USA > Ohio > Wayne County > Commemorative biographical record of Wayne County, Ohio, containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, and of many of the early settled families > Part 39
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
437
WAYNE COUNTY.
with Mary Am Wallace, was married to Mary Rhea, who bore him one child, John. who lived and died in Wooster. After the death of his second wife Mr. Wilson married. Mrs. Devor, who bore him five children, and died in 1862. Two of these five children are now living: Mrs. Sarah Anderson, of Orrville, and Samuel H., of Findlay, Ohio. James Wilson died in 1869, aged seventy-seven years. In poli- ties he was a Democrat. He served for years as a postmaster in Concord, Pen. He was a strong Presbyterian. Of his family three sons are physicians, one a minister ( United Presbyterian) in Ne- braska. One son, William, was State Senator in Iowa, elected as a Democrat. Benjamin was the only farmer.
When Benjamin Wilson was eleven years of age his uncle, Benjamin Wallace, induced him to come to Wayne County, where he arrived in December, 1835. The contry was yet comparatively new and rough. Young Wilson's life was like that of farm boys generally, and he made his home with his uncle until he was twenty years of age. He married Miss Margaret McCoy, daughter of Alexander and Eliza- beth ( Black) McCoy, who was a native of Jnanita County, Penn., and was taken to Wayne County when an infant. She lived until 1852, when she died, aged twenty-seven years, leaving two children, James W., living in Plain Township,
and Alexander I., M. D., of Colorado. Mr. Wilson afterward married Mary S. Alexander, a native of Juniata County, Ponn., who died in June, 1869, leaving one child, Margaret Alice, now Mrs. S. P. Gill, of Orrville. In 1871 Mr. Wilson was married to Miss Isabella Rose, dangh- ter of James Rose, of whom a biograph- ical sketch appears below. Miss Rose inherited from her father her sympathy for the poor and oppressed. In 1863 she went to Memphis to teach the freed- men. She was there for three years, and then went to Washington, Iowa, where she remained until her marriage, in 1871. By this marriage one daughter was born, Florence Rose, now at home. Mr. Wil- son for a number of years made his home near Mechaniesburg, and in 1853 came to his present place, where he has made all the improvements, and cleared the greater part of the farm. The home is one of the finest in the township. Both he and his wife are members of the United Presby- terian Church of Wooster, and the Family is recognized as one of the most progress- ive in the county, well deserving the re- spect and esteem of all who know them. Mr. Wilson began life a poor boy, and has won snecess by his own exertions.
Mrs. Wilson's mother was Martha Boyd, who came from Ireland with her father when she was sixteen years old, and set- tled in Columbiana County, where she
1
438
WAYNE COUNTY.
remained until her marriage. She was a woman of good mind, a great reader, and a stanch Abolitionist, as was her husband. She was also a strong temperance woman,
JAMES ROSE, who was the father of Mrs. Benjamin Wilson, was born in Scot- land, in 1754. Charles Rose, his father, was a Highlander, and came to America in 1801, settling near Wellsville, Colum- biana Co., Ohio, where both he and his wife died. James Rose was twenty years of age when he came with his parents to this country, and for a time he worked in Baltimore.
About 1810 he immigrated to Wayne County with his brother, John, and entered what is now known as the Jones farm, about two miles west of Wooster, living there one year. They then disposed of the farm in Wooster Township, and went to Wayne Township, where their father had entered a farm, but, it being in the time of the war with England, and Indian troubles seeming imminent, they both (John Rose and his brother, James) moved to the block-house in Wooster, and there remained for one year. James, having in the meantime married, returned with his wife to Wayne County, and set- tled on this farm in Wayne Township, on which they erected a little cabin, the door of which was only a suspended quilt, which served but poorly to keep out the wolves, which at night howled around the
house. Their father the next year dis- posed of this farm, and John then en- tered a farm one mile south, in Wayne Township, and James entered one in Ca- naan Township, near Golden Corners, which is now owned by Calvin Armstrong. In 1852 they disposed of this farm, and came to Wooster, where they remained one summer, when they removed to Hayes- ville, where Mr. Rose had purchased a farm. Here, in the fall of 1858. the wife and mother died, aged sixty-six years. She was the mother of eleven children, Mrs. Benjamin Wilson being the only one now residing in Wayne Coun- ty. The names of the children are as follows: Charles, who went to Northern Illinois, and is now dead; Nancy, who died at eighteen; Robert, in Texas; Cath- erine, Mrs. Isaac Van Nostran, in Kansas ; Margery, deceased; John, in California; Mary Jane, who died at the age of eight- een; Isabella, Mrs. Benjamin Wilson : Hannah Martha, died at the age of one year; Martha, died in 1878, at Oskaloosa, Iowa: Sarah F., Mrs. Josiah Lowes, of Omaha, Nob.
In 1863 Mr. Rose sold his farm, and removed to Washington, Jowa, where he passed the remainder of his days, and where he died, March 30. 1873, at the age of eighty-nine and one-fourth years. In polities Mr. Rose was first a Jackson Democrat, but afterward became a Whig,
439
WAYNE COUNTY.
and in 1840 voted for Gen. Harrison. When the slavery question began to be agitated Mr. Rose took a firm stand in favor of the oppressed negro, and cast the first and only abolition vote in Canaan Township. He was laughed at by his neighbors, who told him that he was throwing away his vote, to which he re- plied: " Mine will live, while yours will rot." His home became a " station " on the " underground railroad," and many were the poor fugitives whom he helped on the way to Canada and freedom. On one occasion he had as a " passenger " a poor slave who had lost both feet by freezing, and was walking on his knees. Mr. Rose had formerly helped the man's family on their way, as he did this crip- pled sufferer. Mr. Rose was a stanch member of the Presbyterian Church.
1
!
Kramer was a miller by occupation. He remained in Pennsylvania some three years after his marriage, and in 1837 came to Wayne County, making a home north of Wooster, where a mill then stood, which he managed for three years. From here he removed to Plank's Mill, east of Wooster, and a year and a half later to the place where the Naftzger Mill now stands. In 1860 he settled at the mill near which the family now reside. Some time later, selling the mill, he built a honse at the present family residence, where, on the 16th of December, 1583, he died, at the age of nearly seventy- three years. Mr. Kramer was a man of active life, and contributed much toward the development and growth of his conn- ty. He was a self-made man, beginning life a poor boy, and winning success by his own exertions. In politics he was a Democrat. At the time of the war he was a township trustee, and for six years
J ACOB KRAMER, JR., a worthy eit- . was a director of the Wayne County In- izen of Wayne County, was born in ' firmary. He wasa member of the Knights that county Jme 30, 1852. His of Pythias. father, Jacob Kramer, Sr., was a native of Dauphin County, Penn., where he was : born in 1811. The senior Mr. Kramer, was married. in 1834, to Miss Mary Ann Miller, daughter of David and Elizabeth ( Waldron) Miller, and a native of
Since the death of her husband Mrs. Kramer has resided upon the home farm with her son. On the 20th of June, ISSS, Mrs. Kramer met with a serions accident, falling and breaking her leg. She has been the mother of twelve children, Dauphin County. Mrs. Kramer's father | as follows: Harriet, Mrs. James Riser, of was a major in the War of 1512. Mr. | Denver, Colo. ; David, killed in the war;
440
WAYNE COUNTY.
Sarah, Mrs. S. R. Hughes, of Missouri; Henry, residing in California; Franklin, at Springfield, Ill .; John, in Savannah, Andrew Co., Mo .: George W., in Paw- nee, Neb .; Willis, in Oregon; Jacob, at home; Joseph and Peter, at Virden, Ill .; Annie, Mrs. James Lytle, of Denver, Colo.
Jacob Kramer, Jr., with a rare filial devotion, remains on the home farm with his mother, who, at the age of seventy- five, calmly awaits the summons to another life. In polities Mr. Kramer is a Deut- ocrat, but devotes his time to his choson calling, in which he is very successful. The Kramer family is widely known in Wayne County, and all its members are highly respected. They deserve the grateful remembrance of all for the active and prominent part they have taken in the development of the county.
W ILLIAM P. WHITE, farmer, Wayne Township, was born iu Fayette County, Penn., June 19, 1845, the eldest of six children of Silas and Matilda (Stewart) White. The fam- ily aro from the Eastern States, and, ar- cording to tradition, are of Puritan blood. About 1818 Thomas White, the father of Silas, with his wife and children, left Plymouth County, Mass., for the West,
his objective point being Cincinnati, Ohio, but, on account of some members of the family having taken the smallpox on their trip over the mountains, they were obliged to stop at Connellsville, Fayette Co., Penn., where the family remained, he having died in December, 1823, aged fif- ty-one year's, and his widow in December, 1839, aged sixty-five years. ( Her maiden name was Hulda Guerney). Some time after the death of his father Silas and his brother engaged in the manufacture of woolen goods at Broad Ford, Penn., in which business they continued for some years. About the year 1842 he engaged in the manufacture of what is now known as the famous Connellsville coke, afterward engaging in different kinds of business. Having taken a severe cold in the winter of 1858-59, he died of consumption April 17, 1859, aged fifty-three years. His widow died May 20, 1864, having had ty- phoid fever, but when recovering from it took a severe cold, and died of consumption.
William P. White received a common- school education, but later attended For- sythe's Commercial School. Upon leav- ing school he engaged in various occupa- tions, among which were the following: distillery, pottery, saw-mill, mercantile business, time-keeper, pay-master, book- keeper, superintendent and coal and coke shipper. In 1850 he came to Wayne County, and since then has been engaged
441
WAYNE COUNTY.
in farming. He is a genial, pleasant man, and has made many friends in the county. He was married in 1877 to Maria Sher- riek, daughter of Peter and Leah ( Hlein- ard) Sherrick. They have four children: P. S., M. S., D. P. and H. H. Mr. White is a Republican. He and his wife are i members of the English Lutheran Church.
OSEPH B. MCDONALD, farmer, ; Wayne Township, was born in Juni- ata County, Pen., in Angust, 1841, a son of Joseph and Nancy ( Harris) Me- Donald. His father was by trade a mill- er, and in connection with his trade was also engaged in farming several years prior to his death, which occurred in 1870, when he was aged sixty years. Of a fam- ily of seven children, Joseph B. and A. P., of Nebraska, are the only ones living.
Joseph B. Me Donald spent his early life on his father's farm in Juniata Coun- ty, where he received fair educational advantages. He remained at home until after the breaking out of the War of the Rebellion, when, in 1862, he enlisted in defense of his country, and was assigned to Company A, First Pennsylvania Re- serve Cavalry, and served three years and two months. He participated in the most important battles of the Army of the Potomac, prominent among them being
those of Bull Run, Cold Harbor, the Wilderness and Gettysburgh. After the war closed he returned to his native coun- ty, where he remained a year, when he went to Illinois, and in 1866 located in Wooster, Ohio, and has since made Wayne County his home. In 1884 he bought the farm where he now lives, which was formerly the Wasson property. It con- tains 159 aeres of valuable land, all under enltivation, with modern building in- provements. Mr. MeDonakl is a self- made man, having battled through the rugged pathway of life and been reason- ably successful.
He was married in Wooster to Anna K. Black, daughter of James and Eliza- beth (Shaver) Black. To them have been born eleven children, but ton of whom are living: Laura E., Blanche, Mary, Cary A .. James H., Pearl A .. Edie, Ella, Mettie and Grace. Their second son died in infancy. Mr. and Mrs. Mc- Donald are members of the Presbyterian Church. He is an active member of the Grand Army of the Republic. In poli- ties he is a Republican.
JOSEPH WAGNER, a long time resi- dent of Wayne county, was born in Lewistown, Mifflin County, Penn., February 18, 1932. His father, George
442
WAYNE COUNTY.
Wagner, was a farmer by occupation, and upon reaching manhood was married to Susan Shook, daughter of John Shook, and a native of Pennsylvania. Her fam- ily, on both sides, were of German descent. Joseph Wagner's parents never came to Ohio. His mother died in 1841, at the age of forty. She was the mother of nine children, three of whom are now living, two in Pennsylvania, near where they were born, and Joseph in Wayne County. George Wagner died in 1856, aged seven- ty-three. He was a Democrat in politics. Joseph Wagner was nine years of age when his mother died, and he soon had to look out for himself. In 1859 he started for Pike's Peak, seeking gold, and was for five years in Minnesota and oight years in California. In 1567 he returned to Wooster, and in 1869 was married to Miss Elizabeth AAlbright, daughter of Jacob and Elizabeth ( Moor) Albright, and a native of Wooster City. Her par- ents came to Wayne County about 1828. Mr. Albright was a gunsmith, and lived on the lot where the depot now stands. Later he moved to a farm, and afterward returned to the city, and for a time kept a tavern, later engaging in the grocery business. 1u 1857 he left the city and made his home on his farm, one mile sonth of the city, where he spent the re- mainder of his life. In December, 1876, Mrs. Albright died, aged seventy-three
years. She was the mother of eight chil- dren, five of whom are now living. Two of them died in infancy, and the names of the others are Mrs. Mary A. Thomp- son, O. M. and Elizabeth (Mrs. James Wagner), living in Wayne County; Mrs. John Reamer, who died at the age of thirty-five; Noah, living in Chicago; Andrew, in Wayne County. Mr. Al- bright died on the 9th of June, 1554, aged eighty-one years. He was a self- made man, beginning life a poor boy, and by his own industry won success in life. His first tax was $30. He was a stanch Democrat, but was not an aspirant for office. His daughter, Mary A., was mar- ried to J. H. Thompson in 1853, and for eighteen years lived in Kansas, but for the last four years her home has been in Wayne County. Her children were Mary Ellen, who married Horace Hicken- looper, and died at the age of twenty- eight : Elzie Wynoma; Annie, Mrs. Frank Johnson, of Kansas; Abner Q. and Jacob J. (twins), former in Washington Tor- ritory, latter in Kansas; Frank, in Kansas City, Mo .; Sarah F., in Iowa; Gussie, in Maysville.
Since his marriage Mr. Wagner has made his home on the farm where he now resides, except for about three years. hu ISS1 be engaged in the milk business, and is probably the most extensive dealer in the city. But one child has been born to
WAYNE COUNTY. 43
Mr. and Mrs. Wagner, by name Florence Sadie, bora Jime 2, 1877, now receiving her education. Mr. Wagner is a stanch Republican, and both he and his wife are members of the English Lutheran Church, He has been successful in life, a result due to his own exertions. He stands de- servedly high in the estimation of the en- tire community, as a citizen, business man and neighbor, and is looked upon as ! one of the most substantial and reliable : residents.
OHN ELLIOTT, a prominent farmer of Wayne Township, is of Irish de- scent, his grandfather coming from that country to America in an early day, and locating in the State of Pennsylvania. William Elliott, a son of this pioneer, was born in Pennsylvania in 1780, and was there married to Elizabeth Hays, who was born in 1792. They had a family of eight children, three sons and five dangh- ters. In the fall of 1527 they immi- grated to Ohio, and for a short time lived in the town of Wooster. In the spring of 1828 Mr. Elliott bought 160 acres of land in Wayne Township, of Cyrus Spink, for $800. Ile was a hard-working man, aud brought this farm to become one of the
John Elliott is the sixth in order of birth and the youngest son in the family of William and Elizabeth ( Hays) Elliott. He was born on the homestead in Wayne Township, which has always been his home, seventy-seven of the eighty acres now owned by him being part of the orig- inal tract. He was married August +, 1859, to Elizabeth J. Condry, daughter of William and Deborah ( Frazier) Condry. They have a family of four sons: William, born in 1861: Charles, born in 1863; Zeno H., born in 1865, and John Grant, born in 1868. Mr. Elliott is one of the most prominent citizens of Wayne County, the birthplace of many worthy sons of the sturdy pioneers who laid the foundation of the future greatness of this county, one of the best in the State of Ohio.
P HILIP MARKLEY, county sur- veyor of Wayne County, Ohio, was born in Monroe County. Ohio, April 11, 1856. His paternal great- grandparents, who were of German extrae- tion, late in life removed from Somerset County, Penn., to Ashland County, Ohio, being among the earliest settlers in that region. They were the parents of twelve sous, of whom Moses, grandfather of our best in the township, making it his home i subjeet, was next to the youngest. He until 1855. His widow died in 1859.
, too was a farmer, was married, and beenme
441
WAYNE COUNTY.
the father of eight children, his son, John M., being the father of Philip. John M. Markley was born in Harrison County, Ohio, and grew to manhood in Monroe County, to which place his parents had removed. In that county he was married to Hannah, daughter of William Dough- erty. Her parents wore natives of Iro- land, and came to America in their child- hood. Our subject's parents had eight children: Philip; William, in Kansas; . Cornelius, in Chicago; Sarah Am, wife of Jacob Walter, in Kansas: Jolm, also in ! before him. Kansas, and Mathias, Melissa C. and Mary Jane, at home. The parents came to Wayne County with their children in 1867, and five years later, in 1872, the father was called to his last home, at the comparatively early age of forty-one years;
the mother is now living near Orrville, [ came with his mother to this country in this county.
The subject of these lines was eleven years old when he was brought to this connty. Here he attended the district schools, and later the academy at Smith- ville. He early devoted himself to work, and after his father's untimely death did much toward the support of the family. For five years he worked for Cyrus Wal- , becoming J. Zimmerman & Co., which still ter, in Greene Township, attending school in winter. At the age of twenty-two he In 1875 Mr. Obliger was elected county treasurer, and re-elected in 1977, holding began teaching school, an occupation ho continued in eight years. Four years of the position for four years; was also a that timo he taught in Burton City, this , member of the city council from ISS1 to
county. In 1586 Mr. Markley received the nomination for conty surveyor, und was elected by a large majority. While living in Greene Township he was for two years township clerk, a fact which attests his popularity, the town being Republican while Mr. Markley is a stanch Democrat. lle is still quite a young man, and possess- ing as he does the unlimited confidence of those who know him, and wielding an extensive influence in the councils of his party. he undoubtedly has a bright future
EWIS P. OHLIGER, postmaster at Wooster, Ohio, was born in Bavaria, Germany, January 3, 1843, and 1554, locating in Canton, Ohio. Here he became a clerk in what is known as the " Witting Drug Store." In 1857 he came to Wooster, Ohio, where he secured a sim- ilar position in the drug store of John Zimmerman, in which capacity he con- tinued until 1965, when he became a partner with his employer, the firm name exists.
WAYNE COUNTY. 445
1885, during three years of which he was president of the council. In November, 1855, he was appointed postmaster at ; til he could build a log cabin. He entered Wooster. Mr. Obliger is a strong Dem- ocrat, and has served as chairman of the county committee for ten years. He is a Knight Templar, a member of the Shrine Al Koran Temple, Cleveland, Ohio, Knights of Pythias, Improved Order of Red Men and Royal Arcanmm organiza- tions.
On March 9, 1865, he was married to Emma T., danghter of Jonathan and Mar- tha ( Yocum) MeClure, and a native of Wooster, Ohio. To this union four chil- dren have been born: Mattie F., deceased : Charles E., in Wooster; Lewis W., de- ceased, and Willard, at home. Mr. Ohili- ger is widely known, and respected by everybody. In his official position he knows neither sect nor party, and dis- charges the duties of his office in a man- ner satisfactory and pleasing to all.
S D. BUCHER, farmer. is a native of Wayne County, Ohio, born in Chester Township in 1843. Heury Bacher, the first of the family to settle in this county, was a native of Centre County, Penn., and in 1524 packed his. worldly goods and his family into a big wagon, and started for Ohio. He located
in Wayne Township, then a dense forest, making his wagon his dwelling-honse un-
a quarter section of land, which is now owned by Mr. Booholtz, which he cleared and improved. He married Catherine Rinehart, and to them were born five sons and one daughter. Andrew, one of the youngest of the family. was born in Cen- tre County, Pen., and was a child when his parents came to Ohio. He was by trade a shoemaker, working at same many years, and later he engaged in farming, at the time of his death owning ninety- three and a half aeres of good land. He married Elizabeth Coy, and to them were born three sons: John, deceased: Jacob C., a physician, now of Chicago, Il., and S. D. Mr. Bucher died in 1569, aged fifty-seven years, his wife surviving him at the advanced age of seventy-five.
S. D. Bucher was reared and educated in his native county, and since reaching manhood has devoted his attention to farming. He has been successful as an agricultorist, and now owns a good farm in Wayne Township. He is a progressive. publie-spirited man, always giving his assistance to any enterprise that is of bene- fit to the county. He is popular with his Fellow-townsmen, and has been elected by them to the offices of township trustee und school director. In polities he is a stanch supporter of Democratic principles.
1
446
WAYNE COUNTY.
He was married, in 1866, to Emeline Young, daughter of John Young. They have had a family of five children, four W., Lizzie Pearl and Mary Ellen.
C HRISTIAN B. BRENNEMAN, one of the best known of the farmers of Greene Township. Wayne County, resides on Section 5, and his postoffice address is Smithville. He is of German birth, and in 1825, more than sixty-three years ago, came to Amer- ica with his parents, Daniel and Mary ( Bender) Brenneman, who emigrated from their native province, Hesse-Darm- stadt, in the year above named, locating first in Somerset County, Pen., and three years later making a permanent settle- ment in what was then a part of Allegany County, but is now Garrett County, Md. In the woods there Daniel Brenneman bought 100 aeres, and with sturdy energy and pluck proceeded to make of it a farm. Long before his death he had it cleared and developed, and provided well for his Family. He was born in 1770, and died May 16, 1812, in his seventy-third year. Ile was married in his native place, Feb- ruary 20, 1803, to Mary Bender, who sur- vived him about fourteen years. Mr. Brenneman was of a quiet, retiring dis-
position, a good friend and neighbor, who had the respect of those who knew him. Ife was a member of the Amish Menon- of whom are living: Harvey A., Andrew . ite Church From his youth. He and his wife. Mary, were the parents of eleven children: Jacob, born July 27, 1805, died December 16, 1806; Jacob, born Decem- ber 28, 1806, became a minister of the Amish Mennonite Church, and died in Maryland, April 144, 1880 (he had a family of fifteen children-John, Sam- nel, Joel, Jacob, Christian, Daniel, Peter, Eli, Anna, Catherine, and five who died in childhood ): Mary, born March 19, 1809, is the wife of Benedict Beechy, of Maryland, and has had three children --- Paul, Jacob and Emanuel; Anna, born July 27, 1811, and died February 22, 1840, was the first wife of Daniel Yutzy, and had five children-Enoch, Samnel, Joel, Mary and Catherine; Catherine, born April 5, 1813, and died February IS. 1870, was the wife of Joel Miller, who owned a farm on the line, partly in Pon- sylvania and partly in Maryland, and had a family of nine children-Daniel, Joel. Eli, Samuel, Christian, Mary, Catherine, Elizabeth and Anna: John, born March 22, 1515, died July 12. 1516: Elizabeth, born November 15, 1816, is the wife of Thomas Lee, of Somerset County, Penn .. and has five children -- Daniel. Joel, Chris- tian, John and Mary: Magdalena, born April 21, 1519, died December 22, 1563
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.