BIOGRAPHIES.
Source:
A Portrait and
Biographical Record of Allen and Van Wert Counties, Ohio
containing biographical sketches of many prominent and representative
citizens :
together with biographies and portraits of all the presidents
of the United States, and biographies of the governors of Ohio.
Chicago: A. W. Bowen & Co.,
1896
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ROBERT
WADE, one of the most worthy and substantial farmers of Ridge
township, Van Wert county, Ohio, is a native of West Virginia (as
the state is now named) and was born in Greenbrier county Feb. 24,
1831. His parents, George and Mary (Childers) Wade,
were natives of the same state, and in 1837 came to Ohio and
purchased lands in Clinton county, on which they made a home until
their earthly toil was closed—that of the mother at the age of
seventy-four years, and that of the father at ninety years.
The marriage of this couple was fruitful, their progeny being
represented by the following names: Clark, who grew to
manhood, but was killed by a falling tree; Robert, whose name
opens this sketch; George W., after reaching maturity, was
drowned in the reservoir at Saint Mary's, Ohio; Eliza M., the
deceased wife of Joseph Flint; William, who died in
childhood, and Frances, who is the wife of Charles Drake,
of Clinton county, Ohio.
Robert Wade was reared to farming and
really learned more in the fields and woods, and in contact with the
people of the world, than he did in the school-house, although his
literary education was not entirely neglected. On Mar. 10,
1859, he wedded Miss Ursulla Fultz, daughter of John and
Nora M. (Campbell) Fultz, and the eldest of the following
family, who were named, excluding her own name, in order of birth,
as follows: Nancy Elizabeth, now wife of Joseph
Flint, of Clinton county, Ohio; George W., who died in
early manhood; Zachariah, married to Christina
Haverstick, and residing in Clinton county; David William,
who died in boyhood; Rachael Jane, widow of John
Hillings; Phœbe Ann,
wife of Ephraim Adams, of Clinton county; John,
who resides on the homestead; Maggie and Carson,
twins, and Edith Grace, wife of Leonidas
Smith. The mother of this large family died Jan. 12, 1894.
The children born to Robert and Ursulla Wade, thirteen in
number, were named, in order of birth, as follows: Joseph,
who died in childhood; Minnie Elvie, wife of Samuel
Farling; Frank E., married to Cora Shire;
Ishum, husband of Susan Fowler; Mary
Susan, wife of Elmore Kittle, of Adams county,
Ind.; Rosa, married to Alva Kittle, of Mercer
county, Ohio; Jamie, who died at the age of twenty one years;
Nora Etta, wife of William Bigham, of
Ridge township, Van Wert county; John Brough, who died
at the age of six years; George Robert, who died when
seven years of age, Henry Irvin, died when but a year
old; Martha Maud, now thirteen years of age, and
Francis Quigley, aged eleven years. In 1864 Mr.
Wade purchased a farm of 133 acres in Pleasant township, and
there remained until 1891, when he sold and bought where he now
owns, in Ridge township, 160 acres. No better farm can be
found in the county. Like all other members of the Society of
Friends, to which he, his wife and children belong, he is
economical, but generous, and has ever since his residence in Ridge
township enjoyed the true and undisguised respect of his neighbors.
He is, of course, like all other Quakers, an uncompromising
republican, and was always a bitter opponent of the ownership of man
by man, or, in other words, the slavery institution as it formerly
existed in his native state of Virginia and elsewhere.
Source: A Portrait and Biographical Record of Allen and
Van Wert Counties, Ohio - Publ. Chicago: A. W. Bowen & Co. -
1896 - Page 819 |
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JOSIAH WALTZ, a
native of Tuscarawas county, Ohio, was born Feb. 22, 1839, a son of
Andrew and Sophia (Angler) Waltz, natives of
Pennsylvania, and came to Ohio in childhood. ANDREW
WALTZ was an experienced farmer, like wise a gunsmith and
general blacksmith, and an all round mechanic. The children
born to himself and wife were: Emanuel, of Union township,
Van Wert county; Josiah, our subject; Lewis, who died
while serving in the late war of the Rebellion; Sylvester,
who grew to manhood but is now deceased; Henry, who resides
in Paulding county, Ohio, and Hannah, deceased, wife of
Jonas Harp, also deceased. In 1854 these parents
came to Van Wert county, and located in Ridge township, where the
father, Andrew, died of heart disease, having been preceded
by his wife to the grave five years previously.
Josiah Waltz, our subject, was
reared on his father's farm until eighteen years of age, when he
began working out, his occupation being principally wood-chopping,
but he gained at the same time a thorough knowledge of agriculture.
Many acres, once the scene of his labor in the uncleared forest,
have been converted by Mr. Waltz, into blooming
fields. Mr. Waltz relates that the first school
he attended was crude to the extreme, with a cat and-stick chimney,
and a puncheon floor, but he nevertheless acquired a fair education.
Oct. 2, 1862, Mr. Waltz was wedded to
Sally Ann Dustman, daughter of George and Milly (Peters)
Dustman, of whom an extended notice will be found elsewhere in
this volume. To Mr. and Mrs. Waltz have been born children as
follows: William Edgar, who died at fifteen months of
age; Emma Alice, wife of Henry Smith;
Eva May, married to Henry Maisch, of Lima,
Ohio; Henry C., who wedded Minnie Woolery;
Mary Gertrude, married to Elma Bevington;
Alvin and Alma. twins, who died in infancy;
Isaac Wilbur and Oscar Burt. Mr.
Waltz enlisted July 1, 1862, in company K, Eighty-eighth Ohio
volunteer infantry, and served until honorably mustered out in 1865,
having done garrison duty most of the time, and having also been
confined about three months by illness.
Mr. Waltz's first purchase of land was forty
acres, to which he added eighty acres, all in the wilderness when
the purchases were made; this land he has converted into one of the
neatest and best kept farms in the county of Van Wert, all being
thoroughly drained and entirely free from stumps. Mr. and Mrs.
Waltz are members of the Methodist church, as are all the
family, and in politics Mr. Waltz a stanch republican.
Mr. Waltz stands high in the esteem of his neighbors, being
recognized as one of the foremost and most substantial citizens of
the township, ever ready to lend his aid, financially and otherwise,
to every enterprise designed for the welfare and advancement of the
interests of the township and county.
Source: A Portrait and Biographical Record of Allen and
Van Wert Counties, Ohio - Publ. Chicago: A. W. Bowen & Co. -
1896 - Page 834 |
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DAVID
W. WILLIAMS, of York township, Van Wert county, is a native
of Cincinnati, Ohio, born Apr. 16, 1853, and is a son of William
and Ann (Evans) Williams, natives of Wales. The mother was
a mere child when brought to America, and the fahter came to
this country upon attaining his majority. The father was born
Dec. 11, 1821, and died Aug. 5, 1892; the mother was born Mar. 25,
1828, and is still living in Venedocia, Ohio. The father was a
boiler-maker and worked at this business at Cincinnati for more than
forty years; was married Jan. 18, 1840, and to his union were born
eight children as follows: Sarah Ann, who became the
wife of Owen Tudor she and her husband being now deceased;
Margaret Jones, widow of T. J. Jones, late of the firm of
Davis & Jones, of Van Wert; David W., our subject;
William Henry, who died in 1894, in Venedocia, and who had been
associated in business with his brother. David W., for
a period of seventeen years. John R., in business in
Minneapolis; Mary Elizabeth, deceased wife of David T.
Jones, a contractor of Venedocia; Frances Ellen, and
Rachel Susannah, both the latter of whom died in childhood.
In 1863 the parents of our subject came to Van Wert
county and purchased 120 acres of woodland, which is now a most
beautifully improved farm and the property of our subject and other
heirs. David W. Williams had good school advantages,
attended commercial college and taught school for several years.
In 1877 he married Miss Elizabeth Morgan, the union resulting
in the birth of eight children, Mary, Elmer, Alwin, Oscar, Ann,
Norman, Willard and Ruth.
The first business venture of Mr.
Williams was in the grocery trade, in which he embarked with a
capital of $50, his storehouse being the Clover Leaf depot; for a
year and a half he carried on business alone; he then associated
with himself his brother-in-law, T. J. Jones, the business
being conducted under the firm name of T. J. Jones & Co.; in
1880 William Henry Williams, his brother, was taken into
equal partnership; Mr. Jones having retired in 1884, the
business was conducted under the firm name of Williams Bros.,
and was dissolved in 1894 by the death of William Henry and
immediately after the event M. P. Jones became his successor,
and until June, 1894, the business was conducted under the style of
Williams & Jones. The building used by Mr. Williams
and his brother was erected by them and is still owned by our
subject and the heirs of the deceased brother. Their business
embraced many branches, including many agricultural implements,
boots, shoes, clothing and grain, of which latter they shipped
large quantities. Mr. Williams was a notary for ten
years and for nine years was agent for the Clover Leaf Railroad
company. Notwithstanding the multiplicity of his business
affairs, he learned tolegraphy and was an operator for two
years. Mr. Williams also established a paper known as
the Venedocia Leader, of which he was himself the editor; he is pike
commissioner, real estate and loan agent, is a member of the Knights
of Pythias, also of the Welsh Presbyterian church, and has been in
the undertaking business for ten or twelve years. On Jan. 23,
1896, he purchased the business of H. J. Lehman & Son, of Van
Wert, and now resides in that city. Mar. 13, 1896, he also
opened a branch store in Ohio City. He is well and favorably
known throughout the township and enjoys the respect of all who know
him.
Source: A Portrait and Biographical Record of Allen and
Van Wert Counties, Ohio - Publ. Chicago: A. W. Bowen & Co. -
1896 - Page 868 |
Nelson L. Williams |
NELSON L. WILLIAMS
Source: A Portrait and Biographical Record of Allen and
Van Wert Counties, Ohio - Publ. Chicago: A. W. Bowen & Co. -
1896 - Page 870
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JOSEPH WILLIAMSON, deceased, was born in
New Castle, England, Sept. 27, 1843. His father was
EDWARD WILLIAMSON, also a native of England,
who was married at an early age and was the father of seven
children, namely: Joseph, of our sketch; John
Edward, Jr.; Mary, Jane, Matthew, Opodias and Harriet; of
these, five are still living. The father died when sixty years
old. His eldest son, Joseph, the subject of this
sketch, was given a fair schooling, and then learned the
stone-cutter's trade. At the age of twenty-three (1867) he
decided to leave the parental roof and seek his fortune in the great
land to the westward, America. He landed in New York in fair
circumstances and immediately went to work at his trade. After
remaining there a while he went to Pittsburg, Pa., where he
continued at his trade; later on he moved to Mansfield, Ohio, and
there he met and married Anna Profit, Feb. 6, 1870.
After marriage he worked at his trade in the following mentioned
places: Cleveland and Sandusky, Ohio; Pontiac Mich., and then
at Sandusky, Ohio, again. He then moved to Toledo, Ohio,
afterward to Fort Wayne, Ind. and then to Van Wert, Ohio.
After remaining here some time he moved his family to Marysville,
Ohio, and finally back to Van Wert, where he remained and worked at
his trade until death called him away Oct. 4, 1881. Although
he moved from place to place as a rolling stone, yet he accumulated
quite a good deal of property and left his wife in very good
circumstances. Mr. Williamson was a good Christian of
much liberality, and of considerable ability, was honored and
respected by all, and was much liked by those with whom he walked.
He was the father of three children, viz.: Victoria,
who died while the parents were living in Sandusky, at the age of
seven months and five days; Edward, who was born in Sandusky
on May 16, 1874, and when grown to manhood learned the molder's
trade and followed it for three years, and then accepted a position
in the Harris laundry in Van Wert; here he worked until he learned
the business thoroughly, and then bought out Mr. Harris, and
now owns the laundry himself. He has a finely equipped
establishment with the latest improved machinery, and enjoys a very
large patronage not only in Van Wert, but in many of the
neighboring towns. He gives employment to quite a number of
persons. Fred, the youngest son, was born in Sandusky on March
18 1877, and is now with his brother in the laundry.
MRS. WILLIAMSON, the wife and
mother, was born in New York April 26, 1847. Her father,
Jacob Profit, was born in Bavaria, Germany, in 1827, and was a
weaver by trade. In 1847 he left the fatherland and came to
America, and worked at his trade in New York a while. He had
married Maggie Bark in 1842, in Germany, and after leaving
New York lived in Mansfield, Ohio. Their children were five in
number and named as follows: Peter, who died in 1877;
Jacob; Philip, who died when quite young, and Anna (Mrs.
Williamson) now lives in Van Wert, and is comforted by her two
sons, who are young men of exemplary habits.
Source: A Portrait and Biographical Record of Allen and
Van Wert Counties, Ohio - Publ. Chicago: A. W. Bowen & Co. -
1896 - Page 892 |
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GEORGE
C. WILSON, a native of the state of Ohio, and now among the
very prominent farmers of Union township, Van Wert county, was born
in Ross county in 1835, a son of John and Rebecca Wilson,
natives of Virginia. James Wilson, grandfather of our
subject, was a soldier in the Revolutionary war, in Washington's
army, and was severely wounded. He lived on a plantation in
old Virginia until 1800, when he came to Ross county, Ohio, making
the trip in wagons in midwinter, spending six weeks on the road and
arriving on Christmas day. Here he bought a piece of land,
cleared it and raised a respected family, and died, about 1838, in
Cincinnati, at the home of a son, with whom he had spent the
declining years of his life.
John Wilson, son of the above James and
father of our subject, George C., was born in Greenbrier
county, Va., about 1794, and was but six years old when brought to
Ross county, Ohio. Here he was reared on his father's farm,
and was identified with the agriculture of the county all his life.
In 1815 he was united in marriage with Rebecca Hicks,
daughter of Richard and Nancy (King) Hicks, lady was born in
Virginia in 1791, and was brought by her parents to Ross county,
Ohio, in 1799, and here reared, surrounded by Indians and wild
animals. She bore her husband twelve children, seven of whom
lived to maturity, viz.: James, deceased; Mary, deceased wife
of George Wilson; Caroline, wife of Samuel
Blake, of Ross county; Richard, deceased; Quintilda,
deceased wife of Henry C. Roten, of Ross county: Hester A.,
and George C., our subject. Mrs. Rebecca
Wilson died in Ross county in 1867. Her husband, John
Wilson, was an aggressive democrat in his politics and was
frequently selected by his party to fill county offices; he was not
a member of any religious organization, but was liberally generous
in his support to both churches and schools, and was altogether a
public-spirited, progressive and useful citizen. His lamented
death took place in 1871.
George C. Wilson, the gentleman whose name opens
this biographical notice, reared to the noble vocation of farming on
his father's homestead, and his education was acquired in the common
schools of his native county. In 1865 he purchased a farm of
seventy acres in Ross county, but this land he later sold and went
to Hardin county, where he purchased and resided upon another farm
for one year; selling this property, he removed to Washington,
Fayette county, and thence, shortly afterward, to Clinton county,
where he again purchased a farm, on which he made his home for six
years; then sold, and purchased a farm in Washington township, Van
Wert county, but this farm he soon traded for a tile factory at
Middlepoint, and in 1891 sold his factory and purchased a farm in
Union township, Van Wert county, but later sold and purchased his
present farm.
The marriage of Mr. Wilson took place in
1855 to Eliza Wood, who was born in Ross county, Ohio,
in 1832, a daughter of Benjamin and Jane (Winset) Wood,
natives of Maryland. To the union of Mr. and Mrs. Wilson
have been born three childred, viz: Dr. Richard S., of
Scott; Dr. John B., also of Scott, and William,
deceased. Mrs. Wilson is a member of the United Brethren
church, and Mr. Wilson, although not identified with any
denomination, is not backward in pecuniary aid to all; in politics
he is a stanch democrat, but is not an office-seeker, and devotes
his attention to his own affairs and to the prosperity of the
community in which he lives.
Source: A Portrait and Biographical Record of Allen and
Van Wert Counties, Ohio - Publ. Chicago: A. W. Bowen & Co. -
1896 - Page 869 |
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GEORGE
WOLFE, late a prominent farmer of Jennings township, Van Wert
county, Ohio, was a son of George and Hannah (McKage) Wolfe,
and was born in Licking county, Aug. 20, 1831. The father,
George, was born in Pennsylvania, and was a son of George,
a native of Germany, who married a Miss Owl, and to
this union were born the following children: Jacob, George
(the father of our subject), Peter, David, Susan,
Hannah and John. The father of this family and
grandfather of our subject, was a farmer, and ended his days in the
Keystone state.
George Wolfe, father of the gentleman whose name
heads this sketch, was reared to agricultural pursuits on his
father’s farm and was educated in the common schools of his native
state; at the age of thirty-two years he left his Pennsylvania home,
having worked eleven years, after reaching his majority, in the
interest of his father; he came to the Buckeye state direct, and
entered a quarter section of government land in Licking county, to
which he later added by purchase 100 acres. He married
Hannah McKage, a native of Morgan county, Ohio, to which union
were born six children, viz: John, of Licking county, Ohio;
Davie, of Monticello, Kans.; George, our subject;
Joshua, deceased; Elizabeth, widow of James Smith,
of Licking county, Ohio, and Annie, deceased wife of S.
Lambton, and now residing on the old homestead. The father
of this family was a gallant soldier in the war of 1812; he was a
democrat in politics and held several local offices; was a sincere
member of the Methodist church and died in that faith. His
wife was also a member of this church.
George Wolfe, the subject proper of this sketch,
was, like his forefathers, reared to the pursuit of agriculture on
his father’s farm. He was educated in Licking county, and in
1857 moved to Putnam county, bought, cleared up and improved a farm
to some extent, and in 1859 returned to Licking county, where he
resided four years and then came to Van Wert county, where he died
Jan. 22, 1896. In June, 1857, he married Miss Mary Jane
Williams daughter of Edward and Sophia (Keith) Williams.
This lady was born in Madison county Dec. 14, 1835, and was brought
to Van Wert by her parents in 1837. She has borne her husband
the following children: Joseph, of Mercer county;
Lewis, of Jennings township, Van Wert county; Emma, who
died at the age of seventeen years; Hannah and Edward,
the former of whom died at the age of sixteen and the latter at the
age of twenty-six years; John, a graduate of the medical
college in Columbus; Marion, on the home place, and Ira,
at home, aged seventeen years.
The farm of the late Mr. Wolfe comprises
180 acres, and is one of the handsomest and best cultivated in the
township, he having been recognized as one of the most skillful
agriculturists of Van Wert county. In politics he was active
as a democrat, but never indulged in aspiration to public office,
being content with doing his full duty to the party at the polls.
He was not a member of any religious organization, but was a free
and liberal contributor to the support of all, as well as to all
enterprises designed to benefit township and county. He was
universally esteemed for his manly and straightforward course of
life, and for his unflinching integrity, and well deserved the
enviable position he held in the hearts of his fellow-citizens.
His wife's brother Marion, was a brave Union soldier in the
late war, but is now deceased.
Source: A Portrait and Biographical Record of Allen and
Van Wert Counties, Ohio - Publ. Chicago: A. W. Bowen & Co. -
1896 - Page 887 |
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DAVID
WRIGHT, the subject of this biography, an old and well-known
citizen of Jennings township, was born Mar. 8, 1821, in Montgomery
county, Pa., a son of Jacob and Annie (DeHaven) Wright,
natives respectively of Germany and Pennsylvania.
JACOB WRIGHT was a prosperous farmer in
Pennsylvania, and at the time of his death owned 200 acres of
valuable land in the county of Montgomery; he departed this life at
the age of seventy-four, his death having been hastened by reason of
an accident; his wife died at the age of seventy-three; they were
both devout members of the German Reform church, and reared a family
consisting of six children. The oldest son, Samuel,
died Mar. 12, 1895, aged eighty-one years; Joseph died,
September, 1892, aged seventy-three; the third in order of birth is
the subject of this biography, who has reached the age of
seventy-four; Jane, the elder daughter, married Henry
Neevil, but is now deceased; William died in April,
1895, and Mary, wife of Oliver Culp, is living
at this time.
David Wright was reared to agricultural
pursuits, and remained with his parents until his twenty-eighth
year. On the 24th of January, 1850, he married Hannah
Knipe, daughter of Joseph and Susanna (Sherer) Knipe,
and five years later moved to Van Wert county, in company with his
brother Joseph, who joined him in purchasing 160 acres of
land. They held this land together for five years, at the end
of which time David purchased his brother‘s interest and
still owns the entire tract, to which he has made additions, until
he is now the possessor of 268 acres. Mr. Wright's
first dwelling was a very modest structure, made of small round
logs with clapboard roof, through which, during part of the year,
the winds and rains entered at will. This primitive residence
was in due time replaced with a more comfortable and substantial
building, and the present home is of modern design, supplied with
many conveniences. Mr. Wright's farm is a
model of neatness, contains some of the finest land in Van Wert
county, and is well underdrained and thoroughly tilled. His
barns are large and commodious, his other buildings are in keeping,
and everything on the place bears evidence of the best kind of mangement.
Mr. Wright has served as trustee of his township,
having been elected as a democrat, to which party he has given
allegiance ever since attaining his majority.
The oldest son of Mr. and Mrs. Wright is
Wilson Pierce Wright, who married Mary Elizabeth Mark,
the result of which union was two children, David Allen
and Edward Edgar. The mother of these children
dying, Wilson Wright afterward wedded Rachael
Burnett, who became the mother of one child, a daughter—Ethel.
The second son of the subject is Bane Hickman Wright, who had
a twin sister, Ann Elizabeth, the latter dying at the
age of twenty-one. B. H. Wright married
Josephine Crider, and has three children: David
Madison, Eva Alice, and Frances. The youngest son
of the subject was Joseph Edgar Wright, who died at the age
of eight months. The parents of Mrs. Wright, Joseph and
Susannah Knipe, were natives of Pennsylvania; the father died at
the age of eighty and the mother at the age of eighty-two.
They were Lutherans and came to Ohio about the year 1857, locating
in York township, but spent their last days in the town of
Spencerville, Allen county. Mrs. Wright had one brother
and one sister, viz: Charles Knipe, who resides in
York township, and Elizabeth, deceased wife of John
Nunneviler. Mrs. Wright is a member of the
Christian Union church, and a very estimable lady.
Source: A Portrait and Biographical Record of Allen and
Van Wert Counties, Ohio - Publ. Chicago: A. W. Bowen & Co. -
1896 - Page 867 |
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W. G.
WRIGHT, an experienced farmer of Ridge township, Van Wert
county, Ohio, and an ex-soldier, is a native of Virginia, and was
born May 3, 1827. His parents, William S. and Rhoda R.
Wright, had a family of eight children, who were named as
follows; Lucinda, a resident of Missouri, and a widow of
John Hensel; Winfield Scott and John H.,
deceased; Priscilla, wife of Elisha Johnson, of
Clinton county, Ohio; William Greenberry, the subject
of this sketch; Elizabeth, who resides in Missouri; James
L., a physician, residing in the Argentine Republic, and
Anthony G., of Highland county, Ohio. The parents of these
children came to Ohio in 1835 and settled in Highland county, where
the father followed farming. He had served in the war of
1812,and died in tranquility in the land which he had fought to
preserve, in the eighty-eighth year, his life-partner having died in
her eighty-fifth—both members of the Baptist church.
WILLIAM GREENBERRY WRIGHT passed the earliest
part of his life on his father's farm in Highland county, Ohio, he
having been about eight years of age when his parents came to this
state. He was married, Jan. 2, 1850. to Miss
Louisa Manker, to which marriage were born the following
children: Wesley T., who resides in Delphos, Ohio, and who is
an active member of the republican party: V. H., a farmer of
Van Wert county; Luella Belle, deceased; Eugenie,
wife of Oliver Poland, mail agent on the Cincinnati,
Hamilton & Dayton railroad, with his residence near Delphos;
Novada E., Wife of Dr. William Roush, of
Spencerville, Ohio; Lena, and two who died in infancy
without being named. The mother of this family was also called
to her final rest Oct. 4, 1871.
Feb. 10, 1863, W. G. Wright, our subject,
enlisted for three years in the Thirteenth Ohio cavalry. He
was wounded in the side by a rifle-ball at Petersburg, Va., and
shortly thereafter was wounded in the knee; he was then detailed as
recruiting officer at Cincinnati, his regiment having suffered
severe losses, and was finally discharged at Amelia C. H., Va., by
reason of the close of the war. On returning home he
re-engaged in farming, and June 13, 1872, married Miss Martha R.
Judkins, daughter of Franklin and Caroline A. Judkins,
early settlers of Highland county, Ohio, who died, respectively, in
1863 and Mar. 10, 1885. To this second marriage of Mr.
Wright have been born the following named children: Birdie
Delle, Loutellis, Mabel Rosaline, Cletus Orlin, Lillie A., Rhoda D.,
and Goldie—the last named meeting a sad death by being
drowned in a cistern. Beside the children here named, there
were four who died unchristened.
In 1882 Mr. Wright came to Van Wert
county and purchased a farm of 100 acres on the Ridge road, about
three and one-half miles east of the city of Van Wert, and this farm
is one of the best improved in the township. In politics Mr.
Wright is a democrat, and in 1893 was elected trustee of his
township. in which there have been graded sixteen miles of gravel
roads under his management. It may here be recorded that Mr.
Wright is a man of note as a deer hunter, and many trophies
of his skill and prowess, and marksmanship adorn his dwelling.
The apiary has also claimed his attention for more than forty-five
years, and a card attached to the gable end of his dwelling house
bears the inscription, “Hunters’ Home —Home of the Bee." Mr.
Wright is a Mason in good standing and Mrs. Wright
is a consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and
socially the family mingle with the best of Ridge township‘s
citizens.
Source: A Portrait and Biographical Record of Allen and
Van Wert Counties, Ohio - Publ. Chicago: A. W. Bowen & Co. -
1896 - Page 888 |
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WILLIAM
WRIGHT, one of the most substantial farmers of Washington
township, Van Wert county, Ohio, descends from an old colonial
family, was born in Tuscarawas county, Ohio, Mar. 25, 1840, was
reared a farmer, and attained his education in the district schools
during the winter seasons, when he could best be spared from farm
labor.
SAMUEL WRIGHT, father of
William, our subject, was of Irish descent; was born in
Alleghany county, Md., near Fosterburg, in 1800, and married, in his
native state, Margaret Hoffman, of German extraction.
After the birth of four children Mr. Wright, about 1830,
brought his family to Ohio and located in the woods of Tuscarawas
county, where he bought 200 acres of land, the greater part of which
he cleared up and transformed into a fertile farm. There were
born to himself and wife a family of twelve children, of whom eleven
lived to adult age, as follows: Elizabeth, Georgie, Mary,
Harriet, Valentine and Rachael (twins), John and
Henry (also twins), Margaret, William and Elisha.
Mr. Wright died on his farm at the age of fifty-nine years, a
member of the Lutheran church, of which he had been a deacon for
many years and of which his wife was also a devout member. In
politics he was first a whig, afterwards became a republican, and
gave two of his sons to the defense of the Union - Valentine
and Elisha - both of whom were in company D, Fifty-second
Ohio infantry - Valentine serving three years and Elisha
being killed after one year's service, in a railroad accident
between Nashville and Chattanooga.
William Wright, our subject, first married, in
Tuscarawas county, Susannah Belch, daughter of Joseph and
Rebecca (Alfred) Belch, and to this union were born three
children— Flora, Edwin and George.
Directly after this union was consummated, Mr. Wright, in
1864, moved to Putnam county, Ohio, and bought eighty acres of
partially cleared land in Sugar Creed township; after
clearing up the remainder of the tract he sold out and in 1872 came
to his present farm of eighty acres in Washington township, Van Wert
county, this tract at the time being also but partially cleared, but
by dilligence and skillful labor he has made of it one of the
best homesteads in the township. Here, Apr. 1, 1884, he was
bereaved by the death of his wife, and July 2, 1885, he selected,
for his second helpmate, Mrs. Marinda Lehman, widow of
Frederick Lehman and daughter of Louis and Nancy (Binkley)
Corderman. This lady was born in Fairfield county, Ohio,
Apr. 37, 1851, and has blessed Mr. Wright with one son—Henry
Otis— who was born Feb. 17, 1886. Louis Corderman
was a farmer of Fairfield county and also a wagon-maker, and both
the Cordermans and Binkleys were of Pennsylvania Dutch
extraction. Mr. Corderman came to Van Wert county in
1853 and settled on 160 acres in Washington township, where he died,
about 1859, at the age of fifty-one years. Of his three
children—Mary, John and Marinda— Mary
married John Long, who was killed in the Civil war, John
sought his own fortune, and Marinda became the second wife of
Mr. Wright. After the death of Mr. Corderman his
widow finished the clearing up of the farm to the extent of eighty
acres, made a good home, and died about 1889, aged seventy-eight
years, a devout member of the United Brethren church.
Mr. and Mrs. Wright are consistent and pious
members of the Methodist church, in which he has been a class leader
thirty years and for a long time a trustee. He has always been
liberal in his contributions in aid of religion and also toward all
projects designed for the public good. In politics he is a
republican, and bears a high character as an uprightman, a true
Christian and a public-spirited citizen of true worth.
Source: A Portrait and Biographical Record of Allen and
Van Wert Counties, Ohio - Publ. Chicago: A. W. Bowen & Co. -
1896 - Page 889 |
NOTES: |
