USA > Ohio > Allen County > A portrait and biographical record of Allen and Van Wert counties, Ohio, v. 2 > Part 66
USA > Ohio > Van Wert County > A portrait and biographical record of Allen and Van Wert counties, Ohio, v. 2 > Part 66
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pointed night baggage-master and ticket agent and general assistant-his present position.
Mr. Welch was first married in Van Wert county, July 10, 1859, to Miss Sarah M. Budd, who was born in Delaware county, Ohio, July 10, 1838, a daughter of Inman and Polly (Hooks) Budd, and this union resulted in the birth of four children, viz: Benjamin I., Edith (deceased), Polly A., and Elnora (deceased). The mother of these children died October 16, 1869, and Mr. Welch was next married, in Van Wert city, November 30, 1871, to Sarah C. Weible, a native of Tuscarawas county, Ohio, who bore five children, as fol- lows: Anna A., Frederick C., Edgar B. (de- ceased), Bruce H., at home, and S. C., de- ceased. The mother of this family was taken away in 1882, a member of the Baptist church, of which Mr. Welch is also a member. Mr. Welch is a republican in politics, and for four years served in the city council. Fraternally, he is a member of the I.O. O. F., and I.O. R. M., and is recognized as an upright and useful citi- zen. He resides on his premises on North Vine street, where he owns four lots, beside his dwelling.
HARLES A. WELSH. formerly a popular conductor on the Cincinnati, Jackson & Mackinaw railroad, was born at Spencerville, Ohio, May 14, 1867. He is a son of Marcus Welsh, who was born at Columbus, Ohio, and whose father Davenport Welsh, was born in England. Davenport Welsh, when yet a young man, emigrated to the United States, and after be- ing in this country for some time, married a Miss Shawn, by whom he had the following children: Davenport, Chester, Emma, Grace, Millinca, Noble and Marcus, and two others that died in infancy. Mr. Welsh was a niem-
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OF VAN WERT COUNTY.
ber of the Methodist Episcopal church, and a liberal, broad-minded man.
Marcus Welsh, at an early age, learned the cooper trade, working at that trade for some time in Columbus, and then went to Spencer- ville, where he learned the carpenter trade. From Spencerville he removed to Van Wert, Ohio, and here he worked at the trade of carpenter and builder until his death, which was caused accidentally while he was at work erecting a building for A. Moebus. The scaf- fold upon which he was standing gave way with the weight upon it, and Mr. Welsh fell on a picket fence, and was so badly injured that he died three days thereafter. Mr. Welsh was a most excellent man, strictly moral and upright, a faithful member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and a republican in politics. He served in the 100-day service during the Civil war, and was fully as dutiful as a soldier as he was in the civil walks of life. His death, caused in the way that it was, was a great shock to his immediate family and also to his many friends.
His son, Charles A. Welsh, the subject of this sketch, received a good common-school education, and early in life began to work on the railroad as a section hand. This was on the Cincinnati, Jackson & Mackinaw railroad. After working in this position for some time he secured a position as brakeman, from which position he was promoted to that of fireman, and finally, in 1892, to that of conductor, all of which is sufficiently indicative of the con- fidence placed in him by the company. Mr. Welsh was married, July 31, 1892, to Miss Arrilla McConnell, of Bryan, Ohio. Her father. James McConnell, was born in Ohio, and is a very prosperous farmer. He was married to Sarah Michel, of Pennsylvania, by whom he had the following children: George, James (deceased), Charles, Cora, Miella and Arrilla. Mr. McConnell is now living retired in Van
Wert, is a strong democrat, is a member of the Lutheran church, and is in every way a much respected man.
Charles A. Welsh is a most highly respected young man, is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, is modest in his demeanor, and though thus quiet, is yet a man of pro- nounced convictions and not afraid to express his thoughts. In politics he is a republican, and true to the principles of his party. His wife is a young woman of many excellent and pleasing qualities of mind and heart, and is everywhere well liked and highly esteemed. January 2, 1896, Mr. Welsh bought the F. W. Manship grocery, and is now one of Van Wert's young and popular business men.
OSEPH WERT, farmer of Liberty township, son of George and Mary A. Wert, was born at Leesville. Crawford county, Ohio, February 28, 1839. The father, George Wert, was born in Pennsylvania about 1812, and was the son of Joseph Wert, a native of that state, and of German descent. By occupation. George Wert was a saddle and harness maker, and worked at his trade until the year 1846: in 1836, he married Mary A. Armstrong, daugh- ter of William Armstrong, of Pennsylvania; she was born about 1822, in Crawford county. Ohio, and bore her husband eight children, whose names are as follows; Joseph, subject of this sketch, William; Barbara A., wife of Richard Sands; Elizabeth, wife of G. Jewell: George, John, Thomas and David F. In his youth George Wert accompanied his parents to Crawford county, Ohio, where he lived un- til 1846, at which time, he moved to the county of Van Wert and purchased to 200 acres of land, from which he improved a farm. Mr. Wert was a democrat in politics, a Presbyte-
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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY
rian in his religious belief and his death oc- curred on the 5th day of January, 1876.
Joseph Wert, our subject, was reared a farmer, ond received the benefits of a common- school education. He became a resident of Van Wert county in 1846, and with the ex- ception of several years spent in the county of Richland, has made his home in the same ever since. At the breaking out of the Civil war he tendered his services to his country, enlisting in September, 1862, in company G, Twentieth Ohio voluntary infantry, and served with the same until honorably discharged at Vicksburg, Miss., in July, the following year. He participated in the battles of Raymond and Champion Hill, and was at the storming of Vicksburg, where he had a very narrow es- cape, his canteen having been torn away by a piece of shell. After his discharge Mr. Wert returned to Ohio and engaged in farming, and December 16, 1869, was united in marriage with Miss Orphia Leppo, daughter of James and Barbara (Neal) Leppo. He then located in Richland county and resided there until 1873, when he returned to Van Wert county, and purchased his present home in Liberty township. Several years after the death of his father he purchased the home place, con- sisting of 160 acres, which he still owns. Mr. Wert is one of the successful farmers and stock raisers of the township, and stands high in the community as an honorable and trustworthy citizen. He supports the democratic party with his ballot, and, while not a partisan, takes an active interest in politics, having decided opinions upon all questions of the day, and is fearless in his defense of the same. While not a member of any church organization, he is a believer in religion and contributes liberally towards its support.
Mrs. Wert was born in Richland county May 24, 1846, and is the mother of the fol- lowing children: George Earnest, born
March 14, 1871; Anna B., born February 19, 1874; Della, born April 27, 1876, died in in- fancy; Zanta, born December 11, 1878; Laura M., born February 21, 1885, and James W .. whose birth occurred February 25, 1887. Mrs. Wert and daughters are members of the Church of God. Sames Leppo, father of Mrs. Wert, was born of German parentage, in Washington county, Md., October 14, 1817; he married October 7, 1845, Barbara Neal. daughter of Martin and Nancy Neal, and reared a family of seven children: Orpha, the subject's wife; Mrs. Sarah Everett; Mrs. Mary E. Dougal; Margaret, wife of William Lamb; Franklin P .; Hannah R., wife of David Hutchinson, and Nancy W., wife of J. Be- vier. The father of these children died in 1865. Mrs. Leppo, wife of James, was born December 16, 1817, and departed this life April 26. 1876.
George E. Wert, one of the prominent young business men of Van Wert county, and eldest son of Joseph and Orpha (Leppo) Wert, is a native of Ohio, born in the county of Richland. He laid the foundation for his ed- ucation in the common schools, came with his ; parents to Van Wert county in 1873, and in 1888, entered the Chicago college of Phar- macy, from which institution he was gradu- ated, after completing his course. On leaving the country schools, he took a scientific course at the Ada and Middlepoint norinal schools, graduating from the latter in 1890, and the following year completed the course of phar- macy in the former institution. He success- fully passed the state examination in phar- macy, after which he accepted the postion of manager of drug houses at Cleveland, Ohio City and Rockford, for a Mr. Vance. In 1893. Mr. Wert purchased a drug store at the town of Scott, owned by Tillman Rogers, added to the stock and soon built up quite a large and lucrative business. In 1894, he further en-
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OF VAN WERT COUNTY.
larged his business by adding a large stock of general merchandise, and his store is now one or the most successful of the kind in Van Wert county. Mr. Wert displays business ability of a high order, and by his courtesy and fair dealing has won the regard of all with whom he comes in contact, and it is safe to say that no one stands higher in the estima- tion of the community than he: He is con- servative in politics, voting the democratic ticket, and fraternally belongs to Pequod tribe, No: 202, I. O. R. M.
Mr. Wert was married June S, 1892, to Sarah, daughter of John and Ellen (Montgom- ery) McCoy. Mrs. Wert was born in Van Wert county, January 22, 1873, was gradu- ated from Western Ohio Normal school at Middlepoint, and for some years was a suc- cessful teacher, a part of the time in the city schools of Van Wert. She is an accomplished lady, .moves in the best circles of society, and is a very earnest and sincere worker in the Presbyterian church.
RNOLD WHEELER, a prominent farmer of Jennings township, is a na- tive of Ohio, born in the year 1831. in Harrison county, son of Thomas and Rachael ( Tipton ) Wheeler. Thomas and Rachael Wheeler were also Ohioans by birth, moved to Harrison county many years ago, and there reared their family, consisting of the following children: Arnold; Henry; Thomas; Keziah, wife of David Barnett; Martha, de- ceased wife of Adam Hoogbler; Eleanor, de- ceased wife of Samuel Courtright: Mary, de- ceased; Elizabeth, deceased wife of Reuben Tedrow, and Rebecca. The parents of these children died at the ages of eighty-four and sixty-two years, respectively.
Arnold Wheeler, remained on the home farm until about twenty years of age and be-
gan life for himself as an employee of the Pan Handle Railroad company, with which he was connected for a period of four years. While thus engaged, he succeeded in saving a suffi- cient amount of money to enable him to go west and enter land in the sate of Iowa, where he resided for a short time, subsequently dis- posing of his farm there, and, returning to Ohio, located in the county of Tuscarawas. Here, in 1855. he was united in marriage with Catherine, daughter of John and Anna ( Condo) Stall. The father of Mrs. Wheeler was the first settler on the present site of the town of Jewett; he had a family consisting of the fol- lowing children: Jacob, deceased; Margaret, wife of Thomas Lucas; Mary Ann. wife of David Hazlett; Samantha Jane, wife of Albert Houk; and the wife of the subject of this sketch, who was third in order of birth. Mr. Stall died in 1872-the mother dying in 1896, at the advanced age of eighty-four years.
Mr. Wheeler resided upon his farm in Tus- carawas county, Ohio, for six years, and thence, in the fall of 1862, moved to the county of Van Wert, and purchased a farm of seventy acres in Jennings township, to which he has since made additions until his place at this time embraces an area of 130 acres, upon which many valuable improvements have been made. Mr. Wheeler cleared the greater part of his farm with his own hands, worked early and late, and succeeded in placing himself in very comfortable circumstances. He is one of the leading farmers of his community, a man of excellent character, and possesses the con- fidence and esteem of all who know him. The following are the names of the children born to Mr. and Mrs. Wheeler: Albert, who died at the age of thirty-two; Mary Ellen, wife of Seward Gardner; Rachael Ann, deceased wife of James Burnett; Ira and Ida, twins. Mr. and Mrs. Wheeler are members of the Meth- odist church: Mr. Wheeler is a republican.
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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY
ARRIET WEAVER, the subject of this sketch, and widow of Charles L. Weaver, of Pleasant township, Van Wert county, is a native of Coshoc- ton county, Ohio, born in 1848. the daughter of Michael and-Margaret Horn.
Michael Horn, a native of Pennsylvania, was born in the year 1819, and was the son of John Horn, a representative of one of the pioneer families of the Keystone state. By occupation, Michael Horn was a blacksmith, which trade he followed for some years in Penn- sylvania, and when a young man moved to Ohio, locating in Tuscarawas county, where he followed his chosen calling for a limited period, and then moved to the county of Co- shocton. He was married in the latter county, in 1846, to Margaret Albert, daughter of John and Catherine (Cutshall) Albert, a union blessed with the birth of the following named children: Nancy J., who died in infancy; Eliza, wife of Noah Stettler; Catherine, wife of Willis L. Stettler; Mahala, wife of John Plants; John, deceased; George, deceased; Seth, deceased, and Harriet-the last named being the oldest member of the family. The mother of these children was born in Pennsyl- vania in the year 1832, and is still living. In 1853, Mr. Horn moved to Mercer county, where, in addition to working at his trade, he engaged in the pursuit of agriculture, purchas- ing a farm, upon which he spent the remainder of his days, dying in 1863. He is remembered as a good citizen, industrious and progressive, and was highly regarded by the community in which he resided. In 1865, his widow was united in marriage with Richard B. Copper- smith, a native of Maryland. but at that time a resident .of Mercer county, Ohio, a union which resulted in the birth of three children: Margaret E., deceased, Clara V. and James M. Mr. Coppersmith died in Isso, and in 1884, Mrs. Coppersmith entered into the mar-
riage relation with Jefferson Andress, of Mer- cer county, with whom she is most happily living at this time.
Mrs. Harriet Weaver, the immediate sub- ject of this mention, attended in her youth the country schools, acquiring therein a fair education, and in IS66 was married to George W. Fisher, to whom she bore three children -Euphemia, wife of Cyrus Uhrich, of Pleas- ant township; Lewis and George M. Mr. Fisher was born in the year of 1840, in Fair- field county, Ohio, son of Thomas and Marga- ret (Goodwin) Fisher, and when a boy accom- panied his parents to the county of Mercer. where he grew to manhood, assisting his father on the farm in the meantime. He re- sided in Mercer county until 1869, at which time he disposed of his interests there and moved to Wisconsin, where he resided for a period of about eighteen months. During that time he met with severe financial reverses, losing the greater part of his possessions, and he died in that state in 1871. Mr. Fisher served in the late war as private in company F, Ninety-ninth Ohio volunteer intantry, and took an active part in the campaigns of Ken- tucky, Tennessee and Georgia, participating in the bloody battles around Atlanta, and was in Sherman's celebrated march to the sea.
On the 17th day of August, 1875, Mrs. Fisher became the wife of Charles L. Weaver. the issue of which was five children: Cath- erine J., James L., John C., and an infant that died without being named. Charles L. Weaver was a native of Pennsylvania and son of Will- iam and Margaret (Gunnett) Weaver. He was born March 22, 1839, attended in his youth the schools of his native state and Ash- land county, Ohio, and afterward pursued the higher branches of learning in Haysville col- lege. Subsequently he engaged in teaching. which profession he followed at Athens for a number of years, and afterward worked at
CHAS. L. WEAVER.
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OF VAN WERT COUNTY.
carpentering and bridge-building in various places throughout Ohio. After his marriage, he purchased land in Pleasant township, Van Wert county, from which he developed a good home, and continued to reside upon the same until his death, July 9, 1885. Mr. Weaver was a man of liberal culture, succeeded in the different vocations in which he was engaged, and stood high in the estimation of his neigh- bors and fellow-citizens.
AMUEL WHYMANN, a prosperous farmer and representative of citizen of Jennings township, Van Wert county, was born in Clermont county, Ohio, August 8, 1844, and is a son of A. L. and Mary (Williams) Whyman-the father a na- tive of England, and the mother of Ohio. A. L. Whyman was born December 8, 1811, and at the age of eighteen, came to the United States, and located at Portsmouth, Ohio, where he pursued his trade of cooper. Later, he went to the county of Clermont, where he met the lady who became his wife, and in the year 1849 became a resident of Van Wert county, and purchased 120 acres of govern- ment land in section No. 28, Jennings town- ship. Upon this land noimprovements of any kind had been made, and when the family came out the following year, a small, inconvenient one-room cabin had to be rented for their ac- commodation. Mr. Whyman, in due time, succeeded in preparing more elaborate quar- ters, but for several years the family was almost isolated, the neighbors being few, and but one house was at that time to be found between our pioneer's cabin and Spencerville, a distance of six miles.
A. L. and Mary Whyman reared a family consisting of the following children: Rebecca, wife of Henry Cary; Samuel, Barbara, de- ceased wife of C. S. Drake; John, wedded to 37
Eliza Book; Mary, deceased; Lucinda, de- ceased; the last two named died within a few hours of each other, and were both buried in the saine grave; the next in order of birth was Mary, and the youngest, Lincoln, wedded Eliza Stose and lives in Defiance. A. L. Whyman has served in all the offices of his township, and from a poor cooper boy became one of the well-to-do farmers of Van Wert county.
Samuel Whyman spent the years of his youth and his early manhood with his parents on the home place, and assisted his father on the farm until February, 1864, when he en- listed in company D, Eighty-first Ohio volun- teer infantry, with which he served until March of the following year, when, by reason of an accident, he was compelled to leave the service. His leg was shattered by the explo- sion of a magazine, necessitating his being taken to the hospital at Long Island, N. Y .. where his limb received proper treatment. When sufficiently recovered, Mr. Whyman re- turned to his home, but for some time there- after, was compelled to use crutches to assist him in walking. His first employment after leaving the army was teaming. which he foi- lowed six months, and then began coopering, which he continued until the fall of 186;, in Van Wert. In the latter year he opened a shop of his own in Spencerville, where he con- ducted a good business for three years, and later engaged in agricultural pursuits, which he still carries on in Jennings township, where he owns a finely-improved farm, in connection with which, since 1872, he has run a general store, his postoffice being known as Center- ville, and has done well.
On the 5th day of December, 1868, Mr. Whyman and Sarah E. Nugent, daughter of John and Mary Nugent, were made inan and wife, to which union two children, Mary A. and Sarah E., were born. Mrs. Whyman died January 26, 1873, and subsequently Mr-
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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY
Whyman was united in marriage with Mrs. Sarah E. Nunneviler, widow of Joseph Nun- neviler, and daughter of Joseph B. and Eliz- abeth (Standring) Smith. By her previous marriage Mrs. Whyman had become the mother of four children, viz: William, George, Oliver L. and Joseph K. By her marriage with Mr. Whyman she has had five children, three sons and two daughters: Hannah, Abra- ham L., Thomas W. (deceased), Lydia Lu- cinda and Henry C. Mrs. Whyman's parents were natives of Pennsylvania and England, and she was their only child. Her mother died in 1870; her father is still living, his home being in Delaware county, Pa.
Mr. Whyman experienced many difficulties and hardships after returning from the ariny. and for some time he was compelled to strug- gle almost constantly against adverse circum- stances, which would have discouraged the majority of men. His early education was of necessity much limited, but, in spite of this, he is an intelligent man and has succeeded well in life, accumulating a goodly share of this world's goods and winning for himself an excellent reputation among his fellow-men. He is a member of the Methodist church, to which his family also belong, Mrs. Whyman having joined the church when but eighteen years of age.
LI L. WILKINSON, M. D., physician, ex-soldier, merchant and editor, was born in Columbiana county, Ohio, December 31, 1843, and is a son of Cyrus G. and Rebecca (Ladd) Wilkinson. The father, Cyrus G., was born in Fayette county, Pa., in 1808, was reared on a farm and early in life served an apprenticeship at shoe- making. In 1826 he came to Ohio, located in Columbiana county and followed his trade until 1840, when he removed to Hancock
county, where he carried on the boot and shoe business in connection with farming, at Find- lay. until 1871, when he settled in Van Wert and continued in the shoe trade, in partner- ship with his son Mahion, until his death, in 1883. He had married, in Columbiana coun- ty, Ohio, in 1830, Miss Rebecca Ladd, a native of Lynchburg, Va., born in IS11; to this union were born the following children: Elizabeth, Washington (deceased), Cornelius, Lewis (deceased), John (deceased), Caroline (deceased), Eli L. (our subject), Rebecca, wife of Joseph Fisher, Susan (deceased), Town- send (deceased) and Cyrus. The parents of this family were inembers of the Society of Friends, the father being a republican in poli- tics and an active operator of the underground railroad between Findlay and Perrysburg; he was successful in life, and left behind an estate valued at $8,000; his widow resides on a farm in Putnam county, Ohio, and is highly esteemed as a neighbor and as a christian lady.
Eli L. Wilkinson was reared on the home farm in Hancock county, Ohio, there received his primary education, and enlisted at the age of eighteen years, at Findlay, August 11, 1862. in company D, Ninety-ninth Ohio volunteer infantry; he was assigned to the army of the Cumberland and participated in the battles of Perryville, Lookout Mountain, Missionary Ridge, Kingston, Dalton, Adairsville, Resaca, Peach Tree Creek, Lost Mountain, and Kene- saw Mountain. In the last-named strife he was shot through both thighs, June IS, 1864, and was first taken to the field hospital, thence to Chattanooga, then to Nashville, and then transferred to the invalid corps and appointed assistant steward at Camp Morton, Indian- apolis, where he served about ten monts, and was then honorably discharged. He then re- turned to Hancock county, and began reading medicine, at Mount Blanchard, under Dr. C. D. McDonald, with whom he assiduously pur-
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OF. VAN WERT COUNTY.
sued his studies for three years, and then at- tended lectures at Starling Medical college until his graduation therefrom in the spring of 1870, when he began practice in Burlingame, Kans., where he remained until 1874, when he settled in Van Wert, Ohio, where he has been in active and remunerative practice until the present, making a record of which any physi- cian might well feel proud. The doctor was united in matrimony in Burlingame, Kans., October 20, 1870, with Miss Mary A. Wendell, a native of Fox Lake, Wis., born in 1850, and daughter of William and Hannah (Morse) Wendell, natives of New York. To this happy marriage of the doctor have been born three children, viz: Della C., now the wife of W. R. Mosier; Lulu M., married to B. M. Sar- gent, and Barnard M., at home. The doctor is a knight templar Mason, is the proprietor of the Van Wert Republican, a decidedly newsy and bright local weekly journal, and is also engaged in the boot and shoe business at Van Wert, where he is deservedly esteemed as a gentleman of enterprise and public spirit.
CHARLES WILKINSON, proprie- tor of a fine job printing office in Van Wert, was born in Hancock county, Ohio, September 2, 1864, and is a son of Cornelius S. and Sarah A. (Stacy) Wil- kinson. Cornelius S. Wilkinson was a native. of Columbiana county, Ohio, but was taken early to Hancock county, and there spent his manhood's days. While a young man he learned the shoemaker's trade, married in Hancock county, and in 1871 removed to Put- nam county, where he worked at his trade, living ever since then in Columbus Grove. His wife, Sarah A. Stacy, was born February 13, 1838, in Mahoning county, and was a daughter of Joseph and Jane Stacy. To the marriage of Cornelius and Sarah A. Wilkinson
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