USA > Ohio > Portage County > A portrait and biographical record of Portage and Summit counties, Ohio > Part 56
USA > Ohio > Summit County > A portrait and biographical record of Portage and Summit counties, Ohio > Part 56
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Frank H. Wheeler was united in marriage, in January, 1890, with Miss Mary E. Draper, of Brooklyn, N. Y., and this happy union has been blessed by the birth of one child- Henry Stevens Wheeler. The pleasant home of Mr. and Mrs. Wheeler is at No. 114 Sonth Summit street, where, the center of a coterie of ge- nial friends and neighbors, they pass the too fleeting hours of leisure in tranquil happiness.
The Van Wart Liquor & Opium Cure com- pany was incorporated, under the state laws of Ohio, in 1894, with a capital stock of $200, - 000. It was formed, as its name implies, for the treatment of the victims of the too prodi- gal use of either alcoholic beverages or of opium in any form, and for the annihilation of the appetite for, and the toxical effects of, and indulgence in their too frequent use. The preparations used for this treatment are en- tirely harmless, and the desired result is reached within ten days, improvement taking place immediately after the first portion or dose, with no consequent evil effect, after full treatment. The remedy is pleasant to the taste, and can be partaken of by the patient either at his own home or at the office of the company, at No. 2013 South High street, with no detention from business, nor any inconve- nience whatever. The officers of the company are: W. C. Jacobs, M. D., president; B. F. Clark, vice-president ; G. C. Berry, Jr., treas- urer, and F. W. Wheeler, secretary.
DGAR WHITTELSEY, ex-county commissioner and one of the oldest an:I most experienced farmers of At- water township, Portage county, Ohio, his native place, was born March o. 1828. an.l is the second of the five children borr to Ran- dolph S. and Clarissa ( Mansfield) Whittelsey. and who were named, in order of birth, Pat-
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rick, Edgar, Friend, Randall and Clara, the last named being the wife of Ambrose Goss.
John H. Whittelsey, the paternal grand- father of Edgar, wasa native of Wallingford, Cont., was of Scotch descent, and came to Ohio in 1807, settled in Atwater township, and developed a fine farm from the woods, afterward inherited by his only living son, John B. Whittelsey. Randolph S. Whittel- sey and wile were also natives of Wallingford, Conn., the former born in September, 1799, and the latter in November, 1800. Randolph S. was but seven years of age when brought to Atwater township by his parents, was here reared to manhood, and was here married; he here reared his family, and died in 1870, a most honored gentleman. His wife was called away in 1875.
Edgar Whittclsey received a common- school and academical education in Atwater, and after finishing his educantion engaged in farming, a vocation to which he had been well trained in his youthful days. November 10. 1852, he was united in marriage with Miss Margaret Teel, who was born September 16, 1823, and this union has been blessed with two children, Lucy and Powell. He has con- tinued his farming and stockraising until the present time, and has made a specialty of the live stock branch of his industry in partner- ship with his brother, Friend Whittelsey, for years, and together they do an immense busi- ness in this line; in conjunction with his son, Powell, he owns over 700 acres of land, which is devoted to grazing and agriculture. At the present time he is engaged in shipping large numbers of hogs to the stockyards at West Liberty, Pa., but at other times has frequently found a market for stock further to the east.
In politics Mr. Whittelsey is a stanch re- publican, and has served two terms-1870 to 1882 -- as county commissioner, and has also served as township trustee and assessor. While
not a member of any church or secret order. he is recognized as one of the most upught men of the township and is everywhere hon- ored for his probity. He is a worthy repre- sentative of the early pioneers of the county. and maintains the fair fame of his ancestors without blot or blemish.
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ILLIAM L. WILCOX, one of the most prosperous farmers and re- spected citizens of Deerfield town- ship, Portage comty. Ohio, is a son of Alexander H. and Betsey (Diver) Wil- cox, was born on his father's farm in Deerfield township March 20, 1845, and was here reared to manhood, receiving a good education in the district school in the meantime, and aiding in the cultivation of the home place until he rcached his majority, when he engaged in agricultural pursuits on his own account.
March 4, 1879, Mr. Wilcox was united in marriage with Miss Adelia Haines, daughter of Stacy and Rebecca (Armstrong) Haines, and the same year purchased his present farm in Deerfield township, where he has since made his home, and where have been born his three children -- Earl M., Edna D. and Stacy H.
Rebecca (Haines) Wilcox was born in Deer . field township, September 20, 1852. Her father, Stacy Haines, was a native of New Jersey, was born in 1808, and by trade was a shoemaker, but in his later years became d farmer. Her mother, Rebecca (Arınstrong Haines, was born July 31, 1815, in Goshen township, Mahoning county, Ohio, and bore her husband six children, of whom five are still living, viz : Albert, Eliza (wife of John Frank), Mary ( Mrs. William Spires), Rebecca (Mrs. Wilcox) and Clark, the deceased child. Libbie, was thirty years of age at the tine o. her death, October 6, 1889. Stacy Haine- died on his. farm in Deerfield township Jay
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31, 1876, a highly respected citizen, and his widow, at the age of eighty-two years, still re- sides on the homestead, in the enjoyment of excellent health, and venerated by all who know her.
Alexander Il. Wilcox, father of William L., was born in Saundersville, Mass , Novem- ber 27, 1812, a son of William and Louisa (Gibbs) Wilcox, and in 1815 was brought to Ohio by his parents, who for a short time lived in Tallmadge township, Summit county, and then settled in Deerfield township, Port- age county. There Alexander 11. served an apprenticeship of four years at the carpenter's trade under Lyman P. Hanlin, and after en- gaging in business on his own account, erected some of the most substantial buildings in the township, including the First Methodist church, and also built the bridge across. the Mahoning river south of Deerfield, which stood fifty years. He later engaged in farming. which he successfully conducted in conjunction with his business of contracting. llis first marriage took place May 4, 1837, to Miss Betsey Diver, daughter of John and Catherine (Hartzell) Diver, to which union seven chil- dien were born, of whom the living are Hen- rietta (wife of John Hoffman), George, William L. and Charles E .; the deceased were Susan E., who died September 5, 1850, at the age of three years; Joseph, who died May 16, 1865, when twenty-two years old, and Julia, who died April 5, 1872, the wife of William Wil- son. The mother of this family departed from earth August 6, 1850, aged thirty-five years, and Mr. Wilcox next married. May 15, 1851, Miss Adaline Barrick, who was born February 24. 1817, a daughter of William and Sarah Barrich, to which union have been born three children -- E. B., J B., and Sarah, who died November 3, 1861, at the age of ten years. Mr. Wilcox has always been a democrat in
school director and township supervisor; he also carried the mails between Deerfield and Enon Valley, a round distance of thirty-seven miles, making the trip twice a day.
William Wilcox, grandfather of subject, was a native of Massachusetts, was a farmer nearly all his life, and to his marriage with Louisa Gibbs were born eleven children, of whom two survive-Alexander H. and Cla- rissa, wife of Elias Mowen. The deceased children of these eleven were named Julia, Harriet, Emma, Lucinda, Mary, Seneca, Law- rence, George and Newell.
William Barrick, mentioned above, was a native of Maryland, and his wife, Sarah Romich, of Berks county, Pa. To their mar- riage were born seven children, viz: Adeline (Mis. A. II. Wilcox), and John, who still sur- vive, and Harriet, Elizabeth, Mary, William and Cornelius, all five deceased.
George A. Wilcox, the eldest son of Alcx- ander H. and Betsey (Diver) Wilcox, was born October 2, 1841, in a diminutive log cabin just northwest of Deerfield, and has been a farmer all his life. October 3, 1866. he married Miss Calista E. Kibler, daughter of George and Mary (Ruggles) Kibler, one of the oldest families in the township, the union resulting in the birth of six children, viz: Mary, wife of Arthur Jenkins; Lucy, wife of Charles E. Burkey; Grace G., Clayton G. and Bessie, all still living, and Bertha I., who died May 28, 1895, at the age of nineteen years, nine months and three days. In 1868 Mr. Wilcox settled on his present farm, a half mile west of his father's homestead, and until 1873 was engaged in the production of potash, etc., since which date he has devoted his tine to general larmning. Mr. Wilcox is very popu- lar in the township and has fled the afee of school dire tor and pipervis ; for several years.
Calista E Kibler, the lady who became politics, and for a number of years served as | the wife of George A Wilcox, was born in
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PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD
Palmyra township, Portage county, Ohio, January 7, 1845, her mother being a native of the same township and her father of the state · of Virginia. To the marriage of George Kib- Jer to Mary Ruggles, daughter of William and Malinda (Wilson) Ruggles, were born seven children, viz: Melissa, now Mrs. Lester Pat- terson; Calista E , the wife of George A. Wil- cox: Maria, married to Charles Waller; Jesse C., Charles M., and Blanche May, the wife of Arthur Williams. George Kibler met with an accidental death July 31, 1889, being killed by a fall from a wagon, but his wife had passed away November 11, 1888, at the age of sixty- nine years. The grandfather of Mrs. George A. Wilcox, Henry Kibler, a native of Virginia, was one of the earliest settlers of Palmyra township, was a farmer by occupation, but at one time owned the largest saw-inill in north- eastern Ohio.
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O RLANDO WILCOX, one of the lead- ing attorneys of Summit county and a respected citizen of Cuyahoga Falls, was born at Hinckley, Medina county, Ohio, December 16, 1851, a son of Dr. Orlando and Lucy (Fletcher) Wilcox, who descended from Connecticut Puritans, of English stock, the name being originally spelled Wilcoxson.
Lemuel Wilcox, grandfather of Orlando, was the son of Joseph. He was born in Con- necticut, and was a soldier in the war of 1812. He settled in New York state, after his inar- riage to Rhoda North, about 1800. His chil- dren were Orlando, Alanson, Evelyn, Lemuel, Adelia, Mary and Sarah. Lemuel Wilcox moved, in 1830, and settled at Hinckley, Me- dina county, Ohio, on a farm, although a stone- mason by trade. He reached the venerable age of eighty-four years and died a knight templar Mason.
Dr. Orlando Wilcox, father of our subject,
was born February 22, 1802, at Broadalbin, in. New York state. He received an excellent medical education in New York city, gradu- ated about 1827, and settled for the practice at Cuyahoga Falls, about 1828. Dr. Wilcox married, in this place, Lucy Fletcher, March 26, 1829. She was born on Grand Island, lake Champlain, July 6, 1809, and saw, as a child, the naval battle on that lake. Her fa- ther moved to Burlington, Vt., and from there to Ohio, in 1817, and settled as a pioneer in the woods of Boston township, Summit county. but later moved to Hinckley, Medina county, Ohio, where he died, aged about seventy years.
Dr. Wilcox was one of the pioneer physi- cians, was a member of the early medica! societies of Cuyahoga Falls, and well known throughout the surrounding country. He moved to Hinckley in 1831, where he practiced for many years. He died in Cuyahoga Falls, April 3, 1886. He was a strong advocate of temperance and as early as 1829, in connec- tion with Henry Wetmore, of Cuyahoga Falls, organized the first temperance society in Ohio. His children were Nelson E., Rev. Alanson Lester, Rebecca, Lucy and Orlando. Politic- ally, he was a free-soiler, abolitionist and republican.
Orlando Wilcox, subject of this sketch, received his education at Hinckley and Bald- win university, at Berea, Ohio, and read law at Cleveland, in the office of A. J. Marvin, a prominent attorney. He began the practice of his profession in 1884, and soon establishe.] a successful business.
Mr. Wilcox married, October 7, 1874. Miss Zelia M. Severance, born at Hinckley, Medina county, Ohio, a daughter of Asaph and Mary (Pierce) Severance, and to this union have been born two daughters -- Lottie and Mabel. !: politics Mr. Wilcox is a republican. in! hai- held the office of city solicitor for ten years He was a candidate for probate judge in 18g.
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but was defeated for nomination by a small majority. He is a K. P., being a member of Pavonia lodge, No. 301, of Cuyahoga Falls, and also of the Ancient Essenic order. Mr. Wilcox and wife are members of the Disci- ples' church.
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RANCIS ALBERT WILCOX, a lead- ing business man of Akron, Ohio, was born in Richfield, Summit county, May 17, 1852, and is a son of Jere- miah C. and Julia A. (Wilder) Wilcox, the former of whom was a native of Connecticut and the latter of Vermont.
Jeremiah C. Wilcox descended from an English family that settled in America in 1636, but for the purposes of this narrative it will be only necessary to state that he was well edu- cated and came to Ohio in 1808, locating in Trumbull county, and there married a Miss Bushnell, who bore him five children, viz: Harriet, the deceased wife of Rev. Danicl Einmerson; Maria, deceased wife of the late Judge Robert Clark, of Sacramento, Cal .; Jeremiah D., a retired merchant of Deadwood, S. D .; Jerusha, wife of Gen. S. D. Sturgis, of Minneapolis, Minn., and Amelia, who died in early childhood. The mother of these chil- dren was called away in due course of time, and then Mr. Wilcox married Mrs. Pettee, formerly Miss Wilder, who became the mother of the subject. The father of Mr. Wilcox died in 1872, at the age of eighty-two years, but the mother still survives, and has now attained her eighty-second year.
Francis A. Wilcox was educated in the common schools, then at the Richfield acad- emy, and at the age of seventeen years began teaching school, by which effort he was able to pay his way thr ngh Oberlin college, from which he graduated in 1878. His school work extended through nineteen terins -- the last
three years of which were employed as super- intendent of the Glenville schools. He had taken the opportunity, however. during the years he was employed as a teacher, to study law with T. E. Burton, of Cleveland, reading, under instruction, one year. In 1882 he lo- cuted in Akron, bought a half-interest in the abstract business of W. W. Warner, and for two and a half years was associated with this gentleman in this specialty, then purchased his partner's interest, and for six months car- ried on the business on his own account. In 1885 he disposed of one half of this business to Andrew H. Noah, and until January, 1896, it was carried on under the firm name of Wil- cox & Noah, when C. I. Bruner was admitted and the name changed to Wilcox, Noah & Co., which has since done an abstract, insurance, real estate and general agency business, hav- ing in its supervision the affairs of the Akron Building & Loan association. Mr. Wilcox is, beside, treasurer of the Akron China company, is president of the Akron Electrical company, of which he was one of the organizers, and has been a director in the Akron Savings bank since its organization. His surplus capital is invested in the stock of various industrial con- cerns in the city, and he has done as much as any man of his age to advance the progress of Akron in its material, educational and moral prosperity, and is emphatically what is usually denominated a self-inade man.
In politics Mr. Wilcox is a republican and has served as a member of the city council in Akron, as well as in Glenville. Fraternally he is a Knight of Pythias and an Odd Fellow, in the latter order having filled the office of past grand and having represented it in the grand encampment, and is, beside, the organ- izer of the lodge of Maccabees in Akron.
Mr. Wilcox was united in marriage No- veinher 9, 1893, with Miss Della M. Doyle, daughter of W. B. Doyle, of Akron, and this
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PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD
union has been blessed with one child. Doyle Wilcox, born May 7, 1895. Mr. and Mis. Wilcox have also taken to their hearts and home a little girl, who was left an orphan by the death of a brother of Mrs. Wilcox and whom they have adopted as their daughter, and who was born August 13, 1894, and is named Elizabeth Lulu Wilcox. Mr. Wilcox, with his family, resides at No. 110 Park place, where he and wife enjoy the company of a large circle of friends, to whom a generous hos- pitality is always extended.
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OLOMON C. WILD, a thrifty young farmer of Northampton township, Summit county, was born in Union- town, Stark county, Ohio, December 7. 1865, a son of Frederick and Susan (Brum- baugh) Wild, the former a native of Switzer- land.
Frederick Wild was born about 1839 and was the sixth child of Rudolph Wild, who died in his native land in 1844. Mrs. Wild came to America in 1854, landing in New York after a voyage of cigliteen days, the quickest that had ever been made by a sailing vessel up to that date, and arrived at Uniontown, Ohio, on the first day of the following year. She brought with her the children she had borne to Rudolph Wild, who were named Jacob, Sophia, Sam- uel, Mary, Frana, Frederick, Rudolph and John. Of these, Frederick, father of our subject, worked as a day laborer for several years, and on reaching his majority married Miss Susan Brumbaugh, rented a farm in Lake township, Stark county, lived thereon seven years, and then purchased the farm of seventy-three acres on which his son, Solomon C., now resides. On this farm Mr. Wild made most of the im- provements and placed it under good cultiva- tion, and here passed the remainder of his life, dying June 19, 1892. His wife, Susan, was
born in Stark county, Ohio, her parents hav- ing come from l'ennsylvania. Her death took place September 10, 1886, leaving to mourn her loss her husband and three children- Clement, Solomon C. and Irene.
Solomon C. Wild has added considerably to the improvement and cultivation of the old home farm and has made it both attractive and profitable, being an industrious as well as a well-trained agriculturist, and having had possession of the premises ever since the death of his father. November 9, 1886, Mr. Wild married Miss Fannie Galloway, daughter of Adam and Almira (Cochran) Galloway, of Stowe township, the union resulting in the birth of one son and one daughter-Harold C., April 2, 1890, and Susan Almira, January 5, 1897. Adam Galloway, father of Mrs. Wild, was a brave soldier throughout the late Civil war, having served as second lieutenant in the Sixth Ohio volunteer artillery, and as a citizen was one of the most respected residents of Stowe township. In politics Mr. Wild has always acted with the democratic party, an 1 while he has been true in his allegiance to the same and active in promoting its welfare, ha- never yet sought preferment at his party's hands nor been desirous of holding pablic office. He and wife active long been active and ardent members of the United Presbyte- rian church, at Metz, Ohio, and have lived con- sistently with its tenets and teachings. Both: are likewise members of the Patrons of Hus- bandry order, and are socially classed among the most respectable in the society circles of Northampton township.
NDREW J. WILHELM, one of the best kuown attorneys at law in Akron. Ohio, has his office at No, !H: Sontil Howard street and has been a resi dent of the city since 1882. His birth toop.
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OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES.
place in Canton, in Stark county, Oliio, No- vember 19, 1863, and he is one of the three children borr to Frederick and Matilda (Pon- tious) Wilhelm. the former of whom was born in Germany and the latter in Pennsylvania, of German extraction, and both are now deceased. Of the three children. Andrew J. is the only survivor. He was reared by his maternal grandparents, Samuel and Sarah Pontious, from his sixth until his fourteenth year, and he then began to take care of himself. He was educated in the district and graded schools, and at the age of sixteen years began teaching, and in this vocation was employed two terms in Stark county, six terms in one school in Portage county, and one term at another school in the same county, and two terins in Summit county, making a total of eleven terms. Dur- ing vacations he was employed as a clerk and also as a carpenter. In 1881 he entered Union college and defrayed his expenses en- tirely from the furds he had previously earned as teacher, carpenter and clerk. In 1887 he began the study of law with Voris & Voris and was admitted to the bar March 6, 1890, and soon afterward formed a partnership with Samuel Rogers, under the firm-name of Rogers & Wilhelm, but six months later the firm dis- solved, and since then Mr. Wilhelm has been in practice alone, and has attained a proud distinction as a general attorney. During the period of self-instruction Mr. Wilhelm was first strongly inclined toward the ministry of the Methodist Episcopal church, of which he was and is now a member, and passed a success- ful examination as a candidate for ordination, delivered many sermons, and acted as a " sup- ply," but circuinstances led to the practice of the law, and in a financial sense the change was a fortunate one, as his abundant success as an attorney has since proven.
In politics Mr. Wilhelmn is a member of the republican party, and as an attorney is equally
popular with his fellow-practitioners as with the general public. Ile was married, May 30, 1888, to Miss Rose Anna Price, daughter of George Price, and this marriage has been blessed with three children -- Earle P., Lillian A. (deceased) and Edith.
ca ILLIAM L. WILLIAMS, the old- time blacksmith and wagonmaker of Palmyra, Portage county, Ohio, was born in Wales August 1, IS33, a son of William L. and Margaret (Jones) Williams, who came to America in 1839.
William L. Williams, the father, was also a wagonmaker and blacksmith, and on coming to America settled in Palmyra, where he ful- lowed his trade as long as strength permitted. To his marriage with Miss Jones were born seven children, of whom three are still living, viz: Ann, Elizabeth and William L. The deceased were named Isaac, John, Henry and Martin, the last named of whom died in Wash- ington, D. C., May 10, 1894, at the age of sixty-four years. The father passed away November 18, 1861, when fifty-six years old, and the mother October 17, 1887, at the age of eighty-three years-both devout members of the Methodist church.
William L. Williams, in whose interest this biography is written, was but five years of age when brought to Palmyra, Ohio, here at- tended the district school and learned his trade under his father. When his father became invalided, he for some time managed the busi- ness, and in 1854 started a shop in Palmyra on his own account, and up to the present time has been very successful in this line, as well as in farming, which he carries on in conjunction with his trade.
June 1, 1867, Mr. Williams was united in marriage to Miss Maria M. Williams, daughter of William and Martha ( Roberts) Williams,
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PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD
and this marriage has resulted in the birth of ' Palmyra. The deceased were David, who two children, viz: Warren B., who married ; was killed by falling from a barn when nine years old; William, who died when quite young. and John, who was drowned in California. The father of this family was a painter by trade, but on coming to Portage county also engaged in farming, and here died in 1550, at fifty years of age; his widow, however, reached the advanced age of eighty-four years.
Miss Kate Lev is, daughter of David and Mary Lewis, and William, who is still unmarried. Mrs. Maria M. Williams was born in Palmyra township July 18, 1840, of Welsh parentage. Her father was a painter, and to his marriage with Martha Roberts, daughter of Thomas Roberts, were born seven children, two of whom are still living -- T. R., whose biography appears on another page, and Mrs. William L. Williams. The deceased were named Ann, William, David, John and Martin-of whom the last named died in Minneapolis, Minn., December 10, 1891, at the age of sixty years. The parents of Mrs. William L. Williams set- tled in Palmyra township in 1832, and here the father died October 26, 1846, at the age of fifty-two years, and his widow died October 15, 18So, at the age of eighty, both in the faith of the Methodist church.
William [. Williams has always been an industrious mechanic and farmer and has con- sequently won the respect of all who know him. He and family are members of the Methodist church, of which he has been a trustee for many years, and to the support of which he liberally contributes, and the teachings of which constitute his guide and monitor in his walk through the paths of life.
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