BIOGRAPHIES
History of Pickaway County
and Representative Citizens
Edited and Compiled by
Hon. Aaron R. Van Cleaf
Circleville, Ohio
Publ. 1906
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WILLIAM D. WALKER,
whose excellent farm of 220 acres of valuable land is
situated on the Goose Pond turnpike, in Scioto township,
was born in this township Jan. 3, 1846, and is a son of
James and Sarah (Fretwell) Walker.
The Walker family is of old Virginian stock.
of English extraction. The great-grand-father was
born in England and in young manhood removed to
Albemarle County, Virginia. where he was
subsequently employed as a carpenter on the farm of
Thomas Jefferson. He married a Miss
Turner at Shadwell and they spent their lives
there, rearing three children. Thomas,
Sarah and John, the last named being the
grandfather of our subject. His widow resided with
her mother, whose second husband, a Mr.
Morgan, carried on a mill which belonged to Mr.
Jefferson. at old Shadwell. It was there
that John Walker, our subject's
grandfather was reared to manhood. learned
the millwright's trade and assisted in building the
large mill at Charlottesville, which in. its day was one
of note. He learned the milling business and
became head miller in 1816, holding the position until
1822, when he purchased a mill which he operated until
he came to Ohio in 1834.
John Walker was a soldier in the War of
1812, belonging to a corps of cavalry which was
stationed at Norfolk, Virginia. in order to protect the
coast in that vicinity from British invasion.
In June, 1816, John Walker was united in
marriage with Elizabeth Wertenbaker, who
was born in Albemarle County, Virginia. in 1800, and
died in her 82nd year, in 1882. John Walker
was born in June, 1786, and died in 1861, aged 77 years.
The oldest brother of Mrs. Walker was
William Wertenbaker, a brilliant young man,
who attended the University of Virginia, at
Charlottesville, for two years. He was then made
secretary of the faculty and librarian, through the
influence of President Jefferson. He
remained there 55 years, or until his death, a faithful
admirer of Thomas Jefferson to the last.
Mr. Jefferson reciprocated and there
are many family stories of an interesting nature to
testify to the esteem in which he held the Walkers
and their connections.
The children of John and Elizabeth (Wertenbaker)
Walker were as follows: Mary, who died
unmarried; James, our subject’s father;
William. who died soon after the family came to
Ohio; Susan, who married James May
and resided in Hardin County. Ohio, until her
death; Adeline, who married John
Cartmell and lives in Madison County, Ohio:
Benjamin F., who resides at Garnett, Kansas;
Sarah, deceased, who was the wife of A. L. Vittum;
Charles, who died at an early age; Louise,
deceased, who was the wife of William Gibson
and lived in Scioto township; Thomas Jefferson,
who is engaged in rice planting at Jennings, Louisiana;
Mildred, who married William Coontz
and lives in Kansas City, Missouri; Meriwether
Lewis, who lived and died at Circleville; Richard,
deceased, who resided in Madison County, Ohio; and
Melissa D., deceased, who was the wife of Edward
Thomas, of Scioto township.
James Walker, father of our subject, was
born in Albemarle County, Virginia, in 1818, and was 16
years of age when he accompanied his parents when in
1834 they drove a team across the mountains, bound for
Ohio. He located with them on the farm now owned
by Preston Peters, in Scioto township,
Pickaway County, two miles southeast of Commercial
Point, which place was formerly known as Genoa.
James Walker served from 1858 to 1864 as
postmaster at Genoa. He held other important
public positions. For nine years he served as
justice of the peace in Scioto township and also was one
of the township trustees for a long period. From
the age of 16 years until his death on Sept. 9, 1904, he
lived in Scioto township, with the exception of five
years prior to the Civil War, which he passed at
Georgesville, Franklin County. Later he returned
to Scioto township where his long life closed as
mentioned, being at that time aged 86 years and 3 days.
In 1843 James Walker was married to Sarah A.
Fretwell, who was born May 3, 1822, in Albemarle
County, Virginia, and was seven years of age when she
accompanied her parents, John and Margaret Fretwell,
to Scioto township, Pickaway County, Ohio, in 1829.
Mr. and Mrs. Fretwell lived in Pickaway County
and reared their children here. After the death of
his wife, Mr. Fretwell moved north of Columbus,
where he lived until his death in the latter part of the
’60’s.
The children of James and Sarah A. (Fretwell) Walker
were: Margaret M., who married John M. Durrett
and resides on the old home place; William D.,
who is the subject of this sketch; Robert R., who
died unmarried, aged about 25 years; John Fretwell,
who resides on a farm adjoining the old home place; and
Mary L., deceased, who was the wife of T. N.
Gray.
William D. Walker attended the district schools
and was reared principally on the farm in Scioto
township, where his father located in 1864. Until
his marriage our subject remained at home and then
located on the half of the 100 acres which his father
gave to him and his brother, and later he purchased his
brother’s interest. In 1905 he bought an
additional 120 acres, of the estate of A. E. Brown,
which was formerly known as the J. D. Mundell farm.
His land now aggregates 220 acres, on which he carries
on general farming, raising corn, wheat, hay and oats
and does considerable in the line of feeding cattle and
hogs. He utilizes two teams. A considerable
part of his farm Mr. Walker has devoted to
grass and raises a fine quality of hay. This land
is very favorably located and here Mr. Walker
has a beautiful home.
Source: History of Pickaway County, Ohio and
Representative Citizens, Edited and Compiled by Hon.
Aaron R. Van Cleaf. Circleville, Ohio - Publ. 1906 -
Page 686 |
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ELISHA WARNER,
a prominent citizen of Pickaway County, who has been
identified with the educational and agricultural
interests of several townships and has served for many
ears as a justice of the peace, has been a resident of
St. Paul, Madison township, since 1892. Mr.
Warner was born in Walnut township, Pickaway County,
Ohio, Nov. 21, 1848, and is a son of
Aaron and Hannah (Kerschner) Warner.
Aaron Warner was born
in Berks County. Pennsylvania and was 15 years of age
when he accompanied his parents to Fairfield County,
Ohio. They settled near Amanda and spent
the rest of their lives there. Aaron
Warner learned the carpenter's trade, and was also a
cabinetmaker and undertaker during his earlier years.
He married in Pickaway County and in 1848 came with his
wife to this county, where he followed farming, in
Walnut township, and also did carpentering, until 1871,
when he removed to Shelby County, Illinois, where his
death took place on Mar. 20, 1906, he being in his 86th
year. Wherever he lived, he was a man held in high
esteem by his fellow-citizens on account of his sterling
traits of character.
Elisha Warner attended the public schools in
Walnut township and then took a course of instruction at
Fairfield Union Academy, at Pleasantville, Ohio, after
which he took up teaching as a profession. From
1868 until 1888 he taught school in Pickaway County and
during this time was principal of the Ashville School.
His literary attainments were those of an educated man
and led to his appointment as a member of the Pickaway
County Board of School Examiners, on which he served for
13 years - from April, 1876, until July 31, 1888 -
during a portion of this time being president of the
board. Mr. Warner was not satisfied
with his attainments, however, but devoted his spare
time to the study of the law and in 1877 was admitted to
the Ohio bar. He practiced locally for a time,
while also engaged in agricultural pursuits. In
1872 he accepted a position as teacher at Darbyville, to
which town he removed from Walnut township. About
three years later, he returned to Walnut township and
later moved to Washington township, where he engaged in
farming until 1882, when he settled in Madison township,
where he has lived ever since. For nine
consecutive years he has served as a justice of the
peace in Madison township and still holds official
position since becoming a resident of St. Paul.
For nine years also he was a member of the Madison
township School Board and was its president a portion of
the time. From 1890 until 1904, Mr.
Warner was in the employ of Aultman,
Miller & Company, of Akron, Ohio, as traveling
collector.
Mr. Warner married Sarah F. Peters, who
was born in Walnut township, Pickaway County, and is a
daughter of the late Absalom Peters, of this
township. They have seven children, namely: H.
Famah, a teacher in the public schools; John P.,
a practicing dentist. at Canal Winchester, Ohio; Mary
L., wife of C. B. Teegardin, of Madison
township; Cecil E., a student of law; Bertha
L.; Martha T.; a teacher; and Frederick L.
Mr. Warner has given his children many advantages
and several of them are well known educators of the
township.
For many years Mr. Warner has been very
prominently identified with Democratic politics in
Pickaway County and on two occasions has been sent as a
delegate from the county Democracy to State conventions.
In 1878 he was his party's choice for county auditor.
He is one of the county's representative men and has
hosts of friends. His many years in official life
have demonstrated his judicial qualities and there
remains no doubt in the minds of his fellow-citizens
that, if he had devoted himself exclusively to the law,
he would have attained high place in that profession.
Fraternally he is a Mason and belongs to Pickaway Lodge,
No. 23. F. & A. M,
Source: History of Pickaway County, Ohio and
Representative Citizens, Edited and Compiled by Hon.
Aaron R. Van Cleaf. Circleville, Ohio - Publ. 1906 -
Page 444 |
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MRS. ELIZA B. WILLIAMS
Source: History of Pickaway County, Ohio and
Representative Citizens, Edited and Compiled by Hon.
Aaron R. Van Cleaf. Circleville, Ohio - Publ. 1906 -
Page 734 |
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CHARLES
EDWARD WRIGHT, an energetic
agriculturist and citizen, who has been operating a farm
of 187 acres in Harrison township since 1900, was born
at Circleville, Ohio, Mar. 17, 1877.
Charles Edward Wright, Sr., whose death occurred
in 1877, was born at Baltimore, Maryland, and early in
life became a resident of Pickaway County, Ohio, of
which he became one of the most prominent citizens.
He was a member of the manufacturing firm of Haswell,
Wright & Company, and for many years was also
connected with the old Scioto Bank. He served in
the Civil War as a lieutenant in Company A, 114th Reg.
Ohio Vol. Inf., and the hardships then endured
terminated his life at a comparativelly early age, just
as he was entering into a very board field of
usefulness. His wife, Lovina Thompson, was
a daughter of Dr. Jesse C. Thompson, who was one
of the earliest medical practitioners of Pickaway
County, locating at South Bloomfield in 1837, and
practicing there until his death in 1889. Dr.
Thompson was widely known for his skill and it is
thought that he was the first practitioner in the West
to perform what is known as the Caesarean operation.
Dr. Thompson's wife, Emily Sage, was a
daughter of Harley Hi Sage, who was a soldier in
the Revolutionary War. The following children were
born to our subject's parents, all of whom are
living, namely: Thompson B., a physician of
Circleville, Annie E., wife of Thomas W. Brown,
who resides near Circleville; and J. W., jobber
of machinery, who lives in St. Louis.
Charles E. Wright, the subject of this sketch,
has been a resident of South Bloomfield and the vicinity
nearly all his life. He asquired his education in
the schools of the village and in those of the county
seat, finishing his education in 1895 in the Circleville
High School. Since then, with the exception of his
period of service in the Spanish-American War, he has
been continuously engaged in farming. His
enlistment was in Company M, Fourth Ohio Infantry, U. S.
Volunteers. His command was stationed at Fort
Thomas until Aug. 1, 1898, when it was ordered to
Newport News, Virginia, and then to Puerto Rico.
Mr. Wright participated in the campaign on the
island until he was sent home as a victim of typhus
fever. He was mustered out of the service after
peace was declared.
On Dec. 12, 1905, Mr. Wright was married to
Katherine Harman, daughter of R. D. and Ella (Shotts)
Harman, the ceremony occurring at the home of the
bride's parents near Bell Center, Hardin County, Ohio.
Mr. Wright is a Republican in his political
affiliation.
Source: History of Pickaway County, Ohio and
Representative Citizens, Edited and Compiled by Hon.
Aaron R. Van Cleaf. Circleville, Ohio - Publ. 1906 -
Page 541 |
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ABRAHAM JEFFERSON WILLIAMS,
one of the large owners of land and extensive farmers
and stock-raisers of Pickaway County, resides on a tract
of 400 acres, which is about evenly divided by the
Jackson and Muhlenberg township line and is situated on
the Florence Chapel turnpike. He was born in
Marion County, Ohio, Apr. 23, 1850, and is a a son of
Abraham Jefferson Williams and a grandson of
David Williams.
David Williams was born in Virginia and in young
manhood removed to Franklin County, Ohio, where he
subsequently died. That farm is now owned by
Henry Williams, who is a cousin of our subject, and
a son of Benjamin Williams.
Abraham Jefferson Williams, father of our subject,
was born in Franklin County, Ohio, June 11, 1812, and
lived there until after he was married and his two
oldest children were born, when he moved to Marion
County, where he died Sept. 15, 1849, a few months
before the birth of our subject. He owned 826
acres of land in Marion township, all in one body and in
addition had 85 acres in timber. His family still
own 826 acres in Marion County. He married Emma
Trimble, who was born at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania,
and died May 24, 1852, in Marion County, at the age of
39 years. During a visit at Chillicothe, she met
Mr. Williams and they were married shortly
afterward. Her parents were Robert and Maria
Thimble. There were children born to this
union, namely: Maria, born Mar. 8, 1840, in
Franklin County, who married Ira Uhler, a
merchant at Marion, where he died June 6, 1891, survived
by his widow and three sons and one daughter;
Margaret, born in Franklin County, Nov. 28, 1843,
who is now a widow residing at Myerstown, Pennsylvania -
one of her two children is living; Mary E. born
Nov. 26, 1846, who resides with her brother; Sarah
Elizabeth born in Marion County, Oct. 21, 1848, who
resides also in the old home with her brother; and
Abraham Jefferson.
Abraham J. Williams, and, with his two sisters,
Mary E. and Sarah Elizabeth, were brought to
the present farm by an uncle and aunt, Felix and Mary
(Williams) Renick. The uncle died Oct. 29,
1883, aged 70 years, 10 months and 23 days, leaving this
fine estate to the three children, he and his wife
owning the farm jointly and having no children of their
own. Mr. Renick and brother had bought the
farm in partnership and Felix Renick's wife had
later purchased his brother's interest. It is one
of the fine estates of this locality, one generously
endowed by Nature, fertile and watered by Darby Creek,
which bounds it on the south and west. Mr.
Williams devotes the whole of his time and attention
to farming and stock-raising.
Mr. Williams has been a
Republican all his life. He is a member and one of
the trustees of the Presbyterian Church in Jackson
township, which is located within a mile and a quarter
of his home. With his sisters he is universally
respected and esteemed throughout the neighborhood.
All are single and have a wide and pleasant social
circle.
Source: History of Pickaway County, Ohio and
Representative Citizens, Edited and Compiled by Hon.
Aaron R. Van Cleaf. Circleville, Ohio - Publ. 1906 -
Page 655 |
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MRS.
ELIZA B. WILLIAMS, a well-known
resident of Kingston, is the widow of the late James
Williams, who died in 1892, on his home farm of 150
acres in Pickaway township, which Mrs. Williams
still owns. She was born in Pickaway township,
Pickaway County, Ohio, and is a daughter of Benjamin
and Elizabeth (Dreisbach) Steely.
Mrs. Williams comes of old pioneer stock on both
sides of her family. Her great-grandfather,
Gabriel Steely, and her grandfather, John Steely,
were natives of Virginia and probably both came to
Pickaway County among the earliest settlers.
Benjamin Steely, father of Mrs. Williams, was
a lifelong resident of Pickaway township, where he died
Nov. 11, 1899, in his 85th year. Like his father,
he was a man of substance, owning large tracts of land
and carrying on extensive farming and stock-raising
operations. He was prominent in the political and
religious life of his neighborhood and was connected
with the Odd Fellows lodge at Kingston. The
Dreisbach family, in which he found his
estimable wife, also settled early in Pickaway County,
coming hither from Pennsylvania. Of their eight
children, Mrs. Williams is the sole survivor.
Eliza B. Steely was reared to capable young
womanhood in the home of her parents where she resided
until her marriage, on Oct. 6, 1868, to the late
James Williams. Mr. Williams was born
in Pickaway township, Pickaway County, Ohio, June 16,
1840, and was a son of John and Mary (Rice) Williams,
the former of whom was born in Pennsylvania and the
latter in Pickaway County. The maternal
grandfather, James Rice, was an early pioneer in
this county. Mrs. Williams has one
daughter, Fannie E. who is the wife of Charles
E. Baker, a resident of Kingston, and the mother of
two children - Marie E. and James W.
After marriage Mr. and
Mrs. Williams settled on a farm in Pickaway township
and al most the whole of their married life was spent
here, the only period of absence being four and a half
years passed in Dickinson County, Kansas. The
prudence, wisdom and success with which he managed his
affairs, enabled, Mr. Williams to
accumulate a valuable farm, which, as above stated, was
the home of Mrs. Williams until after his
decease. She is a member of the Presbyterian
Church at Kingston and is a welcome addition to the
city’s pleasant social life.
Source: History of Pickaway County, Ohio and
Representative Citizens, Edited and Compiled by Hon.
Aaron R. Van Cleaf. Circleville, Ohio - Publ. 1906 -
Page 734 |
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EDWARD WRIGHT,
an enterprising and progressive farmer of Muhlenberg
township, and a member of the Board of Infirmary
Directors of Pickaway County, Ohio, May 24, 1861.
He is a son of John Wright, who was born in
Fairfield County and there died, having lived tehre all
his life (with the exception of 12 or 15 years spent in
Pickaway County), engaged in farming and stock-raising.
Edward Wright was reared and educated in
Fairfield County and at the age of 22 moved to Jackson
township, Pickaway County, where he purchased a tract of
90 acres and engaged in farming until 1905. He
then purchased a tract of land in Muhlenberg township,
where he has since been engaged in farming and
stock-raising. He also owns the 90-acre farm above
mentioned, which he is having farmed by a tenant.
Mr. Wright was married Dec. 24, 1884, to Susie
Lemay, a daughter of Lewis Lemay,
who was engaged in farming in Muhlenberg township.
Mrs. Wright died on Aug. 10, 1905, leaving
seven children, namely: Florence, Bertha,
Nellie, Dona, John,
Gilbert and Evert. Mr. Wright
has always taken an active interest in politics, has
served as trustee of Jackson township for six years and
has also held numerous other minor offices. He was
elected infirmary director in the fall of 1903 and was
reelected in the fall of 1906.
Source: History of Pickaway County, Ohio and
Representative Citizens, Edited and Compiled by Hon.
Aaron R. Van Cleaf. Circleville, Ohio - Publ. 1906 -
Page 743 |
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JOHN C. WRIGHT,
whose fine farm and attractive rural home are located in
section 18, Madison township, is considered one of the
representative citizens of his locality. He was
born in this township, Apr. 4, 1841, and is a son of
Joseph and Sarah (Platter) Wright.
Joseph Wright, who was born in Ireland, came to
America in young manhood, locating in Ross County, Ohio,
where he married Sarah Platter, who was born in
Kentucky, but was reared in Ross County. They
moved to Adams County, Ohio, and then settled at Sinking
Springs, where Mr. Wright engaged in a mercantile
business and was also proprietor of a stage line, from
Chillicothe to Marietta, which did a large business
before the advent of the railroads. Subsequently
he came to Madison township, Pickaway County and settled
on the farm now owned by our subject. He was one
of the pioneers and lived out the rest of his days here,
dying on Mar. 3, 1871, in his 79th year. His wife
passed away on June 29, 1864, aged 70 years. In
politics he was a Republican, having been a strong Whig
in his earlier years. At one time he served as
township clerk and at all times was a good citizen.
His surviving children are: Mary A., widow
of Jonathan Hay, residing at Ashville;
Sarah J., who resides with our subject; William,
of Ashville; Joseph P., of Ashville;
Andrew, of Montgomery County, Kansas; and John C.
John C. Wright was
reared in Madison township and obtained his early
education in the local schools and later enjoyed a term
at the Lithopolis High School. He has always been
interested in farming and owns a valuable property on
which, in 1892, he erected his present substantial and
comfortable home.
Mr. Wright was married Nov. 19, 1879, to
Julia A. Kerns, who was born in Fairfield County,
Ohio, Apr. 8, 1848, and is a daughter of George and
Mary (Stucky) Kerns. Her father was born in
Fairfield County, Ohio, and was a/son of Jacob Kerns,
a native of Pennsylvania, and one of the early settlers
of Fairfield County. Mrs. Wright has
one surviving sister - Sarah A., widow of
Isaiah Doner, formerly of Fairfield County,
but now a resident of Madison township.
Mr. and Mrs. Wright have three children, namely:
Bertha L., wife of Clarence B. Noecker, of
Walnut township; and George K. and William W.,
both living at home.
Mr. Wright and wife belong to the Lutheran
Church at Lithopolis, of which he is a trustee. In
politics he is a Republican. He belongs to Hamilton
Grange, No. 436, Patrons of Husbandry, at Groveport,
Ohio.
Source: History of Pickaway County, Ohio and
Representative Citizens, Edited and Compiled by Hon.
Aaron R. Van Cleaf. Circleville, Ohio - Publ. 1906 -
Page 881 |
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JULIUS J.
WRIGHT, deceased, once a prominent
resident of Pickaway County, was born in Loudoun County,
Virginia, Jan. 5, 1830, and died in his old home place
in the county of his birth, on Sept. 20, 1903. He
was a son of Joseph and Mary (Sullivan) Wright.
The father of Mr. Wright was born in Ireland and
died when his son Julius was 13 years of age.
His mother was born in Loudoun County, Virginia, and her
life closed when her son was a child of five years.
The orphan boy was reared in the home of his
grandfather, with whom he remained until he started out
in life for himself.
Upon coming to Ohio, Julius J. Wright settled
for a time in Ross County. From there he went to
Osage County, Kansas, where he took up a government land
claim on which he lived for some years. Upon his
return to Ohio, he located in Pickaway County, where he
lived for many years. On Apr. 5, 1866, he was
married to Mary A. Emerson, who was born in
Pickaway township, Pickaway County, Ohio, Apr. 5, 1838.
She is a daughter of Thomas and Margaret (Kennedy)
Emerson, the former of whom was born in Virginia and
the latter, in Kentucky.
Thomas Emerson was the son of Thomas and Mary
(Downey) Emerson, who came to Pickaway County and
were very early settlers in Pickaway township. The
father of Mrs. Wright became one of the very old
residents here, his life extending to 91 years. Of
his children, three survive, viz.: James, of
Pickaway township; Mrs. Mary A. Wright; and
George T., also of Pickaway township.
The children of Mr. and Mrs. Wright were eight
in number, the survivors being: Sarah A., Thomas E.,
Robert F., Adella M., Laura L. and Walter E.
Mrs. Wright resides on a fine farm of 100 acres
of well-cultivated land. She is a valued member of
Ebenezer Church of the Evangelical Association.
Her whole life has been passed in Pickaway County and
she is a worthy representative of one of its oldest and
most honored families.
Source: History of Pickaway County, Ohio and
Representative Citizens, Edited and Compiled by Hon.
Aaron R. Van Cleaf. Circleville, Ohio - Publ. 1906 -
Page 522 |
| |
DR.
THOMPSON B. WRIGHT, was born at Circleville, in
August, 1864. He was graduated from Kenyon College
in 1883. Three years later he was graduated from
the Columbus Medical College. After practicing a
few months at South Bloomfield, he came to Circleville
and entered into partnership with his great-uncle, the
late Dr. Asad W. Thompson, which association
continued until 1894, since which year he has practiced
alone. During the Spanish-American War he spent
nine months in the service, as a surgeon of the Fourth
Regiment, Ohio Infantry, U. S. Volunteers.
Source: History of Pickaway County, Ohio and
Representative Citizens, Edited and Compiled by Hon.
Aaron R. Van Cleaf. Circleville, Ohio - Publ. 1906 -
Page 305 |
NOTES:
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