USA > Ohio > Allen County > A portrait and biographical record of Allen and Van Wert counties, Ohio, v. 2 > Part 65
USA > Ohio > Van Wert County > A portrait and biographical record of Allen and Van Wert counties, Ohio, v. 2 > Part 65
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
Baumgarte, father of Conrad Baumgarte, of Washington township. He next went to work on a section of the Ohio & Indiana (now the Pennsylvania ) railroad, where he put in about six months during the winter. In 1856 he went south to Cincinnati, where he worked for about a year driving team. From Cincinnati he went to Fort Wayne, Ind .. where he was in the employ of the Pennsyl- vania Railroad company, for about a year. In the spring of 1858 he returned to Delphos, and there went to work at his trade in a marble shop for the firm of Reed & Seiser. He remained in that shop for a couple of years, during which time the firm changed several times, and then became a partner in the same, he and Mr. Seiser purchasing it together, and the firm becoming Seiser & Wegesin. In about 1862 Mr. Seiser sold out his interest to T. J. Tolan, the firm becoming Tolan & Weg- esin. The firm now bought the Noble stone quarry, in Paulding county, near Charles, Ohio, and worked it successfully for about two years, taking out building stone of a very fine quality. In 1868 Mr. Wegesin sold out his interest in hoth the quarry and marble busi- ness to his partner, and then engaged in con- tracting for bridge abutments and general masonry work, at which he continued success- fully until about 1883. In 1871 he purchased his present farm, and in 1875 he moved upon the same, still carrying on his contracting business, however, and having an overseer for the farin work. Since 1883 he has given all his time and attention to his farming. His farm einbraces 160 acres, eighty of which is in Monroe township, Allen county, and eighty in Washington township. Van Wert county. In 1874 he built his present handsome frame residence, which, with his grounds, makes one of the most pleasant homes in the township.
Mr. Wegesin was married on October 24. 1861, to Caroline Ballmann, who was born in
844
BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY
Hanover, Germany, in 1839, and is the daugh- ter of Bernhardt Ballmann, who came from Germany to America in 1864, was one of the old settlers of Delphos, and was a carpenter by trade. To their union eight children were born, as follows: Frank, born August 15, 1862; Annie, born December 18, 1864; Rosa, born September 28, 1867; Fred, born Febru- ary 25, 1870; John Hemisius, born December 18, 1871, and died August 24, 1872; Caroline, born August 28, 1874; John H., born July 7, 1877, and Catherine, born October 11, 1880. Mr. Wegesin and family are all members of Saint John's Roman Catholic church of Del- phos, of which he was trustee for six years. Mr. Wegesin served as city marshal of Delphos for about six years, and was for five years one of the trustees of Washington township. He has always been a member of the democratic party, and has been quite prominent in the affairs of the township.
I. SAAC S. WEIBLE, deceased .-- Biog- raphy exercises its highest function when it indites a memoir to one who lived a life of such signal usefulness and honor as did he whose name initiates this review and who so bore himself as to gain the confidence and good will of all with whom he came in contact. Here was a man who stood four square to every wind that blew, whose friends were legion, and whose death was counted an irreparable loss far outside the sacred confines of the immediate family circle.
Isaac S .. Weible was born near Canal Dover, Tuscarawas county, Ohio, on the 22d of May, 1844, and was the son of John and Anna (Thomas) Weible, both of whom were natives of Pennsylvania, and traced their line- age back to sturdy German origin. His ven- erable father is still living, but the mother en- tered into eternal rest in the year 1887. Some
time after his marriage John Weible removed with his family to Ohio, becoming one of the pioneers of Tuscarawas county, whence, in 1865, they came to Van Wert county, which ever afterward figured as their home. Our subject retained his residence in the county of his birth until he nearly attained his majority. and then accompanied his parents upon their removal to Van Wert county, where the resi- due of his days were passed. His prelinii- nary educational discipline was secured in the common schoois, and as he was possessed of a singnally alert and receptive mentality and was imbued with an ambition which was one of action, he profited by the instruction which he received, while in later years he builded on this firin and stable foundation a superstructure representative of broad intellectuality and mature judgment, showing that his power of assimilation was exceptional and that his wis- dom was, in a measure, intuitive. He con- tinued his studies in the public schools until he completed the high-school course and had graduated. Practical utility is the test which modern life puts upon knowledge and ability of whatever sort, and from this test our sub- ject did not flinch, for we find that in 1871 and 1875 he taught in the schools of Delphos, prov- ing'a most capable and successful instructor and gaining the hearty endorsement of the patrous of the school. This honorable voca- tion is one that has served as a stepping-stone to many of tlie eminent men of our nation. and in the case at hand it was but in precedence of higher honors, for Mr. Weible's official career in Van Wert county was one of long duration and of signal efficiency and of fidelity to the duties imposed. He liad served in somne public capacity from almost the first day of his residence in Van Wert, and the various incumbencies which he retained may be brietly noted as follows: He served as deputy auditor under Capt. Exline, as assistant under Sur-
845
OF VAN WERT COUNTY.
veyor Jones, and as deputy clerk of the pro- bate court and deputy treasurer under Corbet. It was often said that there was not a county office which he could not enter and acceptably fill on the briefest notice, and his value was duly appreciated by the various officials of the county. During the illness of the city and township clerk, in the winter of 1887-8, he discharged the duties of this office and admin- . istered its affairs with the greatest exactitude and success. He never neglected any duty which devolved upon him, and his genial, hopeful and sunny nature gained and retained to hini the abiding friendship of a very wide circle of acquaintances throughout the county. His knowledge of the German language, as conjoined to the noble attributes of his char- acter, gave him a particular hold upon the confidence and friendship of the German ele- ment in the county, and at Delphos, where he had once maintained his home, his death was deeply mourned by almost the entire com- munity, irrespective of nationality.
February 17, 1868. Mr. Weible was united in marriage to Miss Elmira E. McCoy, who was born in Van Wert county, on the 30th of January, 1849, the daughter of Alexander and Eliza (Gillespie) McCoy, to whom extended reference is made in connection with the biog- raphy of their son, Moses McCoy, of Ridge township. Mrs. Weible was the tenth of the children born to her parents, and her education was received in the excellent schools of the county. Mr. and Mrs. Weible became the parents of two children: Della, wife of John W. Carpenter, a skilled mechanic of Youngs- town, Ohio; and John, who is chief clerk in the railroad shops at Chattanooga, Tenn. These, with the devoted wife and mother and the ven- erable father, were left to mourn the loss of the one who had represented all that was true and noble in private as well as public life.
In his political adherency our subject was
identified with the republican party, while fraternally he was a member of the It- proved Order of Red Men and the National Union. He was an earnest believer in the christian religion, and had made arrangements to unite with the Presbyterian church only a fortnight before he was called upon to obey death's inexorable summons. His widow is a devoted member of that church. The death of Mr. Weible occurred on the 29th of June, ISSS, at 2 o'clock in the afternoon, and his age was therefore forty-four years, one month and seven days. The last sad obsequies were conducted at the Methodist church. on the Sunday succeeding his demise, the Rev. E. W. Work, of the Presbyterian church. officiating, and then were laid to rest the remains of one who had acted well his part in life and merited all the honor bestowed on him.
ILTON WELKER, a skillful farmer of Ridge township, Van Wert county, Ohio, is a son of Frederick and Phebe (Travis) Welker, natives of Pickaway county, Ohio, in which county, also, our subject was born, May 12, 1844. Frederick Welker was a farmer and carpenter. was an industrious, and, consequently, a thriv- ing citizen. To his union with Phebe Travis he had born to him a family of nine children, all boys, viz .: Robert; two sons that died in infancy: Milton, the fourth son, is the subject of this sketch; Fielding, reared a family and died, in Van Wert county, in 1885; F. M. is a resident of Van Wert city, in the feed and grain trade; Malcolm died in childhood; James is a farmer of Indiana, and E. E. is a resident of Delphos, Ohio. In the year of 1861 or 1 862, Frederick Welker brought his family to Van Wert and purchased forty acres of land in Ridge township, which he assiduously culti- vated until his death, which occurred in 18so,
846
BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY
he having survived his wife about two years. Milton Welker lived on the old home place until he attained his eighteenth birthday, when he enlisted in company D, Fifty-fourth Ohio volunteer infantry, under Capt. Moore, in Auglaize county, Ohio, where Frederick Wel- ker had been residing some years previously. Milton Welker was initiated in the sanguinary experiences of war at Pittsburg Landing, fol- lowing which he took part at Corinth, whence he was sent to Memphis, where the troops lay idle for three months, and he then was en- gaged in the fight at Chattanooga, next in the Atlanta campaign, and so on to the sea with Gen. Sherman, serving until his discharge at Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1865. Returning to Ohio he located in Allen county, where, in 1867, he was united in marriage with Miss Lucinda Ballard, who bore him two children, the elder being a son, H. D., and the younger being Bertha Lee, now the wife of Howard Sellers, a physician of note, residing near Cincinnati. The mother of these two children was called froin earth in 1876, and Mr. Welker next mar- ried, in 1880, Miss Lydia Snyder, of Van Wert county -- a daughter of Jacob Snyder -- and to this marriage six children have been born, named Frank, Walter Joe, Sadie, Freddie and Bennie.
Since 1873 Mr. Welker has owned his pres- ent farm, which first consisted of eighty acres, to which he has since added forty acres, making him now the owner of 120 acres. This land, when Mr. Welker first bought it, was in a dense forest, and in such a condition being low and flat, that he and his brother were forced to lay rails down for a road bed before they could do any hauling; but at pres- ent the farm presents an appearance that may well excite the admiration of the citizens of the township. In addition to the military duty rendered by Mr. Welker he has served his fel- low citizens, as a republican, in the capacity of
trustee for two terms, and in 1893 he was the choice of his party as justice of the peace ; since his incumbency of this office it can be said, to his credit, that no appeal has ever been made from his decisions. Mr. Welker is a conscien- tious member of the Methodist church, and few people in Ridge township are more re- spected in their social relations than the Welker family.
ILLIAM WAUGH, deceased, was born in Pennsylvania: his father. Samuel Waugh, was born in Ire- land, and there received a good
education. In 1782 Samuel Waugh came to America, landing in New York with considera- ble wealth. After considering for a while where to locate and buy, he decided to go to Pennsylvania on a William Penn grant of land, which was covered with woods and water-a most uninviting condition, yet by hard work and good draining he soon converted it into a good farm. Living alone in this wilderness, he became very lonely and felt the need of a companion and helpmate, but there were very few maiden ladies to be found at that time in this new country. So, with others, he sent to Ireland, and as a conse- quence a ship arrived with a goodly number of women on board, and there he met his future wife, Jane Graceson. After a short courtship they married and went to live on his farin, where he became quite prominent, at one time serving as a member of congress and assisting in the forming of some of the first laws passed by that body. After leaving congress he lived in retirement on his farm until his death. In politics he affiliated with the democrats; in religion he was a strong and faithful Presby- terian. Samuel Waugh was the father of nine children, viz : Samuel, Jane. Nancy. Marv. Sarah, Maggie, James, John and William.
MRS. SUSAN WAUGH.
841 -848
.
2
JOHN NEWMAN.
849-851
851
OF VAN WERT COUNTY.
The subject of this mention, William Waugh, was educated in the county schools in Penn- sylvania, and at the death of his father fell heir to considerable wealth. He then came to Ohio and settled in Hoaglin township, Van Wert county, and with his education and wealth was soon recognized as one of the most prominent and influential farmers of that town- ship. The farm which he bought was then covered with a dense forest, and the lofty oaks seemed to defy man, but he set resolutely to work and by hard toil he soon succeeded in clearing a good farm, which he continued to improve until it became one of the best in the township. In 1843 Mr. Waugh married, in Richland county, Ohio, Susan Newman, who was born in Chillicothe, Ross county, Ohio, in 1822. Her father, Michael Newman, was born in Pennsylvania, and was of German ·descent. By trade he was a cooper, at which trade he worked until he bought and located on a farm near Mansfield, Ohio, being one of the first settlers there. During the Civil war it was destroyed by raiding rebels. He helped to -build the first grist-mill in Richland county. In 1812, when the war broke out, Mr. Newman was drafted, and walked twenty-five miles to Fort Findlay, in which he served for nine months on garrison duty; after his time ex- pired he returned to his trade and was prosper- ous; later he went to his farm again and by hard work and judicious expenditure of con- siderable money, made it one of the best farms in that section. In 1820 he was married to Elizabeth Copsy, and they were the parents of twelve children, viz: Mary, who died in In- diana; Henry, who died in Richland county, Ohio; Susan, widow of the subject of our sketch; Jacob, Jane, Jolin, William and Har- riet, all five of whom are deceased; Margaret, who died in Illinois: Elizabeth, died in Huron county, Ohio: Charlie and Andrew, who went to California thirty-four years ago and have
not been heard from since. After his marriage Mr. Waugh brought his wife to his farm in Hoaglin township, where he prospered and was respected by all. Death called him away in ISS5. In politics he was a democrat and in religious matters he was ever a faithful mem- ber of the Presbyterian church, and had assisted in establishing several churches. He gave freely to good and worthy enterprises. He left considerable property to his wife, who lives in Van Wert off the income of her prop- erty. She is a member of the United Brethren church and a liberal giver to all charitable and educational purposes.
e DWIN RYAN WELLS, deceased, a son of Elisha and Hannah (Spicer) Wells, was born in Erie county, Pa., January 9, 1818. The parents were natives of Rensselaer county, N. Y., where the father was a farmer, but removed, some years after marriage, to Erie county, Pa., where they resided until 1819, when they came to Ohio and settled in Richland county, where they passed the remainder of their days. In politics the father was a whig, and in religion both he and his wife were communicants in the Methodist Episcopal church. They were the parents of seven children, of whom two only now survive-Laura and Olive, both of Michigan.
Edwin R. Wells, the fifth child born to his parents, was reared and educated in Richland county, Ohio, yet it may be stated that the greater part of his literary education was self- acquired. When nearly twenty years of age he came to Van Wert county, Ohio, with his parents, who settled at the crossing of Mattox creek and the Willshire and Decatur roads, then an unbroken wilderness. Mr. Wells was a zealous student, spending the time that could be spared from his business pursuits in reading
852
BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY
and acquiring knowledgefrom books and papers, and was the first subscriber at Van Wert for the Cincinnati Daily Commercial, from which he gained a general knowledge of the current events and politics of his country. He was chosen to teach the first school of Van Wert, and during his minority he was appointed auditor of Van Wert county, but the books and papers of the office being at Willshire, the first county seat, he took his trusted rifle and made a trip to that town and returned, bring- ing the records of that office tied up in a pocket handkerchief. Not being provided with printed blanks, he was compelled to rule with his pen many of the forms used in that office. The salary of the office, then about $100 per year, payable in county orders worth 123 cents on the dollar, not being sufficient to pay his board, he was compelled to clerk in a store and do other odd jobs, as the duties of the office did not require his full time. The fees of the office not meeting his requirements, he re- signed in 1845, and afterward served as clerk of the court of common pleas until I852, when he engaged in mercantile business. In 1855 he moved to Waterloo, Iowa. Returning from Waterloo to Van Wert, on account of the precarious condition of the health of his par- ents, he cared for them until their death. En- gaging in the banking business in the spring of 1856, in company with Dr. Charles Emerson, he founded the first banking institution in Van Wert county, and from 1856 until 1872 re- mained connected with the banks and banking interests and was reasonably successful in all his undertakings. In 1866 he retired from active business and went to his farm west of town, greatly improving the same; but age and declining health coming upon him, he again returned to live in Van Wert in 1889, and here he spent his remaining days in ease.
The marriage of Mr. Wells took place in Van Wert June 11, . 1843, to Miss Sarah Thorn,
who was born in Trumbull county, Ohio, De- cember 1, 1821, a daughter of William and Margaret (Fulks) Thorn, of Virginia. Miss Thorn had come to Van Wert for a temporary stay, and here met Mr. Wells when he was teaching, and she herself was a pupil under another tutor. The romance following need not be detailed. The result of this union was nine children, viz: An infant, deceased; George E., attorney; Edgar R. farmer; Milton, deceased; an infant, deceased; Emeline, wife of Robert Hook, a farmer; Charles, at home with his mother; Frauk and Harriet, both deceased. Mr. Wells lay down his life burden February 3, 1894, and his mortal remains were interred in Woodland cemetery. where a magnificent monument marks his resting place. Mrs. Wells, a sincerely christian woman and a devoted member of the Methodist Episcopal church, resides on South Wall street, beloved by all with whom she comes in contact. She still retains a finely improved farm of 280 acres, and several improved city lots left by her deceased husband.
J OHN WELLMANN, one of the well- known farmers and leading citizens of Washington township, Van Wert coun- ty, living two and a half miles north- west from Delphos, was born on the farm where he now resides, March 1, 1855. His parents were John C. and Anna M. Beckman Wellmann, both of whom were born in Han- over, Germany, and both came to America in 1842, before they were married, in Putnam county, Ohio, the fall after they came over. They came to Van Wert county in 1843 and purchased eiglity acres of land from the gov- ernment, and, settling on the same, farmed the remainder of their lives, he dying January 1, 1870, and his widow dying August 30, ESSI. There were five children born to the parents.
853
OF VAN WERT COUNTY.
of which five children two daughters and one son (our subject) are now living. They were both members of Saint John's Roman Catho- lic church at Delphos.
John Wellmann was reared on the home farm, and secured his education by attending the common schools of the neighborhood and the public schools of Delphos. He has re- inained on the farm all his life, living at home with his parents until their deaths, then taking his share of the old homestead and later pur- chasing the balance of it. He owns 100 acres, lying in section No. 13, all under fence and all but twenty acres improved,
Mr. Wellmann has been twice married, the . first time on November 11, 1880, to Mary Feirbaugh, who was born in Allen county, Ohio, and was the the daughter of Casper and Margaret Feirbaugh. Her death occurred on March 22, 1894, leaving two sons and two daughters, as follows: Henry B., born Feb- ruary 18, 1883; Nellie E., born November 8, 1885; Dora A., born April 6, 1889, and Vin- cenz G., born March 22, 1891. On February 26, 1895, Mr. Wellmann was married to Julia Gladent, who was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, March 27, 1859. Her father was Bernard Gladent, now deceased. Mr. Wellmann is a member of the democratic party, and has been active in public matters. He has always been prominent in the township and has held a number of public offices. His first office was that of school director, to which office he was first appointed and afterward elected, and re- elected, serving eleven years in succession. He was then out one year, and in April, 1895, was again elected to that office. His next office was road supervisor, which he held two terms. In April, 1889, he was elected town- ship trustee, and was re-elected in 1892, hold- ing that office six years. He has also served three years as director of the German Mutual Fire Insurance company of Delphos, and on
December 27, 1894, was made treasurer of that company and holds that office at present. Mr. Wellmann and family are members of Saint John's Roman Catholic church, of Delphos.
....
ENNIS WELCH, night baggage mas- ter and ticket agent for the Pennsyl- vania railroad company at Van Wert, was born in Delaware county, Ohio, December 30, 1834, a son of Benjamin A. and Electa (Adams) Welch. The father, Ben -. jamin A., was born in New York in Septem- ber, 1807, and was a son of David Welch, also a native of New York, and of Scotch de- scent. David was a physician of some promi- nence, and in 1812 came to Ohio, locating in Delaware county, where he practiced his pro- fession many years, and then removed to Union county, where his death took place in 1868. His eight children all grew to maturity, and of these the father of our subject was the fourth in order of birth. Benjamin A. Welch was five years of age when his parents located in Delaware county, and there he grew to man- hood and studied medicine under his father, although he did general labor work until thirty- five years of age. In November, 1848, he caine to Van Wert county and settled in Lib- erty township, where he practiced the botanic system of medicine until his death, November 18, 1892-having been remarkably successful in his practice, which success was attributed to his profound knowledge of the virtues of roots and herbs. He had married, in Delaware county, Miss Electa Adams, who was born in New York, January S, ISO8, and to this union were born eight children, viz: Israel S., Charles, Dennis (our subject), and five now deceased-Louisa, Sabra K., Naomia, an in- fant unnamed, and Staunton S. The mother of this family died in 1891, a member of the
-
854
BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY
Baptist church, of which church her husband was also a member. Dr. Welch, in politics, was a whig, and once served as coroner of Van Wert county; he was also a patriot, and enlisted, in September, 1861, in company A, Forty-sixth Ohio volunteer infantry, for three years, but in 1862 was taken sick and and was sent home. On his recovery, however, he en- listed in company M, Second Ohio heavy ar- tillery, and was detailed as acting surgeon un- til the close of the war, and at his death was drawing a pension of $16 per month.
Dennis Welch had reached the age of four- teen years when his parents brought him to Van Wert county, and here he was educated in the common schools. He remained with his parents until twenty-four years old, when his marriage took place. He was then em- ployed in general labor until the breaking out of the Rebellion, when he enlisted, October 18, 1861, in company E, Forty-sixth Ohio volunteer infantry, for three years, or during the war. At Mission Ridge he lost a toe-his first injury-but continued with his regiment in all its marches, skirmishes and battles un- til July 22, 1864, when he was struck in the right shoulder by a rifle-ball, and was sent to the hospital at Marietta, Ga., where he was confined six weeks, and then received a fur- lough home for thirty days; at the expiration of his leave of absence he went to Columbus, Ohio, where he remained until the expiration of his term of enlistment, when he was honor- ably discharged, and mustered out November 18, 1864. On his return to Van Wert he was employed as a railroad section hand for four years, then as a section foreman four years on the Pittsburg, Fort Wayne & Chicago road, and was then watchman of the same tracks for about two years; he was then located in the city as pumper and wood-piler, and two months later was made day baggage-master, a posi- tion he held six years; in 1878 he was ap-
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.