History of Licking County, Ohio: Its Past and Present, Part 146

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

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In 1804 Captain Archibald Wilson, with his whole family, removed from his home on Cedar creek, in the northern portion of Shenandoah county, Vir- ginia, to the county of Wood, on the western bor- ders of the same State, and near to where he made his "tomahawk claim," thirty years before. Here he remained two years when, in March, 1806, he removed to the Licking valley and settled upon the portion of the "Wilson section" nearest the then four-year-old village of Newark, having previ- ously purchased a few hundred acres of said sec- tion from his brother, Colonel Benjamin Wilson. In the previous autumn Abraham C. Wilson, his oldest son, and his daughter Jane, came to the Licking valley and spent the winter preparing for the reception of their father's family the ensuing spring. Captain Wilson's effects, in part, and Mrs. Wilson with the smaller children, were brought up the Muskingum river to Zanesville in a pirogue, which narowly escaped wrecking on Duncan's Falls. By the slipping of the pole of one of the boatmen, the bow of the boat was whirled out into the rapidly flowing current, and soon turned down stream with great speed, being entirely beyond con- trol. Before reaching the foot of the falls it passed by and barely escaped a large rock, which, if it had struck squarely, going with such great speed, would inevitably have wrecked it, and most likely have resulted in the drowning of most on board. The family were then taken around the falls by land. Their narrow escape, and the incidents connected with their passage, by pirogue up the Muskingum, were oftentimes, in after years, the subject of re- mark in the family circle.

A negro boy, a slave, named Ben Wilcox, the property of Captain Wilson, accompanied him from the Shenandoah valley to Wood county, and from thence to Ohio. Ben and his o wner had pre- viously arranged that if he (Ben), who was then twenty years of age, would serve faithfully until he was twenty-four years old, that he should then be set free. Ben served faithfully-was a member of Captain Wilson's family, in fact-and at the stipu- lated time not only became a free man, but for

many years after continued to make the Wilson homestead his headquarters, although at work else- where. He was attached to the family, especially the children, and they liked him. He received some schooling, and when free had a fair outfit of good clothes.

The late Dr. Wilson related the following facts in connection with the journey from the Ohio river to the Licking valley. He said that all the family were on the pirogue except his brother George, his sister Margaret, Ben Wilcox and himself, who came on horseback. He, being only four years old, gen- erally rode behind George, sometimes behind Mar- garet. When their destination was reached he was riding with Margaret. His sister, Jane, who came the previous autumn, ran out of the cabin, and took him off the horse, and carressed and made a great ado over him. The house was small into which they entered; there was but a small clearing around it, enclosed by a low fence; there were woods and swamps all around in full view. All this he remembered, and also that the impression these surroundings produced upon his youthful mind were decidedly unpleasant. He further re- marked that what he saw on this occasion, and the impression produced, remained distinct on his mind through life, while he remembered no event in his life before that time, nor for a year after.

Captain Wilson entered courageously upon pio- neer life in the Licking valley, after he had passed the meridian of life, being then fifty-seven years old, and of course he and his family shared largely in the laborious work of clearing up the land and converting the wilderness into fruitful fields. He displayed much skill, energy and enterprise as a pioneer, and was distinguished for his early efforts in the erection of school-houses, and employing teachers, and generally in the promotion of educa- tional interests.

Captain Wilson, upon the organization of Lick- ing county, in 1808, was elected one of its first commissioners, and continued to serve with fidel- ity and acceptability in said office until his death. His widow, who was a woman of rare excellence and piety, survived him twenty-two years. Being left a widow, with a large family of children, some of them young, ample opportunities presented themselves for the display of those superior quali- ties which characterized many of our pioneer wo- men, and for the practice of the womanly virtues which are the glory of the sex. Mrs. Nancy Wil- son was one of the most excellent of women, and has an honored memory that is still tenderly cher- ished. The fragrance of gentleness, kindness, charity, always pervaded her home circle-it was ever redolent of matronly virtues, and of Christian graces. She was one of the early members of the Presbyterian church of Newark, and died in its

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communion. Mrs. Wilson, or "Aunt Nancy," as she was familiarly and almost universally called, was born June 10, 1770, and died in Newark, Sep- tember 23, 1836, in the sixty-seventh year of her age.

Captain Wilson was a man of sound judgment, of integrity, and of great usefulness. The impulse of patriotism with him was strong-his sense of justice and right was keen, his discrimination ac- curate. He was an upright and faithful public officer, a good neighbor, a just man, an intelligent citizen, a first-class pioneer. Captain Wilson was public-spirited, enterprising, and much given to taking the lead in movements tending to subserve public interests. He died, greatly regretted, at his home near Newark, March 27, 1814, in the sixty- fifth year of his age. But few, if any, of the early time settlers of Licking county had deceased be- fore him, whose death was deemed so great a pub- lic loss, for he commanded the confidence and respect of the community, and deservedly, too, to a large extent. Captain Archibald Wilson, having borne himself worthily and honorably throughout his eventful career, and having faithfully discharged the duties that devolved upon him in all the rela- tions of life, it could not be otherwise than that he should be esteemed while living, and mourned in death.

WILSON, MRS. HATTIE, was born in Liberty township, Licking county, December 15, 1843. She was married to Charles B. Wilson, June 23, 1870. He was born in Newark, and died March, 1, 1876, aged forty years. Mrs- Wilson has three children-Alice, born March 30, 1871; Winme- fred, December 26, 1873; Charles C., December 8, 1875. Her parents, Mahlon Conard and wife, of Newton township, are living, and are pioneers of the county. Her husband learned cabinet making, expecting to make it his future business, but, on account of ill-health, was obliged to give it up. He then went with his father in the grocery busi- ness, in which he was engaged about fifteen years prior to his death. His father and mother, Enoch Wilson and wife, are now living on Locust street. Mrs. Wilson has a pleasant home at No. 62 Mt. Vernon street.

WILSON, HON. JAMES F .- Hon. James F. Wil- son is a native of Ohio, born in Newark, Licking county, October 19, 1828, where he continued to reside until April, 1853, when he removed to the then recently organized State of Iowa, locating at Fairfield, Jefferson county, and where he still re- sides. He studied law in Newark, first in the office of William B. Woods, esq., recently appointed as sociate justice of the supreme court of the United States, in place of Judge Strong, resigned; and completing his law studies in the office of the late

Hon. Lucius Case, with whom he subsequently formed a law partnership. This partnership con- tinued until 1852, when for another year he con- tinued the practice of his profession in the courts of Licking county. On settling in Iowa in 1853 he immediately entered upon the active and suc- cessful practice of law. He was elected a member of the convention for the revision of the constitu- tion of Iowa in 1856. In 1857 he was elected a member of the lower house of the general assembly of the State; and in 1859 he was elected a mem- ber of the State Senate, of which body he was chosen president pro tem. The governor of Iowa had meanwhile (in 1857) appointed him assistant commissioner of the Des Moines river improve- ment. In 1861 Hon. James F. Wilson was elected a member of the Thirty-seventh Congress, to serve out the unexpired term of the late General Samuel R. Curtis, who had resigned to enter the army. He served as a member of the judiciary commit- tee. He was re-elected a member of the Thirty- eighth, Thirty-ninth, and Fortieth Congress, serving throughout as chairman of the judiciary committee. He also served as chairman of the committee on unfinished business, and as a member of the com- mittee on the Air Line railroad to New York. Mr. Wilson was also one of the managers of the im- peachment trial of President Johnson. In March, 1869, President Grant tendered him the position of Secretary of State, which he declined. In the same year the President appointed him a commis- sioner for the Pacific railroad. He accepted this position, and at the same time entered upon a course of active business pursuits and the practice of his profession, a line of policy which he has steadly pursued to the present time, uniformly and persistently declining official position. Hon. James F. Wilson is a gentleman of ability and decided talents, and always acquitted himself handsomely in whatever public stations he has occupied. He sustained the war measures and the policy of the Republican party generally, while a member of Congress, with much ability, and held a high rank in that body as an outspoken, earnest patriot, and as a statesman of more than ordinary shrewdness and foresight. As a thinker he is cool, deliberate, judicious, profound, philosophic. In argument he is logical, and able to present the strong points in all questions of law or politics, that he has fully considered. It is but truth to say of Hon. James F. Wilson, that he is a good lawyer, a close thinker, a writer of ability, a philosophic statesman, a good speaker, a man of integrity, and a conscientious politician, who, on all suitable occasions, gives free utterance to his convictions.

WILSON, SAMUEL, saddler and harness maker .- He was born in Salem, Massachusetts, October 4,

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18 12; came to Newark in 1839, and was married to Mary Cordelia Sites, April 12, 1842. Mrs. Wil- son was born in Harrisonburgh, Rockingham county, Virginia, March 27, 1821. They have five jaughters-Amanda H., born April 8, 1843, who 's now the wife of George Markley, furniture dealer in Newark; Malinda S., born October 16, 1845, died May 25, 1853; Anna E., born December 31, 1847, now the wife of Warren Wright; Mary Effinger, born June 17, 1850. Mrs. Wilson is the daughter of William Sites, an old pioneer of Licking county, who died when Mrs. Wilson was but fourteen years old. Her mother is yet living with Mr. Thomas Sites, on Locust street, at the age of seventy-eight years.

WING, HON. LUCIUS B .- Mr. Wing, born in Wil- mington, Vermont, November 15, 1852, is the son of Bane and Thirza Flint Wing. He came to Newark in 1855, was married to Mary M. M. May- hew, of Charlemont, Massachusetts, May 31, 1855, and has three children-Charles M., Mary La Salle, and Julia M. Mr. Wing is one of our most active, energetic, enterprising business men, now engaged very extensively in agricultural pursuits, chiefly in Illinois, where he has large landed inter- ests. He has also been many years engaged in the banking business, his partners at present being Willis Robbins and D. C. Winegarner. His tastes being largely in the line of agriculture, he has often been elected to the office of director or president of the Licking County Agricultural society; he has also been, for a number of years, serving as a member of the Ohio State board of agriculture, is now the president of the board, a position he has occupied for a year, discharging its onerous and responsible duties energetically and successfully, and with general acceptability. Hon. Lucius B. Wing is one of our most judicious, intelligent, public- spirited business men, ever ready to lend a helping hand to any movement that promises to promote the public welfare. He is a gentleman of varied and extensive information, of generous impulses, of unexceptionable habits, genial and popular so- cially, of undoubted integrity of character, and exemplary in all the relations of life.

WOLVERTON, N. S., dyer and scourer, No. 125 Fourth street, between Main and Canal streets .- He was born in Mt. Vernon, Ohio, March 1, 1844. His father, Clement B. Wolverton, came to Ohio some time in 1830. He was a native of North- umberland county, Pennsylvania. He married Miss Louisa Lauderbaugh, by whom he had three sons and four daughters, two of whom are yet liv- ing, John B. and the subject of this notice. The parents died near Gambier, Knox county, Ohio. Mr. Wolverton lived on a farm until he was eigh- teen years of age, when he commenced his present

business. From his long experience he is well qualified to give satisfaction. He was married to Catharina C. Warner in 1870. They have five children.

WOODS, EZEKIEL S., was among the oldest citi- zens of Licking county. He was born in Wash- ington county, Kentucky, December 25, 1791. At that early day schools were very few and young Woods grew up deprived of the educational privi- leges of the present more favored period. The greater part of his life was spent in the avocation of a farmer. In May, 1818, he came by himself to Newark, Ohio, where he engaged in general merchandise, which business he followed for some eighteen years. On September 11, 1823, he mar- ried Sarah J. Burnham, of Zanesville, Ohio, who was born November 20, 1800. By this marriage he had four children-William B., Charles R., Mary B., and Eliza W. Mrs. Woods died April 17, 1841. She was devotedly attached to the church of her choice-the Second Presbyterian of Newark-of which she was a faithful member. She was distinguished for her benevolent nature, for her kind attentions in the sick chamber, and for her charities towards the poor. Her loss was deeply felt in her family circle, which comprised four children, the oldest being only seventeen. In 1836 Mr. Woods closed out his mercantile busi- ness, and was employed in superintending his farm- ing interests and in dealing in real estate. For quite a number of years he paid considerable at- tention to the raising of blooded stock, which was always with him a favorite employment. In May, 184-, Mr. Woods' second companion was Mrs. Harriet Munson, of Granville, whose maiden name was Warner. She was a native of Vermont. Mary B., the oldest daughter, married George W. Many- penny, of Zanesville, and is now a resident of Co -· lumbus. He was for many years one of the Ohio canal commissioners. Eliza W. became the wife of Mr. Willard Warner, of Newark. Mr. Warner was once a member of the United States Senate. Mrs. Warner is now deceased. In the late war Mr. Woods was represented by his two sons, William B. and Charles R., and also by one son-in-law, Mr. Warner, the three families of whom he took care of while the husbands were in the army. He died February 7, 1880.

*WOODS, JUDGE WILLIAM B., was born in New- ark, Ohio, graduated at Yale college in 1845, was admitted to the bar in Ohio on November 3, 1847, and commenced the practice of law at Newark with S. D. King, esq., under the firm of King & Woods. Was elected mayor of Newark in April, 1856, and re-elected in 1857. In October, 1857,

*From the Lichting county Atlas.

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was elected to the Ohio house of representatives from Licking county. On the assembling of the legisla- ture, in January, 1858, was elected speaker of the house, and served as such during two sessions. In October, 1859, was re-elected to the house of representatives, and served to the final adjourn- ment of the legislature, in May, 1861. In Sep- tember, 1861, was appointed lieutenant colonel Seventy-sixth Ohio volunteer infantry, taking rank from November 4, 1861. On August 22, 1863, was commissioned colonel Seventy-sixth Ohio vol- unteer infantry. Brevetted brigadier general, to date from January 12, 1865, for faithful and con- tinued service as an officer in the Atlanta and Savannah campaigns. Promoted to full rank of brigadier general May 3, 1865. Brevetted a major general, to rank from March 13, 1865, for gallant and meritorious services during the war. During the war he served at the battles of Fort Donelson, Shiloh, Arkansas Post, the sieges of Vicksburgh and Jackson, Mississippi; was engaged in the cam- paign against Atlanta, marched with Sherman to the sea, and from Savannah, through South Caro- lina, to Raleigh, North Carolina, when the sur- render of Lee and Johnston put an end to the war. Marched with General Sherman to Washington, and commanded the advance brigade of his army in the great review in May, 1865. Soon after was ordered to Mobile on military duty. Remained there until February 17, 1866, when he was honor- ably mustered out of service. In 1868 he was elected chancellor of the middle chancery division at Alabama; served as chancellor until December 22, 1869, when he was appointed United States circuit judge for the fifth circuit, comprising the States of Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana and Texas, which position he has held with marked ability; and it is generally conceded that no better appointment could have been made. As an officer, he commanded the respect and con- fidence of his regiment, and was brave and fearless in the defence of the Union. Judge Woods is now in his prime. He is a man of marked ability, of the strictest integrity, of courteous manners, and is an honor to the county which claims his birth. He was appointed in 1850 one of the asso- ciate judges of the supreme court of the United States.

*WOODS, GENERAL CHARLES R., is the second son of the late Ezekiel S. Woods, esq., of New- ark, Ohio, of which place he is a native. His boyhood was passed upon his father's farm. When about seventeen years of age, he was placed under the instruction of Rev. R. K. Nash, of Worthington. At the age of nineteen, he en- tered the West Point Military academy as a cadet,

where he graduated in June, 1852. Since that time to the latter part of 1874 Mr. Woods has been engaged in the United States military service. He began as second lieutenant in First infantry regular service, in 1852, was promoted to captain of the . Ninth on April 1, 1861, and to major of the Eighteenth on April 20, 1864, to lieutenant colonel of the Thirty-third July 28, 1866, and to colonel of the Second on February 18, 1874. Brevetted lieutenant colonel on the fourth of July, 1863, for gallant and meritorious services at the capture of Vicksburgh, Mississippi; colonel November 24, 1863, for gallant and meritorious services at the battle of Chattanooga, Tennessee; brigadier general March 13, 1865, for gallant and meritorious ser- vices in battles before Atlanta, Georgia; and major-general March 13, 1865, for gallant and meritorious services at the battle of Bentonville, North Carolina. He was mustered into service as colonel of the Seventy-sixth Ohio volunteer in- fantry, on October 13, 1861, and as brigadier- general of volunteers August 22, 1863. Brevetted major-general November 22, 1864, for long-con- tinued services, and for special gallantry at Gris- woldsville, Georgia. Mustered out of volunteer service September 1, 1866. Retired from regular service December 14, 1874. On the second of August, 1860, General Woods was married to Miss Cecelia Impey, eldest daughter of Robert and Frances Impey, of Newark, Ohio. She was born March 1, 1842. Her mother was a daughter of Hon. William Stanbery, of Newark. General Woods has had a family of three sons and one daughter: William E., born in Philadelphia May 5, 1861; Robert I., born in Newark, Ohio, Sep- tember 28, 1862; George H., born in Newport, Kentucky, May 28, 1866; Frances B., born at Fort Wallace, Kansas, March 13, 1870.

WOTRING, JONATHAN, M. D., was born in Wash- ington county, Pennsylvania, on the first day of September, 1828. He is the son of Abraham and Elizabeth Wotring, and the third child of a family of eleven children, all of whom are now living. Mr. Wotring received his education in the Wash- ington college, at Washington, Pennsylvania, where he graduated in 1848. He commenced the study of medicine with Dr. F. J. Lemoyne, of Washing- ton, Pennsylvania, with whom he read several years, and then graduated at the medical university of Pennsylvania, in 1853. `He began the practice of medicine in his native county a short time after his graduation, where he remained ten years. In 1863, he was commissioned assistant surgeon of the Eighty-third Pennsylvania regiment, which po- sition he held about six months. Then, on account of bad health, he was compelled to resign his posi- tion and return home. In the fall of 1864 he went

* For military history, see page 346.

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to Wisconsin, and after- regaining his health, he again commenced the practice of medicine in Prai- rie du Sac and Sauk City, Wisconsin, where he re- mained about nine years. Then he moved to Ne- gaunee, Michigan, in 1873, remained about three months, and then returned to his native home, where he remained a few months. In the spring of 1874 he moved to Newark, where he has since been engaged in his profession. In 1874 he re- ceived the appointment of United States examin- ing surgeon for Licking county, which position he is now holding. He has been medical director of the Union Life association, of Newark, since 1878. In 1861 he was united in marriage with Miss Mary E. Dille, of Newark, daughter of Israel Dille. They have three sons and one daughter.

WULFHOOP, JOHN, drayman .- He was born in Germany, May 12, 1843, and went to New York city when he was seventeen years old; was married July 21, 1871, to Matilda Finch. They are the parents of four children-John, born April 10, 1872; Henry, who died July 8, 1876, aged fourteen months; Annie, who died May 22, 1877, aged two days; Carl William, born September 7, 1878. Mr. Wulthoop came to Newark, May 25, 1876, and has followed draying ever since. His wife's mother is living in New York city, in the seventy-ninth year of her age.

WYLIE, ALEXANDER, is the proprietor of the popular dry goods store located on the south side of the public square, well known to the trading public as the "county dry goods store." The place may be easily found from the fact that a neatly executed model of the court house is ele- vated upon a post in front of the building. Mr. Wylie's main salesroom on the first floor is one hundred and thirty-five feet deep, and full of goods from floor to ceiling. He has succeeded in build- ing up a large trade, and devotes all his time and energies in trying to please and supply his custo- mers. Everything in the line of fancy and staple dry goods is kept here at prices that defy competi- tion. The second floor, one hundred feet in length, is used as a carpet room, where carpets of all kinds and styles are kept, from the cheapest hemp to the best brussels. The establishment is first class in every particular.

NEWTON TOWNSHIP.

WILLIAMS, JOHN, farmer, was born in North Wales, April 15, 1820, emigrated to America at the age of twenty-one, landing in Philadelphia; came to Newark in 1849, and worked as a day laborer. April 6, 1855, he married Elizabeth Jones, who was born in Wales in 1826. They had three children-David, born March 14, 1856; Catharine, born November 15, 1858, and Edwin

J., born April 4, 1860, the latter being the only one living. In 1847 he purchased forty-nine acres of land in this township, upon which he erected a house and barn, and now has a comfortable home.

PERRY TOWNSHIP.

WALLACE, W. R., physician, post office Perry- ton .- Dr. Wallace is a native of Muskingum coun- ty, and was born in 1848. After a thorough liter- ary course at Muskingum college, New Concord, he chose medicine as a profession, and to get the benefits of the best educational advantages possi- ble, attended the medical college at Columbus, Ohio, where he graduated in 1880. He then lo- cated in Elizabethtown, where he has in a few months gained quite an enviable reputation as a successful practitioner. He has enjoyed all the advantages of the best medical instruction, and can always be found attending to his professional duties.

WILLEY, THOMAS (deceased), was born in Cul- peper county, Virginia, July 7, 1808; came to Ohio and was married to Miss Lucinda Iden, in 1830; she was born in Loudoun county, Virginia, in 1813, and came to Ohio two years later; they had twelve children: Matilda Ann, George W., William S., Mary J., Thomas Jefferson, Francis, Lucinda, John H., Catharine, Liza, Lulicia, and James B. Mr. Thomas . Willey died in 1867. John H. Willey was born in 1846, and was mar- ried in 1867 to Miss Mary J. Weekley ; they have had five children: Ira C., twelve years; Carrie B., ten years; Dollie M., eight years; Alva, seven years and six months; Dora D., four years. John H. owns the home farm of one hundred and thirty- four acres in the township, and is a progressive farmer; is township trustee; took an active part in the late war, going out in company E, One Hun- dred and Eighty-fifth Ohio volunteer infantry. William W. went out in the Seventy-sixth ; Thomas J. went into the service and was captured on the third of July, and was in various rebel prisons until the eighth of December.

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History of Licking County, Ohio: Its Past and Present, Part 146

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