History of Licking County, Ohio: Its Past and Present, Part 143

Author: N. N. Hill, Jr.
Publication date: 1881
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 826

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WRIGHT, JAMES N., farmer, post office, Johns- town, was born February 20, 1818, in St. Albans township, Licking county. His father, Simeon Wright, jr., was born March 12, 1772, in Rutland county, Vermont, and was married to Miss Sus- annah Abbot in 1795. In 1816 they removed to St. Albans township, then having seven children, James and his sister being born after their arrival. Mr. Wright died September 4, 1833, from the effects of being thrown from a carriage by a run- away team. The subject of this sketch endured the usual hardships of a pioneer life, and had the same difficulties to surmount in order to secure an education, but being persevering and strict, he made the most of his advantages in the common schools of this period. After reaching his majority, he attended Denison university at Granville, Ohio, for one year. Since his college life Mr. Wright has been none the less a student, and it is rare, in- deed, to find a man who has devoted his life to farming better informed in regard to current events. In 1848 he was ordained by the Reverend G. G. West, a local minister in the Methodist church, and from that time until the present, has always held himself in readiness to perform what- ever duties, as a preacher, he was called upon to perform. Mr. Wright was married to Miss Effie Willison, of Monroe township, October 26, 1842, by whom he had seven children: Flora L., born October 26, 1844; Columbia Ann, September 5, 1846; Esther L., May 3, 1849; Miles L., April 3, 1852; Seth I., May 21, 1854; James N., August 6, 1858; Frank P., May 19, 1861. When married,

he was engaged in the mercantile business in Johnstown, in which he continued for six years, but preferring a farmer's life, he sold out and moved on the farm where he now resides. Here he com- menced with a farm of forty acres, which he has by good management and industry, increased to nearly one thousand acres in the townships of Hartford and Monroe. His great specialty is sheep raising, keeping nearly one thousand head, which are among the best in the State. He attends the State and county fairs through, and never fails to secure the first premiums for his exhibits. He is a living example of the success that may be achieved in our county, from what might seem at times the most adverse circumstances.

NEWARK TOWNSHIP.

WILSON, G. W., son of John and Rebecca Wil- son, was born in Newark township, March 10, 1806. His parents removed from Hardy county, Virginia, in 1805, and settled in the central part of Newark township. The subject of this sketch re- mained at home until 1854, when his parents died. He was married January 24, 1835 to Barbara Mil- ler, daughter of Abraham and Margaret Miller. Mr. and Mrs. Wilson had but one child-Harriet, born December 11, 1835, who married William Davis, of Newark, January 1, 1862. Shortly after this marriage they moved to Wisconsin. Mrs. Wil- son died August 31, 1838. In 1854 Mr. Wilson married his second wife-Barbara Wilkin, of Mary Ann township, daughter of Henry and Magdalene Wilkin, who was born June 7, 1817. By this un- ion they had one child-John M., born August 16, 1860. He lives about two miles north of the pub- lic square of Newark, on a farm of one hundred acres.

WILSON, THOMAS R., gardener by trade, is lo- cated about one mile north of the public square of Newark, on what is known as Cedar Hill. He is the son of David and Amanda M. Wilson, and was born April 7, 1848, in Newark township, near where-he now lives. Mr. Wilson's father was born in 1806, in Newark township, north of the city of Newark. He has always lived in the county and been engaged in farming, Mr. Wilson's mother died April 23, 1873. She was born April 13, 1812, in Madison township. She was the daughter of Adam and Elizabeth Seymour. The subject of this sketch is one of a family of five, being the third. He was married to Cordelia Irwin, January 27, 1870. She is the daughter of Hamilton and Catharine Irwin, and was born February 13, 1849, in Franklin township. By this union they have five children-Inez, born November 24, 1870: David A., August 21, 1872; Alice F., February 27, 1874; James A., February 1, 1876; Emma C., July 6, 1879.

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WILSON, G. W., farmer .- He was born in Allen county, Ohio, September 1, 1841; came to Perry county when quite young, and to Licking county in 1868. He was married to Nettie C. Miller in 1872. They are the parents of three children- Ella, Frank, and Mary.

CITY OF NEWARK.

WADE, ZEPHNIAH, cooper, was born in Martins- burgh, Virginia, March 5, 1835. When he was six months old he came with his father to Newark, where he has since made his home. He was mar- ried September 18, 1856, to Jane Avery. She was born September 1, 1835. They are the par- ents of ten children: Zephaniah died August, 1858, aged one year; Rozella, born December 25, 1858; Elcy, born March 24, 1861; William, born September 27, 1863; John Franklin, born May 19, 1866; Mary Caroline, died November 11, 1868, aged two months; Viola Price, born September 23, 1869; Clarence, born July 23, 1873; Eva, died July 23, 1872, seven days old; Cevilla died Sep- tember 22, 1877, eighteen months old. At the age of twelve years Mr. Wade learned the cooper trade. He worked at this until September 18, 1864. He then enlisted in company A, one Hun- dred and Seventy-eighth Ohio volunteer infantry, and served until July 11, 1865. He then went at boiler making, and worked at this until May 7, 1878. He then went at his former business, at which he now works.

WALLACE, HUGH M., No. 345 south side of public square, Newark, Ohio, dealer in fancy and staple dry goods, notions, carpets, oil cloths, etc. Mr. Wallace is a native of Ireland, and was born in 1838. He was brought to America by his par- ents in 1844, who located in Pittsburgh, Pennsyl- vania, remained a few years and then moved to Cincinnati. Mr. Wallace was educated in the schools of Pittsburgh and Cincinnati. His first business engagement was with Mr. George Wal- lace, of Cincinnati, as salesman in a dry goods store, where he remained until in 1854, when he came to Newark with Mr. George Wallace, and continued in his employ, as salesman in his store, until 1864, when he commenced in the dry goods business for himself, with an entire new stock of new goods, in a room on the corner of Third street and public square, where the First National bank now stands. He removed to his present location in 1868, generally known as the "Bee Hive store," where he has since been con- ducting the business successfully. He occupies a large, commodious salesroom, which is well filled with staple and fancy dry goods, notions, oil cloths, carpets, etc., in fact everything in his line of business. He has in his employ four efficient salesmen and one cashier.

WALTON, JOSEPH, M. D., a native of England and was born December 9, 1836, in Catterick, Yorkshire. He was educated at Saint Francis academy, and graduated at the old school of med- icine in London. He came to America in the Great Eastern steamship, July, 1863. He wit- nessed the Irish riot in New York, and the day after he started for Lawrence county, Ohio, on the cars, but could not proceed farther than Belmont county on account of Morgan's raid. He was detained there for three weeks, and at Buffington's island for one week. He arrived at Miller's Land- ing, Lawrence county, by boat, on the thirtieth of August, 1863. He moved to Columbus in 1865, and engaged in the practice of medicine until 1870, when he removed to Newark, and engaged in the building of houses. Being unsuccessful in this, he retired from the more active duties of life. In June after locating in Columbus, he married Elizabeth House, the youngest daughter of John House, of Hebron. In 1876 Mrs. Walton died, leaving him with two children: Emma J., born November 15, 1866; Adelbert H., born Septem- ber 20, 1869. At the time of his wife's death he was a member of the Methodist church, having united with this denomination at the age of seven- teen. After hearing the doctrine of the Bible preached by the Seventh Day Adventists he became dissatisfied with the Methodist and joined the Adventist in 1877, and became a zealous worker in the cause, devoting his time fully to the building and establishing of a church which was completed and dedicated in December, 1878.

WARD, PRUDEN A., was born in Newark, New Jersey, May 28, 1811. He commenced as an apprentice at the carriage and wagon maker trade, in 1832, in his native town, and served three years as an apprentice. He continued at his trade as journeyman, in Newark, about one year, and then worked in New York city a few months. In Sep- tember, 1836, he came to Newark, this county, and he in company with Isaac C. Ball (now de- ceased) established the well known carriage works at Newark, in which he is still a partner. He has been twice married-first to Miss Dorcas C. Ball, in 1839, who died in 1840. His second marriage was to Miss Julia A. Ward, then of Miller town- ship, Knox county, Ohio; she was born in Warren county, Ohio, in 1821. They settled in Newark, where they have since been residing. By this union he has four children: Matilda A., Freder- ick K., Horatio R., and Charles A. Matilda A. married Franklin James, and is now living in Toledo, Ohio. Frederick K. graduated at West Point, as second lieutenant in cavalry, in 1870, and has since been in the United States service. In 1875 he was promoted to first lieutenant, which

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position he is now filling. Horatio R. is married and living in Newark. Charles A., is yet unmar- ried.

BALL & WARD's carriage and wagon shops, a pioneer institution, corner of First and Church streets, Newark, Ohio. These shops were estab- lished in 1836, by Isaac C. Ball and Pruden A. Ward. They first erected a small frame building which served them as work shops for several years. In 1849 they erected the present stone structure, twenty-eight by fifty feet, three stories high, which has since been used as their principal work shops. They also built an addition of fifty feet to their first building. Their several shops, as extended and improved, now almost cover a parcel of ground ninety-nine by one hundred and ninety-eight feet, including two excellent show rooms-one for light carriage and buggy work, the other for farm wagons, and each of these departments is kept admirably stocked with some of the finest work possible to be found in the State. They have from twelve to fifteen employes in their establish- ment, who are all skilled workmen. In 1849 Joseph Ball, brother of J. C. Ball, became a part- ner, and remained in the firm till 1879, when his interest was purchased by the original owners.

WARNER, GENERAL WILLARD .- General Wil- lard Warner was a native of Granville, this county, and was born September 24, 1826. He lived in Muskingum county from 1830 to 1849. General Warner received a classical education, graduating from Marietta college in 1845. In February, 1849, he went to California, by way of the Isth- mus of Panama, in company with Dr. Horace Smith, George Howell, A. Brimagin and Jones Reily, all of whom died, except himself, he return- ing in 1852. He was engaged in the wholesale grocery business in Cincinnati in 1852-3. Gen- eral Warner then went into the Newark machine works as treasurer, and became general manager in 1856 or 1857, and continued such until Decem- ber, 1861, when he entered the Seventy-sixth regi- ment of the Ohio volunteer infantry as major. He was with the regiment at Fort Donelson and Pittsburgh Landing; also at the siege of Corinth, in the Vicksburgh and Jackson campaigns, and at the capture of the steamer Fairplay. Being pro- moted lieutenant colonel, he led the regiment from Vicksburgh to Chattanooga, and through the battles of Lookout Mountain, Mission Ridge and Ringgold. At the latter place, with two hundred men, he broke General Patrick Cleburne's lines, strongly posted. In this engagement he lost one- third of his men in half an hour, being either killed or wounded. Subsequently, in April, 1864, General Warner was appointed by General Sher- man, inspector general on his staff, and served as

such through the Atlanta campaign and on the pursuit of Hood until Allatoona was reached, when he accepted the colonelcy of one of the new regiments. General Sherman upon relieving him from duty, thanked him in special orders for his zealous and intelligent service, and complimented him "on his good sense in preferring service with troops to staff duty." General Warner joined his new regiment, the One Hundred and Eightieth Ohio volunteer infantry, at Dechard, Tennessee, and in January, 1865, was ordered to North Caro- lina. After the capture of Fort Fisher [see Ohio in the war], he participated in the engagement at Kingston, and upon the occupation of the capital of the "old North State," he was made provost marshal of the city. After the surrender of John- son's army he was placed in command of the post of Charlotte, North Carolina, and continued in that position during the remainder of his term of service. Upon the recommendation of his corps and department commanders, Generals Sherman and Schofield, he was brevetted brigadier general in July, 1865. Shortly after this he was mustered out of the service, with the additional honor of brevet major general, for "gallant and meritorious conduct during the war," to rank from March 13, 1865.

After the war closed he returned to Newark, and at the election in October, 1865, was elected to the State senate of Ohio, of which body he was an efficient member. General Warner had previously been the active and efficient manager of the New- ark Gas company, which, under his management, laid two miles or more of gas pipes in Newark. In 1867 General Warner removed to Alabama, where, having previously purchased a plantation, he engaged in the cultivation of cotton. During the next year (1868) he was elected a member of the lower branch of the State legislature, where he zealously supported and ably advocated the Thir- teenth and Fourteenth amendments to the Consti- tution of the United States, and which were on his motion adopted by the Alabama legislature. In July, 1868, General Warner was elected a member of the United States Senate, and served in that body until March 4, 1871. General Warner was a delegate from Ohio to the Chicago convention in 1860, and voted twice for Salmon P. Chase, and on the third and last ballot for Abraham Lincoln. He was also a member of the National Republican convention in 1868, from Alabama, which nomina- ted General Grant; and also of the convention which met in Cincinnati in 1872, and nominated General R. B. Hayes, he voting for B. H. Bristow. And he was also a member of the Chicago conven- tion of 1880, which nominated General Garfield, he voting generally for Hon. John Sherman. Gen- eral Warner was appointed collector of customs at

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Mobile, Alabama, in July, 1871, and served as such until February, 1872, when he was appointed governor of New Mexico, which, however, he de- clined, as he did also the position of minister to the Argentine Republic, of South America. Gen- eral Warner has been uniformly a Republican, voting for Chase for governor of Ohio in 1855; for Fremont for President in 1856; for Lincoln for President in 1860, and 1864; for General Grant in 1868; for Horace Greely in 1872; for General Hayes in 1876; and for General Garfield in 1880. In 1873 General Warner organized the Tecumseh Iron company, situated in Cherokee county, Ala- bama, and has acted as president of the company and as general manager since that time. General Warner has always opposed slavery, and manifested his devotion to principle; when on coming into possession of his patrimony, he gave freedom to such slaves as came into his possession. General Warner's political friends in Licking county always had the utmost confidence in his integrity and ability. He was from 1856 to 1861 their chosen leader, serving during that time as chairman of the Republican county central committee. General Warner still frequently visits his numerous friends in this county, and no man receives a more cordial greeting when he makes those visitations.

WARNER, L. K., Third street, between Canal and Walnut streets, Newark, Ohio. Mr. Warner was born in Brattleborough, Vermont, March 9, 1805, and when he was about two years old his parents came to Ohio, and located in Muskingum county, nine miles from Zanesville, near the loca- tion of the Spring Valley station. He received his education in the district schools, and spent his boy- hood days on the home farm, where he remained until his mother's death, after which he made his home with his eldest brother, Lyman, who re- sided near Roseville, assisting on the farm until 1828, when he came to Newark, and engaged with his brother, Willard, in running a stage line, in which he continued until 1831, when he embarked in the grain business in a warehouse that stood on the northwest corner of Third street, on the south side of the canal where, instead of an elevator and other modern improvements, all the grain handled had to be drawn up hand over hand by means of a rope that run over a large wheel attached near the roof-most arduous labor where there was so much grain handled, as he purchased grain from all parts of this county and all the adjoining counties. In 1836 he associated with himself in the business Mr. Oren Smith, and in 1839 they built the ware- house now occupied by Jewett & Miller, in which they did an extensive business; he purchased Mr. Smith's interest, after which he did business in company with different persons until 1865, when

he sold out the business to Samuel Updegraff and C. D. Miller. In the year 1858 he had, in com- pany with Willis Robins, built the Warner and Robins block, and in 1861 they associated with them L. B. Wing, and engaged in the banking business, in which he continued until 1876. In September, 1876, he engaged in the queensware business, and in which he still continues. He was married February 9, 1839, to Miss Sarah McDou- gal, daughter of the late Stephen McDougal, of this city; and the same year they took possession of the Warner mansion, where they have reared their family, and have resided during the past forty years. They have had a family of eight children; two daughters-Mrs. Fred H. Wilson, and Mrs. C. A. Updegraff-and six sons: George L., Will- ard, Charles L., Frank S., and Stanley ; of these, two, Charles L. and Stanley, are dead.

WATKINS, JAMES, retired farmer, was born near Aberystrogth, Wales, April 2, 1838. He was mar- ried to Ellen Hughes, of Borth, Wales, January 1, 1856 ; she was born October 8, 1836. They have eight children, Enoch, born January 12, 1857; Catharine, March 29, 1858; Mary, September 13, 1862; Ellen, May 18, 1864; Laura, January 2, 1866; Elizabeth, July 18, 1871; David, August 9, 1873; Margaret, December 11, 1876. Mr. Wat- kins came to Newark in August, 1870; worked at farming before coming to Newark. He worked in a rolling-mill and at painting in Newark. Enoch is a printer in the employ of the Newark Ameri- can.

WATSON, MOSES H .; he has been in the laundry business for some time past. He was born March 25, 1822, in Putnam, Muskingum county. He came to this county and settled in Granville, re- maining there two years, when he removed to Newark, where he has lived ever since. He mar- ried Matilda Allen, of Zanesville, January, 1854; she was born in Virginia May 14, 1833. She is the daughter of Wilson and Eliza Allen. Mr. Watson is the son of Thomas and Jane Watson, of Virginia.

WEIANT, W. S., coal merchant, successor to the Newark Coal company, from whence the best and cheapest fuel is supplied, and contracts may be effected to an advantage unobtainable elsewhere. The most extensive enterprise in this direction, within the city limits, was the establishment, in 1872, of the coal tipples on Clinton street, near the railroad track, by the Newark Coal company, who invested something over four thousand dol- lars in their construction. But that corporation only operated them about three years. In 1876 Mr. W. S. Weiant succeeded them, and has since been conducting them with good success In 1877

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he opened his branch office on the corner of Sec- ond and Main streets, proving a step in the right direction. In the fall of 1879 he opened another office and yard on the corner of Second and Canal streets, at which place he has had a substantial platform erected to protect the coal from the ground. Having tried a number of different kinds of coal in this market, Mr. Wieant finds that the Bristol coal, from Perry county, gives by far the most general satisfaction, being equally adapted to house burning as well as for steam purposes. It is a sound, clean, free-burning coal, and is much sought after on account of its not being expensive. He keeps three of his own horses and carts con- stantly engaged in delivering coal, sending out, upon an average, from fourteen to fifteen loads per day, though in winter often as high as thirty loads a day. Prompt attention is given to all orders.

WELCH, LLOYD, a farmer, was born in New Lis- bon, Amoramo county, Maryland, January 13, 1816. His parents came to Hartford, Licking county, when he was fifteen years old. He was married to Sarah Warden, August 24, 1842, who was born April 6, 1821, and was a resident of Granville. Her parents came from Vermont, and were among the pioneers. After their marriage they moved to Monroe township, four miles from Johnstown; lived there fifteen years and then they moved to Sunbury; lived there about a year and then moved to Granville, and from there to West Newark, where they now reside. They had nine children-Mary Ann, born December 10, 1843; Arravesta, born November 29, 1845; Ellalora, born October 28, 1847; Henry, born January 11, 1850. Silas, born September 8, 1851; William, born March 29, 1853; Caroline, born March 3, 1855 (deceased December 18, 1870); Martha, born July 7, 1856; and Albert, born December 29, 1861. They were all born in Monroe township but Albert, who was born in Sunbury. Mary, Ar- ravesta, Henry, and William are married. Mary lives at Dunkirk, Hardin county, Ohio; Arravesta lives at Kirksville, Adams county, Missouri; Henry lives at Granville, Licking county, Ohio; and Wil- liam lives in West Newark. The remainder of the family remain at home.

WELLS, MRS. FANNIE, was born in Newark, Oc- tober 2, 1842. She is the daughter of Ira Abbott, who died at Newark in 1863, at the age of fifty years. Her mother lives on Main street, aged sixty-three years. Mrs. Wells was married No- vember 27, 1861, to John James, of Newark He was born in London, England, November 27, 1838. She has one son, John Wallace, born November 9, 1862. Mr. James came to Newark at the age of nineteen years; he enlisted in company G, Forty- fifth Ohio volunteer infantry, in August, 1862; he

served fifteen months, during which time he was . prisoner of war seven months; three months of the time at Libby prison. Twelve days after being dis charged from prison he died, April 28, 1864, from the effect of being starved while there. Mrs. Fan nie James was again married to David A. Welk. December 22, 1864, who was born in Wellsburgh. Virginia, May 26, 1816. He was a tailor, 2: which he worked for many years in Newark. He was a member in good standing of the order of Odd Fellows. He died March 28, 1879. Johr W. is working at the tailor trade in Newark.

WHITE, JOSEPH, liveryman, sale and feed stabk. Church street, Newark. Mr. White is a native ci Newark, where he was born, November 29, 1815. He received his education in the common school of Granville township, and at Martin's academy, x Granville, attending the latter school about three years, making civil engineering his principal study. After leaving school in 1831 he engaged as rod- man with his brother, John White, in the con- struction of the Hocking canal, through Fairfield. Hocking, and Athens counties, Ohio, which he fol- lowed several years. In 1845 he took charge of the Ohio canal as chief engineer, which position he held until 1851. He then engaged in the mar- ufacturing of brick, and supplied all the demands for brick in the town of Newark for a number of years. In 1854 he engaged in the livery business in Newark, which business he has since followed. In 1859, in connection with his livery, he engaged in the coal business, operating the Coal Port coal bank in Coshocton county, boating the coal to Newark, and supplying all the calls for coal in the city of Newark about six years. In 1868 he con- structed a bridge across the Scioto river, six hun- dred and forty feet long, near Chillicothe, which took one year to complete. In October, 1875, he was elected commissioner of Licking county, and served one term. During his term of office he su- perintended the building of the present court house. In 1841 he married Miss Sarah Drake, a native of Knox county. She was born in 1820. They settled in Newark, where they have since re- sided. They reared a family of four children- Hanson, Angeline, Leander and Freddie. Ange- line married C. F. W. Yergens, moved to New York city, where she died in 1874 Mr. White is the youngest child of a family of nine children, and is the only one of six brothers now living. His father, Samuel White, sr., settled in Newark in 1810 and remained in this county until his death.

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History of Licking County, Ohio: Its Past and Present, Part 143

Author: N. N. Hill, Jr. Publication date: 1881 Publisher: Number of Pages: 826

Author: N. N. Hill, Jr.
Publication date: 1881
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 826