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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES
INDEX
Source:
The County of Williams
A History of Williams County, Ohio,
from the Earliest Days with Special Chapters on Various Subjects,
including Each of the Different Townships;
Also a Biographical Department
By William Henry Shinn
PART 2
Published
Madison, Wis.
Northwestern Historical Association
1905
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THE
WATERSTON FAMILY. - For nearly
three-fourths of a century the Waterston
family has resided in the State of Ohio, and
for more than fifty years it has been actively
identified with the growth and development of
Williams county, its members being recognized as
belonging to the class of the leading and
substantial citizens. Very generally they
have followed agricultural pursuits and, true to
their sturdy Scotch ancestry, they have been
industrious and conservative. In every
instance they have discharged faithfully the
duties incumbent upon good citizens, two of them
having served their country as soldiers during
the dark days of the Civil war, and one the
county in the capacity of a public official.
The Waterston family is of Scotch stock
and was founded in the United States and Ohio in
1831, by Alexander Waterston. The
worthy ancestor was born at Dalkeith, Scotland,
Mar. 6, 1805, the elder son of Simon and
Janet (Thorburn) Waterston, both natives of
Scotland. His early education was obtained
in night-schools and he learned the tanner's
trade with his grandfather, Alexander
Thorburn, and followed that occupation until
twenty-one years of age, when he went to the
city of Edinburg and there learned the baker's
trade which he followed until he sailed for
America. On Sept. 15, 1829, he was wedded
to Miss Janet Forrest, a native of
Penicuik, Scotland, where she was born on Aug.
18, 1806. In 1831 he emigrated to the
United States, landing on the fourth of July at
New York City. From there he at once
removed to what is now the State of West
Virginia. A year later he removed to
Belmont county, O., where he spent ten years on
a farm. Then he removed to Richland
county, O., where he purchased a farm and
resided there until 1853, when he came to
Williams county and established his permanent
residence there. Although the county at
that time was a veritable wilderness, he soon
had a log cabin erected for his family, and then
he began the work of "blazing the way for future
generations." The hardships and trials
through which he passed were met with the true
pioneer spirit, and he was permitted before his
decease to enjoy the fruits of his endeavors.
Possessed of the sterling traits of character of
his Scotch ancestors, he lived a long and useful
life, winning not only a competency but also the
respect and esteem of his fellow citizens.
He was a Republican in politics and in religious
matters a devout member of the Presbyterian
church. Full of years and honors he died
at his homestead on Mar. 12, 1875, and was
survived by his widow until September, 1895.
The children of this worthy family who
grew to manhood and womanhood were as follows:
Simon; Thomas, deceased; James,
deceased; William; Mary, the widow
of the late Jonathan M. Haynes of
Bridgewater township, and Elizabeth, the
wife of Wallace Culbertson of Paola, Kan.
Simon Waterston, eldest of the
children of Alexander Waterston,
was born on May 20, 1830. When two years
old his mother brought him to the United States
to join his father, who had gone the previous
year. His boyhood and youth were spent in
Belmont and Richland counties, both in Ohio.
His father having given him his time when twenty
years old, he went to Huron county, O., and
worked in the first dairy establishment there.
That fall he started for the Michigan pineries,
but stopped at Detroit and worked in a saw-mill
until the close of navigation. Then he
took up firing on the Michigan Central railway,
and fired the first engine that went into
Chicago on wheels from the east of that city.
In 1852 he returned to the farm in Richland
county and, in the fall of the year, came to
Williams county. On Oct. 27, 1852, he and
his father purchased two hundred and forty acres
of wild land in section 28, Bridgewater
township. About the first of December his
father purchased the northeast quarter of
section 28, and later his brother Thomas bought
the northwest quarter of the same section.
On Sept. 1, 1861, he enlisted in Company H of
the Thirty-eighth Ohio volunteer infantry,
serving under General Thomas in
Kentucky, under General Buell in
his famous march to Shiloh and his retreat
north, and then under Generals Rosecrans and
Thomas until the fall of Atlanta, when, as
lieutenant, he was ordered to take the surplus
baggage of the Third division of the Fourteenth
Army Corps back to Bridgeport, Ala. Here
he remained until General Sherman's
army reached Washington, where he joined his
regiment and took command of Company H, and he
was mustered out as first lieutenant at
Louisville, Ky., on July 12, 1865.
Returning home, he resumed farming and followed
that occupation until 1888, when he removed to
Montpelier on account of poor health from
exposure in the army, and has since resided
there, Mr. Waterston was one of
the twenty-eight citizens who organized the
Republican party in Williams county, only two of
whom are now living, the other being James
Cummins, of Madison township. Of
the principles of that organization he has ever
since been a strong advocate. His party
has frequently honored him with election to
public office in his township, such as trustee
and treasurer and notary public. He became
a Mason in 1861, an Odd Fellow in 1879, and a
member of the Grand Army of the Republic in
1888. On Apr. 13, 1854, he was united in
marriage to Miss Cyrena Lindsay,
a native of Essex county, New York, and the
daughter of Francis W. and Polly (Adams)
Lindsay. The Lindsays removed
from New York State to Michigan in 1837, and
three years later came to Bridgewater township,
Williams county. To Mr. Waterston
and wife the following children were born:
George T., born Feb. 17, 1855, who lives on
one-half of the old homestead; an infant,
deceased ; Anna C., the wife of Samuel
S. Hayes, of Bridgewater township: Frank
L., a member of the board of county
commissioners, and Jennie A., now Mrs.
Fred A. Bowers, of Northwest township.
On June 15, 1905, the beloved wife of Simon
Waterston was called to her eternal rest.
She was a noble wife and mother and a devout
member of the Presbyterian church. She
died at their home in Montpelier and is buried
in Riverside Cemetery.
Source: The County of Williams, A History of
Williams Co., Ohio, Part 2, Publ. Madison, Wis.,
Northwestern Historical Assn., 1905 - Page 578 |
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WILLIAM T.
WATERSTON, a well-to-do farmer and highly
esteemed citizen of Bridgewater township, was
born in Belmont county, O., on May 25, 1841.
He is the son of Alexander Waterston,
mention of whom is made in the preceding memoir,
and Janet (Forrest) Waterston.
William T. Waterston grew to manhood on his
father's farm and received his education in the
common schools of his home county. On Mar.
3, 1865, in answer to his country's call for
defenders, he enlisted as a private in Company C
of the One Hundred and Ninety-fifth Ohio
volunteer infantry, and served until Dec. 17,
1865, when he was honorably discharged from
service because of the close of the war.
He now owns the farm of one hundred and eighty
acres, which his father cleared and on which he
settled in Sept. 3, 1853. He is an ardent
Republican and has served as township treasurer
for ten years. In religious matters he and
his wie are actively identified with the United
Brethren church. In 1876 he was wedded to
Miss Lucretia Haines the daughter of
Michael and Rebecca (Lowe) Haines, who came
to Bridgewater township in 1854 and there spent
the rest of their days, both being natives of
Pennsylvania. Mrs. Waterston was
born in Stark county, O., Jan. 5, 1851. To
William T. Waterston and wife there have
been horn the following children:
Ursula, the wife of Frederick Lantz
and resides on a farm at Bridgewater Center;
Augusta the wife of Elsworth Brandon, M.
D., of Edon, O.; an infant, deceased;
Belva, the wife of Noah Spieth
residing on an adjoining farm to the homestead;
and Scott, who resides with his parents
at home. Mr. and Mrs. Waterston
have justly earned the competence which they now
possess and to-day are enjoying all the comforts
of a rural home. They stand high in the
community in which they have spent the greater
portion of their lives, an inheritance more to
be valued than worldly goods.
Source: The County of Williams, A History of
Williams Co., Ohio, Part 2, Publ. Madison, Wis.,
Northwestern Historical Assn., 1905 - Page 580 |
NOTES:
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