USA > Ohio > Madison County > History of Madison County, Ohio : its people, industries and institution with biographical sketches of representative citizens and genealogical records of many of the old families > Part 127
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Reared on the farm and attending the district schools of Fayette county, he very naturally turned toward the scenes of his childhood when the horrors of war had ceased. On February 22, 1866, William D. Wood was married to Mary Parker, who was born in Warren county, Ohio, and at once rented land from his father, who gave him sixty-nine acres beside. He made improvements on this place and now owns three hundred acres of well-improved land, situated in Fayette county. Mary ( Parker) Wood died on July 12, 1871. To this union was born one child who is deceased. On May 2. 1872. Mr. Wood married, secondly, Rebecca Swope. She was born in 1833. in Fairfield county, Ohio, and of this union two children were born, Albert, deceased, and Arley, who is now farming in Fayette county, Ohio. Rebecca (Swope) Wood passed away on February 16, 1906. Eleven months later, on December 6. 1906. Mr. Wood was united in marriage to Mary Wissler, who was born on November S. 1841, in Pickaway county, Ohio. She was the daughter of Jacob and Sarah ( Morris) Wissler, both natives of Pennsylvania. No children have been born of this union.
William D. Wood treasures a bible that dates back to 1599. He owns property in Mt. Sterling and is a stockholder of the First National Bank. He is a member of the Baptist church. William D. Wood is the eldest of four children born to his parents. Daniel and Tabitha (Leach) Wood, the other children being, Mrs. Cordelia Yoeman, a widow. living in Columbus, Ohio; Raymond F., deceased ; and Marcellus, a soldier of the Civil War, deceased.
Daniel Wood, father of William D. Wood, was born on August 10. 1811, in Ken- tucky, and was brought by his parents to Fayette county. Ohio, when an infant, being reared on the farm near Washington C. H., Ohio. He passed away in 1890. The Wood family were originally from Virginia. Tabitha ( Leach) Wood, who was the daughter of Walter and Elizabeth ( Francis) Leach, was born on October 4, 1805, in Kentucky,
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and died on July 12, 1878. The Leach family were from Maryland and the Francis family from Pennsylvania.
William D. Wood is a Republican, and a member of the Grand Army of the Repub- lic. In the evening of his life, his memories are of a life well spent. He is a member of Primitive Baptist church. Mr. Wood now lives retired and his only activities are looking after his property.
JOHN W. REAY.
An architect of his own fortunes, depending entirely on the resources of his youth, John W. Reay has built up a reputation for himself of great worth and respect. From small beginnings he has come to the front rank, where his force of character has made him well known and honored. He has achieved distinct success through well directed effort and intelligent endeavor, so that his name has become a synonym for achieve- ment. Animated by a desire to improve in every way possible the community in which he lives, he has long been a factor in the social and material activities of Madison conty.
John W. Reay was born in Pickaway county on the 17th of March, 1849, and is the son of John and Elizabeth (Neff) Reay, natives of Virginia. His father came to Pick- away county in 1833. and settled at Era, where he continued in the occupation of shoe- maker. a trade he had learned in his native state. After ten years of toil at that trade. during which time he was able to set aside part of his earnings, he bought a small tract of land, covering fifty-three acres, and took up farming, a line of work that had always appealed to him, and which he continued until his death, which occurred in 1884. John Reay was born on January 26th, 1899. Elizabeth Neff. who was born in 1816, came to Pickaway county with her parents, where she died in 1902. The children born to John and Elizabeth Reay were: Mary, deceased; John, a sketch of whose life is given here; George, deceased: Charles, who lives on the old home place in Pickaway county ; Esther, deceased ; Henry, who lives in Pickaway county ; Mrs. Sarah Hughes, who is a widow.
John W. Reay is a man of excellent intellectual powers, and found ample oppor- tunity to exercise his talents in the educational affairs of Pleasant township, where he held the position of teacher in district No. 3 for six years. His total teaching experi- ence. however, covered a period of twelve years. He was not interested only in school affairs, but also had due appreciation for the dignity of the occupation of farming. This fact led him to finally give up school teaching, after he had bought a farm of eighty-five acres in Pleasant township. He began to farm in 1875, and continued to extend the boundaries of his property, until now he has one hundred and thirty acres of valuable farm land. Part of his time has been devoted to the erection of a beautiful residence on the place, which represents everything that is modern in the way of country house improvements. Mr. Reay has always kept a high grade of stock, as is the custom with many of the farmers of that vicinity.
Mr. Reay has given time and strenuous effort to the principles of the Democratic party and has as many friends among its members as any man in his community. This fact was proved by his election to the office of township trustee, an office he continued to fill for nine years. Aside from this he has also served on the school board. His opinions on educational questions are always received with the greatest consideration, owing to his knowledge of school affairs gained through many years of experience with its problems.
On the 1st of January. 1874. the marriage of John W. Reay to Sarah Wickell took place. Sarah Wickell was born on the 17th of September. 1853, in Mt. Sterling. Ohio. and was the daughter of Daniel and Clarinda (Douglas) Wickell. Both her mother
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and father were natives of Germany, her father having been born in that country in 180S. He died in 1855. Her mother was born in 1809, and died in 1895.
The children born to Mr. and Mrs. John W. Reay are: Alvin, who lives in Range township; Mrs. Stella Jones, of Madison county, Ohio; Mrs. Gertrude McCaffarty, who lives in Pleasant township; Charles, who also lives in Pleasant township; and Rena who remains at home with her parents. The family has always contributed to the support of the Christian church, where Mr. Reay has long been one of its most ardent members. Owing to the pleasure he has found in other lines of social recreation, Mr. Reay has never affiliated himself with fraternal orders.
PALMER G. HEWITT.
Palmer G. Hewitt, of Mt. Sterling. Madison county, Ohio, is a fitting example of modern schooling when taken in hand by a young man of force and intelligence, for at the age of twenty years he had passed through the public schools and attended two of the leading universities of his state and had already entered the business world. He was born on February 7, 1882, at Sedalia, Madison county; Ohio, and is the son of Washington T. and Mandain (Grove) Hewitt, who were the parents of three children : Carl, a merchant at Sedalia, Ohio; Frank, a salesman of Springfield, Ohio; and Palmer G. Hewitt. a merchant in Mt. Sterling, Ohio.
Washington T. Hewitt, the father of Palmer G. Hewitt, was born on March 16, 1840, in Highland county, Ohio. and responding to his country's call, enlisted in the great Civil War struggle in 1862, serving until 1865, at which time he received his dis- charge. In 1865, at the close of the war, Washington T. Hewitt engaged in the general merchandise business at Sedalia, Ohio, in which he continued for thirty-five years, he then retiring and is now residing in the town which contributed so largely to his suc- cess. Mandain Grove was born on March 2, 1848, in Piqua, Ohio, and died on December 18, 1907. .
Reared at Sedalia, Ohio, Palmer G. Hewitt, after he had completed his studies in the public schools of that town, entered the university located at Westerville, Ohio, and at the conclusion of that course, continued his education at Oberlin University, of this state, returning in 1902 to Sedalia. Ohio, fully equipped with knowledge gained. and served his brother, Carl Hewitt, in his general store. Rapidly applying his practical experience, he decided, in 1909, to begin operations for himself and removed to Mt. Sterling, and there began his career as groceryman in the old Snyder building. In 1913 he moved to his present location, where he owns one of the finest and most complete grocery lines to be found in this section.
On March 14, 1907, Palmer G. Hewitt was married to Edna Marie O'Day, who was born on November 14, 1887, and who has become famous as a cultured singer. She is a graduate of the Mt. Sterling schools and has spent one year at the Cincinnati Con- servatory of Music and two years in New York City, where she continued her favorite study of voice culture with the great artists. The results of this training has, with her marvelous powers, rendered as much happiness to others as to herself. Her farm of two hundred and sixteen acres, located in Pleasant township, Madison county, Ohio, is under the direct management of Palmer G. Hewitt, her husband.
The parents of Edna Marie (O'Day) Hewitt, J. William and Harriet (Busic) O'Day, were both born and lived in Mt. Sterling, Ohio. J. William O'Day was born on May 18, 1860, and was an extensive farmer and a noted. stockman of Madison county, Ohio. His death occurred on August 20, 1908. Harriet (Busic) O'Day was the daughter of Elijah Winfield and Rachel (Rees) Busic and was born on July 12, 1865, and is still living in Mt. Sterling, Ohio. To the union of Palmer G. Hewitt and Edna Marie
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O'Day one child came to bless their home, Truth, born on May 30, 1908, in Sedalia, Ohio.
Palmer G. Hewitt affiliates with the Republican party, and in church affairs he is a member of the Presbyterian church, while in his lodge life he is a member of the Free and Accepted Masons, Knights Templar, Mystic Shrine, Elks and the Knights of Pythias.
CHARLES ALLEN WILSON.
Charles Allen Wilson is a scion of one of the famous old families of this section of Ohio. He was born at Summerford, Madison county, Ohio, July 2, 1864. He is a son of Alexander Hamilton and Isabella ( Koogler) Wilson, the former of whom was a son of Valentine and Nancy ( Roberts) Wilson, and the latter a daughter of Simon Koogler, of Greene county. Ohio.
Alexander Hamilton Wilson was a farmer and influential citizen of Lafayette, Ohio. He served. for over twenty years as justice of the peace in Madison county, dying at Summerford in 1895, at the age of sixty-five years. His wife died five years later. They were the parents of five children, Charles A., Laura B., Walter A., Lamar P. and Alice C. Of these children, Walter A. died in Washington, D. C., where he was engaged in the department of civil service. Lamar P. is a farmer residing in Somerford town- ship. Laura B. is the wife of John Johnston, of Osborn, Greene county, Ohio. Alice C. is the wife of Clarence Hering, also of Osborn.
Charles A. Wilson spent his boyhood days on the farm. He received his education in the public schools of Lafayette and graduated from the London high school with the class of 1884. The next four years were spent in teaching in the public schools of Deer Creek township, after which he engaged in his present occupation of farming. He resides at "Oak Grove Farm," in Pleasant township, Clark county, Ohio, and is a mem- ber of the Somerford Lodge, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and Chandler Lodge, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, at London, Ohio. He is also a member of the Farmers Club and was one of the organizers of this society. One of the pictures of the club, published in this volume, was taken at his home, eight miles northwest of London. He served fourteen years as a member of the county fair board and was president of the board four years, and secretary two years.
On October 1. 1914, Charles Allen Wilson was married to Nellie Evelyn Sweet, daughter of Albert and Clara Sweet, of near London. They have one son, Allen Sweet, born on July 11, 1915.
CLEMENT D. FINLEY.
It was in the year 1863. while the struggle of the Civil War was being woven into a greater victory, that the birth of Clement D. Finley took place. That event occurred on March 9, in Morgan county, Ohio. His parents, George W. and Nancy J. (Donahue) Finley, have two children, Clement D., the eldest, and Harry M., who has been cashier of the Malta, Ohio. Bank. and was a representative of Morgan county, being the first Democrat elected from that county in forty years, and who is now living at MeConnels- ville, Ohio.
George W. Finley was born on July 31. 1838, in Morgan county, Ohio, and followed farming for years but finally retired and is now living at McConnelsville. Ohio. He was the son of David and Elizabeth (Guy) Finley, who came to Ohio from Pennsyl- vania ; David Finley having been born in Washington county, of that state. They were of Scotch-Irish descent and were all members of the Presbyterian church.
Clement D. Finley was reared on the farm and attended the public and district schools of Morgan county, until 1883, after which he removed to Pickaway county,
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where he worked as a farm hand for one year. Mr. Finley came to Mt. Sterling, Madi- son county, Ohio, in 1884, where he followed the carpenter's trade. He spent one year working at Columbus, Ohio, but in 18SS Mr. Finley began work in a planing-mill at Mt. Sterling, where his initial efforts at that business were as laborer and foreman. As soon as he mastered one phase of his work, he was transferred to other depart- ments until, in 1902, he became thoroughly conversant with the work in all its branches. In 1903 Mr. Finley became a stockholder, director and manager of the present company which was organized at that time.
John and Elizabeth (Baughman) Crabbe, were natives of Ohio, and it was their daughter, Julia E. Crabbe, born at Mt. Sterling, Madison county, Ohio, in 1868, who became the wife of Clement D. Finley, in 1886, and to them were born four children. In 18SS, their first-born, Verner L., blessed their union. He is a graduate of the Ohio State University, and is now a student of philosophy. Harvey E., the second child, was born in 1890, and is a graduate of Wooster University, and is now coach at the Dickin- son Seminary, of Williams, Pennsylvania. Leah Maud, who was born in 1892, lives with her parents in Mt. Sterling. George N. was born in 1904, at McConnellsville, Ohio.
Clement D. Finley is a Democrat, stanch and true, a member of the Presbyterian church, of which he is an elder, and a member of the Mt. Sterling school board. He is a member of the Free and Accepted Masons and has taken the work in its various branches. Mr. Finley has accomplished much that is worth while and his efforts to succeed have been fittingly rewarded.
WILLIS JONES.
It is said that "a nation's civilization is the outgrowth of the literature produced by its writers," but greater power than even a nation's literature is that gained through the integrity of the individual and the proper individual adjustment to the needs of the community. The record of each attainment, when the result of earnest endeavor, should be given the public, for the men and women of today find much that is helpful to them- selves in the perusal of the battles fought and won by others. The name of Willis Jones, of Mt. Sterling, Madison county, Ohio, may well be listed among those men of integrity who have realized their responsibility toward the community. He was born on February 14, 1865, in Monroe township, Pickaway county. At the early age of seventeen he rented land and began farming for himself. He followed this occupation for five years and, at the age of twenty-two, removed to Derby, Pickaway county, Ohio, where he engaged in the grain business. He continued in the grain business until 1902, when he returned to Mt. Sterling, succeeding his father, who owned a grain elevator there, and now deals in the selling of grain, coal and seed. In addition to this business he owns an elevator in Derby, Pickaway county, and one in Orient, in the same county. He is also the owner of eight hundred and ninety acres of land in the three counties of Madison, Pickaway and Fayette, the greater part of which is in Fayette and Pickaway counties, only twenty-five acres being located in Madison county.
James Jones, the father of Willis, was born in Fayette county, Ohio, in 1836. At an early age he began investing in land and at the time of his death, in 1901, was the owner of eight hundred acres. James Jones was married to Annette Bostwick, who was born in Fayette county, August 26, 1840, and to this union six children were born, five of whom are living, namely : Mrs. E. C. Breyfogle, Willis, Mrs. S. W. Beal, Mrs. Charles H. Clark and Mrs. John O'Day. Mrs. Jones' death occurred on December 18. 1908. After farming for several years. Mr. Jones removed to Mt. Sterling at the time the Baltimore & Ohio railroad was being built, and entered the grain business, which he conducted for many years. He became president of the old Farmers Bank of Mt. Ster-
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ling, gaining a reputation for justice and honesty. His parents, Isaac and Unity (Gra- ham) Jones, were also natives of Fayette county.
This short review of the principal events in the lives of the parents and grand- parents of Willis Jones is necessary that the reader may better judge of the sterling worth of this energetic citizen. Mr. Joues is a stockholder of the Citizens Bank of Mt. Sterling, in which he is also a director. Mr. Jones has always been a stanch Republican, devoting his enthusiasm and time to the interests of that party and to the election of its nominees.
In 1895 Willis Jones was married to Lora E. McKinley, who was born on February 14. 1877, in Pickaway county, Ohio. She is the daughter of William F. and Elizabeth (Sherman) Mckinley, both natives of Ohio. To Mr. and Mrs. Jones have been born two children. Harold C., a graduate of Mt. Sterling high school. and now attending the Ohio State University, and Elizabeth Annette, who is still living at home with her par- ents. Mr. Jones is a member of the Knights of Pythias, the Free and Accepted Masons. and the order of the Mystic Shrine. He is a Christian gentleman, finding his religious inspiration in the creed of the Methodist church, of which he is a member of the board of trustees.
MILTON L. SHEPHERD.
Born from hardy pioneer parentage. on December 1. 1872, in Range township. Madi- son county, Ohio. Milton L. Shepherd. the son of Isaiah and Susan (Newman) Shep- herd, with scant opportunities for an education, has worked up from a fifty-cents-a-day cattle feeder to be an independent, prosperous farmer.
To Isaiah and Susan Shepherd were born seven children. the eldest being Milton, L. Shepherd; and the others were: Addie J., deceased: Francis M., who lives in Range township, Madison county; Edward T .. is a professor of the high school. at Range, Ohio: Mrs. Myrtle Call, who lives in Madison county: Russell, deceased : and Horace. who lives in Range township, Madison county.
Isaiah Shepherd was born in 1848, in Range township, Madison county. Ohio. and was reared on the farm. Ile is the son of Andrew and Nancy ( Price) Shepherd. natives of Ross county, Ohio, and among the early settlers of Madison county. Susan Newman was born in 1853. in Morgan county, Ohio, on the farm of her parents, William and Adaline ( Bell) Newman. both native born Ohioans. Mr. and Mrs. Isaiah Shepherd are living and are active members of the Methodist church.
Unselfishly devoting his early manhood. until he reached the age of twenty-two, to the needs of his parents. Milton L. Shepherd. with the education he was fortunate enough to obtain from the district schools, launched out for himself, working the fol- lowing two years for fifty cents a day feeding cattle. Returning home he married and proceeded to farm in connection with his father-in-law. Shortly afterward he was in full charge of this farm. Flora M. Lockwood, to whom Milton L. Shepherd was mar- ried on July 20. 1897. was born in 1876. in Ross county. Ohio, and is the daughter of Henry and Elizabeth (Grubb) Lockwood, both natives of Ross county, Ohio.
Mrs. Flora M. Shepherd is the owner. through inheritance. of two hundred and fifty acres of land which her husband superintends, devoting his attention to farming and the raising of a fine grade of cattle. To these thrifty farmers were born four children. Elizabeth F .. Edna L .. Edgar 1. and Ernest A. In a modern house, which Mr. Shepherd erected at Mt. Sterling. the family are all at home. happy and with abundance for all needs.
Politically, Milton L. Shepherd affiliates with the Republican party. In church mat- ters he is a Methodist and superintendent of the Sunday school. He is a member of the Knights of Pythias and also of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.
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MRS. LOVINA WHITE.
Possessing high ideals of true womanhood, Mrs. Lovina White is numbered among the most highly respected citizens of Columbus, Ohio, where she is also one of the wealthiest residents. Taking personal charge of her splendid property, consisting of eight hundred acres of fine farm land, Mrs. White handles her business affairs with an executive ability equaling that of any man, and takes a special delight in her agri- cultural interests.
Mrs. Lovina White, now a resident of Columbus, Ohio, was born on' July 30, 1857, near Plain City, Madison county, and was educated first at the public schools, and then attended the Ohio Wesleyan College at Delaware, Ohio. She is highly cultured, public spirited, and takes a sincere interest in all questions of moral good to humanity, her special interest being in connection with the work of the Woman's Christian Temper- ance Union, at Columbus, Ohio, where she takes an active part in the work. Mrs. White is a member of the First Congregational church at Columbus, of which her daughters are also members. She is a daughter of Alexander and Martha J. (Milliken) Wilson. Her fine tract of land, consisting of eight hundred acres, is located in Madi- son county, adjacent to the town of West Jefferson, where she was reared and spent her girlhood days.
Alexander Wilson, father of the subject of this sketch, acquired a liberal educa- tion, and later became a teacher in the public schools, from which work he saved suffi- cient funds with which to purchase a farm in Madison county, Ohio, where he spent the remainder of his life. Mr. Wilson was a generous man, and a liberal supporter of the church. His wife was Martha J. (Milliken) Wilson, by whom he had four children, three of whom are living in 1915: H. C., Lovina, Albert W., and Grant died in infancy. H. C. Wilson was born on April 23, 1856, and was educated in the public schools and the Ohio Wesleyan College at Delaware, Ohio, and now follows farming near West Jefferson, Ohio; Albert W. Wilson was married to Winnie Huddle, of Jefferson town- ship, and resides at Columbus, Ohio, and owns a four hundred acre tract of land in Madison county. They have three children, Boyd, Eulah and Leona. Eulah was mar- ried to Charles Cupp. in July, 1915.
William D. Wilson, the paternal grandfather of Mrs. White, was born near Sum- merford, Madison county, Ohio, and was a son of Valentine Wilson, who came to Madi- son county with his parents, who emigrated from Virginia to Kentucky, settling later in Madison county. Mr. Wilson spent his early youth on his father's farm, and received his education at the public schools, and was united in marriage with Nancy Moore, of Union county. Ohio, by whom he had the following children : Alexander, Monroe, Lafay- ette, Eleanor, Sarah, William, Washington and Taylor. Eleanor Wilson became the wife of Benjamin Morris, and Sarah Wilson was married to John Price. Mr. Wilson ultimately became the largest landowner in Madison county. and was known as the "land baron" of the county, much of his land being purchased for one dollar and twenty-five cents an acre, all of which he ditched, cleared and improved, and is at present the most valuable land in the county. At the time of his death, Mr. Wilson owned nine thousand acres, of which one pasture alone contained twelve hundred acres. He was generous in his giving to the poor, but was too modest to wish men- tion made of it, and gave liberal support to all things for the betterment of the com- munity in which he resided. He was a large dealer in stock of all kinds, and during the war bought horses and mules for the government. He was successful in every- thing he undertook and at the time of his death was one of the wealthiest men in Madison county.
Daniel Milliken, the maternal grandfather, was a pioneer settler of Madison county, Ohio, but afterwards moved to Iowa, where he died early in life.
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Lovina Wilson was married on September 12. 1877, to W. E. White, son of Samuel White. He was born on November 11, 1856, in Illinois, and was educated in the public schools at St. Louis, Missouri. This mion has been blest with three children, namely : Minnie Pearl, born on October 11. 1878, is now the wife of Frank C. Tarr, and they reside at Pasadena, California : Laura M., born on December 10, 1879, and is married to Frank A. Bush, of Oakland, California; Edith L., born on August 28, 1895, a graduate of Otterbein University at Westerville, Ohio, was married in October, 1915, to James Roy Bridenstine of Canton, Ohio, and they reside in the farm house on "The Little Darby Farm," near West Jefferson.
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