A portrait and biographical record of Delaware and Randolph counties, Ind., containing biographical sketches of many prominent and representative citizens, together with biographies and portraits of all of the presidents of the United States, and biographies of the governors of Indiana, Part 152

Author:
Publication date: 1894
Publisher: Chicago, A. W. Bowen & Co.
Number of Pages: 1474

USA > Indiana > Randolph County > A portrait and biographical record of Delaware and Randolph counties, Ind., containing biographical sketches of many prominent and representative citizens, together with biographies and portraits of all of the presidents of the United States, and biographies of the governors of Indiana > Part 152
USA > Indiana > Delaware County > A portrait and biographical record of Delaware and Randolph counties, Ind., containing biographical sketches of many prominent and representative citizens, together with biographies and portraits of all of the presidents of the United States, and biographies of the governors of Indiana > Part 152

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gaged in the preparation of proprietary med- icines designed for the cure of diseases of the stomach or digestive organs, rheumatism, lung and nervous disorders, comprising a series of nine remedies, which are now used in nearly every household in the land. The first remedy manufactured was "Rheumatic Negir," then "Sweet Bugle," followed by "Ague Fever and Blood Pills," then "Queen of the Meadow," next "Coca Liniment," followed by "Dr. Welbourn's Wheat Phosphites and Iron Pills." These are some of the lead- ing medicines made by him. Since 1891 his son, Dr. Oclasco C., has been a partner with his father, both as a practitioner and in the preparation of these excellent remedies. The eldest son, Ulyses E. A., is now in Cali- fornia, and in 1880 married Miss Melinda J. Gettinger, of Jay county, Ind. Five children have been born to this marriage, and are named: Pina M., Roxie J., Raymond V., Marshall V. and Leland S. Dr. Welbourn now owns and occupies the beautiful residence tormerly owned by ex-Gov. Isaac P. Gray.

0 R. OCLASCO C. WELBOURN was born January 28, 1871, near New Paris, Ohio, during the temporary residence of his parents on a farm. He passed his boyhood and youthful years in Union City, Ind., attending the schools of the city, and in 1888 was a student at Bethany college. In 1889 he entered the Eclectic Med- ical college of Cincinnati, from which he grad- uated in 1891, and during his three years' study took a special course in diseases of the eye and ear, as well as private instruction and clinical practice as an extra course. Since his graduation he has been an assistant to his father as manufacturing chemist, and is now a partner, under the firm name of Dr. E. L.

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Welbourn & Son. Dr. O. C. Welbourn was married, in 1892, to Miss Daisy L. Coldren, of Union City. His residence, one of the best in Union City, is directly across the street from his father's, and is the first and only one heated by hot water in Union City.

ETER J. WIESE, of Union City, is a son of Ferdinand and Gertrude (Belke) Wiese, and was born in Darke county, Ohio, December 21, 1845. He was reared on a farm until eighteen, but had very good opportunities for an education. He first attended the schools in Darke county, then a German school at Piqua, Ohio, and next learned bookkeeping at a commercial college at Dayton, Ohio, and in 1865 began to learn telegraphy in the office of the Bee Line com- pany at Union City, Ind. In November, 1866, he entered the employ of the same company as night operator, and worked at Marion, Sid- ney, Anderson, Fortville and Indianapolis, until May, 1872, when he became train dis- patcher on the Indianapolis division; was pro- moted to chief dispatcher in January, 1881, and held the position until September, 1892, when he was made trainmaster on the Indian- apolis division of the "Big 4" for a distance of 202 miles, having charge of all movements of freight, conductors and brakemen, and during his services for twenty years has never cost the company the loss of one cent by disaster. He has at present supervision over thirty-nine crews, averaging three men each, and over thirty-nine trains daily, with the assistance of one clerk. Mr. Wiese was married in 1871 to Miss Angie, daughter of John and Maria J. (Williams) Brewster, of Fortville, Ind., and to this marriage has been born one son-Frank J., at home.

The parents of Mr. Wiese were both na-

tives of Prussia, who crossed the ocean to Maryland in 1835, and in 1837 migrated to Ohio, where they settled in the woods in Darke county, cleared up the land, mnade two farms and reared a family of four children, of whom Peter J. is the youngest. The father, Ferdinand Wiese, died in 1861 at the age of sixty-five years, but the mother, Gertrude (Belke) Wiese, survived until 1872, when she was called away at the age of seventy-three. They were members of the Catholic church of Union City, and were liberal in their contribu- tions to the erection of the first Catholic church in the place. Joseph Wiese, the eldest bro- ther of Peter J. (our subject), now lives on the home farm; Elizabeth, a sister, is the wife of John Altenbach, a farmer, and Catherine, who was the wife of P. G. Kennedy, died in 1877. Peter J. Wiese is democratic in politics, and he and his wife are members of the Catholic church. Mr. Wiese is one of the leading and most trusted employes in the employ of the "Big 4" railway company. as may be inferred from what has been said above.

ILLIAM A. WILEY, of Union City, Ind., is a son of Ezekiel and Jane (Moore) Wiley, and was born August 6, 1834, just over the Ran- dolph county (Ind.) line, in Darke county, Ohio. When he was but three months old his parents removed to Illinois; in a year they returned eastward, settling in White county, Ind., among the Indians. After nine years they moved into Howard county, Ind., where his father died in 1844, at the age of twenty- eight, being the first white person buried in Kokomo. Howard county was still an Indian reservation. He left a widow with two sons and three daughters, William A. being the eldest. William A's father built the old log

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court house at Kokomo. William A. Wiley was then ten years old, and was put immedi- ately to work and from that time onward earned his own support. The first boots he ever had were bought with money thus earned when a small lad. He had very little school- ing in youth, learning to read at twelve, and having not above five months' schooling till of age. At twenty-two years old he went with a party of emigrants, comprising thirteen families, traveling in wagons and bound for the Blue Earth country, Minn., young Wiley helping drive their cattle to pay his board as he went. His intention was to buy land. On reaching the Mississippi, taking a steamboat he passed up the river, after which, with a single comrade, he "tramped" over portions of Minnesota, Nebraska and Iowa. They traveled on foot, sleeping often under a clear sky on the ground. His adventures were many, being much among the Indians, who were hostile in feeling. One time, between Fairbruit and Canon City in Minnesota, he met a rough and savage Sioux Indian, with painted face and warrior costume. He says: "I saw him coming; terribly scared, I walked on nevertheless, till, as he came near, he looked so hideous that I stopped. He came up, and, as he passed, I 'shied' off and gave him the road. He turned toward me and I gave a fearful spring. The savage fellow gave a loud rough laugh, and went on, and I went on, too. He had a rifle, and I had nothing, but he was not so hostile as I had feared. I

was in the Spirit Lake country, just after the massacre in that region, and the Indians were hostile, and great fear was on the people. After seven months I returned to Indiena, at- tended school, became myself a successful in- structor, teaching at Bethel, Wayne county, Union City, Randolph county, and else- where." His teaching life was from 1859 to 1862. Since 1862 Mr. Wiley has been a

farmer, a merchant and a grain dealer. He is an active and influential member of the Disciple church at Union City, having been chorister for twenty-five years, and superin- tendent of the Sunday school for fourteen years. He is also an efficient friend and sup- porter of education. For eight years he was a member of the city school board of Union City, and in 1881 he was elected for three years longer. He has also been city clerk.

His first mercantile experience was at Hol- lansburg, Darke county, Ohio, in 1862. He returned to Union City in 1869, engaged in merchandising until 1871, and after those years was in the grain commission and milling business. In 1883 he was burned out, but continued in the grain trade until 1884. In 1885 he purchased the Junction mill, at Ridge- ville; he and others were incorporated for run- ning this mill in 1892, as a joint stock com- pany, with a capital of $5,000, with Nathan Cadwallader as president, and Mr. Wiley as secretary. The mill has a capacity of sixty barrels per day, has the most modern ma- chinery, and is situated at the juncture of the Pan Handle and Grand Rapids & Indiana rail- roads, in a fine wheat growing region.

Mr. Wiley was married, in 1860, to Miss Sarah Elizabeth Wiggs, daughter of Felix G. Wiggs, an old pioneer of Union City. To this union have been born two children-one living, Harry E. Wiley, of the Central Grain & Stock exchange, Chicago. Mr. Wiley's brother, Martin V., was a member of the Forty-sixth I. V. I., under Gen. Buell, and died in 1862; one sister, Mrs. Mustard, of Anderson, and the venerable mother are still living -- the latter at Burnettsville, Ind., at the age of seventy-six.

William A. Wiley's training was demo- cratic, and his first vote was for James Buch- anan, but, ever since, republicanism has been his faith. Mr. Wiley is an influential citizen,

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energetic in every matter of public welfare, and greatly esteemed by his fellow townsmen. His uncle, Thomas Wiley, was an early pioneer and preacher of Jackson township, whose fame as a missionary is in all the region. The stand- ing of William A. Wiley, both socially and as a business man, is most enviable, and Union City is justly proud to have him enumerated among her residents.

J AMES WHITESEL, a well known and much respected pioneer of Wayne township, Randolph county, Ind., was born in Montgomery county, Ohio, February 9, 1818, the eldest son of Jacob and Mary (Akin) Whitesel. The former was born in Guilford county, N. C., about the begin- ning of the present century. While yet a small boy he came with his parents to Ohio and settled near Miamisburg, where he grew to manhood and was married. He followed farming all his life and spent his last days on a farm in Wayne township, Randolph county, Ind. Jacob and Mary were the parents of five children: Elizabeth, widow of William Welch; Catherine, deceased, wife of Samuel Conklin; Mary, wife of Silas Coats, both de- ceased; James; and Jacob, who married Mar- garet Harshman, who died in 1856. The father was an honest, hard working pioneer and with an education which circumstances compelled to be limited. His father died be- fore the war and he died in 1877. They are peacefully sleeping side by side in the Welch graveyard in Wayne township.

John W. Clevenger, son-in-law of James Whitesel and son of Thomas and Mary A. (Clanin) Clevenger, was born in Greensfork township, Randolph county, May 10, 1852. He received a fair common school education. August 9, 1873, he married Miss Jane White-

sel and moved to his father-in-law's farm, where he farmed for ten years. He then pur- chased twenty-five acres adjoining Mr. White- sel's farm where he now lives. He farms the old homestead also. He also owns twenty- six acres in White River township. They have five children, three daughters-Clara, Minnie and Daisy, and two sons-Chester and Stephen, all of whom are at home.

Returning now to James Whitesel, we find a gentleman whose opportunities for a school educated were very limited. When eighteen years of age, his father purchased a piece of woods that corners to the old homestead. For two winters James, with two hired men, came to this land to clear. They lived in a pole shanty, and depended largely on game for their food, which they themselves cooked. In October, 1838, the family came also. At that time the road came only as far as Hill Grove, and they had to make their own road the rest of the way. James remained with his father in his new home for four years, when he re- turned to Ohio and worked out, receiving from eight to ten dollars per month for his services. Whenever his father would begin to clear a new piece, James would return and help him. This continued until 1849, when he was en- gaged by a firm in Dayton to travel and sell books, stationery, and wrapping paper, taking rags for pay. He worked at this three years and received a dollar per day. Saving this money and with other money he had saved he bought 160 acres of land in Wayne township, paying $400; later he helped his brother Jacob to buy 240 acres more When the railroad was built he came and settled on his farm. In 1856 his marriage with Elizabeth Anna Coddington was solemnized, and they have al- ways lived where they now reside. Their life was made brighter by five children, four of whom still survive. They are-James, living with his father; Jane, wife of John W. Clev-

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enger; Perry, a farmer in Darke county, Ohio, and Laura, wife of Frederick Ackels, of Harris- ville. Mr. Whitesel now owns 172 acres of land; 150 of which is cleared and under culti- vation, and all well drained. He has been much interested in shorthorn cattle, and has also an improved breed of hogs. Mr. White- sel is a democrat, though previous to Buchan- an's time was a whig. He served as justice of peace for one term and refused a renomination. For many years past he has been a non-affili- ating Mason. James Whitesel has had much frontier experience. He came to Indiana when the turnpikes were Indian trails, and the beautiful farms were happy hunting grounds. Venison was more common than beef, and bear meat reigned instead of pork. Mr. White- sel's devotion to his family has been one of his constant virtues. His father's family was helped out of many straits by James. He has an unimpeachable character and has always counted one for principle and right.

OBERT WILKERSON, was born in Hamilton county, Ohio, May 31, 1833. He is the son of Samuel and Louisa (Jump) Wilkerson. Both parents were natives of Maryland, where they were married. They moved to Darke county, Ohio, in 1839. The father was a carpenter, but spent the latter portion of his life on the farm. He died in 1849, while the mother lived till 1878. There were ten children, of whom two sons and two daughters are now living. When the parents came west, Robert was but six years old. There was plenty of work here and but few school advantages. There was usually but three months' school, and duty at home often compelled Robert to miss a portion of even this short time.

When he was seventeen years of age the

home was made sad by the death of his father. There it was that the boy became the man and he bravely and manfully took charge of the support of his mother and sisters. He remained on the homestead till 1866, when it was sold. and he came to Wayne township, Randolph county, Ind. Here he purchased eighty acres, to which he soon added twenty acres more. This is a part of section II, and is where he now lives. At that time there were but three fields cleared and the buildings were of no great value. Mr. Wilkerson went to work with a will, and now has a farm that any one would feel proud of. Eighty acres are now cleared and the wooded land contains the choicest of timber, including sugar trees, walnut and poplar. The farm is well drained with tile ditches running toward both the east and the west.

Mr. Wilkerson's son, Samuel, has for the past twelve years assisted in managing the farm. They have devoted much care and at- tention to stock raising and have a fine grade of Clydesdale and Hambletonian horses, short- horn and Jersey cattle, and an improved quality of swine. Mr. Wilkerson was reared a democrat, but claims to have had the scales removed from the eyes and is now an ardent member of the new and live people's party. He is a member of the Farmers' alli- ance, served for two years as president of the society, and now occupies the position of lec- turer.

In 1856 Robert Wilkerson and Miss Mary W. Thomas were married. To this union were born three children: Martha, who died in infancy; George F., a carpenter in Wayne township; and Samuel, a farmer on the old homestead. George F. married Mary E., daughter of Jacob and Elizabeth Bennett of Union City. This union was blessed by four children: Bertha, Osa, Verna and Fland. Samuel is married to Emma, daughter of

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Jefferson Mason of Wayne township. Their home is also brightened by four children-two sons, Alfred Newton and Robert, Jr., and two daughters-Abigail and Mary Hazel. Robert Wilkerson is an industrious and worthy citizen, respected and esteemed by all who know him. He is strictly devoted to principle and strives for the elevation of the working and producing classes.

J OHN W. WILLIAMS, lawyer of Union City, Ind., was born in Erie, Pa., on December 2, 1841. His father, James Williams, was an early settler and prominent citizen of that city, and died in March, 1861, having been identified for many years with the mercantile interests of that place. He was the son of Isaac Williams, a survivor of the Wyoming massacre. His wife, whose maiden name was Mary Davis, was the daughter of George Davis, of Mercer county, Pa .; she survived her husband six years, dying at Erie in 1867. John W. Williams received his early education in the schools of Erie city, completing the course of study at the Erie academy. At the conclusion of his studies he entered the law office John B. Johnson as a student of law. Finishing his course in two and a half years, he left home to locate in the west, but at this junction came the outbreak of the great rebellion, which changed the plans which he had formed. During the first year of the war (1861), he was connected with Capt. R. M. Brown, of the Fifteenth United States infantry at the recruiting and mustering rendezvous at Erie, his early home.

In March, 1863, at the solicitation of Col. William Truesdall, chief of the army police department of the Cumberland, under Gen. W. S. Rosecrans, he connected himself with the army police department of the Cumberland,

holding the position of provost judge of the provost marshal general's department, which was under the control of Capt. William M. Miles, of Indiana. This branch of the service (the army police) had control and supervision of all things connected with the secret service- sending out spies and scouts, and detecting crime and other misdemeanors within the army proper.

With this branch of the service, in this department, he continued until December, 1863, when he was taken ill at Chattanooga, Tenn., and removed to the hospital at Nash- ville. Continued illness caused his retirement from the service temporarily for the purpose of recuperating his health. Upon partial regain- ment of strength he repaired to St. Louis, Mo., to again unite himself with the same branch of the service, and from St. Louis went to Fort Leavenworth, Kan., when he was assign- ed a position in the provost marshal general's office, department of Kansas, Gen. S. R. Curtis, commanding. He continued to act in this position, serving under Genls. Curtis, Dodge and Pope, and winding up under Gen. W. T. Sherman, at St. Louis, until Septem- ber 23, 1865, by which time the war was ended, and all volunteer troops had been mustered out of service.

This branch of the service had supervision and control of the entire scout system across the plains throughout Kansas and the terri- tories, and to Mr. Williams belonged the task of assignment of scouts to their respective posts of duty. During the fall and winter of 1865 and spring of 1866 he traveled extensively through the west and northwest, and later connected himself with the Omaha (Neb.) Republican as editor. In the fall of the year he returned to Kansas to engage in the prac- tice of law, locating at Junction City, in Davi- ess county, where he resided until June, 1872, practicing his profession and holding the office

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of United States commissioner for the western district of Kansas. In 1873 he removed to Marion Center, Marion county, Kan., continu- ing the practice of his profession until the summer of 1881, when he removed to Union City, Ind., where he still resides.

When a resident of Marion Center, Kas., on May 3, 1876, he united in marriage with Mrs. Margaret Casper, daughter of Chris. and Mary Kinsler, and widow of William Casper. Mr. Williams was what might be called one of the pioneer citizens of western Kansas, and during his residence in that state held various positions of trust, and was also recognized as among the leading citizens, and during his identity with the state of Kansas, in its early history, the positions in which he was placed gave him a large and a varied acquaintance with many of the prominent and leading citi- zens, and a useful store of knowledge acquired by not infrequent mingling with the several tribes of Indians, who inhabited the western part of Kansas, and who now occupy the In- dian territory.

Mr. Williams may be finally called a west- ern man. He has traveled largely through the Indian territory, Texas, New Mexico, Col- orado, and all the territories lying west of the Rocky Mountain range, and is familiar, from actual observation, with that country in its general outline. He imbibed largely of that spirit of daring and love of adventure which characterizes the citizens of the west, and has often run dangerous risks to gratify this pro- pensity. Since his removal to Union City he has practiced his profession, mingling other labors with it. Mr. Williams has been for the past two years president of the Catholic Be- nevolent Legion of Indiana, an organization composed of the Catholic laity, and which, from the insurance benefits connected with it, has been and is doing a great amount of good.

ARREN A. WITHAM, a late prom- inent manufacturer of Union City, was born in Farmington, Me., Sept- ember 16, 1835. When he was quite young his father died, leaving the mother with eight children. She moved with her family to Ohio, near Cincinnati, when Warren was about twelve years old. Here, in the public schools and in the school of observation and experience, he graduated (his diploma was his ready ability to do anything). He was always very handy with tools, and his natural inclination early took him into the workshops, where he made a full hand at any kind of work there done. He and two of his brothers were the principal support of the family, consequently he was very industrious, working at whatever came to hand. At one time he peddled lightning rods through a num- ber of the southern states. Just before the war, he again visited the south, selling dulci- mers of his own manufacture. A little later he was filling contracts for lumber. This was a standing resort when he was out of anything else to do. In 1861, he married Miss Ruth- anna Butterworth, of Warren county, Ohio. In 1864, he engaged with Dr. Frost in the making of vinegar, in Xenia, Ohio; but short- ly turned his attention to buying and selling lumber and corn, finding the field for it in Buckley, Ill. The place being unsuitable, as regarding health, he returned to Ohio, re- maining unsettled about a year, during which time, associated with his brother Thomas, he made a few broom-handles in Maineville, Ohio, and later prospected for oil in Virginia.

In 1867 Mr. Witham came to Union City, and purchased the site for a mill, where S. J. Carter's mill now stands, and erected a factory for the manufacture of various things-broom- handles, cabinet clamps, bench screws and plow handles and beams. In this business he was also associated with his brother Thomas,

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this time as an equal sharer in the profits. From this time on their business interests were not separated, working four years in this line to their own profit, and no little profit to Union City, and vicinity, when they saw (yes, saw) the light of golden gleams shining in tow, and they pulled up stakes and went to Wilton, Iowa, where they built a flax mill and put in machinery for making tow, and for four years more they labored, making tow, but not an over-abundance of money, for congress hastily took the tariff off of jute, and that knocked all the gold out of tow. So they dutifully came back to the old stamping ground, and for one winter worked at getting out lumber in Ansonia, Darke county, Ohio, coming to Union City, to go to church, and the spring following (1875) they, with others, bought interests in the planing mill and lum- ber yard of J. Carr. After a little change of partners, the firm became Witham & Ander- son, consisting of the two Witham Brothers and W. H. and F. S. Anderson. W. A. Witham was senior partner. The business grew with the place and region until the amount of lumber handled came to be some- thing wonderful. The firm dealt in all kinds of lumber and house furnishings, including hardware, and for some time received over 700 car-loads of lumber yearly, their business becoming extensively known not only through- out the west, but in all the principal cities in the eastern part of the United States. It is a joint stock company, with a paid-up capital of $75,000, and is jointly connected at this time with the Wilman Lumber company, of Hartford City, Ind. The Union City plant, embracing an area of five acres, is supplied with planing mills and machinery for the manufacture of sash, doors, blinds, etc., the entire floor space of the various structures on the ground consisting of about three acres. The office and hardware building is a large

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A portrait and biographical record of Delaware and Randolph counties, Ind., containing biographical sketches of many prominent and representative citizens, together with biographies and portraits of all of the presidents of the United States, and biographies of the governors of Indiana, Part 152

Author: Publication date: 1894 Publisher: Chicago, A. W. Bowen & Co. Number of Pages: 1474

Author:
Publication date: 1894
Publisher: Chicago, A. W. Bowen & Co.
Number of Pages: 1474