USA > Ohio > Allen County > A portrait and biographical record of Allen and Van Wert counties, Ohio, v. 2 > Part 63
USA > Ohio > Van Wert County > A portrait and biographical record of Allen and Van Wert counties, Ohio, v. 2 > Part 63
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).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71
Edward Wagoner, son of Thomas Wagoner by his marriage with Isabel Russell, was born in Allegheny county, Pa., about 1828, was
reared on the home farm and was taught the trade of carpenter. When a young man he came to Ohio and located in Ashland county, where he married Margaret Adams, the union resulting in the birth of two children-John and Susan E. Returning to Pennsylvania to work at his trade, Mrs. Wagoner died in Beaver county. Going then to Allegheny county, Edward married his second wife- Cynthia Bradley-and to this union were born four children: Albert, Thomas, Emma and one deceased. Mr. Wagoner later returned to Ohio and lived in Ashland county until some time during the progress of the Civil war, when he moved to Van Wert county, where he pur- chased and cleared up forty acres of land, and later moved to Allen county, prospering as a farmer and enjoying the esteem of his neigh- bors. He reached a good old age and died in the faith of the United Brethren church.
John Wagoner, the subject of this biog- raphy, was reared on the home farm until August 11, 1862, when, at the age of twenty years, he enlisted in Ashland county, in com- pany B, One Hundred and Second Ohio volun- teer infantry, and served until July 8, 1865- or nearly three years -- when he was honorably discharged at Columbus, Ohio. He fought in the campaigns of Tennessee, Kentucky and Alabama, and was in the battle of Decatur in the latter state, and in the famous march from Franklin, Ky., to take part in the battle at Perryville-besides dozens of other serious engagements and skirmishes. He was always faithful and cheerful, was always with his regiment and doing his share of its work, except when sick for two weeks in hospital at Covington, Ky., and when on detailed duty with the first Tennessee battery, with which he drove a team eleven months.
Mr. Wagoner was married, in 1868, in Allen county, to Miss Sarah A. Brand, who was born in the county November 19, 1839, a
-
822
BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY
daughter of John and Harriet (Creager) Brand. John Brand was born in Fayette county, Pa., February 19, 1794, and was married in Fair- field county, Ohio, March 25, 1832, to Hen- rietta Creager, a native of Maryland, born . March 26, 1806, of German descent. To Mr. and Mrs. Brand were born eight children, of whom five lived to adult age, viz: Sylvester J., Rachel, Sarah A., Lucinda and Mary. In October, 1832, Mr. Brand settled in German township, Allen county, on 105 acres, became one of the county commissioners, and was one of the builders of the old brick court house at Lima; he lived to the great age of eighty-four years and died in ISSo, a member of the Meth- odist church, and a very prominent citizen.
Mr. and Mrs. Wagoner, after marriage, settled in York township, Van Wert county, on forty acres of woodland, which he cleared up, and then moved to Washington township, in 1882, and bought eighty acres, then all in the woods, but which he has converted into an excellent farm, improving it in most admir- able style, and expending $1,000 on drain tile alone, so that it will now favorably compare with any farm of its size in the county. To Mr. and Mrs. Wagoner have been born three children-Thurman B., Mary B. and Nettie B .- all born in York township. Mr. and Mrs. Wagoner have done a vast amount of hard work, have reared a respected family, and are honored by all who know them.
H. WAGONER, florist, member of the firm of Wagoner & Wagoner, of Van Wert, Ohio, was born Jan- uary 6, 1867. He is a son of An- drew Wagoner, who was born December 13. 1833, in Allegheny county, Pa., and is of Irish and German parentage. At an early age An- drew learned the trade of ship-carpenter, at which he worked for eleven years with un-
usual success. On the 21st of September, 1869, he was married to Miss Sarah J. Mar- latt, of Allegheny county, Pa., and continued to work at ship-carpentering and at the gen- eral carpenter's trade until 1894, when he re- moved to Van Wert to assist his son, W. H., to build a greenhouse. By his marriage to Miss Marlatt he is the father of the following children: E. C., Celina, W. H., Frank L. (deceased), Mary L., Alice, James W., and Joseph W. Of these eight children, Celina, James W. and Joseph W. are dead, all three dying in infancy. Mr. Wagoner is a repub- lican in politics, and is a member of the Meth- odist Episcopal church. He is also a member of the American Mechanics.
Mrs. Wagoner is a member of the Method- ist Episcopal church, and takes great interest in religious matters. She was born August 13, 1839, and is the daughter of Joseph Marlatt, who was born in New Jersey. When yet a young man he learned the carpenter trade. He married Miss Agnes Hires, of New Jersey, and afterward removed to Allegheny county, Pa., where he followed his trade with great success. In politics he was a democrat, was a Methodist in religion, and was very liberal in his assistance to all religious and other enter- prises of which he approved. He lived in Allegheny county, Pa., until his death, which occurred in 1882.
Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Marlatt were the par- ents of thirteen children, viz: Charles, Michael, William H., Elias, John, James W., Ella, Mary E., Sarah A., Lydia, and three that died in in- fancy. All the rest are living, married, and heads of families. Mrs. Marlatt, the mother of these children, died in 1887. She was a native of New Jersey, was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and a most ex- cellent woman in every way, highly respected by all that knew her.
W. H. Wagoner is a popular and highly
1
1
Orin. S. Wickisy 223 - 824
Rebecca Vickroy
825 -826
£
827
OF VAN WERT COUNTY.
respected young business man of Van. Wert, and is at the present time the proprietor of one of the finest greenhouses in the state of Ohio It is the pride of the city of Van Wert, and is situated on Cemetery street, near Woodland cemetery, and in this fine greenhouse all kinds of plants and shrubs may be found whenever demanded by his patrons.
O RIN G. VICKROY, farmer and stock raiser of Union township, Van Wert county, son of Emanuel and Matilda (Hardman) Vickroy, was born in Rich- land county, Ohio, April 3, 1854. Emanuel Vickroy was born in Bedford county, Pa., July II, 1824, and was a son of John Vickroy, whose family was among the early English set- tlers of that state. Emanuel Vickroy was a farmer, remained in Pennsylvania until Novem- ber 4, 1853, at which time he emigrated to Ohio, settling in the county of Richland, where he purchased a small farm and engaged in agricultural pursuits. Later he abandoned farming, and for a time was engaged in mer- chandising in the town of Bellville, but after three years' experience in the grocery business he returned to the country, rented a farm and continued his former vocation until about 1873, in which year he began the huckster business, following the same until 1884. His marriage with Matilda Hardman occurred August 14, 1848, her parents being Jacob and Elizabeth Hardman, both of German descent. The chil- dren born of this marriage were eight in num- ber, viz: Remina, wife of Henry Schwartz; Martha A., Orin G., Jacob, Mary E., deceased wife of E. R. Kelly; Sarah, John H .; Alice, wife of Cassius Huntsman. The mother of these children was born in Bedford county, Pa., September 10, 1831, grew to womanhood at the country home of her parents, came to Richland county, Ohio, November 4, 1853, Wyandot county he told his wife that he had
and her death occurred in Richland county, Ohio, December 25, 1863. She was an earnest member of the Disciple church, a kind and loving wife and mother, and her death was deeply lamented by the community where she has so long lived.
Orin G. Vickroy attended, in his youth, the common schools of Richland and Morrow counties, and early learned the dignity of labor with his father on the farm. After his father commenced the huckster business young Vick- roy became dissatisfied and concluded he would look out for himself and left his home and en- gaged as a farm hand, for a time; then think- ing that he was not making money fast enough he bought territory and engaged in selling a patent fence until he lost faith in the business, and then quite poorer by considerable than he began, but thought what he lost in dollars and cents was gained in experience, and went to again on a farm with a will, and in 1876 went to Wyandot county, where for one year he worked as a farm laborer, after which he rented some land, which he successfully culti- vated, and after making several moves in Wyandot county, thought perhaps he might do better by coming further west, so in the spring of 1884, after a heavy rain, it being so wet he could not work the land that he was cultivat- ing, he concluded that he would come out to Van Wert county and see the black swamps, as it was called by Wyandot county people. When he came here he found the greater part of the land near his present location inundated with water. He borrowed a pair of rubber boots and walked over a part of the land that he now owns, and finding that there was suf- ficient fall so the land could be underdrained, concluded that he had better purchase eighty acres and. bought it before he left the county. thinking it would be a good investment if he never moved on it. After going back to
828
BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY
purchased eighty acres of the black swamps, and asked her how she would like to move out there, where they had plenty of music, made by frogs, cow bells and mosquitos. She said she would rather live on land of their own than to rent. So in the fall of 1884 O. G. chart- ered a car and moved to his present location in Union township, Van Wert county, Ohio, arriving at Convoy November 22. 1884, which place is three miles from his farm.
March IS, ISSO, Mr. Vickroy and Miss Re- becca Gongwer, daughter of Philip and Sa- loma (Long) Gongwer, of Ashland county, Ohio, were united in marriage. Mrs. Vickroy was born in the aforesaid county, June 21, 1859, her father being a native of Pennsylva- nia. Mr. and Mrs. Vickroy found the Van Wert people sociable and clever, but there was something else to look after; it was necessary to have something to eat and how to get it on a farm that was in woods and covered with water was the question that came to Vickroy's mind, not having any cleared land that he could raise a crop. So by asking some of the near neighhors he found that Shepard of Con- voy bought elm stave bolts, and having some cull elm timber he commenced making bolts and made enough money at it to keep the wolf from the door, but when spring come there was something else to do; the land had to be drained before there could be any clearing done. Vickroy hired some hands and coin- menced making the outlet for his land, and while making it he found another drawback; most of the people of northern Van Wert al- lowed their stock to run at large, and the cat- tle were tramping the outlet ditches shut; he thought it all wrong to work hard to make a ditch and have cattle following up and tramp- ing it shut, so after being here a few years, he saw that it was absolutely necessary to enforce the stock law, and he with the aid of a few others succeeded in having the stock laws en-
forced, against great opposition. After Vick- roy had an outlet made for the water from his land, he commenced clearing, underdraining, and farming his land, and by careful manage- ment and hard work he succeeded in placing his farm in its present condition. Mr. Vick- roy is what may be properly termed a self-made man, having gone out to battle with the world, without the assistance of a dollar from any one, yet by his. well directed and persistent efforts he has accumulated a goodly share of this world's goods, owning a fine farm of 237 acres and other property of value. Mr. and Mrs. Vickroy while not meinbers of church are liberal in their support of all worthy chari- ties, and they have always exerted a whole- some moral influence in the neighborhood. Mr. Vickroy is a practical man, enterprising and public-spirited, and is popular in his coun- ty; politically he is a democrat, but has no political aspiration whatever, and while not an office-seeker himself, he loves to see good hon- orable men elected to fill our offices; he has been honored by his party with positions of trust in his township without any opposition at the election; the opposite party did not run a man against him. Mr. Vickroy attributes his success in getting a farm to industry, fair dealing, and doing the right thing at the right time. Mr. and Mrs. Orin G. Vickroy have no children of their own, but have reared a boy who was born October I, ISSO.
UY CARLTON VANHORN, one of the thriving farmers of Tully town- ship, Van Wert county, Ohio. de- scends from an old Holland-Dutch family of New York state. His father, John Vanhorn, was a native of the Empire state, and there married Mary Burton, who bore five children-William, James, Sarah, Ellen and Guy C. From New York Mr. and Mrs. Van-
-------
....... . .
829
OF VAN WERT COUNTY.
horn moved to Bradford county, Pa., and thence came to Ohio, in 1852, and settled in Franklin county, where he lived to be eighty- seven years of age. He was a republican in politics, and two of his sons, James and Will- iam, faithfully served in the Union army during the late Civil war.
Guy Carlton Vanhorn, our subject, was born in Bradford county, Pa., September 20, 1847, and was consequently but five years of age when brought to Ohio. He was reared to farming and carpentering in Franklin county, and in 1867 married Mrs. Susan J. Leap, a daughter of Isaac Wooley; this lady bore Mr. Vanhorn four children-Alice, Isaac, Frances and Zeneth G .- and then passed away in 1871. Mr. Vanhorn came to Van Wert county after the death of his first wife, having married, March 6, 1878, Mrs. Eliza Roberts, a widow, and daughter of Thomas Johnson. To this marriage three children have been born, viz : One that died in infancy, Ida M. and Cora E. When Mr. Van horn bought his present home- stead of eighty acres it was deep in the woods, but by hard labor he has cleared it up, and it is now as neat and well cultivated a place as can be found in the township. He is entirely a self-made man, but has been ably aided by his faithful wife to secure his present compe- tency. His daughter Alice is married to S. Sponseller, a farmer of Tully township, and has one child; Isaac Vanhorn married Ida Zinn, and is a farmer of Harrison township; Fannie is married to Frank Zinn, a farmer of Tully township, and has one son, born July 4, 1895. The mother of these children sickened shortly after her arrival in Tully township, and an expenditure of $500 for doctors' bills, through a period of eighteen months, failed to save her, and when she died her eldest daugh- ter was but six years of age; and so Mr. Van- horn struggled on for nearly three years before he again married and again became happy in
the aid and comfort afforded by woman's pres- ence, through his marriage with Elsie Johnson.
Thomas J. Johnson, the father of the pres- ent Mrs. Vanhorn, was born in Loudoun coun- ty, Va., but when a young man came to Clin- ton county, Ohio, and married Hannah Frey, who became the mother of Mrs. Vanhorn. Mr. Johnson, after marriage, returned to Lou- doun county, Va., resided there seven years, came back to Ohio, and in 1880 settled in Convoy, where he worked at his trade of wagon making until his death, in 1886, at the age of sixty-nine years. He and his wife were members of the Friends' church, and were the parents of eleven children, viz: John H., Sarah C., Jane, Michael, Cyrus, Elsie, Nicholas, Ma- hala, Harriet, Elizabeth and America. In politics Mr. Johnson was a republican, but yet had a son who was forced into the Confederate army, and who died six months later. Mr. Johnson, being a Union man, was obliged to leave Virginia in 1862 and seek refuge in Mary- land, and thence flee to Ohio. Mr. Vanhorn is also a stanch republican.
UZERNE WAGNER, farmer and tile manufacturer, of Hoaglin township, Van Wert county, Ohio, is a native of the Buckeye state, born in Frank- lin county, November 19, 1849, and is of Ger- man extraction. His grandfather, Jacob Wag- ner, was born in Pennsylvania, moved to Franklin county, Ohio, entered 160 acres of land, which he cleared up with his own hands. and there married a Miss Danalds and passed the remainder of his life in that county. James Wagner, son of Jacob and father of our sub- ject, was born in Pennsylvania in 1812, and was seven years of age when brought to Ohio (1819). He was reared in Plain township, Franklin county, and later became thoroughly identified with the interests and prosperity of
-830
BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY
the towuship and county. He there married Lydia Parks, by which union were born. - Jacob T., Elizabeth (deceased), Antoinette, Theressa (deceased), and Luzerne. The mother of these children was a devout mem- ber of the Methodist church, and in that faith passed to her long rest. The second marriage of Mr. Wagner was with Electa Smith, and to this union was born eight children, viz: James (deceased), Lydia (deceased), John, Mattie (deceased), Effie, Kittie, Charlie (de- ceased) and Willis. The father owned a farm of 165 acres, was first an old-line whig in his politics, then became a stanch republican, and was a highly honored and influential and public spirited citizen.
Luzerne Wagner, our subject, was reared, as most farm lads are, to hard work, but ob- tained a better education than was usual at that day. He graduated from a normal col- lege and for fifteen years taught school in Franklin and Van Wert counties. November 19, 1874, he married Mary J. Alspach, daugh- ter of Jacob and Elizabeth (Henry) Alspach. Jacob Alspach was born in Franklin county, Ohio, March 11, 1829, on the farm on which he is still living; his wife was born in the same county, September 12, 1832, and died Octo- ber 4, 1889, a member of the United Brethren church, of which the husband is still a mem- ber, while in politics he is a democrat. The children born to Mr. and Mrs. Alspach were named William W., Mary J., Sarah (de- ceased), Viola, George H. (deceased), Lucy, Christina C., Ella M. (deceased), Charles E. and Eugene. The grandfather of Mrs. Wag- ner, John Alspach, was a native of Perry county, Ohio, married Catherine Bevelbyman, a native of the same county, lived three years in Fairfield county, and then moved to Frank- lin county, where the grandmother killed a cub bear the first day of her arrival, in the absence of her husband.
Mr. and Mrs. Luzerne Wagner came from Franklin county to Van Wert county soon after marriage-in 1875-and settled on their present farm of forty acres, now improved with a new two-story brick residence. Mr. Wagner also owns and successfully operates a modern tile and pressed brick factory, worth $2, 500 or $3,000, and his farm is conceded to be the best tilled of any of its size in the county. Mr. Wagner is in politics a stanch republican; in religion he and his wife are adherents of the United Brethren church, which he aided liberally in building and of which he is a trus- tee. The family of Mr. and Mrs. Wagner comprises the following children: Earnest J., Clarence L., Gladys V., Clarissa P. and Lucy V .- all still living to bless the home of their beloved parents.
e LIJAH WALLER, one of the oldest settlers of Tully township, Van Wert county, and a prosperous farmer, de- scends from an old Virginia family of English extraction. His father, John E. Wal- ler, was born in Fauquier county, Va., came to Ohio when about eighteen years of age, was here married to Elizabeth Largent, daughter of Abraham and Annie Largent, and located in Champaign county, where he taught school and farmed, and where were born all his children, viz: Francis A., Mary W .. Sarah J., Amanda, Lucy, Charles, Elijalı and Elisha (twins), Lewis E. and Epanetus, de- ceased. In 1851 Mr. Waller came to Van . Wert county and bought eighty acres of land. which, with the assistance of his sons, he cleared up and converted into a fertile farm. He was one of the pioneer school teachers of the county, was a deacon and elder in the United Brethren church for a number of years (of which church his wife was also a member , and died in January, 1860, aged about sixty
4
OF VAN WERT COUNTY.
831.
1
years. In politics he was a democrat and had served as township trustee and clerk, and was. honored as a man of the strictest integrity.
Elijah Waller, our subject, was born May II, 1837, and when fifteen years of age came to Van Wert county with his father, whom he assisted in clearing up the homestead from the wilderness. October 11, 1857, he married Susanna Henney, daughter of William and Mary, (Sands) Henney. William Henney was the son of a Revolutionary soldier and was born in Pennsylvania in 1797; he was a pio- neer of Stark county, Ohio, and in 1839 came to Van Wert county; here he was the fifth set- tlet of Tully township, which was at the time, of course, a dense wilderness, but by perse- verance he succeeded in accumulating and clearing 280 acres, and became a wealthy farmer. He and wife were the parents of nine children, viz: Betsy, Nancy, Solomon, Susanna, Mary, Hettie, Phebe, David and William. Mrs. Henney was a member of the Church of God; Mr. Henney was in politics a democrat, was a justice of the peace, was a most highly-respected citizen, and died August 5, 1881, at the very venerable age of eighty- four years.
After marriage Mr. Waller lived on the home place until 1894, when he erected his present tasteful residence. Assisted by his faithful wife, he has accumulated 100 acres of first-class farming land, all well cultivated. He and wife are the parents of the following children: George W., Mary E., Phebe, William H., David P., Irene L., Elijah, Mer- ritt and Ira C. Of this family, George W. married Dora Tracy and is the father of two children; Mary E. is the wife of R. H. Sher- man, and is the mother of two children; Phebe is married to Leonard Calvert, and is the mother of three children: Irene L. is mar- ried to William A. Nantz, and has two chil- dren. Mr. and Mrs. Waller are members of
the Church of God, and in politics he is a democrat. · Mr. Waller has never been known to connive at wrong-doing in any form, and enjoys the unbounded confidence of the entire community in which he lives.
OHN WALLICK, one of the oldest and most experienced farmers of York township, Van Wert county, is a na- tive of Tuscarawas county, Ohio, was born in the year 1822, and is a son of Jacob and Elizabeth (Haverstock) Wallick, who came from Pennsylvania in the days of their single blessedness. They were wedded in Tuscara- was county, and there had born to them the following children: Henry; Mary Ann, wife of Philip Getzman; Rebecca, who died in in -. fancy; John; Daniel, who lives in Oregon: David, of Van Wert county; Catherine, wife of T. T. Bartlet; and Emanuel, who died in early manhood.
Jacob Wallick, the father of this family, died in 1877, at the advanced age of ninety years; his helpmate, Elizabeth, having passed away in 1875. He came to Van Wert county in 1852, and purchased eighty acres of land. John Wallick, our subject, spent his earlier life on a farm in Tuscarawas county, and at twenty-four years of age married Rebecca Ann Rainsberger, to whom were born four children, viz: Baker; oue who died in infancy; Urias, who wedded Mary Hartels, and Ezra, deceased. The mother of these children was called from earth September 2, 1860, and in 1868 Mr. Wallick was united in marriage with Anna Gibson, who bore one child-Viola; this lady was also called away, dying August 17, 1877.
John Wallick, who has been thoroughly trained in the science of agriculture, and has been taught the important lessons of industry and economy, set manfully to work to clear up his present farm. which, upon his first settle --
L
832
BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY
Inent was imbedded in a forest of dense woods abounding in game, and his farm is now one of the best improved in the township and is a source of pride, not only to its owner, but to the resi- dents of the entire neighborhood. Mr. Wallick has always been a God-fearing man, identified with some church organization, and at present holds membership with the Christian Union denomination, and he saw well to it that all the members of his family were likewise reared to become devout Christians. In politics Mr. Wallick has always been an ardent democrat, and while he does his duty as a citizen, giving voice to his honest sentiments at the polls, he has never felt the ambition to hold office.
J ESSE WALLS, of Van Wert, Ohio, was born in Beaver county, Pa., Jan- uary 14, 1827. His father, Jesse Walls, was born December 5, 1785, in Sussex county, Del. At an early age he learned the wagon-maker's trade, but did not work at that trade exclusively throughout his life. He was married to Miss Leah Salmons, a native of the same county with himself, and by her had the following children: Isaac, Margaret, Nancy, Nehemiah, Ellen, Mary, Elizabeth, Thomas, John, Jesse and Samuel, eight of whom are dead. All were married except Isaac, who died a single man in his twentieth year. Mr. Walls, the father of these children, upon leav- ing Delaware, located in New Castle, Pa., where he bought a farm, which he worked for a number of years. When the war of 1812 came on he went as a substitute for Joseph Long to Lake Erie, and served three months as fifer. After the expiration of his term of serv- ice he returned to New Castle and lived upon his farm until 1846, when he sold out and re- moved to Van Wert county, Ohio, in which county he purchased 160 acres of land, upon
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.