B, Thirteenth Ohio Infantry, as followed the fortunes of that regiment until July, 1864, sharing in the engagements of Shiloh, Stone River, Chickamauga and Mission Ridge.  He then returned to Pickaway County, where, in Oct. 11, 1865, he was married to Miss Mary E. Robison, daughter of Thomas Robison.  The family now consists of five children, viz., Effie Florence, Thomas F., Carrie, Sarah A., Daisy Ellen.  He first located near Antioch, in this county, in 1872, residing there some two years, then returned to Pickaway County, and finally in 1878, moved back to this county.  He now rents the Wilson farm, in Oak Run Township, which consists of about 1,200 acres.  In politics, he is a Republican. 
Source: History of Madison County, Ohio - Publ. Chicago: W. H. Beers & Co., 1883 - Page 1165

Union Twp.  -
W. C. WARD, freight agent Little Miami Railroad, and agent Adams and American Express Companies, London, was born in Range Township, this county, June 15, 1841.  His father, Cyrus Ward, was a native of Maryland, and came to Ohio when a young man.  He was a farmer by occupation, and resided in Range Township until the date of his death.  He married Maria Linton, a resident of this county, and daughter of William Linton, a native of England.  They were the parents of three children, our subject being the last and only living member of the family.  Mrs. Ward departed this life in 1852. W. C. Ward was reared in Range Township, and when still a lad was employed as a clerk for A. & D. T. Johnston, merchants of Midway.  He remained with them two years and then went to Cuba, Fulton County, where he was employed in a like capacity for one year.  He then returned to Range Township, and alternately went to school and clerked until the commencement of the civil war.  Ohio answered the President's call for 75,000 men in a very short time, and as her quota was filled, Mr. Ward went to Kentucky, and enlisted in the First Regiment Kentucky Volunteer Infantry, serving the three months' term.  He then re-enlisted in Company C, of the same regiment, but impaired health caused him to be discharged while in West Virginia.  He returned to Madison County, and subsequently re-enlisted again, this time in Company A, One Hundred and Thirteenth Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, under Capt. Toland Jones, Col. William Jones, commanding. He remained with the regiment until the war closed.   He then went to Missouri, and for a year was engaged in the stock trade.  He returned to London, and for eleven years was engaged in the boot and shoe trade, eight years of the time with John Stahl.  On Mar. 1, 1877, he was made freight agent of the Little Miami Railroad; Mar. 10, 1877, agent of the American, and Nov. 1, 1881, of the Adams Express Company.  Mr. Ward is well-known by everybody in Madison County, and equally well-liked for his genial manners, and good business qualifications.  He is a member of Chandler Lodge, No. 138 (Masonic), and Democratic in politics.  He was married Feb. 14, 1867, to Laura Huston, a native of Fayette County, Ohio.
Source: History of Madison County, Ohio - Publ. Chicago: W. H. Beers & Co., 1883 - Page 951

Source: History of Madison County, Ohio - Publ. Chicago: W. H. Beers & Co., 1883 - Page 1104

Union Twp. -
DENNIS WARNER, London, one of the oldest physicians and Surgeons of Madison County, was born in Union Township, this county, near London, May 19, 1818.  His father, William Warner, was a native of Virginia, and is a planter by occupation.  He never owned any slaves, but hired them, paying them amply for all service rendered.  He married Elizabeth Denty, a native of Virginia, who bore him six children and then passed away from earth.  He subsequently married Susannah Weiser, of German parentage, who was the mother of eight children.  William Warner came to this county with his family in 1812, locating 200 acres of land adjoining the now corporate limits of London.  He subsequently sold this, and removed to the city, where he died in his eighty-seventh year.  Mrs. Warner departed this life in October, 1797.  Our subject was reared on the farm, and remained there until twenty years of age.  He received only a fair education, and about 1838, commenced the study of medicine with Dr. Malsby, an old practitioner of London.  He was subsequently under the tuition of Dr. Toland, and graduated from the Ohio Medical College of Cincinnati, Mar. 2, 1847.  He then located in London, and for nearly forty years has been ministering to the sick of Madison County.  During this time, Dr. Warner has been moderately successful in a financial way, but has also been an acute sufferer from that terrible disease, rheumatism. Politically, Dr. Warner had always been a Whig, and later a Republican.  He was Pension Examiner a few years, and also served a short time as Assessor.  He was married, Oct. 10, 1847, to Mary, daughter of John F. Chenoweth, an old and honored citizen of this county.  They had two children, a son and a daughter, the latter dying in infancy.  The former, James McLene Warner, is Deputy County Clerk, and married Ida, daughter of William Hall, now of Iowa.  They have one daughter, Gertie P.
Source: History of Madison County, Ohio - Publ. Chicago: W. H. Beers & Co., 1883 - Page 954

Union Twp. -
ELI G. WARNER, farmer, P. O. London, was born in London Sept. 29, 1816.  He is a son of Joseph and Sarah (Atkinson) Warner, of English descent, the former a native of Virginia, and the latter of Ohio.  Our subject worked at the carpenter's trade, with his father, who was a carpenter, until he was twenty-one years of age, when he took up the occupation of farming, which he has since followed.  He owns a farm in this county which he is cultivating in the most approved style, in addition to 160 acres in Kansas.  He was married in 1852 to Elizabeth Ann Maria Zartman, daughter of Samuel and Margaret Zartman, of German descent.  By this union three children were born - Mattie C, Edwin Z. and Clara S. Mr. and Mrs. Warner are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which he has been class leader and steward.  He has long been an advocate of total abstinence, and strongly indorses rigid prohibition.
Source: History of Madison County, Ohio - Publ. Chicago: W. H. Beers & Co., 1883 - Page 954

Unity Twp. -
HENRY WARNER, deceased, was born in Fairfax County, Va., nine miles from Alexandria, on the Potomac River, June 15, 1795, and came to Ohio with his parents and grandparents in the spring of 1805, settling in Belmont County.  He removed to London in September, 1812, where he lived consecutively until the day of his death, a period of sixty-four years.  When he came to London, it was a collection of less than a dozen huts, and he assisted Judge Patrick McLene in laying out the town.  He was married, Feb. 27, 1823, to Keturah H. Gosslee, by whom he had eleven children, seven now living, viz.: Mrs. William Riddle, of London; Mrs. R. A. Harrison, of Columbus; Capt. James R. Warner; Gen. D. B. Warner, U. S. Consul at St John, N. B.; Mrs. Eliza Baker, of Chicago; Mrs. Asa Myers, of Brooklyn; and Miss Mary Warner, who lives at home. Mr. Warner came of a long-lived family, his grandfather having attained the remarkable age of one hundred and four years, his father eighty-eight, and his only living brother, the venerable William Warner, of London, is now one of the oldest citizens of the city.  Mr. Warner was a merchant, surveyor and dealer in real estate, besides having held several county offices.  He was four years Sheriff of the county, fourteen years County Treasurer (elected in 1834 ) and for a number of years County Surveyor.  He retired from business, more than twenty years prior to his death.  By industry, frugality, sound sense and force of character, he became possessed of a considerable fortune.  Many anecdotes are related by old citizens, illustrative of his rigid honesty and eccentricity, for honest he was and eccentric to a marked degree.  Kind of heart when convinced of duty or when charity deserved, he was, nevertheless, one of the most sarcastic of men.  For instance: Once when he was representing his own cause before a magistrate, the lawyer for the other side remarked that he "did not wish to take advantage of Mr. Warner, as he saw he was there without counsel."  "Oh, go on," said Mr. Warner, "your side of the case is in the same condition."  Mr. Warner had been an invalid for thirty years previous to his death.  Mr. Warner was an invalid, but he was always a pleasant and instructive gentleman, and a worthy member of the Methodist Church, to which he had belonged for more than half a century.  He was a Whig in politics, so long as that party had an existence, and endorsed the Republican party at its birth, with which he ever after affiliated.  He never missed voting at an election in his life until the fall before his death, when his physical health was such that he could not get to the polls.  He died Friday, Jan. 31, 1879, at the advanced age of eighty-three years six months and sixteen days.  His remains were interred in Kirkwood Cemetery, on the afternoon of Monday, Feb. 2, 1879, the funeral sermon being preached by Rev. J. C. Jackson. Mr. Warner was one of the oldest, best known, and most highly respected citizens of this county.  As an officer, citizen, parent, or friend, he was conscientious, liberal, faithful and affectionate, and his loss was deeply felt and lamented by the church, State, and society, as well as by a large circle of mourning relatives.  Mrs. Warner is a daughter of Richard Gosslee, who was born in Sussex County, McL., in 1781, and died in London Nov. 26, 1872, aged ninety-one years six months and one day.  He emigrated to Ross County, Ohio, in 1804, and to Madison County in 1816.  Before his death he represented the oldest of five generations living in London.  He was married three times.  He left fourteen children, thirty grandchildren, and over thirty great-grandchildren, and two great-great-grandchildren.  He was a consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal Church for seventy-one years.  If he had lived three months longer he would have been enabled to have witnessed the golden wedding of his daughter, Mrs. Warner.
Source: History of Madison County, Ohio - Publ. Chicago: W. H. Beers & Co., 1883 - Page 953

Union Twp. -
WILLIAM WARNER, retired, London, Ohio, was born in Fairfax County, Va., about nine miles from Alexandria, Mar. 15, 1793.  His parents were William and Betsy (Denty) Warner, both natives of Virginia. William, Jr., was reared to farm life, residing on his father's farm in Virginia until in the spring of 1805, when he came to Ohio with his parents, who settled in Belmont County, where they remained until the fall of 1812, engaged in farming, and then removed to Madison County, purchasing land adjoining the town of London, on the east.  The parents resided in the county a number of years, raised a large family and removed in town, where both died.  Our subject had only meager educational advantages; having a stout and robust physique, his labor was required on the farm.  After becoming of age, he learned the tanner's trade with William D. Pickard, of London, but only followed it a few years.  On the 29th of February, 1819, Mr. W. was united in marriage with Miss Sarah Kelley, a native of Virginia, and to them have been born the following-named children: Mary, Nancy, Adaline, John, Kate, Anna E., Josephine and Helen. Mr. Warner has been variously occupied during his long life in London and vicinity; and as farmer, tanner, carpenter, merchant and public officer, having been Sheriff of the county twelve years, and for a period of four years Deputy Sheriff, beside filling several minor offices, his honesty and integrity were never questioned.  Early in life both himself and wife united with the Methodist Episcopal Church. In his early life, Mr. W. was a member of the - Masonic fraternity.  He being a liberal man and of an easy turn in business matters, has not accumulated wealth, but has lived a life highly commendable, and is greatly esteemed and respected by all. In politics, he is Republican. "Uncle Billy," as he is familiarly called, is the oldest citizen of the town, and the oldest person in the county, where he has passed nearly seventy-one years.  He is now nearing the goal of ninety years, and the venerable couple who have lived in the marriage relation nearly sixty-four years are now passing the evening of their life together in a comfortable house in London, where they are only awaiting the final summons.
Source: History of Madison County, Ohio - Publ. Chicago: W. H. Beers & Co., 1883 - Page 952

Oak Run Twp. -
DAVID WATSON was born in Maryland Oct. 17, 1783, and, with his father, Walter Watson, and his family, became settlers of Ohio in 1806, and in 1807, with Mr. Helphenstine and family, David came to Paint Township, and here was married to Mary Helphenstine, for whom he formed a special attachment when she was but ten years of age. while residing in Virginia.  They commenced in life with nothing, as poor as any person ever started out in life.  But we will not here devote space to portray a history of this valuable citizen's life, as it is fully given in another part of this work.  Suffice it here to say that Paint Township may well be proud of having been the place of residence of one whose life was so full of activity, success and usefulness.  George Blougher. of German descent, came with or about the same time as Robert Hume, in 1804.  He worked one year for him, clearing his land, for which services Mr. Hume deeded him 100 acres of land, upon which he settled and remained through life.  He was a very honorable man, a good neighbor and a worthy citizen.  About 1810-12, a Mr. Harpole settled on the Hume land, and became owner of quite a large amount of land, but of him and his we know but little.
Source: History of Madison County, Ohio - Publ. Chicago: W. H. Beers & Co., 1883 - Page 828

Union Twp. -
STEPHEN WATSON, President of the Madison National Bank, and Acting President of the London Exchange Bank, was born in Union (now Paint) Township, Madison County, June 4, 1827.  His father, David Watson, was born in Maryland Oct. 17, 1783.  He was a son of Walter Watson, also a native of Eastern Maryland, who was one of six brothers - said to be the smallest, and his average weight was 235 pounds. After David's birth, he moved to Virginia, and came to Ohio in 1806.  He located in Ross County, near Chillicothe, and one year later moved to this county.
     David came to Madison County in 1805, to help his father-in-law, Peter P. Helphinstine, in surveying. Mr. Helphinstine's father was a Major in the Revolutionary war, and had a land grant calling for 5, Oil acres.  His son, our subject's father, came along to survey it. They laid it out in three places on Oak Run, Walnut Run, and Deer Creek.  After the land was divided there were 100 acres overplus, which Mr. Watson purchased at $2 per acre, giving in exchange a horse valued at $100, and a watch valued at $20, and owing the balance.  In 1807, he settled on the land in Madison County, boarding with Jonathan and Eleanor Minshall, his brother-in-law and sister, until a cabin was built on his land by friendly neighbors.  His wife was Mary Helphinstine, a native of Frederick County, Va., who died in 1852.  Mr. Watson was a farmer and stock-raiser through life, and died in April, 1870.  They had twelve children, five sons and seven daughters, of whom only four, two daughters and two sons, are living, viz.: Susannah, wife of Wesley Yocums, of Champaign County, Ohio; Isabella, wife of A. H. Nixon, a wholesale tobacco dealer of Dayton, Ohio.  Our subject, the eighth child and fourth son; and David, one of the County Commissioners, residing on the old homestead, in Paint Township.  Our subject was reared on the home farm, and received his early education, which was limited, in a log schoolhouse on his father's farm.  When twenty-two years of age, he purchased, with his brother Samuel, 258 acres of land, which they kept three years and then sold it at an advance of $3,000.  With the proceeds, he purchased 145 acres, to which he has since added until he now owns about 600 acres.  He was engaged in farming and stock-raising until 1871.  In 1868, he came to London, and purchased his present residence.
     He and Mr. Charles R. Cover engaged in the business of brokers on Nov. 9, 1869, and have been engaged in it since.  On July 1, 1870, a stock company was formed and bought the Madison County Bank of Addison Shanklin and Robert Boyd.   Mr. Watson was appointed Vice President, and the name of the bank changed to the Exchange Bank. He has since been Acting President.  In June, 1880, he was elected President of the Madison National Bank.  He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and a trustee and treasurer of the church at London.  On Dec. 23, 1852, he was married to Elmira, daughter of John Dungan.
Source: History of Madison County, Ohio - Publ. Chicago: W. H. Beers & Co., 1883 - Page 954

Union Twp. -
E. R. WATTS, of McKinnon & Watts, saddlers and harness makers, London, was born at Xenia, Greene Co., Ohio, Mar. 4, 1828.  His father Edward Watts, was a native of Virginia, and a farmer by occupation.  He came to Ohio about 1816 or 1818. He first located at Mechanicsburg, Champaign County, Ohio, where he taught school.  He subsequently located in Greene County, and there married Margaret Snively, a native of Maryland.  He died in Greene County. Ohio, in 1856. Mrs. Watts died in August, 1881. They were the parents of one daughter and five sons, four living.  Our subject is the only one of the family residing in this county, and was reared and educated in his native county.  He learned the saddler's trade at Xenia, and subsequently traveled for a time in Central and Western Ohio.  He then returned to Xenia and there remained twelve years.  On Jan. 1, 1866, he came to London, and the same year entered into a partnership with W. H. McKinnon, in his present business.  This is one of the oldest business firms in the city, and their trade is excellent. Mr. Watts is a member of Madison Lodge, No. 70 (Odd Fellows), the American Legion of Honor, and a firm Republican.  He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and a Steward in that body.  He has been a member of the London School Board eleven years, and its able and efficient Secretary the greater portion of that time.  Mr. Watts was married Sept. 12, 1851, to Mary J. McKinnon.  Of their four children, one is living - Reed in attendance at the public schools.  Mrs. Watts is also a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
Source: History of Madison County, Ohio - Publ. Chicago: W. H. Beers & Co., 1883 - Page 955

Darby Twp. -
JACOB WEAVER, blacksmith, Plain City, was born in Adams County, Penn., Oct. 28, 1828.  He is a son of John and Catharine (Fry) weaver, natives of Pennsylvania, of German descent.  He was raised on a farm and worked at farming until thirty-one years of age, when he learned the blacksmith's trade, which he has since followed, a period of twenty four years, eighteen of which were spent in Plain City.  In 1853, he married Catharine Kahlor, a native of Pennsylvania, of German descent.  They have one child, now the wife of Thomas McMain.  Mr. and Mrs. Weaver are members of the Presbyterian Church.  Mr. Weaver's parents came to this county in 1839.  His grandparents on both sides were soldiers in the Revolutionary war.
Source: History of Madison County, Ohio - Publ. Chicago: W. H. Beers & Co., 1883 - Page 985

Pike Twp. -
JACOB WEAVER, deceased, was born Apr. 3, 1802, in Virginia, and when a boy, with his parents, George and Elizabeth Weaver, he emigrated to Clark Co., Ohio, where they remained until about 1835, at which time they came to Pike Township, Madison County, and settled on the farm where his widow now resides.  On Nov. 7, 1837, he married Miss Mary Nagely, born Sept. 29, 1809.  To them were born seven children, viz.: Sarah, born Sept. 3, 1838; died August, 1840; Jane, born Nov. 29m 1742; John, born Apr. 3, 1844; Henry, born Apr. 20, 1847; Aaron, born Apr. 9, 1850; Joseph, born Apr. 20, 1854; and one child died in infancy.  The parents of Mrs. Weaver were John and Elizabeth Nagely, who emigrated from Virginia to Clark County, Ohio, when she was but six weeks old.  They located in Clark County about eighteen years, when they rented in Madison County.  They were the parents of six children, of whom four are now living - Mary, Ichabod, Aaron and Robert.  Mrs. Nagely died in April, 1850.  Her husband, prior to her decease, had gone to California, from which time all trace of him was lost.  Mr. Weaver had served as Trustee and Justice of the Peace in Pike Township, and was a member of the F. & A. M.  After leading a life of usefulness, he quietly passed away, respected by all who knew him, on June 24, 1861.  He left to his family a large estate.  His widow, who has seen nearly three-quarters of a century, survives her husband, and resides on the homestead with her son Aaron, an industrious young man, of good standing in his community.
Source: History of Madison County, Ohio - Publ. Chicago: W. H. Beers & Co., 1883 - Page 1062

Pike Twp. -
JOHN WEAVER, JR., farmer, P. O. Rosedale, a prominent citizen of Pike Township, was born Apr. 3, 1844, in Madison County, Ohio.  His parents are Jacob Weaver, deceased, and Mary Weaver, whose sketch appears in the history.  After receiving a rudimental education, he entered, in the fall of 1862, the Ohio Wesleyan University, which institution he attended one year.  In the fall of 1863 and winter of 1864, he attended the Iron City Commercial College, at Pittsburgh, Penn., for perhaps four months, when his services were demanded at home.  On Sept. 22, 1870, he was united in marriage to Miss Anna S. Burnham, a lady of culture and refinement, and a daughter of John H. Burnham, formerly of Madison County, but now residing in Champaign County.  Mr. Weaver has four many years, in connection with his farming, been engaged in stock dealing and shipping.  He is the owner of 864 acres of tillable land.
Source: History of Madison County, Ohio - Publ. Chicago: W. H. Beers & Co., 1883 - Page 1063

Union Twp. -
PETER WEBER, proprietor Weber House, London, also the restaurant and bakery connected therewith, was born in Rhine Bavaria, Germany, Dec. 29, 1823.  He is a son of Jacob Weber, who lived and died in Germany. He married Barbara Riddlesburger.  They were the parents of eleven children, seven sons and four daughters, only two of whom are in America.  Our subject was reared in Germany, and there learned the baker's trade. He was a member of the Sixth Regiment of Infantry, and served five years.  He then came to America, locating at Columbus, Ohio, and worked there one and a half years.  He then came to London and established himself in the bakery and grocery business.  His trade increased steadily, and he soon opened a restaurant.  He also established a brewery, which he has lately abandoned.  In 1880, he started a brick yard, and the same year erected his present building.  Mr. Weber is a pioneer business man of London, and has been quite successful in his mercantile operations.  He is Democratic in politics, and has been a member of the Village Council.  He was united in marriage, in 1852, to Mary Hahen, a native of Wurtemberg, Germany.  They are the parents of six children. Mrs. Weber is a member of the St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church.
Source: History of Madison County, Ohio - Publ. Chicago: W. H. Beers & Co., 1883 - Page 956

Fairfield Twp. -
BENJAMIN F. WELCH

Source: History of Madison County, Ohio - Publ. Chicago: W. H. Beers & Co., 1883 - Page 1106
(* WELCH, B. F. (portrait betw. pp. 854 & 857)

Darby Twp. -
GEORGE C. WILCOX, farmer, P. O. Plain City, a native of Licking County, Ohio, was born Feb. 19, 1840, and is the son of J. C. and Mary (Beecher) Wilcox.  His mother's father, Zina Beecher, was a cousin to Henry Ward Beecher, and of Scotch descent.  His father was a native of Ohio.  Our subject owns 189 acres of well-improved land, four miles west of Plain City; he is a Republican in politics, and he and wife are members of the Presbyterian Church.  Mr. Wilcox  served three years in the late war, as a member of the Ninety-fifth Regiment, Company F.  He was wounded twice and also crippled in the foot. He was married, Feb. 1, 1865, to Lucetta, daughter of Aaron and Isabel (Huddlestun) Hillbrant, and a native of Ohio, born in 1839.  By their union four children were born, viz., Mary Belle, Minnie E., Edwin C. and Gertie Q.
Source: History of Madison County, Ohio - Publ. Chicago: W. H. Beers & Co., 1883 - Page 986

Deercreek Twp. -
ALFRED WILLETT, farmer, P. O. La Fayette, was born in the State of New York, May 31, 1842; he is a son of John and Jane Willett, natives of England, who, shortly after their marriage, emigrated to America and settled in Livingston County, N. Y., where they resided several years, but finally became residents of Ohio.  He died at La Fayette in August, 1876.  Mrs. Willett is still living and now resides at Rockford, Ill.  They had three children - Alfred, Nellie (deceased), and Reuben.  The subject of this sketch came to Madison County and located at La Fayette in the spring of 1858.  Mr. Willett enlisted in the spring of 1862, in Company A, One Hundred and Thirteenth Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and served till the close of the war - nearly three years.  He was in the fourteenth Army Corps under Davis, Stedman, and others, and was engaged in the battles of Chickamauga, Kenesaw Mountain, Savannah, Atlanta, Jonesboro and others; but passed through all without a wound, and was discharged in July and mustered out of service in August, 1865.  On Nov. 5, 1865, Mr. Willett was united in marriage with Sophia Snyder, who was born in La Fayette Sept. 25, 1843, a daughter of Jacob and Christena Snyder, natives of Germany, who emigrated to America and became residents of Lafayette, Madison County, Ohio; and thence removed to Mercer County, Ohio, where they died.  They had seven children - Elizabeth (married James Millens), La Fayette (the first child born in the town of La Fayette), Margaret (married James Simpson), Sophia, Mary (married Morris Agler).  Mr. Willett and wife have had four children, three now survive - Clarence, Morris and Clara.  Mr. Willett settled in La Fayette and engaged in mercantile business, carrying on a trade in dry goods and general merchandise, in which he continued till January, 1882, when he closed out his stock, sold his residence, and is now giving his attention to farming.  During his sixteen years of mercantile trade, he did a large and prosperous business, and was Postmaster during several of the last years  in which he was in business.  He is one of the leading, active citizens of this community, and possesses the confidence and respect of the people, and is now serving his third year as Treasurer of Deer Creek Township.
Source: History of Madison County, Ohio - Publ. Chicago: W. H. Beers & Co., 1883 - Page 1029

Union Twp. -
ALMIRA WILLIAMS, nee Rouse, P. O. London, is a daughter of Thomas and Anna (Platt) Rouse, the former a native of Vermont, of English descent, and the latter a native of Connecticut, of Scotch descent.  Her father was a carpenter by trade, and emigrated from the East in 1839, settling in Union Township, where Almira was raised and where they spent their lives.  Our subject was born in 1826, and when eighteen years of age married Harvey Fellows, who was born in New Hampshire Aug. 25, 1804.  He was a son of Ebenezer and Deborah (Ross) Fellows.  They had two children - Sarah A., wife of Col. Ross, of London; and Harvey, who died in 3881, leaving two children.  Mr. Fellows was a War Democrat. He was County Commissioner two terms, and Township Trustee three terms.  He died in 1865, and in 1876 his widow married Vincent Williams, who died in 1881, aged sixty-five years. Mrs. Williams owns a fine farm adjoining London.
Source: History of Madison County, Ohio - Publ. Chicago: W. H. Beers & Co., 1883 - Page 956

Monroe Twp. -
JOSEPH WILLIAMS, farmer, P. O. Rosedale.  The subject of this sketch was born Jun. 11, 1837, in Madison County, Ohio; his parents were Ralston and Martha Williams, who settled in Madison County at quite an early date.  He was reared on a farm, and received the rudiments of an English education in a district school.  In the summer of 1852, he enlisted in the Twenty-sixth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, Army of the Cumberland.  He participated in the battles of Murfreesboro, and Chickamauga, and in the latter he received a wound in his left foot, which obliged him to remain in the hospital for several weeks, when he returned home to Madison County, in Dec., 1863.  After being at home a short time and believing himself capable, he again reported himself for duty at Camp Chase.  He, however, was again taken ill, and confined in the hospital a few weeks.  He was then sent to Columbus, where he was ordered on garrison duty;  he also was a short time at Cincinnati, and received an honorable discharge in the summer of 1865.  On Dec. 19, 1867, he married Miss Elizabeth A. Bradley, daughter of John and Sarah A. Bradley.  To them have been born eight children, seven of whom are now living, viz.:  Edgar A., Kate, Clara, Nellie, Ralston, Marion and Bessie.  Mr. Williams has served as Trustee of Monroe Township, and is the owner of 322 acres of land.
Source: History of Madison County, Ohio - Publ. Chicago: W. H. Beers & Co., 1883 - Page 1069

Union Twp. -
DAVID M. WILLOUGHBY, Marshal of London, was born in Paint Township, this county, June 17, 1852. His father, A. J. Willoughby, was a native of Range Township, and a son of Laban Willoughby, who came to Ohio about 1807 or 1808. A. J. Willoughby was a farmer until about the time of the war, when a fever-sore caused him the loss of one of his legs.  He subsequently resided with his sons until the date of his death, Jan. 22, 1870, in his fifty-fourth year.  He married Catherine Coberly, a native of Paint Township Of their seven children, five are living.  Mrs. Willoughby is still living, and resides with our subject, in her fifty-sixth year.  David M. grew to manhood in his native township, and in early life resided in Indiana one year.  He learned the painter's trade, and for three years was employed in the Champion Machine Shops, Springfield, Ohio.  He was a locomotive fireman on the Michigan Central Railroad, in Michigan, for a short time, and was appointed Night Police of London, in April, 1880.  He was elected to his present position in April, 1882, on the Republican ticket. Mr. Willoughby was married, Mar. 17, 1879, to Ellen Harrahan, a native of Paint Township.  They have two children - Rosser and Mabel. Mr. Willoughby has made an efficient Marshal, and enjoys the esteem of all his acquaintances.
Source: History of Madison County, Ohio - Publ. Chicago: W. H. Beers & Co., 1883 - Page 956

Somerford Twp. -
THE WILSON FAMILY: (by William Morrow Beach, M.D.)
     JACOB WILSON - The first authentic information I have been able to gather of this family is that of Jacob Wilson, an Irishman who had married a German wife.  In the year 1790 he left the South Branch of the Potomac River, in Virginia, not far from Harper's Ferry, and emigrated to Kentucky, to what is now the county of Clark.  In the year 1802, after having lived twelve years in Kentucky, he came to Ohio, and settled on the head-waters of Beaver Creek, Bath Township, and county of Greene, near the present site of the village of Fairfield.
     Jacob Wilson was the father of thirteen children, or of twelve, as some of the friends believe.  Their names were as follows, although probably not in the order of their births:  Jacob, William, Michael, John, James, Valentine, Jeremiah, Isaac, Daniel, Mary, Eleanor, Elizabeth and Rachel.  Some of the friends think there was not one of the name of Rachel.
     JACOB WILSON, the first born of Jacob, the first known ancestor, remained in Kentucky until the time of his death, which was at a ripe old age.  He became very wealthy.   He became the largest holder of slaves in that portion of the State.  He enjoyed the unenviable notoriety, also, of being the heaviest weight in that part of the State, weighing, at one time, over four hundred pounds.  He and his wife together weighed seven hundred pounds.  He became the father of eight children, one of whom, I think, remained in Kentucky.
     WILLIAM WILSON died during the war of 1812, at Fairfield, Ohio, of "cold plague," or cerebro spinal meningitis.  He left three children - Susannah, Elizabeth and William.
     MICHAEL WILSON died in 1813 at Fairfield, Ohio, leaving three children - Washington, Josiah and Michale.  Josiah is said to have been the brightest and handsomest man ever born into the Wilson family.  He died at an early age.
     JOHN WILSON emigrated from Kentucky to Putnam County, Ind.
     JAMES WILSON emigrated from Kentucky to Indiana, settling in the vicinity of Wolf Lake.  He became the father of five children.
     JEREMIAH WILSON remained in Kentucky until the time of his death, in 1864.
     ISAAC WILSON, who came to Ohio with his father in 1802, remained at Fairfield, Greene County, Ohio, until his death, in the spring of 1859.  He was a short, heavy, very fleshy man, who, in walking, stepped out little more than the length of his feet.
     MARY WILSON married Daniel Funderburg, of Greene County, Ohio, but died when young.
     ELEANOR WILSON married John Bradley of Greene County, Ohio, but subsequently came to Madison County, and both lived and died one mile north of Somerford, where Uncle Wash. Wilson now lives.
     ELIZABETH WILSON married Charles Hefley, of Greene County, Ohio, but afterward came to Madison County, and settled near Somerford, where both died advanced in years.
     VALENTINE WILSON, son of Jacob, the first known ancestor, came to Ohio with his father in 1802.  He was born near Harper's Ferry, Va., Oct. 1, 1785.  He moved to Kentucky with his father in 1790, when five years of age; and was seventeen when he came to Ohio.  In 1806, he was married to Miss Eleanor Judy of Greene County, Ohio, daughter of John Judy, a Swiss, and Phoebe (Lamaster) Judy, by wife - a woman of French parentage.  To them were born six children - William D., born Feb. 27, 1807; James, born Dec. 20, 1808; John, Oct. 19, 1810; Eli, July 12, 1812; Matilda, Oct. 12, 1814; Malinda, Jan. 12, 1817.
     On the 5th day of September, 1818, Eleanor (Judy) Wilson died; and in the year 1819 he was married to Miss Susannah Humble who became the mother of four children - Lucinda, born Jan. 7, 1820; Washington, Sept. 7, 1821; Louisa, Jan. 5, 1823; Jackson, Sept. 3, 1824.
     On the 18th day of August, 1825, Susannah (Humble) Wilson died; and on the 18th day of June, 1827, he was married to Miss Nancy Roberts, who became the mother of nine children - Caroline M., born June 28, 1828; Alexander Hamilton, Feb. 7, 1830; Emeline, Sept. 12, 1831; Mary Ann., Oct. 1, 1832; Valentine C., Jan. 19, 1834; Margaret, May 5, 1835, and died in infancy, June 3, 1835; Jacob W., Apr. 29, 1836; Daniel Boone, Dec. 4 1837; Nancy Frances, Oct. 26, 1840.  By the three marriages he became the father of nineteen children, seventeen of whom became heads of families.  Margaret died in infancy, and Daniel Boone died, unmarried, at the old homestead, Apr. 26, 1860.
     It was not by pleasure to have had a personal acquaintance with Valentine Wilson; but that he was a man of no ordinary gifts, both mental and physical, seems to be a fact of general acceptance among those who knew him the most intimately.  He was a man of great presence of mind - which gift stood him in good stead on more than one occasion.  Once, when riding after night, he was halted by highwaymen who suspected him of having money in his possession, whom he completely disarmed by answering in a calm and unruffled tone of voice: "Well, well, boys, you have got me this time; I have 25 cents in my pocket, and if you will go back to the tavern with me, we will take that out in a treat all round."  They then let him pass without a search or further parley, without suspicion of the fact that he had upon his person, in "genuine coin of the realm," more than $7,000, besides his 25 cents!  He was also an unconscious psychologist.  He could divine a man's errand when approaching him, when a long distance off - forming an opinion which was seldom founded in an error, as to whether he was coming to buy, to sell, or to borrow money; and he often robbed a refusal of its poignancy, from this latter class, by forestalling them with the question if they knew of any of their neighbors who had $200 or $300 that they would loan for a few days!  He died of dropsy, on the 2d day of July, 1855, on the farm where he settled in 1816; but from the small beginning of 160 acres - his first purchase - in the thirty-nine years of his afterlife, he accumulated about seven thousand acres of land! besides over $60,000 in personal property, and died the wealthiest man who had ever been a citizen of Madison County!
     WILLIAM D. WILSON, the Land Baron of Madison County, was the first born of Valentine and Eleanor (Judy) Wilson.  He was born in Bath Township, Greene County, Ohio, Feb. 27,, 1807; and died of erysipelas at his homestead of the Darby Plains, on the 25th day of March, 1873.  In 1829, he married Miss Nancy Moore, of Madison County, Ohio, who died at the old homestead in September, 1882.  Her father was killed by the Indians in the war of 1812.  By this marriage there were born to them eight children - Alexander, Ellen, James Monroe, La Fayette, William M., Sarah, Washington and Taylor.  In writing of William D. Wilson, I am writing of no ordinary man.  I knew him intimately and well; and in many respects I think he was the most remarkable man I ever knew.
     There is no photograph or other likeness of him left, while living.  There was a post mortem photograph taken, but it is a monstrosity.  He stood six feet in his boots.  He was straight, and with well-rounded and of comely proportions, up until late in life, when he inclined to corpulency.  His hands and feet were small and short; his hair dark brown, thick and oily; his head large - No. 7½ hat - well rounded, and well balanced phrenologically; his complexion clear, and slightly florid; is lower jaw strongly set; his teeth short, even, pearly white, and without signs of decay up until the time of his death.  His face was full, and his cheeks full, round and solid, like Bob Ingersoll's.  There was an irresistible charm in his full, round, Saxon eye - the honest inheritance from his Saxon grandmother.  If one was, at first sight, when his face was severely in repose, impressed with the idea that he was somewhat gross and sensual, the varied expression of his wonderful eye, when he became animated, soon set that Illusion aside.  He was a good and entertaining talker, with an inclination to ask more questions than he was called on to answer.  If you were not on your guard, he would cautiously and quietly pump you dry, without giving back an equivalent, unless it was in the pleasure of his company.  In conversation, his voice was agreeable and pleasing; but when it was raised to a high pitch one would be reminded of the fable of the lion and the foxes - "One but a lion!'
     In the race of life, he commenced as his father before him had done - single-handed and alone.  He served his father faithfully and well until he was twenty-one years of age.  He then hired, as an ordinary farm laborer, for three months "wet and dry," at $7 a month, to Judge John Arbuckle, a near neighbor.   Shortly after this term of service, he married, and bought 200 acres of land, out in the Darby Plains, at 80 cents an acre.  This was bought with borrowed money, his uncle Daniel going on his notes.  The Darby Plains were mostly under water in those days during the wet season of the year; but they grew a rank, coarse kind of wild grass, which, if cut and properly cured, contained just enough nourishment to keep cattle from starving to death.  As it had been with his father before him, when a boy at home, so it became with him now.  They were not raisers or breeders of cattle.  They bought them when two or three years old, and then kept them until fat enough for market.  Sometimes a $7 steer, brought from the timber land in Indiana in the winter or spring, and put on the open grass land of the Darby Plains, would bring $25 or $30 in the fall of that year.  These fatted cattle passed into the hands of another class of dealers, of which the Renicks, of Pickaway County, were the originators the class of dealers who took them on a six weeks' slow journey, over the mountains, to the Baltimore or Philadelphia markets.  So that his motto became like that of Emperor Constantine - "By this sign ye conquer."  Money began to grow.  Each year his herds grew larger, and soon he began to add new acres to his first purchase.  His first cabin stood over across the road from where he died, in a cluster of apple trees that are still standing.
     About a year before he died, he was at my house, and I questioned him as to his mode of accumulating so much property.  His answer was that it was 'easy enough! easy enough!  No mystery about it!  Gather in and spread out!  Gather in and spread out!"  It probably seemed easy enough to him, for he was not a common or ordinary man.  But if it was all so easy and simple, how did it happen that he absorbed nearly a half township of improved farms, whose tenantless houses, or solitary chimneys, scattered for miles across his possessions, looked like a vast and limitless harbor, with fleets lying dreamily at anchor!
     The free turnpike leading from London to Plain City passes for nine miles through his farm; and within three years he paid $28,000 in taxes for free turnpikes alone.  His farm, on the west, adjoined Dun Glen, the farm in John G. Dun, in Deer Creek Township, and stretched continuously to where he was buried, on his own farm, in the old Baptist Burying-Ground, on Big Darby.
     He was social and convivial in his habits, fond of good company and plenty of it - upon all of which occasions he was the central figure.  He did nothing by halves; it was either all work or all play.  He was a natural born wit; and when in a merry mood kept everybody around him in a roar, excepting himself.  He was never boisterous; never off his balance in any direction.  His wit was keen, original, and generally practical - with a vein of philosophy running through it.  He never indulged in any repartee that was bought second hand.  He was original or nothing.  He was never profane.
     On one occasion, while a fiddler was tuning-up and resting his arm, Uncle Bill reminded him of the prodigal waste of time, by saying: "Mr. Tucker! Mr. Tucker! you must remember that every time a sheep stops to bleat it loses a mouthful!
     He was never quarrelsome or contentions.  Neither he nor his father before him, I am told, were ever engaged before any court, either as plaintiff or defendant.  And I never heard him speak ill of any man.
     Like his father, he had great presence of mind; and like, as it was with him, it stood him in good stead on many occasions.  His nearest bank, thirty years ago, was at Columbus, twenty miles away.  Sometimes it required a large amount of money to carry on his business and he was often suspected of having money upon his person or about his house.  Once, when traveling at night, not many miles from home, he was halted by highwaymen, and with the muzzles of some old-fashioned brass-mounted horse-pistols in unpleasant proximity to his head, was ordered, peremptorily, to hold up his hands.  He suspected the identity of the parties, and jocularly called them by name.  The question with them then was, either cold-blooded murder joining in the laugh, as if the whole thing had been intended for a joke.  This they did.  They wilted, and allowed him to pass on home.
     It was generally his custom to not go out after night without company.  One of the protectors, not infrequently, was Ira Kilbury, an infant who kicked the beam at 240 pounds, and who could "whip his weight in wild cats."  Returning from Plain City after night on one occasion, his carriage was flanked by highwaymen, who began to close in on either side; but his coolness saved him then.  He spoke very loudly, and in a peremptory tone - "Ira!  Ira!, my boy!  whip up, whip up, or we won't get home before midnight!"  Visions of the infant who could whip his weight in wild cats struck terror to the heart of the footpads, and they gave a wide berth and a fair field, when Ira, in reality, was snoring away in the quiet and security of his own cabin home, more than five miles away.
     I have spoken of him as a Land Baron.  In 1870, the State of Ohio contained fifty-six cultivated farms, of over 1,000 acres each.  Of these fifty-six, thirty-six were in Madison County.  William D. Wilson, in 1870, owned the largest improved farm in Ohio; he had 1,200 acres in one pasture, upon which you could not find a bush large enough for a riding whip.  There were giant burr oaks in clusters or groves, but no brush.  And in all the fifty or more miles of fencing on his farm, there was no one rod that did not look like it had been put up for corraling mules or wild deer.  His farm had a capacity for more than 2,000 head of cattle; but he usually had a variety of stock.  Before the war, he was in the habit of "turning off" about $10,000 worth of mules of his own raising annually.  Once, since the war, in a time of depression in that line, he sent down among the hills of Southeastern Ohio, and bought about 18,000 head of sheep, at about $1 a head. Times soon changed for this class of stock, and when the boom reached $7 or $8 a head, he sold out and changed over to something  else.
     He amassed a great fortune.  Is this the story of his life?  Not at all.  He was a remarkable man aside from his fortune; he could as easily and would have as surely attained to great responsibilities and honors, had his great genius been early directed in the channels that led that way.  He had natural capacity enough to have been a railroad magnate, like Vanderbilt; a financier like Alexander Hamilton or Chase; or a General of an army - for he was naturally a leader, and never a follower of men.
     But was this fortune accumulated without fraud, misrepresentation, treachery or the oppression of the poor?  It think every dollar of it was.  William D. Wilson was an honorable and an honest man.
     JAMES WILSON, second born child of Valentine, and grandson of Jacob, the first known ancestor, was born in Bath Township, Greene Co., Ohio, Dec. 28, 1808, and came to Madison County with his father in 1816, when eight years of age; he, like his brother, William D. Wilson, remained in service with his father until he was twenty-one years old.
     In 1832, when he was twenty-five years old, he went to Kentucky and bought, at $2 an acre, of a man named Morgan, 400 acres of land out on the Darby Plains, this county, and which is now a part of the Taylor Wilson Estate.  Of this he kept 160 acres, sold fifty acres to his brother John and the remainder to his brother William D.
     In June, 1833, he married Miss Lucy Ballou, of Milford Centre, Ohio, a daughter of Martin Ballou, a native of Providence, R. I., and grandniece to Hosea Ballou, a Boston publisher.  In September, 1833, three months after marriage, his wife died of milk sickness, just as he had a cabin on his farm on the plans nearly ready to commence housekeeping.  The associations connected with his tenantless cabin were unpleasant to him; and in 1835 he sold his Plains farm and bought the John Scott farm, in Somerford Township, where Uncle Sammy Prough now lives.  He boarded with the Scott family, and raised a large crop of corn, which he fed to hogs, but this class of stock ran so low that year that he lost all his summer's work. 
     On the 2d day of October, 1836, he married Miss Elenor Smith, born June n20, 1818, near Granville, Ohio, daughter of John and Sophia (Bond) Smith; her father then lived two miles east of La Fayette, on the farm now owned by Jonathan Booth.  At the time of his marriage, she was teaching the district school in Valentine Wilson's district.  They went to housekeeping on the John Scott farm, and there John, the first child, was born.  In 1837, he bought two small parcels of land, one of which was where his brother Eli died.  In 1838, he sold out in Somerford Township; he had lost faith in raising hogs to make a fortune out of; he preferred risking in cattle and grass, and he went back to the Darby Plains and bought the Charley Arthur farm - 400 acres - which is now a portion of the John Price farm.  He moved there and lived on it for five years.  Two of his children, Valentine Henry and Thomas Bond were born there.  In 1838, he bought fifty acres of the MacCumber farm; and in the fall of 1841, he bought 300 acres of the Russel Bidwell farm, at administrator's sale.
     In the fall of 1842, he left the Darby Plains, and moved over to the Christman farm, one mile south of Somerford, and entered into a partnership with his father, as a general trader and business manager.  On this farm, on Mar. 28, 1844, his only daughter, Lucy Elenor, was born.
     In 1846, his half-brother, Jackson,  being old enough to take his place as a partner with his father, he moved back to the Darby Plains, and settled on the Russel Bidwell farm; but in that same year he bought the Paul Adler farm of 310 acres - where his son John now lives - and he then moved to it.  In this same year 1847, he bought the Paul Smith farm, 175 acres.
     In the year 1854, he sold the Arthur farm to his brother, William D., and bought the Stanley Watson farm, 400 acres, adjoining the village of La Fayette, where he moved, and where he now lives.  He paid $16,000 for his farm, and, it is believed that it was the first $40 farm sold in the county.  In 1855, he fell heir, by the death of his father, to 381 acres adjoining the Watson farm; and in 1856 he bought the Carter farm, 400 acres, where his son-in-law, Dr. W. M. Beach, now lives.  In 1860, he bought his half-brother Hamilton's share of his father's estate - 463 acres - adjoining his home farm; whilst Hamilton bought his brother William D. Wilson's share, adjoining the village of La Fayette, on which stands the old Anderson Tavern.
     For more than thirty years James Wilson has been a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.  I am writing this on the 20th day of December, 1882, the seventy-fourth anniversary of his birthday, and it finds him a hale and vigorous old man, in full possession of all his faculties, and the owner of about 2,350 acres of well-improved land, with accompaniments a part of which he has passed over to the control of his children.  He is now the patriarch of the Wilson family, having attained a greater age, it is believed, than any other one who has ever been born into the family.  Knowing his modesty and retiring disposition, a eulogy upon his life and character as a citizen, and as a man, it is believed, would be distasteful to him, and I forbear.
     WASHINGTON WILSON, son of Valentine, married Miss Linney West, daughter of Edmund and Margaret (Shaw) West, born near Catawba, Clark County, Ohio, Nov. 16, 1824.  Mr. Wilson has been a Deacon in the Christian Church, and a Trustee of the township of Somerford for more than twenty years.  He is a large land-holder, residing one mile north of Somerford; is a good neighbor, and a citizen of so pure and stainless a character, as to be above reproach or suspicion.
     ALEXANDER HAMILTON WILSON, son of Valentine, married Isabella Parsons Koogler, of Greene County, Ohio.  He is a Justice of the Peace, and influential citizen of La Fayette, Ohio.
     VALENTINE C. WILSON, son of Valentine, graduated at the Ohio Wesleyan University, Delaware, Ohio, in the class of 1860 - the first classical graduate in his father's family.  He died Aug. 23, 1861, of epidemic dysentery.
     JACOB W. WILSON, son of Valentine Wilson, resides at Somerford, Ohio.  He is a man of great inventive genius, his latest invention being twine grain-binder, which promises a success.
     Of the daughters of Valentine Wilson, I have given only the names; but they must have inherited something of the sagacity and psychological characteristics of their father.  They all married poor boys.  But the names of such men as Robert Boyd, Hiram W. Richmond and Thomas John Stutson, who all married into the family, offer a sufficient evidence of the soundness of their judgment.
Source: History of Madison County, Ohio - Publ. Chicago: W. H. Beers & Co., 1883 - Page 1118

Jefferson Twp. -
ALEXANDER WILSON (deceased), son of William D., and grandson of Valentine Wilson, elsewhere fully mentioned in this work, was born Feb. 22, 1831, and died Jan. 29, 1881.  He was a native of Canaan township, where he was raised and acquired a common school education, but he became a very accurate and reliable business man.  In 1854, he married Martha J. Millikin and settled near his father.  Six years later, he moved to Plain City, and in 1863, bought 152 acres of land near Jefferson, and settled on it.  Here he devoted his time to farming, dealing in and raising cattle, sheep and hogs.  When he first embarked in this branch of business he drove several times through to Eastern markets, but erelong railroad facilities offered their conveniences close at hand, and he for one was not slow in embracing the privileges.  He was successful through life, and gradually added to his original land until he owned about 3,000 acres at his death.  He was a man of six feet two inches high,, and weighed about 150 pounds, but with delicate health.  He filled an important position in the social and business circles of Jefferson and vicinity.  Mr. and Mrs. Wilson had a family of four children, viz.: Henry C., Louvina, Grant (who died in infancy) and Albert W.  Mrs. Wilson, a daughter of Daniel Millikin, was born in Washington County, Penn., in 1829, but in infancy, was brought by her parents to Ohio.  Her father not liking Ohio, returned to the Keystone State and again to Ohio in 1842, settling in Canaan Township, Madison County.  About thirty months later, he moved to Iowa, where he and wife both died, leaving a family of five children, of whom Martha J. was the eldest.  Soon after their death, Henry Alder, an uncle to those children, went from Madison County to Iowa and brought them to taste, and is nicely located near Jefferson on the National road.
Source: History of Madison County, Ohio - Publ. Chicago: W. H. Beers & Co., 1883 - Page 1014

Union Twp. -
G. H. WILSON, farmer, P. O. London, was born in Madison County, June 6, 1852.  He is a son of Eli and Atha (Prugh) Wilson, who were of English descent, and among the early settlers of this county.  His father was one of the leading farmers of the county, and at the time of his death, in 1880, owned 900 acres of land, which he had made by his own industry.  Our subject was educated in Oak Run Township, and adopted the occupation of farming, which he has since followed.  He is the owner of 119 acres of good land, on which he resides.  He was married in 1875, to Delia Wilson, a daughter of Jacob Wilson, and a native of Ohio, of English descent.  They have two children, Norman and Pearl. Mr. Wilson is a Republican in politics.
Source: History of Madison County, Ohio - Publ. Chicago: W. H. Beers & Co., 1883 - Page 957

Jefferson Twp. -
JASPER N. WILSON, farmer, P. O. West Jefferson, is a son of Michael and Louvina (Henry) Wilson, the former a native of Clark County, Ohio, born Mar. 14, 1814, and the latter a native of Kentucky, but from infancy a resident of Clark County, Ohio, where they were married, and where he died Feb. 10, 1879, and where she still resides.  He was a man of medium size, quite ambitious and industrious, though possessed with delicate health.  His economy, combined with prudence and hard work, gained for him a neat competency.  He and wife were of many years members of the Christian Church, of which he was Deacon.  Their family consisted of thirteen children, nine of whom are still living, the subject of this sketch being the only one living in Madison County, where he settled in 1866.  He was born in Clark County, Ohio, Jan. 5, 1836, and was brought up by Christian parents.  On Dec. 29, 1859, he was married to Ellen, daughter of Samuel Prugh, of Somerford Township, Madison County, where the Prugh history will be seen.  She was born Apr. 19, 1836.  In August, 1862, he entered the service in Company K, Forty-fifth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, participating in the battles of London, Tenn., siege of Knoxville, Philadelphia, and Monticello.  While engaged at Knoxville, he was slightly wounded.  He served three years, when he returned home, resumed farming, and soon after came to Madison County, where, in 1871, he purchased land and now owns 275 acres.  Mr. and Mrs. Wilson have a family of four children, all living.
Source: History of Madison County, Ohio - Publ. Chicago: W. H. Beers & Co., 1883 - Page 1015

Monroe Twp. -
LAFAYETTE WILSON, farmer, P. O. La Fayette.  The subject of this sketch was born Dec. 19, 1939, in Madison County, Ohio.  His parents were William D. and Nancy Wilson, early settlers of Madison County.  He was reared on a farm, and received the rudiments of an English education in a district school.  On May 24, 1871, he was united in marriage with Miss Sarah A. Temple, daughter of Thomas and Mary J. Temple, of Madison County, formerly of Guernsey County, Ohio.  This union has been blessed with two children - Howard, born Feb. 19, 1873, and Maud L., born June 12, 1878.  Shortly after the date of his marriage, Mr. Wilson located in the southern portion of Monroe Township, where he remained until the fall of 1876, when he settled about one and one-half miles north of where he first located.  He also, for six months, served in the Eighty-sixth Ohio Volunteer Infantry in the late war of the rebellion, but did not participate in any active service.  He received an honorable discharge at the expiration of his term of enlistment, and returned home.  He is the owner of 400 acres of land in a good state of cultivation.
Source: History of Madison County, Ohio - Publ. Chicago: W. H. Beers & Co., 1883 - Page 1069

Oak Run Twp. -
MONTGOMERY WILSON was one of the early settlers of this township, of whom but little is known, except that he was a blacksmith by trade, and located temporarily wherever his business or inclination led him.
Source: History of Madison County, Ohio - Publ. Chicago: W. H. Beers & Co., 1883 - Page 842

Somerford Twp. -
VALENTINE WILSON, deceased, son of Jacob Wilson, a native of Virginia, was born in Pennsylvania in 1786, and died in Madison County, July 2, 1855.  He emigrated to Ohio with his parents in 1802, and settled on the head-waters of Beaver Creek, Bath Township, Greene County, where he remained until 1816, when he removed to Madison County, and settled on the head waters of Deer Creek, where he bought 160 acres of land.  He added to that until he had at the time of his death, which occurred July 2, 1855, nearly 10,000 acres of land, and 1,000 head of cattle and sheep.  He died the wealthiest man who had ever been a citizen of the county.  He was married three times and was the father of nineteen children.  He married for his first wife Elenor Judy, in 1806, and she lived until 1819, at which time she passed away from earth; the next wife that blessed his home was Susan Umble, who died Aug. 18, 1825; for his third wife he married Nancy Roberts, June 18, 1827, with whom he lived until his death.  She resides in Somerford, and has at this time about 2,500 acres of land which are under a high state of cultivation.  She is a member of the Christian Church.
Source: History of Madison County, Ohio - Publ. Chicago: W. H. Beers & Co., 1883 - Page 1124

Union Twp. -
VALENTINE WILSON, who was born in Pennsylvania in 1786, with his father's family emigrated, in 1790, to Clark County, Ky., where he remained a citizen twelve years, and, in the year 1802, emigrated to Ohio and settled on the head-waters of Beaver Creek, in Bath Township, county of Greene.  In 1816, Mr. Wilson removed to Madison County and settled on the headwaters of Deer Creek, on land still owned by Mrs. Wilson, his widow.  He was married three times, and was the father of nineteen children.  He was first married in 1806, to Eleanor Judy, by whom he bad six children.  She died on the 5th of September, 1818. In 1819, he married Mrs. Susanna Umble, who became the mother of four children.  She died Aug. 18, 1825.  On June 18, 1827, he married for his third wife Miss Nancy Roberts, who became the mother of nine children.  Of these nineteen children, all but one grew to maturity; and of the eighteen who arrived at maturity, all but one became heads of families.  Mr. Wilson died July 2, 1855, on the farm where he first located in 1816.  From a small beginning on 160 acres, bought of the man who had but recently entered it, with Congress scrip, in the thirty-nine years of his after life he had accumulated nearly ten thousand acres of land, and died the wealthiest man in Madison County.  It is believed he erected the first brickyard ever in Madison County. John J. Roberts settled here about 1817.  He was the successor of Gabriel Markle to the gristmill on Deer Creek.  He remained in this township till his death.  Sutton Potee, a native of Baltimore, Md., emigrated, with his wife and three children, in the fall of 1817, to Ohio, and settled on the farm now owned by his son Gabriel, near the National road, on Deer Creek, Somerford Township, and here opened out right in the woods.  He rented three or four years, then bought the place, and remained here till his death. He married Hannah Markle, by whom he had six children.  All grew to maturity, four now living.  Mr. Potee was a very active, stirring man, and devoted his whole business life to farming.  He was cautious in all business transactions, of firm and undoubted character, and a lifelong member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, with which he united when a young man.
Source: History of Madison County, Ohio - Publ. Chicago: W. H. Beers & Co., 1883 - Page 812

Somerford Twp. -
WASHINGTON WILSON, farmer, P. O. Somerford, was born in Madison County, Ohio, Sept. 7, 1821, and was a son of Valentine Susan (Umble) Wilson; Valentine was born in Pennsylvania in 1786, and Susan in Ohio in 1799.  They were married in Madison County in 1818.  He was married three times, Susan being his second wife.  She died Aug. 18, 1825, and he died July 2, 1855.  Our subject, when twenty-one years old, began working by the month, and thus continued for three months, as he wanted to get money enough to get married; at the expiration of that time he had $27.  He was then united in marriage with Linnie West, Nov. 17, 1842.  She was born in Clark County Nov. 16, 1824.  After their marriage he began farming as a renter, and continued for four years, when he bought sixty acres of land, to which he has since added until he now owns 800 acres.  He is a member of the I. O. O. F. order, and served as Township Trustee of Somerford Township for fourteen years.  Mr. and Mrs. Wilson are the parents of eight children, of whom six survive - Jackson, Alexander, Valentine, Belle, Griffin and Charles.  Mr. and Mrs. Wilson are members of the Christian Church.
Source: History of Madison County, Ohio - Publ. Chicago: W. H. Beers & Co., 1883 - Page 1124

Canaan Twp. -
WILLIAM M. WILSON, farmer and stock-dealer, P. O. West Jefferson, was born in this county and township Aug. 10, 1841; he is a son of William D. and Nancy (Moore) Wilson, natives of Ohio.  His father, who was born Feb. 27, 1807, and died Mar. 25, 1873, was of Irish descent.  His mother, who was born in December, 1808, and died in Oct., 1882, was of German descent.  They were married, Dec. 29, 1829.  Our subject is a farmer and stock-dealer, and owns 1,385 acres of land midway between Plain City and Jefferson.  He was married, Jan. 10, 1867, to Mary S. Slyh, a native of this county, where she was born, Mar. 8, 1845.  She was a daughter of Matthias and Sarah (Patterson) Slyh, and by her Mr. Wilson had one child, Ellen A., born Oct. 14, 1867.  Our subject pays considerable attention to stock-raising, and has at present about 150 head of nice cattle.  His wife is a member of the Baptist Church.  In politics, Mr. Wilson is a Republican.
Source: History of Madison County, Ohio - Publ. Chicago: W. H. Beers & Co., 1883 - Page 1081

Union Twp. -
J. M. WINCHESTER, London, the oldest clothing merchant and a life-resident of London, was born in the village Nov. 9, 1828.  His father, Alvah Winchester, was a native of New York, and in early life accompanied his parents to Ohio.  They came down the Ohio River from Pittsburgh, Penn., on a raft, and located on the Colerain road, near Cincinnati, and soon after entered a piece of land in Clark County, Ohio, where his father, Lyman Winchester, died.  Alvah Winchester came to this county a short time afterward, and was one of the first tailors to locate and do business in the then small village of London.  His trade increased, and he finally opened a clothing house, and enjoyed a good trade until his death, Jan. 8, 1863, aged sixty-five years.  His wife was Matilda Barnett, a native of Tennessee, who bore him ten children, four living, and three still residents of London.  Mrs. Winchester departed this life July 26, 1865, at about the same age as her husband.  Our subject was the sixth child of this large family, and in early life assisted his father.  He also learned the tailor's trade, and worked at it until 1853, when he became associated in business with his father, under the firm name of A. Winchester & Son.  The firm did business under this name until the death of the senior partner, when his son purchased the stock and trade, and has since carried on the business.  Mr. Winchester has met with very fair success in business, and is well esteemed by his numerous friends throughout Madison County.  He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, the Lodge, Chapter and Council of London, and Republican in political matters.  He was united in the holy bonds of wedlock, Dec. 31, 1857, to Margaret Southern, a native of Maryland, who accompanied her parents to Ohio when quite young.  Four children have been born to this union, three living - John and Dennis W., with their father in the store, and Nettie. Stephen is deceased, Mrs. Winchester is a member of the Presbyterian Church.
Source: History of Madison County, Ohio - Publ. Chicago: W. H. Beers & Co., 1883 - Page 957

Paint Twp. -
JAMES WITHROW, a native of Pennsylvania, came to Madison County and located in Paint Township, on Walnut Run, in 1807, and, one year later, brought his family to his new home.  Here he took up 250 acres of land.  All the country around was a vast wilderness, in which he had but three neighbors - David Watson. Jonathan Minshall and Peter P. Helphenstine.  Indians were still here, and were frequent visitors at their house.  They were generally friendly and peaceable, but frequently too free or officious, and would borrow or take things out of the house, such as cooking utensils, sometimes keeping them a long time, but would generally return them.  They would frequently borrow corn-meal and provisions of various kinds.  Corn-meal in that day was an item of some value, when they had to go forty-five miles to Chillicothe to get grinding done. Sometimes they would have their supply of meal nearly exhausted, and they would hide it in the straw tick in the bed.  On one occasion, Indians searched the house ail over, and even the bed. but did not happen to find it.  Mr. "Withrow never allowed them to bring their guns in the house, but had them leave them outside.  At one time, Mr. Withrow having gone to Chillicothe to mill, the Indians came and wanted to bring their guns inside the house, but Mrs. Withrow required them to leave them outside. They came in and sat by the fire.  Mrs. Withrow was spinning, and she observed them talking with each other, and apparently displeased about something. By their motions she could understand that they were talking about scalping her.  With all the courage she could command, she instantly ordered them out of the house, and by continued firmness finally succeeded in getting them away.  Such trials of their courage and fortitude were quite frequent, in that early day, and it seems those noble pioneer women were peculiarly fitted for the occasions they had to meet.  Mr. Withrow was quite a military man, and was a Major in the militia for many years.  He, in later years, after his farm began to produce wheat, hauled it to Urbana over the then terrible mud roads, and sold it at 37 cents per bushel.  The last hat he purchased for himself he bought at "Urbana, for which he gave fourteen bushels of wheat.  He erected a sawmill on Walnut Run about 1815, which was the first mill in this vicinity, and one of the first in the county.  This mill was run by water, and remained in use about ten or twelve years.  Mr. Withrow was no office-seeker, and desired no notoriety in that way, but was an active, industrious man, and devoted his life to his farm interests.  His character and integrity were beyond reproach, and was a devoted member of the Presbyterian Church, having brought with him, when he came here, a letter of his membership in the church where he lived in Pennsylvania, bearing date 1803, and connected himself with the church at London, in which church he was an Elder many years.
     Of their family of seven children, Ann, the eldest, married Abraham Phifer.  She died about 1873. Margaret died unmarried. David married Mary Harvey, and settled in Paint Township, where he died without issue.  Isabel married John Stroup, by whom she had five children; is now a widow and resides in London.  One of her daughters is the wife of Mr. McLaughlin, proprietor of the Phifer House.   Another of her daughters, Rebecca, married Joseph Foos, emigrated to California, and was said to be the first woman who ever went through on the overland route.  She is now a resident of Australia. Robert married Ann Carr; resides in London; was formerly Sheriff of the county, but is now retired from all active business.  Washington married Catharine Truman and settled on the home place. Then he purchased a farm, which, a few years after, he sold, and in 1842 purchased the Robert Hume land, upon which he resided till, in 1878, he removed to his present place of residence, in Newport, where he has since resided, retired from all active business.  His life has been devoted to farming and dealing in stock.  From 1836 to 1853, he gave his special attention to buying stock through the "Western States, and driving them over the mountains to the Eastern markets, and during this business of seventeen years' duration, there was but. one year in which he did a losing business; the sixteen years were successful, and yielded him good profits.  His business life has been one of activity, crowned with success, having accumulated a large amount of property.  His principal fault in life has been in being too kind-hearted and accommodating for his own financial good, as he has paid over $40,000 security money.  But, notwithstanding these misfortunes, he has an ample competency left, and a clear conscience that he has faithfully discharged all obligations, no matter how unjust some of them may have been.  Mr. Withrow has been employed co settle up a great many estates in his community, and has filled many of the important offices of his county and township, and is one of the pillars of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Newport, of which he has been a member since the winter of 1854, and has filled most of the important offices of the church. Samuel, the youngest child of Mr. James Withrow, married Charlotte Rankin and resides in London; is engaged in farming, which has been his principal business through life.
Source: History of Madison County, Ohio - Publ. Chicago: W. H. Beers & Co., 1883 - Page 828

Monroe Twp. -
JONAH WOODS, farmer, P. O. La Fayette.  The subject of this sketch was born Dec. 26, 1838, in Madison County, Ohio.  His parents were Jacob and Mary Woods, who were early settlers of Madison county; they both died when Jonah was a mere boy, and thus left him to shift for himself.  From his youth up, he enjoyed the quietude of farm life, and received but a limited education.  On Sept. 24, 1861, he enlisted in Company A, fortieth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, Army of the Cumberland.  He participated in  the battles of Chickamauga, Mission Ridge, Kenesaw Mountain, and numerous other important engagements.  He received an honorable discharge in October, 1864.  He has thus enrolled his name with the thousands of others, who so bravely volunteered in defense of their country, whose flag was about to be trampled under the iron heel of a most formidable enemy.  On Feb. 15, 1870, he married Miss Isabella Bennett, by whom he had four children, three now living - Leora A., Winnie G. and Sylvia C.  Mr. Woods has served as Trustee of Monroe Township; he is a member of the f. & A. M. Lodge at Plain city, and the owner of 230 acres of land.
Source: History of Madison County, Ohio - Publ. Chicago: W. H. Beers & Co., 1883 - Page 1070

Darby Twp. -
JOHN H. WORTHINGTON, farmer, P. O. Plain City, was born in Connecticut, Aug. 25, 1825, he is a son of Elias and Althea (Howe) Worthington.  His education was obtained in the common schools and at Jefferson High School.  In early life, he learned the cabinet maker's trade; he was also a wagon maker, which business he followed with more than average success.  He was a mechanic from seventeen to twenty-eight years of age, when he was obliged by poor health to abandon his trade.  In 1851, he married Candace Smith, a native of Darby Township, and a daughter of Richard and Betsey (McCloud) Smith.  Her grandfather, Samuel Smith, or Elder Smith, as he was called, was a pioneer minister, who came to Madison County and raised a large family, of whom two sons, John and James, were among the most prominent farmers of the county.  James, the only survivor of the two, was born in Vermont Sept. 23, 1793, was a soldier in the war of 1812, and now resides with his only son, James S. in Union County, Ohio.   Mr. and Mrs. Worthington have had seven children, viz., Ida, wife of Thomas K. Sherwood, of Franklin County, Ohio; Eva, wife of E. S. Converse; John Charles, Herbert, Althea, Myra L. and Harry.  Mr. and Mrs. Worthington  are members of the Universalist Church.  He is a Republican in politics.  They own and reside on a good farm of 280 acres in the township.
Source: History of Madison County, Ohio - Publ. Chicago: W. H. Beers & Co., 1883 - Page 986