History of Delaware County and Ohio, Part 112

Author: O. L. Baskin & Co; Perrin, William Henry, d. 1892?
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Chicago, O.L. Baskin & Co.
Number of Pages: 818

USA > Ohio > Delaware County > History of Delaware County and Ohio > Part 112

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W. G. WILLIAMS, Professor in the Ohio Wesleyan University, Delaware; was born in Chillicothe, Ohio, Feb. 22, 1822, and is the son of Samnel and Margaret (Troutner) Williams, both natives of Pennsylvania ; his father was en- gaged as Superintendent in surveying for the United States Government in the States of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and Iowa, and was one of the best-posted men in surveying in the Northwest ; he died in 1859; our subject, at 6 years of age, moved with his parents to Cincinnati, where he graduated from the Woodward College in 1844 ; from there he came to Delaware and accepted a professorship in the Ohio Wesleyan University,

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which institution he has been connected with ever since, and is now the oldest teacher in that insti- tution, and the only survivor of the original faculty ; he became a member of the Central Ohio M. E. Conference in 1856, and has filled the office of Secretary of that Conference for the last twenty years. He served as Chaplain of the 145th (). V. I., in the summer of 1864. Prof. Williams was married in 1847, to Miss Mary Ann Davis, of Cincinnati, Ohio; they had six children; she died in 1872; he married his present wife in 1877-Miss Delia L. Lathrop, of New York ; they have one child.

H. A. WELCH, banker, Delaware; this gen- tleman was born in Delaware, Ohio, Nov. 4, 1845, and is a son of A. A. Welch, who is one of the old settlers of Delaware; he commenced in the Delaware County Bank, filling the position of book- keeper and teller for some five years; in 1867, on the organization of the Deposit Banking Com- pany, Mr. Welch was made cashier, which office he -has filled ever since ; the Deposit Banking Company was organized in 1867, by a number of enterprising men of Delaware, and since then has been largely patronized ; it has accomplished much good since its organization, and made many friends, and this because it has always been liberal in its dealings.

JAMES WALSH, carpenter, Delaware; was born in Canada, near the Gulf of St. Lawrence, and at 14 years of age commenced to learn his trade as a carpenter ; in 1861, he came to Dela- ware, and has been one of its honored citizens ever since, having been employed by the Delaware Chair Company for the last nine years.

JOSEPH WELLS, proprietor of the Delaware Omnibus Line, Delaware, was born in Hardy Co., Va., April 21, 1827, and is the son of Joseph and Sarah Wells ; his mother was born in Ireland ›and his father in Virginia, where he was engaged in farming. In 1832, Joseph came with his par- ents to Ohio and located in Union Co., they being among its early settlers; he learned the carpenter's trade in Jerome Township, Union Co., and followed it seven years; in 1850, he came to Delaware, a poor man, and commenced driving a team ; in 1860, he purchased a half-interest in his present business, and formed a partnership with Mr. Jack Cunningham, running two omnibuses and eight horses ; about 1868, Mr. Wells became sole owner of the business, and has been very successful ; he now owns five fine coaches, baggage-wagons, one omnibus and ten horses ; he does a good business,

attending all trains and employing four men. We may mention here that Mr. Wells was the first man that attended the train from Delaware and drove a large wedding-party eight miles out to the railroad, as the C., C., C. & I. R. R. was not then completed to Delaware. Mr. Wells has been City Marshal and Constable. He was married to Miss Ann Case, of Ohio; they have nine children.

PROF. WILLIAM F. WHITLOCK, Dean of the Ohio Wesleyan Female College, Delaware; was born in Montgomery Co., Ohio, Oct. 20, 1833, and is the son of Elias Whitlock, of New York, who moved to this State at an early day; he died in 1880, at 82 years of age. Prof. Whitlock re- ceived a common-school education in Butler Co., where he prepared himself for college; in 1852, he came to Delaware and entered the Ohio Wes- leyan University, and graduated from this institu- tion in 1859; he then was elected a teacher of languages; in 1864, he filled the chair of Professor of the Latin Language and Literature, and in 1877 was made Dean of the Ladies' Department of the Ohio Wesleyan Female College, which position he now holds; Prof. Whitlock's connec- tion with this institution has been signalized by success, and in whatever capacity he has been called to serve, he has brought to his aid rare at- tainments and marked ability.

REV. E. D. WHITLOCK, Pastor of the William Street M. E. Church, Delaware; was born near the city of Dayton, in Montgomery Co., Ohio, Nov. 12, 1843; is the son of Elias and Mary (Johnson) Whitlock ; his father was a farmer, and moved front Montgomery Co. to Piqua, Miami Co., where he died in 1880 at the age of 82 years. Mr. Whitlock remained with his father on the farm until 1863, when he came to Delaware, and entered the Ohio Wesleyan University, and graduated from that institution in the Class of 1866 ; he then went to Champaign Co., and was engaged in teaching school three years as Principal of the Urbana High School, and two years Superintendent of the Paris Schools ; he also filled the position for two years as a member of the Board of County School Examiners while in Urbana, and was two years Superintendent of . the Barnesville School ; in 1873, Rev. Whitlock was ordained as a minister, his first charge being at Ansonia, Darke Co., where he remained for one year, then went to DeGraff, Logan Co., remaining one year, then to Bellefontaine, connty seat of Lo- gan Co., where he remained for three years, when in 1878, he came to Delaware and took charge of

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the William Street M. E. Church. In 1868, the Rev. Mr. Whitlock was married, in Urbana, to Miss Malia L. Brand, of that place, and a daugh- ter of the Hon. J. C. Brand ; by this Union they have two children. Mr. Whitlock was a soldier in the 100-day service of the late war, entering Co. E, 145th O. N. G., and was on duty at Arlington Heights.

JOHN H. WARREN, County Treasurer, Delaware; was born in Radnor Township, this county, Oct. 20, 1833, and is the son of William M. Warren, of Pennsylvania, who came West and located in Delaware Co. about 1812 or 1814. John H., the subject of this sketch, was raised on a farm, and for awhile lived in Scioto Township ; at ahout 16 years of age, he came to Delaware, and entered a store as a clerk ; in 1856, he entered the mercantile business at Millville, where he continued until 1874; in 1875, Mr. Warren was elected to the office of County Treas- urer by the Democratic party, by a majority of eighty-nine votes ; in 1877, he was re-elected to the same office by a majority of 700 votes, one of the largest majorities ever given to a county officer in this county. Such a popular expression by the people speaks volumes in favor of the manner in which Mr. Warren has performed the duties of his office. and his fidelity to the public trust imposed upon him.

A. A. WELCH, merchant, Delaware, is the oldest merchant now doing business in Delaware ; was born in Cayuga Co., N. Y., June 16, 1813, and is the son of Bildad Welch, of New York, who was engaged in farming; Mr. Welch's grand- father, John Welch, of New York, came to what is now Delaware Co. in 1804, and on the organiza- tion of the county was elected Commissioner, which position he filled about eight years ; in 1817, Mr. A. A. Welch, with his father and family of ten children, started West, and came down the Ohio River on a raft to Marietta, and from that point went to Galena, Ohio, by wagon ; here Mr. Welch remained in Liberty and Westfield, until 1823, when, in February of that year, he came to Delaware; he learned the trade of chair-maker at Columbus, and while there, in April, 1830, joined the M. E. Church, of which he has been a mem- ber continuously to this day ; in 1834, he com- menced the manufacture of chairs in the building now occupied as a residence by the Rev. Jacob Brown; this was the first piece of property that Mr. Welch ever owned, consisting of 6 acres ; after several years, he moved to the east side of San-

dusky street, and, in 1840, purchased the property where his furniture store now stands, from Solo- mon Smith, one of the first settlers of the county ; in 1840, Mr. Welch commenced the manufacture of furniture, which he continued until 1874, since which time he has confined his business to the operation of a furniture salesroom; Mr. Welch now carries one of the most complete stocks to be found in Central Ohio; in 1869, he erected the brick building adjoining his furniture store, and, in 1873, built his present store, which is one of the substantial brick business blocks of Delaware. Mr. Welch married, Dec. 25, 1834, Miss Falenia Biglow ; she died two years after their marriage ; he married his present wife, in 1838, Mrs. Juliann (Storm) Babcock, of Delaware, daughter of George Storm, one of the pioneer settlers of this county, having made his home here in 1809; by this mar- riage there were born eight children. Mr. Welch is one of the organizers and a charter member of the Ohio Wesleyan University, and was a Trustee of the Female College until 1876.

W. T. WATSON, grocer, Delaware, was born in Frederick Co., Md., Sept. 3, 1825, and is the son of John and Rachel, (Wiles) Watson, both natives of Maryland ; in 1831, they with three children came to Ohio, and located in Scioto Town- ship, Delaware Co .; the father and mother died when W. T. was young; in 1840, he came to Delaware to learn the trade of cabinet-maker; in about eighteen months, he returned to the farm, which he operated until 1865, when he was elected to the office of County Treasurer, and, in 1866, moved to Delaware, which has since been his home; Mr. Watson has been a public man for a number of years; he started in first as Clerk and then Treasurer of the county, and was also Justice of the Peace for a number of years, he then served as County Commissioner three years, and as County Treasurer four years ; during the time of building the court house; since Mr. Watson has been a resident of Delaware, he has served as member of the City Council for twelve years, and was the first President of the Council after the town was incorporated as a city. In 1852 he be- came a member of the United Brethren Church, and, in 1858, joined the Sandusky Conference, traveling and preaching under their jurisdiction. Mr. Watson is now a member of the Central Ohio Conference, and labored in the cause ; since he has been a preacher, Mr. Watson has married 380 couples. In 1846, he was united in marriage to Miss Jane Beckley, of Delaware Co., daughter of

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Samuel and Susan Beckley ; she died in 1852. He married his second wife, Miss Martha Clark, in 1853; she was a daughter of John and Mary Clark; there have been born into the family nine children, two by the first wife and seven by the second. Mr. Watson is a Republican, but tem- perate in all things.

DR. P. A. WILLIS, deceased, Delaware ; was born in Delaware Co., Ohio, the third of a family of eight brothers, sons of Buckley H. Willis, a well-known citizen of Scioto Township. Young Willis, after acquiring such an education as was afforded by the district schools of his neigh- borhood, came to Delaware, and entered the Ohio Wesleyan University, where he studied about two years ; having chosen the medical profession, he attended lectures at Starling Medical College, Co- lumbus, where he graduated with the Class of 1861 and 1862 ; be also read for a considerable time in the office of the distinguished surgeon, Dr. Hamil- ton, of Columbus; in 1862, Mr. Willis entered the army ; first as a contract surgeon, in which ca- pacity he participated in the battle of Corinth, wit- nessing the desperate onset and the repulse of the rebel army ; soon after this, he was commissioned second assistant surgeon of the 48th Ohio vice J. B. Lewis, and joined his regiment at Memphis, Tenn .; late in the fall of that year they went down the Mississippi; the old surgeons were glad to have a new hand, and they gave him plenty of work, which he went at with alacrity. The battles of Chickasaw Bluff and Ar- kansas Post soon followed, and the fearful ravages of disease during the winter campaign on the Mississippi are well remembered. Through all this Dr. Willis was steadfast, faithful, untiring, and never discouraged. Both his seniors fell sick, resigned and went home, and he was pro- moted to the rank of surgeon early in the spring of 1863. The close of the war, two years later, found him serving as Medical Director of an army corps .on the staff of Gen. Andrews, in the De- partment of the Gulf. His promotions were not due to any extraneous influence, but solely to his efficiency. On his return from the army, he en- gaged in farming and the practice of medicine at the same time, achieving success in both branches of business ; for several years, he was a member of the Agricultural Society, holding official position in the Board ; his student life, army life, profes- sional and farm life, were all marked with indomit- able energy, which was a prominent trait of his character. In 1862, he was married to Miss

Henrietta Decker, daughter of Frederick Decker. Dr. Willis died of pneumonia, at his home near Bellepoint, on the 18th of March, 1876, in the 39th year of his age, leaving his wife and only child (a daughter) sorely bereft. He was a mem- ber of the M. E. Church. The fatal disease was rapid in its progress, and though his death was un- expected by his friends, yet they have the com- forting belief that he was fully prepared for the sudden change. He was buried at. Oak Grove Cemetery, with the full ritual of Masonic honors corresponding with his rank, by Hiram Lodge of Delaware, of which he was Master.

REV. S. L. YOURTEE, minister of the M. E. Church, Delaware; was born in Washing- ton Co., Md., Sept. 21, 1817, and is the son of Abraham and Magdalena (Brown) Yourtee, both of whom were born in Washington Co., Md .; his father was a farmer, and on the farm the son re- mained until he was 18 years of age, when he be- gan to educate himself, graduating from Kenyon College, Gambier, Ohio, in 1840, when he was licensed by the Northern Ohio Conference of the M. E. Church to preach. In 1842, he was or- dained, and was stationed at Millersburg Circuit, where he remained one year ; thence to Sylvania, one year; thence, in 1844, to Toledo, where he was the first stationary preacher of that place ; thence to Lima, two years; thence to Bellefontaine, two years; St. Mary's, one year; Tiffin, two years ; Elyria, one year, and at Wooster, where during the first year he was elected President of the Female College of Delaware, filling that posi- tion in 1852 and 1853 ; thence to Franklin, one year, then to Pittsburgh, where he was President of the Pittsburgh Female College for one year, when he joined the Cincinnati Conference, remain- ing in Cincinnati five years, at Morrow Chapel two years, Christie Chapel two years, Asbury Chapel, one year. At the breaking-out of the late civil war, in 1861, he enlisted as Chaplain of the 5th O. V. I., remaining with that regiment one year, when he returned to Cincinnati, and helped organ- ize the 84th O. V. I., and enlisted in this regiment as Chaplain, remaining with them until taken sick at Memphis, Tenn., where he suffered with fever for several months, and resigned and returned to his home at Cincinnati ; after remaining there a short time, he went to Springfield, Ohio, and preached there three years ; thence to Lockland, one year; thence to Yellow Springs, Ohio, one year, where he received an appointment from Port Clinton, but on account of sickness did not

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fill; after resting one year, he was called to Love- land Station, remaining there one year. He then began the study of medicine, and was engaged for two years in Springfield practicing medicine, when he received a call from Richmond, Ind., and filled the pulpit of Grace M. E. Church for one year ; thence transferred to the North Ohio Conference ; at Clyde two years, also at Ashland, Ohio .; here, during the first year, he was stricken down with paralysis, and laid aside for some three years. In 1876, Mr. Yourtee moved to Delaware. At the last conference he was appointed to the Wood- bury Circuit, which he is now filling. He was married, in 1840, to Miss Alice C. Alpaugh, of New Jersey ; they had one son, now residing in Kansas City, Mo .; she died in 1868, at Yellow Springs, Ohio ; he was married, in 1869, to Mrs. Laura A. (Henshaw) Sears, of New York, she having one child, a daughter.

FREDRICK ZEIGLER, farmer ; P. O. Del- aware ; son of Reuben Zeigler ; he was born Oct. 18, 1840, in Delaware Co., Ohio, on his present farm of 130 acres. He was married, Sept. 16, 1860, to Sarah A Bieber, a daughter of George Bieber, a farmer of Pennsylvania; they have seven children, all of whom are living-William, Anna, Frederick, Alice, Luther H., Edward and John ; Mr. Zeigler takes an interest in the educa- tion of his children. He and his wife are mem- bers of the Lutheran Church at Delaware, Ohio. They have made good improvements on their farm ; every necessary convenience being upon it ;

especially praiseworthy is the improved spring in daily use. Mr. Zeigler's father was born in Penn- sylvania and came to Ohio in 1834, settling where Frederick now lives ; they had three children, two daughters and one son ; Mr. Zeigler is for- fortunate beyond the common lot of humanity in being surrounded by all that makes life pleasant.

WILLIAM ZIMMER (deceased), was born in Prussia, Germany, Feb. 1, 1824; in 1844, he, with his parents, emigrated to America, landing in New York City; from there they came to Ohio and located on a farm in Crawford Co .; here our subject remained a short time, then went to Columbus and commenced to learn his trade as a blacksmith, where he remained but a short time; then traveled in different parts of the country, visiting New Orleans, St. Louis and other points, returning to Columbus, and from there, in 1853, moved to Delaware, where he first worked at his trade; in 1861, commenced the grocery business, on West Winter street, in a house built by him ; he carried on business here until his death, which occurred May 9, 1877, having died with typhoid pneumonia and inflammation of the bow- els, leaving a wife and four children to mourn his loss; he was known in the community and by all with whom he had business, as a man of honor, commencing life a poor boy, and, by hard work and good management, had accumulated a good property. He married Catharine Bear, who was born in Germany, having emigrated to America with her people when she was 13 years of age.

LIBERTY TOWNSHIP.

WELLS S. ANDREWS, farmer ; P. O. Pow- ell; was born June 20, 1831, a son of Timothy Andrews, a native of Connecticut, and was one of the early settlers in the county, and came to this State when he was but 20 years of age; Wells' school advantages were poor, but by dint of per- severance, acquired an education which enabled him to teach school, which he followed for eleven years. Jan. 3, 1855, married Amelia Mercer, born March 12, 1835, in Deavertown, Morgan Co., Ohio; she is a daughter of Dr. N. Z. Mercer ; after their marriage, remained on the homestead until 1857, when he moved to his present home, one mile and a half west of the Olentangy ; has

100 acres of improved land. Mr. Andrews has never sought office, yet he has been selected by his neighbors to fill every office from the Supervisor down, and has filled the office of County Commis- sioner ; is a member of Powell Lodge, No. 465, I. O. O. F., and is now District Deputy Grand Master of Delaware Co. Mr. and Mrs. Andrews have four children-Blanche, born Aug. 10, 1858 ; Clarence, Aug. 17, 1862 ; William H., June 6, 1868; Birdie, Sept. 13, 1871. Mr. Andrews has been a resident of this county for nearly fifty years, and has been closely identified with its interests.

MRS. ROXIE BARTHOLOMEW; P. O. Powell; is a native of Massachusetts; born in

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Sharon Township, Dec. 13, 1812, is the daughter of Caleb Hall, whose wife was Mercy Rhodes, both of whom are natives of Massachusetts, and emigrated to this State in the year 1817, making the trip by wagon, which time occupied nine weeks ; Mrs. Bartholomew was then but 5 years of age, but she distinctly remembers the time of their coming; they located at Worthington, and in 1831 moved to Orange Township. Mrs. Barthol- omew was united in wedlock . June 14, 1833, to Maj. Bartholomew, who was born Dec. 13, 1806, in Connecticut ; four children were born, but only one, Benjamin F., now living; Jasper, Jane and Thomas C., are deceased; the two former arrived at maturity. After Mrs. Bartholomew's marriage, they moved to the place now occupied by her ; they started empty handed, he began work at $9 per month, this he continued some time, and then bought a team and began farming on his own account ; after years of patient industry and the exercise of rigid economy, he succeeded in making a start; being a shrewd business man, he was soon enabled to do business on a large scale, and continued to be successful up to the time of his death, Oct. 17, 1875, which was hastened by in- juries received some years previous by being entangled in a mowing machine; since his death, Mrs. Bartholomew has remained on the home- stead conducting the business of the farm for two years, since which time, her son, Benjamin F., who resides near her, has had charge.

B. F. BARTHOLOMEW, farmer and stock- raiser ; P. O. Powell; is a son of Major and Roxie Bartholomew, and was born in the southeast cor- ner of the township April 3, 1837; his father being a farmer and trader, Benjamin concluded to follow in his footsteps, and at an early age gave evidences of his partiality in this direction ; he re- mained with his parents until he attained his 30th year, when he was married to Miss Amanda Payne, born April 30, 1842, daughter of Hiram Payne; their nuptials were duly celebrated Jan. 18, 1868 ; they have one child-Leslie, born April 16, 1869. After marriage, they located on the farm he now owns ; has 980 acres of land, which is well im- proved ; is a man of energy and inherits the bus- iness tact possessed by his father, with a strict regard for justice and possessing the esteem of all who have business relations with him; he is act- ively engaged in farming and stock-raising, and is making a successful career.

WILLIAM BARRINGER, blacksmith and wagon-maker, Powell; was born in Seneca Co.,

Feb. 15, 1835; is the eldest of a family of four children; James Barringer, his father, mar- ried Nancy Leasure, who was born in Maryland and is of Dutch descent; William, arriving at ma- turity and having a desire for mechanical pursuits, entered a wagon-shop and made himself as handy as a regular workman, then took up the black- smith's trade and was soon master of both.' In his 23d year, he married Elizabeth E. Howard, born Sept. 16, 1838, in Licking Co .; their, union was celebrated Nov. 26, 1857, after which he farmed and worked some at his trade, continuing until 1862, when he moved to Sandusky and stayed three years and a half, and in 1865 he moved to Powell and started in business, where he carries on both wagon-making and blacksmithing; has a large shop and is doing a good business, and fully merits the patronage he receives. Has two chil- dren-James F., born June, 1859 ; Sarah E., born April 2, 1862. His father died in August, 1844; his mother is living in Wood Co .; Mr. Barringer is a member of the Christian Union Church and of Powell Lodge, I. O. O. F., No. 465.

HIRAM F. BEEDLE, farmer; is a son of Hiram and Amanda (Bishop) Beedle ; the former was born in Warren Co., this State, and was a cooper by trade ; he died in Fayette Co., in 1876 ; his people were from New Jersey ; David Bishop, the father of Mrs. Beedle, settled in Warren Co. in 1803, being among the first settlers ; Mrs. Beedle is still living; Hiram F., the subject of this sketch, is also a native of Warren Co., where he was born Dec. 6, 1838; from the time he was 12 years old until of age, he worked out by the month during the summer, and spent the win- ters at home; in 1858, he came to this county, where he worked by the month at farming until 1863; was in the employ of the Government as teamster one season ; has followed farming since. On Sept. 8, 1874, he was married to Mary E. Scott, born in Franklin Co .; they have one child, James E., born Oct. 24, 1876. Mrs. Beedle's parents were Jackson and Sarah (Gossage) Scott.

IDN BISHOP, farmer; P. O. Powell; born in Fauquier Co., Va., June 28, 1803; son of John and Katie (Idn) Bishop ; she was born in Loudoun Co., Va., and her husband in Pennsylvania ; Idn came to this State with his parents in 1826; they located near Dublin, in Franklin Co., and erected a log cabin and lived until the father's death, in 1847, in his 92d year. Idn was married while on the way out here from Virginia, to Matilda Walker, born in Fauquier Co., Va., in May, 1805; they

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History of Delaware County and Ohio, Part 112

Author: O. L. Baskin & Co; Perrin, William Henry, d. 1892? Publication date: 1880 Publisher: Chicago, O.L. Baskin & Co. Number of Pages: 818

Author: O. L. Baskin & Co; Perrin, William Henry, d. 1892?
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Chicago, O.L. Baskin & Co.
Number of Pages: 818