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BIOGRAPHIES
 Source:
History of Shelby County, Ohio
Publ. Philadelphia, PA: R. Sutton & So.
1883
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Washington Twp. -
HENRY WAGNER.
The Wagners came from Germany to the American
colonies in the beginning of the eighteenth century, and
settled near Reading, Pa. It was here that
Henry Wagner, Sen., was born in 1790. When a
young man he went to Harrisburg to work at the carpenter
trade. Here, in Dauphin County, about 1812, he
married Elizabeth Dick. They raised a
family of eight children. Henry, the
subject of this sketch, was the second son; he was born
near Harrisburg in the year 1819, and was raised on a
farm which adjoined the city of Harrisburg. When a
young man he learned the carpenter trade, which he
followed until 1847, when he married Isamiah Hocker.
The following year (1848) they moved to Shelby County
and located in Washington Township, where he bought
seventy-five acres of land: he afterwards bought
twenty-five acres more; then eighty-four acres; then one
hundred acres - making in all two hundred and eighty
four acres. This land he has put under cultivation
and had built upon his home place a fine brick house and
large bank barn. They have raised a family of six
children, whose names and date of birth are as follows:
Levi, born 1847; Henry, born 1850;
George, born 1852; William, born 1854;
Napoleon*, born 1857; and John, born 1862.
The Hockers, the ancestors of Mrs. Wagner,
are of German extraction. Their first settlement
in the United States was in Lancaster County, Pa.
It was here that Adam Hocker was born and grew up
to manhood, and learned the tanning trade. He
married Mary Hershy and immediately moved to
Harrison burg. They were among the first settlers
of Harrisburg. He started the first tannery in
that place. He followed this business of a number
of years. It was here that George Hocker
was born in 1794. He was partly raised in the
city, when his father sold his tannery and moved to the
country, some nine miles from the city. Here, in
1819, he married Magdalena Landis and raised a
family of two children. Mrs. Wagner was the
eldest; she was born in Dauphin County in 1821.
Mr. Hocker died in 1873; his wife died in 1824.
About 1833 he married Catharine Cocklin, who died
in 1881.
SourcE: History of Shelby County, Ohio - Publ.
Philadelphia, PA: R. Sutton & So. - 1883 - Page 289
* See transcription of
Passport |
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Clinton Twp. -
JOHN WAGNER was born in Columbiana
County, Ohio, in the year 1834. When fourteen
years of age he came to Sidney. His first
undertaking in life was that of a tallow chandler, which
he followed a short time, when he went to work with his
brother to learn the butcher trade. After serving
his time in learning the business he borrowed some
money, and went to St. Mary's and opened a shop, where
he remained about one year, then returned to Sidney and
started a meat market, which he carried on about two
years. About 1859 he rented a brewery of his
brother Joseph, which he ran about one year, when
he bought an interest in the concern, which he retained
until 1876, when he purchased the whole establishment,
and immediately commenced enlarging the works and
preparing for the manufacture of lager beer, which has
become so popularly known as Wagner's Golden Lager,
and has the exclusive sale in Sidney and the surrounding
country. In 1858 Mr. Wagner married Mary
Mayer. They had born to them nine children,
viz., Henry, Joseph E., Emma E., Clara M.,
Louis F., Rosa A., Ella M., Celia A., and Alma F.
Mr. Wagner died May 1, 1881. During his life
he was highly respected and esteemed by all. He
was benevolent and enterprising in all public benefits,
and Sidney lost one of her best citizens at his death.
Source 2: History of Shelby County, Ohio - Publ.
Philadelphia, PA: R. Sutton & So. - 1883 - Page 385 |
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Clinton
Twp. -
M. WAGNER was born in Alsace,
France, Apr. 24, 1818, and in 1830 came to America, and
drove a team through to Pittsburgh, where he met his
father, who had preceded him by stage from Baltimore.
Here he began to work in a tobacco factory for one
dollar a week, but a few months later went to Butler
County, Pa., where he followed farm work abut eighteen
months. After this he moved back to Pittsburgh and
labored about at whatever work he could find.
Coming to Ohio he settled in Columbiana County and
engaged at farming. From there he went to
Steubenville, Wheeling, and other places, working as
best he could at the different points. In this way
he worked and struggled until 1837, when he started for
Allen County, and after a little while came to Sidney,
where, with his brother Peter, he worked on the
canal until the winter arrested the work. He then
returned to the canal work, and finally started business
in Sidney, opening a meat market and prosecuting other
enterprises, until he has become one of the strongest
financial men of the town. In 1844 he married
Miss Mary Rauth, and has seven children living,
named Mary, William, Milton, Benjamin, Flora, Lewis,
and Bertha. Four children, named
Charles, John, Ellen, and Amelia are dead.
Source: History of Shelby County, Ohio - Publ.
Philadelphia, PA: R. Sutton & So. - 1883 - Page 379 |
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Washington
Twp. -
REUBEN W. WALTERS, a son of
William and Sarah Hardesty Walters, was born in
Shelby County in 1857. When but a child he was
left an orphan, and was raised by his mother's people
until he became a man grown. In 1881 he married
Nettie Lenox, a daughter of Richard and Sarah
Lenox.
Source: History of Shelby County, Ohio - Publ.
Philadelphia, PA: R. Sutton & So. - 1883 - Page 288 |
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Dinsmore Twp. -
W. H. WELLER, a son of one of the
pioneer families of Johnson Township, Champaign County,
was born Sept. 21, 1842. Mr. Weller was
here engaged in farming until May 2, 1864, when he
enlisted in Co. I, 134th O. V. I., and served until
Sept. of the same year. In 1869 he went to Kansas,
but after two years' experience returned to hsi old home
in Champaign County. He married Louisa K. Hall
Apr. 23, 1867. In 1875 he came to Anna and engaged
in the drug business, and in September, 1878, located at
his present stand in the village of Anna, where he is
doing a deservedly popular trade.
Source: History of Shelby County, Ohio - Publ.
Philadelphia, PA: R. Sutton & So. - 1883 - Page 241 |
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Dinsmore
Twp. -
GEORGE WENGER, Farmer; P. O.
Dinsmore. Mr. Wenger is a son of George
and Mary M. Wenger. He was born in Germany,
Jan. 18, 1829. He immigrated to America in May,
1849, and located in Franklin County, Ohio, where, in
August, 1855, he married Miss Caroline Burch, a
native of Franklin County, Ohio, born in November, 1832.
Mr. and Mrs. Wenger moved to Darke County, Ohio,
in 1856, where they remained until in April, 1865, when
they came to Shelby County, purchased and moved on the
farm in section 18, Dinsmore Township, on which he has
since resided. His companion died Oct. 6, 1874,
leaving him with four small children, viz., Louisa
C., Mary S., Caroline C. and John F. On
the 28th of May, 1876, he married Miss Mary Clinehens,
who was born in Richmond, Indiana, Feb. 23, 1840, and
came to Shelby County with her parents, George and
Eve Clinehens, in 1842. Mr. Wenger has
made farming his vocation, and now owns a farm of four
hundred acres in section 18, Dinsmore Township.
Source: History of Shelby County, Ohio - Publ.
Philadelphia, PA: R. Sutton & So. - 1883 - Page 247 |
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ashington Twp. -
MICHAEL G. WEYMER. The
Weymers (formerly written Weinmar) came from
Wittenburg, Germany, to America in 1764. They
located in New York, and remained there during the
Revolutionary War. George Weymer was a son
of this first settler in the country. He was born
in New York in 1767. He married Mary Strock,
and raised a family of five children. Of this
family only two came to Shelby County. Michael
G. Weymer was born in New York in 1811. In
1836 he married Mary Barnes, and in 1838 came to
Shelby County. His father, George Weymer,
came with him, and died here in 1851. Mr. W.
raised a family of six children, viz., James, Mary
A., Peter, Harriet, Caroline, and John.
He died in 1877. His widow still survives him, and
is living with her son, John.
JAMES WEYMER, the eldest of these six children, was
born in New Jersey in 1838, and was brought by his
parents the same year to this township, where he has
lived since that time. In 1869 he married
Jennie Johnston. By this union they have three
children, viz., Horace, Anna D., and Warren.
Source: History of Shelby County, Ohio - Publ.
Philadelphia, PA: R. Sutton & So. - 1883 - Page 284 |
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Loramie
Twp. -
ABRAHAM WHITMER was born in Union
County, Pa., June 20, 1820. He is a son of
Abraham Whitmer, who was a native of Lancaster
County, Pa. His father, John Whitmer, was a
native of Germany, and emigrated to America a short time
prior to the Revolution, and located in Pennsylvania.
Abraham Whitmer, subject of this sketch, moved
to Ohio in 1842 and located in Miami County, where on
the 5th of October, 1845, he married Miss Mary Deeter,
of Miami County, who was born Nov. 5, 1828, daughter of
David and Elizabeth Deeter. Mr. and Mrs.
Whitmer settled on a farm in Miami County and
remained until the spring of 1865, when they came to
Shelby County and purchased and moved on the farm on
which Mr. Whitmer now resides. He is a
blacksmith by trade, which business he conducted with
success, in connection with farming, for about
twenty-five years or until 1865, when he retired from
his trade, and has since given his entire attention to
farming. He now owns a good farm of one hundred
and sixty acres. His wife died Nov. 17, 1877.
He reared a family of seven children, viz.,
Elizabeth, Harriet, David, Henry C., Lovina, Joshua, and
Anna.
Source: History of Shelby County, Ohio - Publ.
Philadelphia, PA: R. Sutton & So. - 1883 - Page 318 |
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Clinton Twp. -
DANIEL WHITMER was born in
Lancaster County, Pa., in the year 1800. He came
to Dayton, Ohio, in the spring of 1818, remained there
but a few months, then came to the present limits of
Shelby County, where he made his home with Peter
Mussulman, Jr. In 1821 he married Rhoda
Blankensheets, with whom he lived only about one
year when she died. In 1825 he married Fanny
Mussulman. The result of this marriage was
eight children, viz., Elizabeth, Fanny, John, Jane,
Peter, Franklin, Susan, and David.
After his marriage, Mr. Whitmer settled in Perry
Township, on the Mosquito Creek, where he continued to
reside until 1876, when they removed to Champaign
County, where Mrs. Whitmer died in 1882.
Mr. Whitmer was the eighth settler in Perry
Township.
Source: History of Shelby County,
Ohio - Publ. Philadelphia, PA: R. Sutton & So. - 1883 -
Page 386 |
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Dinsmore Twp. -
JOHN WICAL was born in Greene
County, Ohio, Feb. 13, 1828. He is a son of
George and Hester Wical. He has made farming
his principal avocation, and now owns a farm of one
hundred and eighty acres of land in Dinsmore Township,
on which he is now residing. In March, 1853, he
married Miss Elizabeth J., daughter of John
and Elizabeth Wade. Miss Wade was born
in Darke County, Ohio, Jan. 28, 1835. Mr. and
Mrs. Wical was born in Darke County, Ohio, Jan. 28,
1835. Mr. and Mrs. Wical remained in Greene
County until in the autumn of 1854, when they moved to
Mercer County, Ohio, where they lived until in April,
1861, when they came to Shelby County, purchased a farm
in Dinsmore Township, on which they are now residing.
They have a family of nine children, seven sons and two
daughters. On the 1st of October, 1862, Mr.
Wical enlisted in Company F, 20th O. V. I. He
was actively engaged in the battles of Raymond,
Mississippi; Jackson, Mississippi; Champion Hills,
Mississippi; Black River; the siege of Vicksburg; and a
number of other minor engagements. He was
honorably discharged June 27, 1865.
Source: History of Shelby County, Ohio - Publ.
Philadelphia, PA: R. Sutton & So. - 1883 - Page 247 |
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Dinsmore
Twp. -
GEORGE E. WIFORD was born in
Greene County, Ohio, Jan. 23, 1824. He is a son of
Jacob and Catharine Wiford, who came to Shelby
County in 1833, entered, and settled on one hundred and
sixty acres of land in the south half of section 9,
Dinsmore Township, on which Jacob Wiford died
Oct. 12, 1880.
George E. Wiford, subject of this sketch, came
to Shelby County with his parents in 1833, and has since
been a resident of Dinsmore Township. On the 21st
of January, 1847, he married Miss Mary A.,
daughter of Samuel and Mary Blakeley, born Apr.
8, 1829. Mr. and Mrs. Wiford settled on a
part of his father's home farm, where they have since
resided. They have nine children now living, viz.,
Anthony J., Martha J., Samuel J., Sarah C., Elizabeth
M., Harry H., Nancy M., George A., and Harriet A.
Mr. Wiford has made farming his business.
Source: History of Shelby County, Ohio - Publ.
Philadelphia, PA: R. Sutton & So. - 1883 - Page 246 |
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Green
Twp. -
DAVID WILES, Farmer; P. O. Sidney,
Ohio.
Mr. Wiles was born in Warren County, Ohio, Nov.
23, 1815. He came to Miami County in 1828 with his
parents, James and Anna Wiles who located in
Spring Creek Township, where the subject of this sketch,
David Wiles, passed his boyhood days. On
the 15th day of March, 1838, he married Miss
Catharine Bolsell born in Miami County, Ohio, Feb.
20, 1820, daughter of Samuel and Mary Bolsell.
Mr. and Mrs. Wiles settled in Miami County,
remained until in 1844, when they came to Shelby County,
made improvements, and settled on a part of the
southeast quarter of section 29, Green Township, in
1845, where they now reside. They reared a family
of six children, viz., James, Mary A., Celina J.,
Thomas B., John A., and Elvira E. Elvira E.
died June 27, 1881. Mr. Wiles served as a
member of the board of education of Green Township ten
years, and constable of the township three years.
Source: History of Shelby County, Ohio - Publ.
Philadelphia, PA: R. Sutton & So. - 1883 - Page 205 |
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Cynthian Twp. -
HUGH WILEY. The Wileys
are of Irish descent, but the first that we learned of
them was in Pennsylvania, where Hugh Wiley, the
grandfather, was born, and served as a soldier in the
Revolutionary War. He married and reared a family
of five children. Hugh, the second, one of
his sons, was born in Pennsylvania in 1777, and married
Isabella McKee about 1807. Their family
consisted of three children. They emigrated to
Harrison County, Ohio, in 1812, and remained there until
1818, when they removed to Perry County, where he spent
the remainder of his days. He died in 1855.
His wife died the same year. Hugh Wiley,
third, his only son, was born in Pennsylvania in 1812.
He received a liberal education, having studied the
languages. HE followed teaching for a number of
years, but made farming his principal business. IN
1857 he married Rebecca Baird, a daughter of
Alexander and Rebecca (Huston) Baird. By this
union they have five children, viz., Martha A., James
A., John T., Joseph W., and Hannah R.
The ancestors of Mrs. Wiley are from Ireland.
Her mother was born in Ireland. They located in
Perry County, Ohio, in 1806, and remained there until
they died. Her father was born in Pennsylvania in
1797, and died in 1881. Her mother died in 1879.
Mr. and Mrs. Wiley settled in Cynthian in 1866.
Source: History of Shelby County, Ohio - Publ.
Philadelphia, PA: R. Sutton & So. - 1883 - Page 274 |
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Green
Twp. -
WILLIAM B. WILLIAMS, deceased was
born in Monmouth County, New Jersey, Nov. 15, 1794.
He spent several years on the Atlantic as a sailor while
a single man. In 1833 he turned his attention to
farming, which he made his vocation during the remainder
of his life. He died May 9, 1872. He was
twice married; first, to Miss Mary O'Neal, of New
Jersey, by whom he had five children, two of whom are
now living, viz., James and Elizabeth. His
companion died. His second marriage was to Miss
Rachel Clevenger, in 1826, of Monmouth County, N.
J., born Sept. 11, 1806. They remained in New
Jersey until 1833, when they moved to Shelby County,
Ohio, and settled in Green Township, where he made
improvements and passed the remainder of his days.
His companion, Mrs. Williams, is still living on
the home farm. By his second marriage he had eight
children viz., Joseph, Harriet, Hannah, Emmor, Sarah
J., William H., Mary E., and Thomas F.
Joseph, Hannah, and Mary E. are now dead.
Source: History of Shelby County, Ohio - Publ.
Philadelphia, PA: R. Sutton & So. - 1883 - Page 204 |
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Green
Twp. -
WILLIAM H. WILLIAMS, Farmer and
Carpenter, P. O. Plattsville, son of the above named
William B. Williams, deceased, was born in Green
Township, Shelby County, Ohio, Aug. 16, 1841. On
the 7th day of April, 1864, he married Miss Mary A.
Wiles, daughter of David and Catharine Wiles,
born Jan. 31, 1842, in Green Township, Shelby County.
Mr. and Mrs. Williams settled on a part of
section 28, Green Township, remained until 1874, when
they moved on his father's home farm, where they now
reside. They have a family of nine children, seven
sons and two daughters. He now owns his father's
home farm, having purchased it a few years since.
Source: History of Shelby County, Ohio - Publ.
Philadelphia, PA: R. Sutton & So. - 1883 - Page 204 |
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Clinton Twp.
-
ALBERT WILSON was born in Shelby
County, Sept. 14, 1826. He was reared on a farm,
and lived with his parents until having arrived at
manhood. During his minority days he attended the
schools of his neighborhood and made such proficiency
that at the age of eighteen eyars he commenced teaching
common schools, which he followed for several years in
the winter season. In the year 1848 he commenced
the study of medicine under the instruction of Dr. H.
C. Conklin, of Sidney, and graduated at the Ohio
Medical College of Cincinnati in 1851. Then as a
merit for efficiency he was elected as resident
physician by the faculty of the Commercial Hospital of
Cincinnati, which position he held for one year.
In 1852 he located at Sidney for the practice of his
profession, at which he has continued up to the present
time. In the spring of 1861 he entered the army as
regimental surgeon, and remained in the service four
years and three months. He was the first volunteer
from the town of Sidney, he having offered his service
as surgeon within forty-eight hours after the
first call made by the President. After his return
from the army in 1865 he resumed his practice in Sidney.
In 1875 he engaged in the drug trade in connection with
his practice, at which he still continues. In 1871
he married Miss Irene Ayers. By this union
they have one child, Jessie, born Mar. 9, 1873.
Mrs. Wilson was a daughter of Jeremiah Ayers,
of Wapakoneta, one of the first white settlers of that
Indian village. She was born in 1852. Dr.
Wilson is the third son of Col. Jessie H. Wilson,
one of the pioneers of Shelby County.
Source: History of Shelby County,
Ohio - Publ. Philadelphia, PA: R. Sutton & So. - 1883 -
Page 385 |
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Clinton Twp. -
COLONEL HARRISON WILSON.
Colonel Wilson, now a leading member of the
Shelby County bar, was born near Cadiz, Ohio, Mar. 15,
1841, and is a son of Thomas and Mary Wilson.
His grandfather, Thomas Wilson, served as a
private throughout the Revolutionary war, while he
with five brothers served during the civil war. In
1846 his parents moved to Belmont County, Ohio, where
our subject lived until 1854, when he entered a manual
labor university in Athens County, where he remained two
years, working at eight cents an hour to pay for
boarding and tuition. At fifteen years of age he
began teaching during the winter months, and entered
upon a college course at the Ohio University at Athens.
An older and a younger brother were pursuing the same
course. The older brother, William, began
teaching at the same time, and with Harrison he
helped to support the younger brother, Lewis,
until he was able to teach and support himself. At
the beginning of the war Harrison was teaching
school in Noble County, and dismissed his school one
evening in May, wrote on the blackboard, "Gone to war,"
walked eighteen miles that night, and enlisted in the
company of Captain John Mosley at Summerfield,
Ohio. The company was assigned to the 25th O. V.
I. His two brothers had already enlisted,
William in the 3d O. V. I., and Lewis in
Company C, 25th O. V. I. Harrison served
seven months in the ranks of the 25th, and was ordered
home, and received a commission as second lieutenant
without knowing to whom he was indebted for it. He
was then assigned to the 79th Ohio, then recruiting at
Athens. This regiment was consolidated with the
75th at Camp McLean, and as there were then more
officers than needed by the regiment, Lieut. Wilson
was assigned to Company I, and successfully held
commissions as second lieutenant, adjutant, captain,
major, lieutenant-colonel, and colonel of the
regiment, and was finally mustered out with the regiment
July 15, 1865. He was in forty-two battles and
skirmishes, at the siege of Fort Donaldson, Vicksburg,
and Atlanta, and lastly went with Sherman "to the
sea." His brother William was in Libby
prison a long time, and thereby deprived of promotion.
Lewis was killed at Gettysburg, while ranking as
second lieutenant. Three other brothers were in
the army, making six of the family who volunteered.
His father was a self educated but thoroughly educated
man. He died at the age of seventy-six. His
mother died in 1845, while he was a mere infant.
His father's family consisted of nine children, six
sons and three daughters.
After the war Col. Wilson settled in Sidney, and
studied law with Gen. James Murray. Since
his admission to the bar he has pursued the practice of
law with that energy and zeal which have placed him at
the head of his profession. Aside from the law
profession he is an active, public-spirited citizen,
ever taking an active interest in all enterprises and
institutions of a praiseworthy character. He is
also one of the leading Republican workers in the
county, and in all departments of life he sustains the
confidence of his fellow citizens. He married
Mary C., daughter of J. T. Fry, of Sidney, on
the 1st of January, 1867.
Source: History of Shelby County, Ohio - Publ.
Philadelphia, PA: R. Sutton & So. - 1883 - Page 373 |
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Turtle Creek Twp. -
Source: History of Shelby County, Ohio - Publ. Philadelphia, PA: R.
Sutton & So. - 1883 - Page |
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Washington Twp. -
HENRY C. WILSON. This son of
Jesse and grandson of John Wilson
was born in this county in the year 1835, and is still a
resident of Washington Township, where he is a leading
farmer and stock-raiser. In 1860 he married
Margaret J., daughter of John and Rebecca (Shaw)
Wright, who was born in this county in 1838. Their
family consists of nine children, whose names and dates
of birth appear as follows: Mary A., born 1860;
Jesse C., 1863; Hannah A., 1865; Sallie
F.,1866; Emma A.,1868; Anna M., 1870;
John C., 1873; Stella M., 1876; Ralph
W., 1880.
Source: History of Shelby County, Ohio
- Publ. Philadelphia, PA: R. Sutton & So. - 1883 - Page
283 |
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Turtle
Creek Twp. -
HENRY V. WILSON was born in
Washington Township, Shelby County, Ohio, Nov. 30, 1841.
He is a son of Hiram J. Wilson, who was one of
the pioneers of Washington Township, of which he was a
resident about fifty-seven years. On the 18th day
of August, 1861, Henry V. Wilson, subject of this
sketch, enlisted as a private in Company B, 20th O. V.
1., served as such until Dec. 3, 1863, when he was
discharged on account of re-enlistment, and, on the 1st
day of January, 1864, he re-enlisted as a veteran in
same company and regiment. Feb. 1, 1865, he was
commissioned commissary sergeant, which office he filled
until July 15, 1865,
when he was honorably discharged from the service.
He was actively engaged in the following-named battles:
Shiloh, Apr. 6-7, 1862; Raymond, Miss., May 12, 1863;
Champion Hills, May 16, 1863; the Siege of Vicksburg;
Kenesaw Mountain, Georgia; Atlanta, Georgia, where, on
the 22d day of July, 1864, he was wounded by a musket
ball, which rendered him unable for service. He returned
home on a furlough, and it was not until Nov. 4, 1864,
that he returned to his regiment able for duty, and
participated in the battles of Savannah, Georgia. and
Orangeburgh, South Carolina. Also several other
minor engagements. Soon after the close of the war
he returned to his home in Washington Township.
Nov. 15, 1866, he married Miss M. Adelia,
daughter of John and Phebe Betts,
who was born in Washington Township, this county, May 2,
1848. Mr. and Mrs. Wilson settled on a farm
in their native township, remained until March, 1868,
when he purchased and moved on the farm in section 32,
Turt1e Creek Township, on which they now reside.
They have four children, viz., Ernest C., Frank E.,
Nina M., and Lois J.
Source: History of Shelby County, Ohio - Publ.
Philadelphia, PA: R. Sutton & So. - 1883 - Page 306 |
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Perry
Twp. -
JACOB V. WILSON.
Thomas Wilson, grandfather of the above,
came to America about 1750, and located in New Jersey,
where, in 1754, he married Martha McCracken, by
whom he had six children. John, the eldest
of the six, was born in 1755. At the age of
eighteen years he entered the army under Washington;
was at the battle of Trenton; was with Washington
when he crossed the Delaware: was in the battle of
Princeton and at Monmouth; was present when Washington
received the news of Arnold’s treason; and was at
the trial and hanging of Major André.
Thomas Thompson, the grandfather of Mr.
Wilson on his mother’s side, came from Ireland
about 1750, and located ill New York City, where he
married, and shortly afterwards moved to New Jersey, and
raised a family, of which Jane Thompson,
the mother of Mr. Wilson, was the youngest.
John Wilson and Jane
Thompson, the parents of Jacob V. were
married in 1799. They raised a family of five
children, of which Jacob V. is the youngest.
He was born in New Jersey in 1807. When a young
man learned the wagon and carriage trade; commenced a
shop for himself in 1824. In 1833 he married
Elizabeth West. By this union they had
a family of eight children, viz., Samuel,
Jennie, Vincent, J. Wesley, Susan,
Kate, Hattie, and Jacob. They
moved to Shelby County in 1858, and located in
Pemberton, where he started a shop, and opened the first
hotel in the town of Pemberton. He filled the
office of justice of the peace nine years in New Jersey
and six in Perry. Mrs. Wilson died
in 1867. Mr. Wilson is now making
his home ith his daughter, Mrs. J. S. Slagle,
having retired from business on account of ill health.
Source: History of Shelby County, Ohio - Publ.
Philadelphia, PA: R. Sutton & So. - 1883 - Page 218 |
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Washington Twp. -
JESSE H. WILSON. This son of
John and Anna (Webb) Wilson was born in Grayson
County, Va., Nov. 12, 1800, and was but a few months old
when his parents came to the Northwest Territory.
At their removal to this county he was but seven years
of age; his whole memory and all his associations cling
and cluster about the county upon whose sunrise he
looked in his own youth, and the development and growth
of which he has witnessed with ever-increasing interest.
During his boyhood he helped his father on the old
Turtle Creek farm. When he was about thirteen
years old his father concluded to move his wife and
children to a place of safety about two miles south of
Piqua, as Indian troubles had arisen, and the Garrett
and Dilbone murders had been committed.
Accordingly Mr. Wilson took his family,
and was about to leave his wife and children at the
house of a man named Staller, but Mrs.
Wilson, with womanly devotion and heroism, refused
to remain in safety while her husband was exposed to
danger, and so she accompanied him back to the frontier
home. Jesse, however, was left at
Stallers, but soon became restless, and expressed a
determination to return home. Everything which
could be done, was done to dissuade him, but all to no
purpose, for on the third day he stole away and pursued
the route to his home, which he. reached in safety, to
the glad surprise of his parents. Mr.
Wilson and his few neighbors had constructed a
block-house on the Wilson farm, but fortunately
for the infant settlement, it was never needed for
protection against the Indians. Mr.
Wilson was known as a very athletic and muscular
man, although not above the average in size and weight.
During the days of the old Ohio militia and the gala-day
“musters” he became colonel of a regiment in which his
brother Hiram was major. On Nov. 18, 1819,
he married Abigail Brodrick, of
Wapakoneta, the service being performed by James
Lenox, J. P., of Turtle Creek Township.
After attaining a ripe old age, Mr. Wilson
passed from life July 19, 1881,carrying with him the
respect and confidence of a whole community. His
wife had preceded him to the grave, her death having
occurred Aug. 23,1851, when she was mourned by a large
family and an extended circle of friends.
They reared a family of thirteen children, whose names,
dates of birth, and place of residence or date of death
are as follows: Alfred D., born Sept. 26, 1820;
resides at Columbus, Kansas. John B., born
Ang. 5, 1822; died June 15, 1845. Anna,
born Oct. 1, 1824; died Nov. 24, 1880. Albert,
born Sept. 14, 1826; resides at Sidney. Robert,
born Sept. 26, 1828; resides in Clinton Township. Hiram,
born Sept. 21, 1830; resides in Boone County, Iowa.
Mark, born Mar. 2, 1832; resides in Turtle Creek
Township; Mehala, born Dec. 7, 1833; died July
19, 1849. Henry J., born Sept. 26, 1835;
resides in Washington Township. Theodore G.,
born July 14, 1838; resides at Jonesboro, Indiana.
Nehennah F., born Nov. 11, 1840; resides in
Washington Township. Cassius C., horn Feb.
16, 1843; resides in Champaign County, Illinois. Maria.
L., born Sept. 14, 1848; died Aug. 9, 1851.
Source: History of Shelby County,
Ohio - Publ. Philadelphia, PA: R. Sutton & So. - 1883 -
Page 282 |
| |
Washington Twp. -
JOHN WILSON. The
ancestry of this pioneer of Shelby County is lost in the
person of his father, Jeremiah, who was a
resident of Virginia prior to the period of the
Revolution. It is certain he was of Irish descent,
if not a native of Ireland. His son John
was born in Grayson County, Va., in the year 1774,
during that agitation and unrest which was nerving the
infant colonies for the supreme moment which came but
two years later, and saw defiance flaunted in the face
of the mother country. There is nothing of moment
connected with his youth, and so he is found to have
remained at his father’s home until about 1799, when he
married Anna Webb, who was a native of
Georgia, a lady of much refinement, and a descendant of
the royal family of England. When but a child she
had been entrusted to carry several military despatches
of great importance during the closing scenes of the
Revolution. In this capacity she won many
expressions of gratitude and admiration for her sagacity
and daring. In 1801 Mr. Wilson, with his
wife and one child, came to Warren County, Ohio, then a
part of the Northwest Territory. Here he remained
until March, 1807, when, with his family, consisting of
his wife and three children, he came to the newer
community of the north Miami, and settled within the
present limits of Washington Township. Here he
entered 160 acres of land in section 7, and erecting a
cabin, went bravely to work to carve a farm from the
almost unbounded wilderness. It could scarcely
have been a cheerful task, for, aside from the
arduousness of the labor incident to his situation, he
found himself practically isolated from society, for he
had overstepped the boundary of civilization.
Still he went about his task with that determination
which always wins, and directing his whole energies to
the development of his home farm, he was soon enabled to
reach out and acquire other lands, until, at his death,
he he was able to give a farm of 160 acres to each of
his children. At the organization of the county he
became an active public spirit, and we find him a member
of the first board of County Commissioners, which met in
regular session at Hardin, June 7, 1819. During
the succeeding years he devoted his time to farming and
the acquisition of farm lands, and was at all times
considered one of the. most energetic and public
spirited citizens of the county. His death
occurred June 7, 1841, and was caused by the blow of a
falling limb of a tree. His wife survived him
until 1847, when she passed from life, and was laid by
his side in the old cemetery at Hardin. Their
children, three in number, were named Jesse, who
was born Nov. 12, 1800; Sally, born Jan. 1, 1803;
and Hiram, born Nov. 5, 1804.
Source: History of Shelby County, Ohio
- Publ. Philadelphia, PA: R. Sutton & So. - 1883 - Page
282 |
| |
Turtle
Creek Twp. -
MARK WILSON, Farmer and Teacher;
P. O., Hardin, Ohio.
Mr. Wilson is a son of Jesse and Abigail
Wilson, who were pioneers of Washington Township.
He was born in Shelby County, two miles south of Hardin,
Mar. 2, 1832. He was educated in the common
schools of his native township, and in the schools at
Sidney. In 1850, he began teaching school, and has
since made teaching his profession, teaching at least
five or six months during the winter season of each
year, excepting four winters, during which time he was
engaged in the mercantile business at Hardin Station.
In 1860 he began dealing in general merchandise at
Hardin Station, also acting as ticket, express, and
freight agent for the C. C. C. and I. R. R., and filled
of postmaster. In 1867 he retired from the
mercantile business, and moved to land in the northeast
quarter of section 30, in Turtle Creek Township.
He has since then made other purchases of land, until he
now owns two hundred acres in the same section.
Feb. 11, 1858, he married Miss Mary A. Harrison,
daughter of Isaac and Isabella Harrison, then a
resident of Perry Township, Shelby County, but a native
of Montgomery County, Ohio, where she was born Nov. 11,
1838. By this union he has ten children, four sons
and six daughters. Mr. Wilson filled
the office of clerk for Turtle Creek Township two years.
Source: History of Shelby County, Ohio - Publ.
Philadelphia, PA: R. Sutton & So. - 1883 - Page 301 |
| |
Clinton Twp. -
CHARLES WOLF was born in Baden,
Germany, in 1840. Came to the United States in
1862, and located in Louisville, Kentucky. The
same year he married Ida Young, who was a native
of Baden. She was born in 1841. Mr. Wolf
is a machinist by trade. In 1864 they came to
Sidney, where they now live. His business is that
of grocer and keeper of restaurant . They have a
family of five children, viz., Charles, born
1863; Louisa, born 1871; Nellie, born
1873; Frederick, born 1876, and Matilda,
born 1879.
Source: History of Shelby County,
Ohio - Publ. Philadelphia, PA: R. Sutton & So. - 1883 -
Page 389 |
| |
Turtle
Creek Twp. -
ROBERT WILSON, deceased, a son of
Robert and Esther Wilson, was born in Washington
County, Pa., Dec. 11, 1802. In March, 1829, he, in
company with his father's family, came to Shelby County,
Ohio, and located in Washington Township on the farm now
owned by Morris Honnell, where his parents
passed the remainder of their days. His father,
Robert Wilson, died July 29, 1829. His
mother, Esther Wilson, died in 1834.
In 1833 Robert Wilson, subject of this
sketch, married Miss Sarah Shaw, then of
this county, daughter of John and Margaret
Shaw, who was born in Kentucky Nov. 16, 1813.
Mr. and Mrs. Wilson settled on his father’s home
farm in Washington Township, remained until 1853, when
he sold the home farm, and purchased the east half of
section 33, Turtle Creek Township, on which he died Oct.
13, 1868. His companion is still surviving him,
and is now living in Sidney. He made farming his
principal avocation through life. He filled the
office of township trustee for several years. He
was the father of four children, only one of whom is now
living, viz., John R. Wilson, who was born in
Washington Township, this county, Apr. 11, 1839.
He received a common school education, also attended
school at Sidney several terms. In 1862 he began
teaching school, which he followed as a profession about
fourteen years, or until 1876, when he engaged in the
mercantile business at Hardin Station, which he
conducted with success about four years, or until April,
1880. when he retiled from the business, moved his
family to the village of Hardin, where they now reside,
and he has since been giving his attention to farming.
He is now serving on his second term as justice of the
peace of Turtle Creek Township. He is also the
present clerk of the township. Nov. 1, 1866, he
married Miss Martha E. Burton, of this county,
who was born Jan. 27, 1839, daughter of Joshua
and Anna Burton. By this union he has
two children, viz., Robert E. and Hugh L. S.
Source: History of Shelby County, Ohio - Publ.
Philadelphia, PA: R. Sutton & So. - 1883 - Page 305 |
| |
Green
Twp. -
SAMUEL WOODWARD, deceased, a
soldier of the Revolution, was born in Virginia on the
11th day of January, 1760. When but yet a boy of
sixteen years he entered the army in the war of 1776,
under the command of Gen. Greene, and was actively
engaged in the battle of Guilford, and several other
hard-contested battles. He also took an active
part in several Indian raids after the close of the
Revolution. Several years after the close of the
war he moved to Green County, Ohio, with his wife and
family, where his companion died. He was then
married to Miss Sarah Roberts, by whom he had
three children, viz., Rachel, Samuel R., and
Eliza A. In 1839 Mr. Woodward
came with his family to Shelby County, and settled on
the northwest quarter of Section 13, Greene Township,
where he died Sept. 25, 1852 at the age of ninety-two
years, eight months, and fourteen days. His
companion died Sept. 1, 1879, aged eighty-nine years,
four months and two days.
Source: History of Shelby County, Ohio - Publ.
Philadelphia, PA: R. Sutton & So. - 1883 - Page 204 |
| |
Van Buren
Twp.
ALFRED WOODRUFF was born in
Cincinnati in 1829, and came to this county in 1843 with
his father, who settled in section 36. In 1854
Alfred married Christina Smeltzer, who was
born in Gallipolis, Ohio, in 1837, and came here with
her parents, Adam and Margaret Smeltzer,
in 1853. They have reared six children, named
Margaret J., George W., Emily A., Thomas G., Lenora,
Paul, and Reuben L.
Source: History of Shelby County, Ohio - Publ.
Philadelphia, PA: R. Sutton & So. - 1883 - Page 253 |
| |
Green
Twp. -
JOHN WOODMANCY, Retired Farmer; P. O. Plattsville, Ohio.
Mr. Woodmancy is a native of New Jersey, where
he was born on the 16th day of February, 1804.
When at the age of fourteen years he went on a ship on
the Atlantic as a hand, remained as such until 1821,
when he was appointed captain of the schooner Industry,
and held the position of captain of different vessels
until 1842, when he retired from the coasting trade and
turned his attention to farming, which he made his
avocation until 1878, when he retired from business, and
is now living a retired life, honored and esteemed by
all that know him.
On the 20th day of June, 1832, he married Miss
Harriet Platt, of Ocean County, New Jersey, born May
9, 1811. They settled in Ocean County, New Jersey,
remained until 1843, when he, with wife and family,
emigrated to Ohio, purchased and moved on the farm in
Green Township, Shelby County, where they are now
living. They reared a family of six children,
viz.: Lorenzo D., Reuben, John N., Louisa E.,
Martha E., and Lydia M.
Reuben served in the three months' service in the
war of 1861, and after the expiration of his time he
re-enlisted in Company F of the 20th O. V. I. for three
years or during the war. He was commissioned first
lieutenant of his company, and served as such until
wounded, July 22, 1864, at the battle of Atlanta, and on
account of which he was honorably discharged from the
service.
Source: History of Shelby County, Ohio - Publ.
Philadelphia, PA: R. Sutton & So. - 1883 - Page 202 |
| |
Green
Twp. -
GEORGE H. WOOLEY, son of T. C.
and Rachel Woolley, was born in Shelby County, Green
Township, Jan. 9, 1854. In 1861 he began making
his home with Edward Conroy, with whom he has
since been living. Jan. 13, 1878, he married
Miss Lizzie R. Neal, daughter of Daniel D. and
Eliza Neal. They moved into the house with Mr.
Conroy, where they are now living.
Source: History of Shelby County, Ohio - Publ.
Philadelphia, PA: R. Sutton & So. - 1883 - Page 206 |
| |
Washington Twp. -
SAMUEL H. WRIGHTSource: History of Shelby County,
Ohio - Publ. Philadelphia, PA: R. Sutton & So. - 1883 -
Page 285 |
| |
Loramie Twp. -
JOSEPH M. WYATTSource: History of Shelby County,
Ohio - Publ. Philadelphia, PA: R. Sutton & So. - 1883 -
Page 314 |
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