USA > Indiana > Delaware County > A portrait and biographical record of Delaware county, 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
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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- tinned 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 his 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.
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 3Ist 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
ENOCH WITT.
MRS. E. F. WITT.
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Muncie in partnership with E. Anthony, which relation was continued six months, Mr. Witt managing his farm in the meantime, and he continued the pursuit of agriculture until the death of his wife in 1879, when he began buy- ing and selling horses. He devoted his atten- tion to the latter for a limited period, and, until 1888, looked after his farm, but in that year purchased the Buck Creek Flouring mills of Muncie, which he still owns and operates.
Mr. Witt and Miss Susan C. Stafford, of Delaware county, were united in marriage March 20, 1874, which tender relation was rudely severed by the death of Mrs. Witt, which occurred March 15, 1879. She was a woman of many excellent traits of character, the mother of one child, Roy Witt, and her remains were laid to rest in what is known as the Black cemetery, Delaware township, where a beautiful monument has been erected to her memory. On the 22d day of Decem- ber, 1879, Mr. Witt married his present wife, Miss Emma F. Motes, who was born in Mun- cie, Ind., February 12, 1860, daughter of John and Hannah Motes, a union blessed with the birth of four children: Carl, Pearl, Thad and Clarence. Mr. Witt is a stanch republican in politics, a Mason of high standing, and be- longs to the I. O. O. F., K. of H. and Im- proved Order of Red Men. He is one of Del- aware county's most influential citizens and an affable and courteous gentleman. The mill of which he is proprietor, is located in the south part of Muncie, and is thoroughly equip- ped with all the latest and most improved ap- pliances for the manufacture of flour by the roller process. The capacity is fifty barrels per day, the superior quality of which finds for it a ready sale in the markets of Muncie and other cities of central Indiana. The mill is kept running constantly in order to supply the demand for its product, and it is one of the most highly prized industries of Muncie.
ILLIAM H. H. WOOD, city en- gineer of Muncie, is a native of Wayne county, Ind., born on the first day of January, 1842, near the city of Richmond, Ind. His paternal grand- parents, David J. and Rebecca (Thomas) Wood, were natives of Kanawha county, Va., and among the early pioneers of Wayne coun- ty, Ind., locating not far trom the present site of Richmond, when that city was but a niche in the surrounding forest. Joseph T. Wood, father of William H. H., was born near the town of Centreville, Wayne county, Ind:, and grew to manhood on a farm. In early life he learned the trade of carpentering, which he followed for some years, later worked at cabi- net making at Centreville, and at one time, before the day of railroads, engaged in the pork packing business at Cambridge City, shipping by way of the old White Water canal and the Ohio river to Cincinnati and other western and southern markets. During the construction of the old Indiana Central rail- road, now the Pan Handle, he was bridge contractor and assisted in building a goodly portion of the line through Indiana. Subse- quently, Mr. Wood was contractor of a section of the G. R. & I. railroad, also a por- tion of the C, H. &. D. R. R, and also as- sisted in the construction of the Logansport division of the Pan Handle. He moved to Richmond, Ind., in 1856, resided there a num- ber of years, and then became a resident of Randolph county, locating at Wood's station, on the G. R. & I. railroad, where he made his home until he removed to Muncie in 1881. From the latter date until his demise, Mr. Wood lived a life of retirement, and he now rests from his labors in the beautiful Beech Grove cemetery, his death occurring on the sixth day of June, 1893, at the advanced age of seventy-four years. His was a life of great activity, and during over a half-century devoted
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to business his success was most signal at times; but reverses swept away the accumula- tions of years. For over fifty years he was a sincere member of the Methodist church, and in politics he supported the old whig party until its disintegration, after which the repub- lican party claimed his allegiance. He was married, in 1840, to Sophia Fender, daughter of Henry and Elizabeth (Long) Fender of Wayne county, and became the father of six children, namely: William H. H., Martha (deceased), Julius C., Mary A., Albert and Leonidas.
W. H. H. Wood obtained his education in the schools of Richmond, supplemented by a course in Asbury university (now DePauw) at Greencastle. For sometime after leaving col- lege, he taught in the schools of Wayne county, about eight terms in all, and he also became proficient in carpentering, which he followed with good success, first as a builder of houses and later as a constructor of bridges on the L., N. A. & C. railroad. After working at the trade for some years, he engaged in the manu- facture of lumber at Wood station, Randolph county, where he operated a saw mill for two years, at the end of which time, in 1872, he transferred the business to Muncie, where for about the same length of time he carried on a successful lumber trade. In the meantime, while at work with his father on the G. R. & I. R. R., he became interested in civil engineer- ing, for which he early evinced great apti- tude, and under the instruction of Phineas D. Pomeroy, engineer in charge of the line, also surveyor of the Miami canal, he soon acquired sufficient practical knowledge of the profession to enable him to engage in it upon his own responsibility. Possessing a naturally strong mathematical mind, as well as a decided taste for engineering, Mr. Wood, by thorough study, . became a very competent surveyor, his ability as such being frequently called into use through-
out Delaware and other counties of eastern In- diana. In 1879 he was elected street commis- sioner of Muncie, the duties of which position he discharged two terms, after which, until the spring of 1882, he was in the employ of the manufacturing firm of A. L. Johnson & Co. Re- elected street commissioner and city engineer in the latter year, he has since devoted his at- tention to his office in such a way as to com- mend him to the people as one of the most efficient and painstaking officials ever elected to the position in the city of Muncie The plat of New Muncie, including the various addi- tions made to the city, are almost entirely his own work, and he has been of great assistance to the corporation, as well as to individuals, in submitting estimates that have saved the tax- payers many thousands of dollars in money. As a citizen as well as an official Mr. Wood is deservedly popular, and during a long residence in Muncie his private character has proved above reproach, nor has his official record ever been impeached. He was married, in 1867, to Sophronia Darnall, of Putnam county, Ind., daughter of Samuel and Marie Darnall. Mr. and Mrs. Wood are the parents of five chil- dren: Melville, bridge engineer for the Indiana Bridge company; Nettie, student at DePauw univer ity; Ella, Charline and Rollin.
ULIUS C. WOOD, a well known man- ufacturer of Muncie, was born April 10, 1847, on a farm in Wayne county, Ind., son of Joseph and Sophia Wood. He spent the first ten years of his life on the home farm. attending the country schools as the seasons would admit, and about 1857 was taken by his parents to Richmond, Ind., in the schools of which city he received a prac- tical education. While still young he began working on a saw mill, and was thus employed
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until 1864, at which time he enlisted in the One Hundred and Twenty-fourth Indiana in- fantry, company I, and accompanied his regi- ment to the front, the command forming a part of the Twenty-third corps, army of the Tennessee. Mr. Wood's first actual military experience was at Atlanta, Ga., where he re- ceived his baptism of fire, taking part in sev- eral sanguinary battles of that city, and later participated in the battle of Franklin, Tenn., after which his regiment was removed east and joined the army of Gen. Sherman at Golds- boro', N. C. Subsequently, Mr. Wood ac- companied his command on the historic march to Raleigh, N. C., where the Confederate forces under Gen. Johnson capitulated, and at the close of the war was mustered out of the service at New York city. Returning to Rich- mond, Ind., after leaving the army, Mr. Wood began working at the carpenter's trade, which he followed successfully for a period of three years, and then engaged in the manufacture of lumber four miles south of Winchester, Ran- dolph county, in partnership with his brother, W. H. H. Wood. During the succeeding three years Mr. Wood carried on a very suc- cessful lumber business, at the end of which time he came to Muncie and began dealing quite extensively in hard wood timber and lumber, following this line of trade until 1881, when he entered the employ of A. L. Johnson & Co., manufacturers of hard wood lumber, as superintendent of their mills in the city. He continued as superintendent until 1890, in January of which year he purchased an inter- est in the enterprise and has since been a member of the firm, also its general manager. With every detail of the lumber business Mr. Wood is thoroughly familiar, and the com- pany with which he is identified has borne no little part in contributing to the well being of Muncie and Delaware county. In business circles he occupies a conspicuous position, his
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