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 49

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 49
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 49

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

Among other of the battles in which the major took part, and in which bravery on the field led to his promotion, may be mentioned those with the Third Indiana cavalry: Fred-

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ericksburg, Thoroughfare Gap, Upperville, Piedmont, Chancellorsville, Brandy Station, Middletown, Boonsburg, Antietam, Gettys- burg, Beverly's Ford, Warrentown, etc., and with the One Hundred and Thirtieth Indiana volunteer infantry: Red Clay, Rocky Face Ridge, Resaca, Lost Mountain, Pine Mount- ain, Kenesaw, Chattahoochee River, Decatur, Atlanta, Jonesboro, Lovejoy's Station, Nash- ville, Wise's Forks, Kinston, Goldsboro.

In further recognition of Maj. Wildman's services, he was appointed to a position in the treasury department, Washington, D. C., in December, 1865, held it until April, 1867, and was appointed and confirmed collector of in- ternal revenue of the Eleventh district, Ind., with headquarters at Anderson, which position he held a number of years. Upon retiring from the revenue service, he purchased, in 1883, the Muncie Times, and has since been the act- ive manager and one of the leading writers. He has served the Odd Fellows as grand master of the state, and represented the state, with creditable ability, at two sessions of the Sovereign Grand lodge at the meetings in Boston and Denver. Also a member and worker in the Knights of Honor, A. O. U. W., Fraternal Union, G. A. R., and the various branches of the Masonic order, in some of which he held important positions. Politically a republican and an active worker, he was never a candidate for an elective office, and never held any office except the one mention- ed, revenue collector. He has frequently been a delegate to conventions of his party, and served as such in the national convention that nominated Benjamin Harrison for president, from the Sixth district. He is public spirited, and an advocate of all public improvements. The marriage of the Major took place Sep- tember 25, 1867, to Miss S. J. Pierce, of Ash- tabula, Ohio.

In the fall of 1892, a new building for the

Muncie Times, on north Walnut street, 223x 85 feet, at a cost of $4, 300, was erecled, and was taken possession of January 1, 1893, and under the management of Major Wildman the Times has become a recognized power in the republican party of the state. The attention of the reader is called to the life like portrait of the major on an adjacent page. The major is a fluent and trenchant writer and a shrewd business man withal. Not at all bombastic, he is nevertheless ornate, and his logic is in- controvertible, and his party may well con- gratulate itself on the fact that it has at the head of its principal organ in Muncie a gentle- man who so happily combines the qualities of a good writer with those of a first class busi- ness man.

J AMES S. WILLIAMS, treasurer of the city of Muncie, is a well known resi- dent and one of her most esteemed citizens. He was born in Adams county, Ohio, April 4, 1855, son of Ebenezer B. and Catherine M. (Nesbit) Williams, who removed from Ohio to Grant county, Ind., in 1855. The father was a carpenter by trade, politically a democrat and served as a justice of the peace in Grant county for many years. He and wife were both members of the Chris- tian church, and both passed their last days in Grant county.

James S. Williams is the third in a family of six children and was educated in the schools of Lebanon, attending the National Normal school at Lebanon, Ohio, and also the schools at Marion, Ind., after which he engaged in teaching school in Grant and Tipton counties for several years. During this time he was unfortunately sunstruck, and after recovering from this serious misfortune, found himself unable to accomplish anything in the way of employment which would necessitate any hard

VOLNEY WILLSON.

MRS. ELIZABETH WILLSON.

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labor, hence he learned the barber business. This he followed until August, 1881, when he came to Muncie, Ind., and opened up a bar- ber business, so continuing until 1891, when he was elected on the democratic ticket to his present responsible office. He is a prominent member of the I. O. O. F. and of the Citi- zens' Enterprise company.

Mr. Williams was married, in 1882, to Miss Martha A. Randall, a daughter of Joseph Randall, of Muncie, and is the father of one little daughter, Blanche. He and wife are active members of the Central Christian church, in which he is a deacon and has served as superintendent of the Sunday school. The family possesses the regard and esteem of the entire community.

OLNEY WILLSON (deceased) was an early settler in the town of Muncie, . and was well known throughout the country as a farmer and capitalist. He was born April 12, 1816, at Easton, Wash- ington county, N. Y. His father, Osborn Will- son, was a native of Vermont, but removed to Washington county, N. Y., and resided at the town of Greenwich for sixty years. He died February 13, 1880, at the age of eighty-seven years. The mother of Volney was Susan (Clapp) Willson, a lady of Welsh antecedents on the father's side, while the maternal ances- tors were Scotch. She was born in Salem, Washington county, N. Y., and died in August, 1875, in her seventy-sixth year. Volney was the eldest of twelve children, eleven of whom, at some time during their lives, were engaged in school teaching. He received his prelimi- nary education in the district schools of his na- tive county, and when he was twelve years old, entered a seminary at Union village, N. Y., where he pursued his studies during the four

succeeding summers. Afterward he engaged in teaching school during the winter, and in summer was employed on the home farm. When twenty-one years of age he came to Muncie and taught school for two years. At the end of that time he formed a partnership with John A. Gilbert in the grocery trade, but about two years later, again engaged in teaching school. During the next few years he was engaged alternately in teaching, superintending his farm of 500 acres, and acting as deputy treas- urer of Delaware county. In 1844 he was elected to the office of county treasurer, and was re-elected three consecutive terms, this fact being a sufficient guarantee of his ability and the confidence reposed in him by the peo- ple. After 1853, he devoted his time to farm- ing and stock raising, brokerage transactions and buying and selling wool, cattle, etc. He was regarded as one of the leading farmers of the state, as he was one of the most system- atic. His domain of 900 acres was well culti- vated and bore evidence of skilled tillage in all of its departments. He was quite enthusiastic with the state fairs in an official capacity. He was a friend of public enterprises, and sub- scribed liberally to all the railroads and turn- pikes centering in Muncie. He was a director and treasurer of the Muncie & Granville turn- pike, and of the Muncie & Yorktown Turnpike company. For eight years he was a director of the Branch bank of the State of Indiana, at Muncie, and had been a stockholder in the Cincinnati & Chicago, the Lafayette, Muncie & Bloomington, and the Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati & Indianapolis railroads.

He was a man of vigorous physique, and, up to the day of his death, pursued his daily labor, uninterrupted by any premonition of his speedy demise. He died suddenly on Monday morning, June 1, 1868, leaving a wife and four children. A city paper, in an obituary article contained the following tribute to his

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memory: "He was widely known throughout this community, and respected by all who knew him. Honest, upright, enterprising and frugal, he was an example worthy of imitation by all young men. His integrity and fair dealing were above suspicion, and no one bore a more unsullied character. He was thor- oughly identified with the interests of Muncie, which he had made his home for so many years, and quietly accomplished much in ad- vancing her prosperity."

In politics, he was originally a whig, but later became a republican. He attended all of the political state conventions during the past twenty-five years of his life, having offici- ated several times as a delegate. In 1876, he was chosen as a delegate to the republican national convention, Philadelphia, but declined. He was independent in his religious views, yet he was a generous contributor to the erection and maintenance of churches, and every church in Muncie owes something to his liber- ality. He was initiated into the Independent Order of Odd Fellows in 1852, and has taken all the degrees of the subordinate lodge. He was also a friend to the cause of education. In his business relations Mr. Willson always sustained a reputation for honest and fair dealing, and he was never involved in a suit at law on his own account, He was appreci- ated by all who knew him, and was recognized as a reliable and worthy citizen. In Febru- ary, 1843, he was united in marriage with Miss Elizabeth Gilbert, a daughter of John Alsop Gilbert, and reared a family consisting of two daughters and four sons.

John Alsop Gilbert, the third child and eldest son of his parents, was born at Bristol, N. Y., October 22, 1799. When but five years of age he lost his father by death, and was taken by his uncle, Jedithan Gilbert, to his home at Hague, N. Y., with whom he con- tinued to reside until after he attained his ma-

jority, receiving, in the meantime, a good English education. While residing at the town of Hague his uncle was largely engaged in the lumber trade. He removed to Wash- ington county, N. Y., while J. Alsop Gilbert was yet a small boy, and it was here that the latter received the greater part of his educa- cation and grew to manhood. In October, 1823, Mr. Gilbert was united in marriage to Miss Mahala Potter, in Washington county, N. Y., and subsequently removed with his wife to Erie county, in the same state. He had learned the cooper's trade, and, after his removal to the last named point, he carried on his trade in connection with farming. He was thus engaged until 1836, when he sought a home in the west. Goldsmith C. Gilbert, his half-uncle, had settled here a number of years previously. He arrived in Muncie in June, 1836, and, in the fall of that year, rented the mill of Goldsmith C. Gilbert, which he operated successfully for about two years. He then engaged in the cooper's trade at Muncie, supplying barrele for Hunter & Co., who were extensively engaged in pork-packing. He purchased a farm west of Muncie, which he cultivated successfully in addition to per- forming his labors in town. He was an ener- getic worker, and, by honest toil and close attention to business, amassed a comfortable fortune. He was regarded as one of the best citizens of the county, and was identified with its interests and improvements for a period of thirty-two years. In 1838, he was elected justice of the peace, and in the following year was elected associate judge of Delaware county. After his retirement from this office he was again elected justice of the peace, serving for several years. While serving in this ca- pacity, he always endeavored to restore peace and good feeling between litigants, and often adjusted cases thus, while quietly sitting in his house or shop, without having them come to

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trial at all. He lost his fees, of course, but he did not care.

Mr. Gilbert's first wife died in January, 1854, leaving three children, viz .: Elizabeth, now the widow of Volney Willson; Othonial, who sacrificed an arm in defense of the Union cause, and now deceased; and Thomas H. In April, 1857, he was wedded to Mrs. Phœbe Potter, who still survives. One son, John Volney, blessed this second union. While Mr. Gilbert was not identified with any religious organization, his life was exemplary of chris- tian principles. He practiced the "golden rule" in his daily life, and never intentionally gave pain or offense.

He died August 20, 1890, and his remains rest in the beautiful cemetery of Beech Grove. He was known and honored throughout the county, and was followed to his last repose by a sad concourse of citizens and the pioneers with whom he had been associated in other days. Mr. and Mrs. Gilbert, parents of Mrs. Willson, were pioneers of Muncie. John A. Gilbert's father, Othohial Gilbert, who was of English descent, settled in Ontario county, N. Y., where he married Miss Elizabeth Watt, of Scotch antecedents, about the year 1794 or 1795. The fruits of this union were six chil- dren, named, respecttively, Azuba, Betsy, John Alsop, Sewell, Polly and Othonial.

J OHN W. WILSON, a prominent farm- er of Centre township, was born in Clinton county, Ohio, March 4, 1836. His father, Benoni Wilson, was born in the same county and state in the year 1800, the son of Amos Wilson, whose wife was a Mills. The Wilson family moved to Ohio in a very early day from Kentucky, and the Mills family were among the old pioneers of Penn- sylvania, in which state Mrs. Amos Wilson

was born. Benoni Wilson was reared a farm- er in Clinton county, Ohio, and, in connec- tion with tilling the soil, carried on the manu- facture of brick, and was also a brick mason. He was a man of more than average mental endowments, and while still young in years, entered the ministry of the Christian church, of which communion he was an honored preacher until his death. He came to Dela- ware county, Ind., in 1836, settling in Dela- ware township, where he carried on agricul- tural pursuits and brick making until his death, which occurred in 1847. Upon all public and political questions of his time, Benoni Wilson had broad and decided views, and he early became an uncompromising enemy of slavery, which institution he opposed with all the pow- ers of his nature. As a man, he was widely and favorably known, and as a Christian, his life was a practical exemplification of the pure teachings of the Nazarene. His wife, whose maiden name was Martha Long, also a native of Clinton county, Ohio, survived him a num- ber of years, dying in March, 1868. The fol- lowing are the names of the children born to Martha and Benoni Wilson: Mary J., deceased; Jesse W., a resident of Sacramento, Cal .; John W., whose name introduces this sketch; Lucinda A., widow of Capt. M. B. Gregory, who was killed in the battle of Nashville, Tenn .; Amos L., a banker of Lyndon, Kan., Rachael, wife of E. Shideler, a merchant of Lyndon, Kan., and Benoni G., a farmer of Osage county, Kan.

John W. Wilson remained on the farm until his twentieth year, at which time he began working at carpentering, and followed that occupation for a limited period. He next turned his attention to farming, and his success as an agriculturist is attested by the fact that, from a very insignificant beginning, he has succeeded in accumulating a very valu- able property, being at this time the possessor

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of 240 acres of as fine land as lies in Delaware county, the greater part of which is highly cultivated and substantially improved. His first purchase of real estate in Centre town- ship, consisting of forty acres, was made in 1860, and by careful financiering and well directed thrift he has added to liis original tract from time to time, until he is now the owner of the beautiful place above noted.

Mr. Wilson was married August 24, 1859, in Monroe township, Delaware county, to Nancy J. Cooley, daughter of William S. and Jane (Rainey) Cooley, both natives of New York and early pioneers of this county. Mr. and Mrs. Wilson have never been blessed with any children of their own, but they are raising the child of their relatives, a daughter of Will- iam and Flawry Peterson. Mr. Wilson is a public spirited man, a republican in his polit- ical affiliations, and in addition to his real estate in the country owns a valuable property in the city of Muncie.

0 R. HENRY CLAY WINANS (de- ceased), was born on the 31st day of December, 1829, in Greene county, Ohio. His father was Matthias Wi- nans, who was a preacher and a physician in Greene county, Ohio, was born near Maysville, Ky., and in 1815, at Maysville, married Mary Winans. Matthias Winans was born March 8, 1791, and Mary Winans was born February 14, 1792. The paternal great-grandfather of Dr. Henry C. was born in 1745, and his great- grandmother in 1752. Dr. Winans was one of a family of eight children, of whom five are now living: Dr. Wilson C. Winans at Louis- ville, Ill., Mrs. Adelia Dawson at Columbus, Ohio, Mrs. Zerelda Green, of Salem, Ill., Mrs. Clarissa Harper, of Lima, Ohio, and Mrs. Fan- nie Syfers. One of his brothers was Hon. James

J. Winans, who was a member of congress from Greene county, Ohio, and for several years judge of that county. Samuel J. Winans, the youngest brother of the doctor, born November 17, 1836, was sergeant major of the Fourth Illinois volunteer infantry, and was killed at Missionary Ridge, November 25, 1863, by a rifle ball, and his remains found interment be- side those of his parents at Youngstown, Ohio.

Henry Clay Winans received his literary education at the common schools at James- town, Ohio, and at the Bethany college, W. Va. He read medicine with his father, and probably with his brother-in-law, Dr. John Dawson, who subsequently occupied the chair of anatomy in the Sterling Medical college of Columbus, Ohio. Dr. Winans, having been thus prepared by his preceptors, attended lectures at this institution and afterward commenced the practive of his profession at Xenia, Ill. In the spring of 1862 he located at Muncie and soon took a front rank among the physicians of this portion of the state. Dr. Winans was regarded as the best read physician on the theory and practice of medicine in this county, and his counsels will be sadly missed by his professional col- leagues. Sometime during the war he con- tracted rheumatism. and for the past twenty years of his life he was a most acute sufferer from this disease. For the last few years he was almost entirely incapacitated from prac- tice outside of his office. But still through all his, sufferings his mind remained unimpaired, and his advice was always sought after and regarded by the other physicians of the city, and in his death the medical fraternity sustain- ed a great loss. From the inception of the board of health of the city of Muncie, Dr. Winans was an active member until his bodily sufferings compelled him to retire.

Dr. Winans was twice married-the first time, in 1854, at Jamestown, Ohio, to Miss Lucy E. Dakin, who was born August 4, 1828,

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and died in 1859. The result of this marriage was the birth of two children; the elder, Dr. Harry Winans, is the only one living. Charles, the younger, was born January 15, 1859, and died at the hospital in Cincinnati on Decem- ber 7th, 1882. Dr. Winans married for his second wife, Miss Arabella Paullin, in 1860. One daughter, Mayne, was born October 21, 1862, and is now Mrs. Carl Spilker. The doctor was a member of the Christian church, having joined at Canton, Ohio, in 1857, and of the Masonic fraternity. Few men struggled more persistently or more successfully than did the deceased, and possessing a courage that brooked of no defeat, he made his way against reverses that would have blinded the progress of most men. His rule through life was founded upon the principle of never deviating from a fixed purpose, and by his faithfulness he obtained the confidence of all around him. In the medical societies of which the deceased was connected he was an influential member, and his judgment was of great weight with all his colleagues. Exceedingly careful and ever conservative in arriving at conclusions, he was modest, but manly, in maintaining them, and was more of a practical than a showy man-a man of deeds rather than words-and never stepped aside from his chosen field of labor to mingle in other circles. As a private citizen he was always found generous and full of noble impulses, and his character was marked by integrity, geniality and true benevolence. He was a man of incorruptible integrity, and of wonderful mental activity and splendid at- tainments in his profession. He was a close student to the end of his career, and his clear mind, retentive memory and logical reasoning powers enabled him to gain large information in every avenue of intellectual development and research, and to apply it in the practice of his profession and the ways of life. He always possessed the courage of his convictions,

and was enabled to sustain any position he took on any subject with reasoning of the clearest character. The lamented death of Dr. H. C. Winans took place October 16, 1884.

R OBERT WINTON, M. D. (deceased), of Muncie, was born in Rossville, But- ler county, Ohio, November 14, 1820, and devoted most of his life to the study and practice of medicine. He removed to Crawfordsville, Ind., in 1831, where, four years later, he entered Wabash college, with the intention of taking the full course, but, on account of the death of his father, which oc- curred in 1832, he was unable, through lack of means, to remain in the institution more than two years. After leaving the school he became a clerk in the 'store of his brother, Matthew H., in Lafayette, and stayed there until the fall of 1838. During the succeeding winter he read medicine in the office of his brother-in-law in Dayton, Ind. The next year he accepted a place as salesman in the general mercantile establishment of Bloomfield, Russey & Jack, at Muncie, with whom he remained one year, and then entered the employ of Willard & Put- nam, merchants, and held that position the same length of time. Then he went to Craw- fordsville, and for one year spent all his leisure in the study of medicine, under the direction of his brother, William R. Winton, M. D., after which he returned to Muncie and entered the office of Dr. W. C. Willard. His previ- ous medical studies had prepared him for a ready comprehension of the science, and he now made very satisfactury progress. Two years later he married Elmira, daughter of Stephen Long, former treasurer of Delaware county. In October of that year he removed to Wheeling, Delaware county, and commenced the practice of medicine. Hitherto the force

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of circumstances had made Mr. Winton ap- parently capricious, but now he had secured a vantage ground from which he could not be easily moved. Here he remained eleven years, steadily engaged in the duties of his profession. Through his experience and study he had thus far attained a degree of proficiency with which many are content; but, aspiring to a more extended knowledge, he entered Rush Medical college, at Chicago, in 1855, and graduated in the following February. In the fall of 1856 he returned to Muncie, and in January, 1857, formed a partnership with his old preceptor, Dr. W. C. Willard, but, because of that gentleman's ill health, this relation was dissolved in the fall of 1858. During the four subsequent years he was asso- ciated, first, with Dr W. J. Andrews, and then with his nephew, Dr. Horace Winton. In June, 1872, he entered into partnership with Dr. G. W. H. Kemper. While in Wheeling, Dr. Winton was connected with the Grant county Medical society, and, after locating in Muncie, he helped organize the Delaware county Medical society, and was for some time its president. In March, 1866, he was a mem- ber of the convention that reorganized the old State Medical society into a delegated body and was associated with it until his death. He was also a member of the American Medical asso- ciation. He was a member of the Independ- ent Order of Odd Fellows, and took all the degrees of the encampment, and was a repre- sentative to the grand lodge of the state. In politics the doctor was content to remain in the rank and file of his party-the republi- can-never having sought political favors nor held any office except that of member of the city council. Educational and religious inter- ests were to him a more congenial field, and in this he acted officially as a school trustee and an elder of the Presbyterian church. Dr. Win- ton had five children, four of whom are living:

Emma J., wife of A. S. Haines, commission merchant of Kansas City; Mary L., married to J. W. Perkins; George W. Winton, plumb- er, and Carrie L., married to Will W. Kirby. Dr. Winton's ability to trace the devious paths of disease through the system, and to remove it, with its effects, was recognized in the suc- cessful results of his practice, and the enviable reputation he gained. Those qualities of mind and heart that do not pertain to the mere knowledge of medical science, but greatly en- hance the true worth of a family physician, were not wanting in him. In social and relig- ious circles he was justly esteemed, and his in- fluence in the community was that of a man of culture and moral refinement. He died July 30, 1885.

NOCH WITT, proprietor of the Buck Creek Flouring mills, Muncie, is a native of Delaware county, Ind., and dates his birth from the 31st day of January, 1850. Mr. Witt is a repre- sentative of one of the oldest families of Indi- ana, members of which settled within the present limits of the state when it formed a part of the Northwest territory. His parents, John C. and Hannah H. (Tuttle) Witt, were both natives of Delaware county, and descend- ants of the early pioneers who lead the van of civilization into what is now one of the most prosperous and progressive sections of the great state of Indiana. John Witt died March 28, 1866, and his widow afterwards became the wife of Morris Kidnocker, who is miller in charge of the Buck Creek Flouring mills. Until eighteen years of age, Enoch Witt lived with his parents on the home farm, and then accepted a clerkship in a general goods store at Granville, in which capacity he continued for a period of two and one-half years. His next venture was in the grocery business in

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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 49

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