Source:
BIOGRAPHICAL and HISTORICAL
MEMOIRS
Of
MUSKINGUM COUNTY, OHIO
Embracing an
Authentic and Comprehensive Account of the Chief Events in the
History of the County and a Record of the Lives of
Many of the Most Worthy Families and Individuals
ILLUSTRATED
Published
Chicago:
The Goodspeed Publishing Co.
1892

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	RICHARD WELLS, one of the representative citizens of Muskingum county, Ohio, was born in Loudoun county, Va., on the 30th of August, 1823, and was but little over two years of age when his parents settled in Ohio; consequently his recollections are all of the Buckeye state.  He received the rudiments of an education in the subscription schools of that day.  His father, who was a first-rate cabinet maker and carpenter, died when our subject was but fourteen years of age, and the latter began to familiarize himself with the use of tools, soon becoming a competent and proficient workman.  Many of the best residences in his locality and the Bethel church were built by him.  He followed his trade in connection with farming, and has been successful.  During the time he devoted himself exclusively to his trade he rented his land, but of late years he has paid more attention to his farm, which at present comprises 190 acres, all well improved.  He does not aspire to office, but he has held the office of postmaster at Brush Creek for a number of years, and has held other local positions.  Mr. Wells was married on the 27th of November, 1845, to Miss Aphelia M., daughter of John W. Bear, who was familiarly known as the “Buckeye Blacksmith.”  After his marriage Mr. Wells settled on the old Wells homestead, purchased the interests of the other heirs, and here he has since resided.  To his marriage were born ten children: John R.; James; Louisa, wife of James Pletcher; Hampton (deceased), Clayton; Clara, widow of Willis McCoid; David F.; Emma C.; William E., and Cora A. Hampton and Clayton became teachers, and the former afterward attended the Muskingum college at New Concord, Ohio.  Mr. Wells and wife are members of the Baptist church, with which they have been connected for many years, and they are active workers in the same.  In politics he has been a stanch republican.  Mr. Wells’ father, Troy Wells (deceased), was one of the old settlers of Muskingum county, settling in Brush Creek township on the farm where his son Richard now lives in 1826.  He was a native of Fairfax county, Va., born July 29, 1796, and was married in his native state in 1822 to Miss Lucinda, daughter of Jeremiah and Minnie (Weeks) Hampton.  She was born on the 29th of March, 1806.  Following his marriage Mr. Wells, with his young wife, started for the Ohio country in wagons, and as they could only make slow progress through the rough and unsettled country, they were three weeks in making the journey.  He first purchased thirty acres of land, all in the woods, built a little log cabin, and thus began life.  He cleared his small place, added to it from time to time until he owned 275 acres, and was very successful and prosperous.  There his death occurred on the 12th of June, 1837, at the age of forty-one years.  He was a carpenter by trade, a skilled workman, and constructed many articles of furniture for the neighbors and others.  His marriage was blessed by the birth of six children: Richard; Isaac (deceased); Maria (deceased); Ann; Stephen, and David.  Mrs. Wells was married again on the 23d of January, 1844, to James Crane, who was born July 12, 1803, and who probably settled in the county at an early period.  After marriage Mr. Crane settled on the Wells homestead and subsequently located on Duncan run, where he died on the 8th of July, 1862, at the age of fifty-nine years.  Three children were born to this union: Henry, born Nov. 22, 1844; enlisted in Company A, Sixty-second Ohio Volunteer infantry, in 1861, and died in a hospital near New York in 1862.  Susan C., wife of James Woodruff and Aphelia Ann, wife of William Smith.  Mr. Wells was a member of the Baptist church and Mr. Crane was an accepted member of the same.  Mrs. Crane is also a member of the same denomination, with which she has been connected many years.  Although eighty- five years of age, she is well preserved, and sprightly, her mind is clear and active, and she recounts the events of the past in an intelligent, interesting manner.  Richard Wells’ father-in-law, John W. Bear, was the founder of that name in Ohio.  He was born in Maryland, was married in Belmont county, Ohio, to Miss Mary C. Turner, and subsequently removed to Muskingum county.  He was a blacksmith by trade.  He was an intelligent and brainy man, and took an active interest in political affairs, serving by appointment Indian agent at Upper Sandusky to the Wyandott Indians.  Subsequently he was a custom officer in the revenue department at Philadelphia.  He was a speaker of much force, eloquent and persuasive, and was a great temperance worker.  He was the father of but one child, now Mrs. Wells.  In politics he was a democrat until 1839, when he became a whig.  He died on the 12th of February, 1880.  Mrs. Bear is living at the age of eighty-one, and is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, in which her husband also held membership. Source: Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Muskingum County, Ohio, publ. 1892 - Page 604
	JAMES E. WHARTON was born in the township in which he is now residing, Feb. 26, 1857, his parents, John B. W. and Margaret (Prior) Wharton, having been born in this county also, the father’s birth occurring in 1819.  In his early youth he was apprenticed to a Mr. Bryant to learn blacksmithing, which occupied his time and attention until he was twenty years of age.  He then worked for a short time for a Mr. Crover, but later opened a shop at Elizabethtown, in which place he met and married Miss Prior.  He afterward moved to Cooperstown, where he conducted a blacksmith and wagon shop, but still later moved to Hopewell, and in 1882 to Zanesville.  Five children were born to their union, three of whom are living, but they were left motherless when the subject of this sketch was quite a small boy.  He attended the common schools near his home, and remained with and assisted his father in his business until he was twenty years of age.  He then concluded to learn the trade of a blacksmith himself, and in connection with W. W. Sloop, he purchased and conducted a shop for about four years.  Succeeding this he worked for a Mr. Elmore for one year, then became an employe in the Zanesville Steel works, where he remained for about four years.  In 1887 he came to Mr. Sterling, and after conducting a shop of his own for one year he became associated with Mr. Ehman, and so has continued to the present time.  On the 27th of April, 1887, he was married to Miss Ella Shipplett, who was born in Hopewell township, Muskingum county, July 4, 1858, a daughter of Nelson and Ann (Hughes) Shipplett. Mr. and Mrs. Wharton are Methodists, and he was formerly a democrat politically but is now a prohibitionist. Source: Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Muskingum County, Ohio, publ. 1892 - Page 605
	GEORGE WILSON   Source: Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Muskingum County, Ohio, publ. 1892 - Page 421
	JAMES C. WILSON.   One of the oldest and most highly respected citizens of Muskingum county, who has been prominently connected with its history for many years, is James C. Wilson, farmer of New Concord, Ohio.  He was born in Union township, this county, on the 23d of January, 1815, and was the fourth in order of birth of twelve children born to James Wilson who was born in Allegheny county, Penn., on the Youghoigheny river, Mar. 15, 1783.  The latter was the fourth child resulting from the marriage of Robert and Catherine (Conner) Wilson.  Robert Wilson was a native of Berks county, Penn., born about 1750, and was one of the pioneers of western Pennsylvania, participating in several fights with the Indians.  He died in that state at a good old age.  He was a well-to-do farmer and at the time of his death owned 350 acres of land.  His family consisted of seven children: Elizabeth, who married John Reasoner, of Guernsey county; Polly, wife of John McKinney, also of Guernsey county; Jane, who married William Findley, of Pennsylvania, Allegheny county; Margaret, who married William McClure, of Allegheny county, Penn.; one died young; Joseph (deceased) was one of the early settlers of Guernsey county, but later moved to Indiana, where he passed away; and James, the father of our subject.  James Wilson was about twenty-three years of age when he moved to Muskingum county, and up to that time he had been reared on a farm in Allegheny county, Penn.  He came here in 1806, on horseback, and was four days in making the journey.  He bought land at $1.25 per acre, in the woods, in section 11, erected a cabin and resided there, alone, for two years.  He was married in the summer of 1808 and went back home in winter.  His first wife was Mary Findley, a native of Pennsylvania, and the daughter of Judge David Findley.  The fruits of this union were two children, Robert and David.  The former was born in October, 1809, and is now a farmer of Rich Hill township, while the latter married Miss Margaret McMurray and moved to Iowa, where his death occurred in 1860.  Mrs. Wilson died in 1811 and the following year Mr. Wilson took for his second wife Miss Mary Cumings, a native of Greene county, Penn., born in 1792, and one of seven children, four daughters and three sons born to James and Margaret Cumings, who were originally from Greene county, Penn., but who settled in Union township, Muskingum county, in 1808.  The children were named as follows: Mary, Susan, Jane, Margaret, John, Samuel and David, all now deceased.  The mother of these children died in 1829 and the father in 1835.  There were no physicians in this part of the county at that early period and Grandma Cumings attended the birth of over a thousand children.  To Mr. and Mrs. Wilson were born ten children who are named as follows: John C., died in this township in 1889; James C. (subject); Catherine, died when thirty four years of age; Margaret A., died in 1887; Joseph, died when six years of age, and the remainder died in infancy.  The mother of these children was born in Greene county, Penn, in 1792, and came to this county when about sixteen years of age.  She and her husband lived happily together for fifty years, he dying in 1862 and she in 1875.  Both were worthy members of the U. P. church, and he was a whig and republican in politics.  His son, James C. Wilson, subject of this sketch, was born on the farm that his father had purchased from the government and received his early education in the subscription schools of the day, and attended the Pleasant Hill school.  When twenty-one years of age he began working for himself and one year later he was married to Miss Susan McCormack, a native of Rockbridge county, Va., born in 1818, and the daughter of Robert McCormack.  She died in this county in 1851.  Two years later Mr. Wilson married Samantha Huston, a native of Union township, born in 1832, and the daughter of William and Sarah Huston.  She died in 1857, leaving two sons, William and Cumings, the former dying at the age of five years and the latter living on the old place.  He is married and has four children.  In 1858 Mr. Wilson took for his third wife Miss Angeline Elsea whose birth occurred in this county in 1825.  Five children were the result of this union: Louis D., a merchant of Norwich; Mary, at home; Samuel Elmer, a farmer, is married and has three children; Charles, a clerk in New York city, is in the employ of the American Insurance company at a salary of $1,500 per year, and Frank is at home farming.  Mr. and Mrs. Wilson are connected with the M. E. church, although the Wilson family were formerly all United Presbyterians.  Formerly a whig in politics he later affiliated with the democratic party and is now for the best man.  He has held office in this county for the past fifty years, and has been one of the leading members of his church. He and his children own 418 acres of land in this township and 480 in Clay county, Neb., and he is prominently identified with the agricultural and stockraising affairs of the county.  He has one of the finest, and best improved farms in the county, and everything about the place indicates the owner to be a man of thrift and energy.  He also has over 100 stands of bees, and is interested in this pursuit.  His eldest son by his second marriage, John Cumings Wilson, was born on the old homestead June 26, 1856, and his life was divided in youth in attending the district school and in assisting on the farm.  In 1878 he married Miss Alice C. Richey, a native of Muskingum county, Ohio, born July 11, 1859, and one of a large family of children born to William and Elizabeth (Henderson) Richey.  Mr. and Mrs. Wilson became the parents of four daughters, Angie, Jennie, Lillie and Mary.  Mrs. Wilson is a member of the U. P. church.  Mr. Wilson is interested in politics and votes with the democratic party.  He has a farm of 138 acres, which he owns in partnership with his half brother, Elmer, and in connection with his farming interests he is engaged quite extensively in stockraising, making a specialty of short horn cattle.  He is a public spirited young man, and is interested in all movements for the upholding of the county.  Samuel E. Wilson, the third child born to James C. Wilson’s third marriage, was born in this county on the 8th of June, 1863, and here reached manhood and received his education.  When twenty-two years of age he started to farm on the Lorimer farm and there continued two years, when he moved to his present property.  He was married to Miss Jennie Watson, a native of Westland township, Guernsey county, Ohio, born on the 6th of March, 1869, and the daughter of John C. and Mary E. (Dilley) Watson, the father a native of Washington county, Penn., and the mother of Cumberland, Guernsey county.  Mr. and Mrs. Watson were the parents of these children: Mary A., William, Jennie (wife of Mr. Wison), John, Frank and Essie.  The father of these children was a farmer and moved to Muskingum county shortly after the birth of Jennie.  His death occurred May 11, 1881.  He and family held membership in the U. P. church and he was a republican in politics.  Samuel E. Wilson’s marriage resulted in the birth of three children: James C., John C. and Florence.  Like his father Mr. Wilson is a democrat and a public-spirited man.  He carried on the farm for his father. Source: Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Muskingum County, Ohio, publ. 1892 - Page 610
	JAMES R. WILSON is a resident of Union township, Muskingum county, Ohio, living within two miles of New Concord.  He was born in Salt Creek township, this county, in 1843, January 7, the fifth child of Robert and Elizabeth (Jamison) Wilson.  The father was a son of James Wilson, who will be represented in the sketch of James C. Wilson.  Robert Wilson was born in 1809, on the farm settled by his father in Union township, one mile south of New Concord, and was reared to farm life.  He attended the school of Fox Creek district and was a school teacher in this county in his early life.  He married Miss Elizabeth Jamison and this union was blessed with six children: Mary, Margaret W., Joseph F., John J., James R. and Jesse W. Mary died in early childhood.  Margaret W., now Mrs. Samuel Caldwell, lives at Morning Sun, Iowa.  Joseph F. was a soldier in Company F, Seventy-eighth Ohio Volunteer infantry.  He enlisted in December, 1861 as a private in Company B, and was transferred to Company F, promoted to sergeant and took a part in the battles of Fort Donelson and Shiloh.  During the two days’ march from Shiloh to Corinth he was taken sick and only lived a few days.  He was a very bright young soldier and loved by all his company.  He was educated at Muskingum college and would have graduated soon had the war not broken out.  He taught school several winters, and was known as one of the best young teachers of the county.  John J. died after the war.  He was a soldier in the Seventy-eighth Ohio, Company A., having enlisted in 1861 as a private and served to the end of the war, working hard for his country.  After the close of the war he went to Iowa and married Maggie Wilson.  His health failing, they went to Colorado, but returned to Iowa where he died, leaving a wife and two sons: Miller and Lincoln.  James R. (our subject) and Jesse W., now living in New Concord.  He was a soldier in Company A, Seventy-eighth Ohio regiment, having joined the army at Vicksburg in 1863 and serving to the close of the war.  He married Miss Emery.  They have eight children.  Our subject’s mother died when he was but four years of age, and his father married Sarah McNaughten, daughter of Neal and (Robeson) McNaughten.  Three children were born of this union: William N., living in Rich Hill township and married. Eunice E., married Joseph Hallenbeck of Hillsdale, Michigan, and Robert, living at home.  The father is still living in Rich Hill township, a member of the Presbyterian church, in which he is an elder, taking great interest in all church work.  James R. Wilson was educated in this county, and attended school in this and Rich Hill townships.  When the war broke out he enlisted in Company A, Seventy-eighth Ohio Volunteer infantry, in November, 1861, and took part in the battles at Shiloh, Corinth, Iuka, Holly Springs, Vicksburg and Champion’s Hill.  He was taken prisoner at Vicksburg and sent to Columbus, Ohio, where he was exchanged and rejoined his regiment at Vicksburg.  After that he was in the raid from Vicksburg to Meridian and return; after which he returned home on veteran furlough.  On returning with the regiment he engaged in the Georgia campaign from Chattanooga to Atlanta.  In the battle of Atlanta he was wounded in the shoulder, the ball never having been removed.  His last battle was at Kingston, N. C., under General Cox and during the time of Sherman’s march to the sea he was with Thomas at Nashville, not being able on account of wounds to accompany his regiment under General Sherman on his march to the sea.  Toward the close of the war he was promoted to sergeant.  After the war he came home, engaged in farming and on Nov. 18, 1866, married Jennie E. Thompson of Peters Creek.  She was the daughter of Gordon and Eliza (Walker) Thompson, of Irish descent, and born in Guernsey county, Ohio, one of a family of live children: Jennie E., David G., (now a minister of the Reformed Presbyterian church of southern Illinois), John W. of (Guernsey county), Sarah A., (now Mrs. J. C. Palmer of Cambridge), and James C., (living in Illinois).  The mother of this family is now living in Cambridge with Mr. and Mrs. J. C. Palmer, her husband having died some years ago.  Mrs. Wilson was educated at the college of New Concord and later was a teacher in Guernsey county.  Mr. and Mrs. Wilson are the parents of seven children: Clarence M., now teaching in Kansas; Joseph F., now of Olantha, Kas., farming; Bessie G., at home; Finley M., attending college at New Concord; John W., helping on the home farm; Robert, at home; Eva, at Cambridge.  May 31, 1882, Mrs. Wilson died, a devout member of the Reformed Presbyterian church.  In 1885 Mr. Wilson took for his second wife Nanie A. Dew, a native of Monroe township, and the daughter of Thomas and Jane (Wallace) Dew.  The Dew family were originally from Pennsylvania, but the parents are now living in New Concord.  To this union was born one child, Edna M.  Her mother died when she was but two years of age.  She was also a teacher and a member of the Reformed Presbyterian church, to which she devoted much of her time.  Mr. Wilson holds a membership in the same church and gives liberally of his means and time to its work.  He has a well-improved farm of ninety-three acres, which he bought about twelve years ago and devotes his time to farming and stockraising. Source: Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Muskingum County, Ohio, publ. 1892 - Page 611
	ZACHARIAH WILSON, the grandfather of Fredrick Wilson, Otsego, Ohio, was of Irish descent and born in Pennsylvania.  He married Lorena Chaneth and they were the parents of nine children: Jeremiah, Isaac, Edward, Joseph, James, Hannah, Sallie, Batsy and Lorena.  Mr. Wilson moved to Ohio and settled among the pioneers of Guernsey county about 1813-15, when that county was a wilderness.  He lived in Wills township, was a weaver by trade and died suddenly when about fifty years of age.  Mrs. Wilson was a member of the Methodist church.  Jeremiah Wilson, their son, and the father of the subject of this sketch, was born in Fayette county, Penn., and was a boy when his parents brought him to the Ohio wilderness.  He learned farming and married Elizabeth Slaughter, daughter of Fred Slaughter, from Virginia, of Dutch descent and early settlers of Guernsey county, Ohio.  To Mr. and Mrs. Wilson were born twelve children.  The following lived to maturity: Fredrick, Zachariah, John, Mary, Joseph, Jesse, Robert, James and Margaret.  After marriage Mr. Wilson settled in Wills township, Guernsey county, where he lived until 1846, when he moved to Knox towship township of the same county, and settled on a farm of 160 acres.  He was a substantial farmer and a hard-working, industrious man in his day.  Both himself and wife were members of the Baptist church.  Fredrick Wilson, his son, was born Mar. 19, 1822, reared on his father’s farm, and received a common-school education.  He married Adelina Jones, daughter of Ashbell and Sarah (Williams) Jones.  Mr. Jones was from Bucks county, Penn., descending from Welsh stock.  His father, Ashbell Sr., was from Wales, a soldier in the Revolutionary war and had one son, Abner, in the War of 1812.  Ashbell Jones Jr., came to Ohio in 1842 and settled in Muskingum county, near Adamsville.  He was the father of seven children who lived to maturity: Eleanor, John, Adelina, Rachel, Enos, Sarah M. and Cyrenius.  Mr. Jones lived to the great age of eighty-three years, and died on his farm in Knox township, Guernsey county, Ohio.  He was a deacon in the Baptist church, a man whose judgment was respected and held the office of justice of the peace and was constable for many years.  In politics he is a democrat.  His wife lived to be eighty-five years of age.  Fredrick Wilson, after marriage, settled in Guernsey county and lived one and one-half years on the old Wilson home place.  In 1852 he bought his present farm and by industry added to it until he now owns 135 acres.  He cleared the most of this from the woods by hard work and made a home.  To Mr. and Mrs. Wilson were born five children: Dr. Thomas R. (married Charity C. Buker, daughter of Alpha Buker. [See sketch of Decatur Buker.]  He resides in Bloomfield, Coshocton county, where he has practiced medicine for fifteen years.  He has two children), Sarah E. (died of scarlet fever at six years of age); Ashbell (died of scarlet fever at four years of age); James A., married Emma J. Hutchinson (he is a farmer of Guernsey county, Ohio, on the old Jones farm. They have one child); and Martha A. (who resides at home).  Both Mr. and Mrs. Wilson are devout members of the Baptist church.  Mr. Wilson has been township assessor and treasurer, takes a great interest in educational matters and has served his township on the school board for many years.  He is a public-spirited man, in favor of good roads and has also served as supervisor.  In fact Mr. Wilson takes an interest in all good enterprises and has contributed largely of his means to support his church. Source: Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Muskingum County, Ohio, publ. 1892 - Page 609
Simeon M. Winn	SIMEON M. WINN, the prosecuting attorney for Muskingum county, Ohio, is well fitted for the position, he is now filling, for besides possessing a thorough knowledge of all legal technicalities, he has the ability to express himself in easy style and forcible language, which has the effect of convincing judge, jury and audience.  He was born in Salem township, in the county in which he is now residing near Adamsville, Jan. 27, 1862.  His father, Dolphin Winn, was born in Loudoun county, Va., in 1810, and when thirteen years of age came to Ohio and settled on what is now known as the “old field farm ” in Perry township, this county, which was called such from the fact that it was the first land to be cleared in the township.  William Winn, the paternal grandfather was one of the pioneers of this section and the hardships which he and his family were compelled to endure, were of a most discouraging description, but they conquered the many difficulties that strewed their pathway and eventually became well-to-do.  Dolphin Winn received the limited advantages that fell to the lot of the pioneer boy, but made the most of his opportunities and became a well-informed man.  In March, 1837, he married Catherine Jordan, a daughter of Caleb Jordan and a native of Baltimore, Md., where she was born Mar. 16, 1817.  She came to this section of the country when eleven years of age and immediately after her marriage she and her husband located on a farm in Perry township where they resided until the spring of 1855, when they moved to Salem township where Dolphin Winn died Sept. 19, 1885.  His widow continues to reside on the home place and for one of her advanced years is very active and capable.  Of a family of eight sons and six daughters born to them, five sons and three daughters are still living, of whom Simeon M. is the youngest.  His youthful days were devoted to the monotonous duties of the farm and in attending the district schools and the graded school at Adamsville, and in October, 1882, he began teaching school, to which honorable calling he devoted about three years. In the meantime he had begun the study of law and in July, 1884, he came to Zanesville and began to thoroughly fit himself for the practice of the noble science of law under the able tutelage of Frank H. Southard, after which, in 1885, he entered Zanesville college, took a complete course and once more resumed his studies.  On Oct. 5, 1886, he was admitted to the bar of Ohio, and in November of the same year he opened an office in Zanesville, and sprung at once into prominence as one of the leading attorneys of the county.  His ability was recognized in November, 1887, by his election on the democrat ticket to the position of prosecuting attorney for Muskingum county and in 1890 he was the unanimous choice of his party, being nominated by acclamation, and was eventually re-elected to the office.  He is a past officer of Zanesville lodge No. 114, of the B. P. O. E., is a member of Mechanic's lodge No. 235, of the I. O. O. F., and is a charter member of Phoenix lodge No. 388, of the K. of P. Sept. 19, 1888, he was married to Miss Julia Menefee, a native of Muskingum county, daughter of Thomas and Lizzie (Duvall) Menefee.  Mr. and Mrs. Winn reside in Zanesville, to the social circles of which city they are prominent acquisitions.  Mrs. Winn is quite skillful with the brush and many beautiful oil and crayon works adorn her home.  She has given lessons in both.  Mr. Winn has acquired a prominence in his profession quite flattering for one so  young in years, and in the murder trial of Ohio vs. Elizabeth Hannold, charged with infanticide, he managed the case with skill, discretion and ability.  The trial occupied a week and after a deliberation of twenty-one hours the jury returned with a verdict of acquittal. Source: Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Muskingum County, Ohio, publ. 1892 - Page 612

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