USA > Ohio > Wayne County > History of Wayne County, Ohio, Volume I > Part 62
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Charles E. Weiser was reared and educated in his native state ; however, he attended the Ada Normal Institute after locating in this state. Coming to Ohio in 1879, he located in Greene township, Wayne county, later moving to Baughman township, where he continued to reside on a farm which he successfully cultivated until 1899, when he moved to Wooster. In his boy- hood days he found employment in and around the mines, where his father was engaged driving coal wagons and indulging in the diverse and various experiences of the monotonous and precarious mining life. After he came to Ohio, he worked upon a farm, his efforts, energies and industry being re- warded by a satisfactory measure of success. He at once took an active in- terest in the welfare of his township and soon came to be recognized as one of Baughman's most representative citizens. He was especially interested in the progress of Baughman township, advocating all enterprises that would advance the prosperity of his fellow citizens, always taking a very pronounced interest in political campaigns and, being a loyal Democrat and in good standing with that political organization, he was singled out by party leaders for important public trusts, having been chosen as candidate for the Ohio Legislature and was elected in 1889 to the sixty-ninth General Assembly of the state, and so faithfully did he perform the duties falling to him by virtue of this exalted office that he was re-elected in 1893, making a most satisfac-
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tory record a second term. He was well qualified for the position of legis- lator for he was well informed on the leading political and economic ques- tions of the day. He served also in Baughman township as a member of the board of education for many years, during which time the cause of educa- tion in that part of the county was greatly augmented.
Turning his attention to the law, Mr. Weiser began reading law in the office of W. E. Weygandt, then prosecuting attorney of Wayne county, and, making rapid progress in the same, he was admitted to the bar in June, 1898. Not long afterwards he removed to Wooster and opened an office, since which time he has been actively engaged in the practice of his chosen pro- fession, having been very successful from the first. He formed a partnership with Mr. Weygandt and the combination proved to be a very strong one. In December, 1905, he formed a partnership with Judge M. K. Smyser, the firm name being Smyser, Weygandt & Weiser, which continued until the death of Judge Smyser.
In the year 1882 Mr. Weiser married Malinda Shafer, daughter of John and Margareth (Sickman) Shafer, one of the early pioneers of Baugh- man township, Wayne county, who followed farming. To the subject and his wife six children were born: John, Forest, Clyde, Bessie, Glen and Perry. John, the oldest son, is teaching at Concord, Ohio. Forest is salesman in a large establishment in Cleveland. Clyde is a salesman in the shoe depart- ment of the Pocock Shoe Company, Cleveland, Ohio. The other children are at home. Fraternally, Mr. Weiser is a member of the Fraternal Order of Eagles, and the Knights of Pythias. Religiously, he belongs to the English Reformed church of Wooster, to which all the family belong and of which they are liberal supporters. Politically, he is a Democrat and he has been president of the city council for seven years.
While a member of the Legislature, Mr. Weiser very faithfully and ably championed the rights of his constituents, having made his influence felt in the deliberations of that body, and he never failed to be respectfully listened to in all his counseling, his arguments carrying undisputed weight. In the practice of law in Wooster he has attained to a laudable position in his profession, and his reputation for honesty, integrity, straightforward- ness of character and fidelity to his clients and all confidences and trusts committed to him, whether professional or otherwise, is firmly established. His pathways are along the moral levels of the world, and he preserves the symmetry of a noble life by emphasizing his attachments to the higher ideals of the mind; by defending the truth, the right, and by aiming to preserve
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the perfect proportions of truth. As a counselor he is guarded in his ex- pression of opinions, deliberate, wary, and cautious in arriving at conclu- sions, seeking to attain a thorough knowledge of the cause before the ad- ministration of advice, or the commencement of action. In the trial of cases he is self-possessed. not easily irritated or excited, and conducts his proceedings in hand with fairness to all parties concerned, strictly obeying the canons of courtesy to the court and opposing counsel. Considering the fact that he has come up to an honored position in the affairs of his county and state through his own persistent efforts, without aid from any source, he is justly deserving of the high esteem which all classes freely accord him.
CHARLES MILTON GRAY.
A highly respected citizen of Wooster, Wayne county. Ohio, is Charles M. Gray, a native of this city, where he was born January 6, 1859. He re- ceived his education in the public schools of Wooster. After completing his schooling he engaged in the coal and builders' supply business with his father. having continued the same line to the present time with unabated success. owing to his thorough training and excellent business ability. In 1891 he be- came associated with A. Plank in a flouring mill and grain business. the firm name being Plank & Gray. Mr. Gray is president of the Citizens' National Bank, and president of the Peoples Savings and Loan Company. He is a stockholder in the Wooster Machine Company. He carries on an extensive business in coal and builders' supplies under the firm name of Gray & Son. He has been very successful at whatever he has turned his attention to, owing to his careful business methods and his desire to please those with whom he has dealings, striving to be fair at all times. He is a member of the local Board of Trade and is filling the position of treasurer of the same, being one of the most active and influential members of this important organization.
Mr. Gray was married on August 9, 1893, to Nellie Gray, the cultured and accomplished daughter of Sylvester Gray, of Wooster, of the firm of Gray & Rhoades Granite Works. One child has graced this union, a son, known as James Sylvester Gray.
In his fraternal relations, Mr. Gray is a member of the Masonic order, having attained the thirty-second degree. He is past eminent commander of Wooster Commandery ; he also belongs to the Royal Arcanum, taking a very active interest in all these orders. The Lutheran church, of which he is a
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member, embodies his religious creed. Mrs. Gray is also a member of the same. Mr. Gray is one of the trustees of the congregation. He is a Repub- lican in politics and for some time has taken a more or less active interest in local affairs. The Gray home, at No. 158 East North street, is one of the most attractive and commodious in the city.
CAPT. WESLEY WELLS SPEAR.
What greater badge of honor could be bestowed upon a man than to allude to him as one of the "boys in blue," who readily sacrificed the pleas- ures of home and business opportunities to do what he could in saving the honor of the old flag? One of this brave number is Capt. Wesley W. Spear, an interesting and deserving citizen of Wooster, Wayne county, who was born in that city December 28, 1835, the son of William Spear, who was born near Shippingberg, Pennsylvania, in 1803, and who came to Wayne county about 1827. He was a cabinetmaker by trade, and he located in Wooster where he established a shop and led a very active life here until his death, in 1890, at the advanced age of eighty-seven years. He was an honest, hardworking and highly respected man. He married Malinda Wells, a native of York county, Pennsylvania. Her father conducted a whip fac- tory at Wellsville, that county, and the town derived its name from the family. Mrs. Spear was born in 1808 and died the same year as her husband, 1890, -- in fact only four days after her husband passed away. To them seven chil- dren were born, four of whom lived to maturity, Wesley W., of this review, being a twin brother of William Fletcher, who died about five years ago. Caroline Spear, and Olive, widow of Rev. Janes Mendenhall, both of whom reside in Arkansas, are the other children.
Captain Spear has always made Wooster his home, although he has traveled from the Atlantic to the Pacific. On August 6, 1862, he enlisted in Company D, One Hundred and Twentieth Regiment Ohio Volunteer In- fantry, and very faithfully served for a period of three years. He was mus- tered in at Camp Mansfield, Ohio, as a private, and he proved to be a very capable soldier from the first, having been commissioned a second lieutenant and a few days later was made first lieutenant. He had a varied and inter- esting experience during the service, taking part in many battles and engage- ments, among them being the battle of Chickasaw Bayou, Arkansas Post, Thompson's Hill, Champion's Hill and the siege of Vicksburg, under General Sherman. He was wounded at Jackson, Mississippi, July 12, 1863, having
CAPT. W. W SPEAR
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been shot in the right groin with a minie ball. This brought him home on a furlough, but, recovering, he later rejoined his regiment in western Louisiana, where the brigade was divided and Mr. Spear was stationed on Colonel Shelton's staff, doing staff duty that winter at Peackamon, Louisiana. Again in active service, he was with his company going up Red river when the boat which was transporting them was fired on and captured, their colonel killed and about one-half of the company killed or captured. This necessi- tated consolidation with the One Hundred and Fourteenth Ohio Regiment, and Mr. Spear was made captain and given command of Company H. of that regiment. As captain of that company he was in the siege of Fort Blakeley at Mobile, also Spanish Fort there. Near the close of the war Captain Spear was transferred to the Forty-eighth Regiment, Ohio Volun- teers, and after a very eventful career he was mustered out of service at Houston, Texas, October 17, 1865, after which he returned to Wooster, and, with his father, engaged in the cabinetmaking and undertaking busi- ness. After the war his eyesight began to fail gradually, and in 1885 he became totally blind, and he has since lived in quiet retirement from the world.
Captain Spear was married in 1858 to Anna M. Watt, who was born in north Ireland and came to Philadelphia when five years of age with her father, who went into the produce business there, later removing to Wooster, Ohio, and continued the same line of business here for several years. Of the seven children born to the Captain and wife, only two survive, namely : Charles Wesley Spear, of Northampton, Massachusetts, and Jesse Watt Spear, a conductor on the Pennsylvania railroad at Crestline, Ohio.
Captain Spear lives on West Liberty street in the home he purchased in 1867. He belongs to the Grand Army of the Republic, being a charter member of Given Post. Notwithstanding his affliction, Captain Spear is a cheerful, genial and interesting man to talk to, who enjoys life, conscious of the fact that he has performed his duty well and greater rewards await him than his fellow-men have ever bestowed. A man of good health, of snowy hair and beard, he is a picturesque character and is greatly admired by all who know him.
JOHN B. FRANCE.
In 1909 the oldest person in Wayne county, having been born in the city of Wooster February 29. 1816, was John B. France, who first saw the light of day in a log cabin three hundred feet from where he has lived most
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of the years since 1840, the date of his marriage. He is the son of Philip and Elizabeth (Swain) France, of Pennsylvania, but natives of Germany. The father came to America in 1807, and to Wooster, Ohio, in 1811. He was drafted into the war of 1812 service, served there, returned to Woos- ter and here died in 1816. The same day of his death his daughter died, and they were buried in the same grave.
The venerable old gentleman whose name heads this sketch, who is now in his ninety-fifth year, has had a very thrilling and eventful career and may well count the years of his pilgrimage as successful in most ways. He attended the old-fashioned subscription schools and thereby gained a good common education and mastered the plasterer's, bricklayer's and stone- mason's trades, commencing to learn this combination of useful trades when but ten years of age. When of age he started in life for himself. It may be stated in passing that as his father died when he was yet an infant, that he was reared by his uncle. John Swain. In 1832 he ran away and joined "Bill Sweet's" circus, and for a season or more played the role of the "Drunken Sailor" for that showman. Later he went to Detroit and other points in Michigan, where he again took up his trade as bricklayer. Again he lived in Wooster and for near a score of years followed contracting and building in a most successful manner and accumulated considerable prop- erty. He was among the early "forty-niners," who wended their lonely way overland to Hangtown, California, where he mined and built the first court house at Sacramento, for which he received twelve dollars per day as overseer. He was known in the land of gold as "Frank Ohio." He re- turned to Wheeling and Pittsburg and made a second overland trip to Cali- fornia, going with the famous Dennison train with four hundred and twenty men and one woman. He remained there until the fall of 1852 and came home by way of the Pacific and Atlantic oceans. being storm delayed near the Sandwich islands for more than a month. After his return to Wooster, he again resumed contracting and building. In 1853 he was appointed town marshal for Wooster; was elected constable, served five or six years, and was also deputy sheriff. From 1863 to 1868 he was sheriff of Wayne county and for three years and three months was on the Allan Pinkerton detective force in the West, and had many thrilling experiences. The next eight years he followed farming, near Wooster. During the Civil war he was dep- uty provost marshal three years. He conducted a jobbing and retail grocery business at the same time and was thus engaged six years, during which time, with war prices, he made much money on the rapid rise of merchandise, especially sugar. Among his public building contracts may be named the court house at Findlay, this state.
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In 1870 Mr. France erected the Academy of Music as his own property, at Wooster, and for thirteen years he conducted the same. In 1883 he raised it another story high and it still stands as a monument to his skill and business foresight. At one time he held seventeen pieces of Wooster property, but has in the last few years sold off much.
Mr. France is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and has been connected therewith since 1844. Politically, he is a stanch Democrat, and has voted for every President since 1840. He was a mem- ber of the Jacksonian Club here and also belonged to the Wayne County . Blues at an early date. In the Franklin Pierce campaign he was a member of the Gunners' Squad.
Of his domestic life it may be said that Mr. France has been twice married, first in 1840 to Miama Flack, who died in 1880, the mother of eight children, three of whom still survive, John J., Alice Smyser, and Mrs. David Rickard, of Medina county, Ohio. He married for his second wife. in 1882. Sarah M. Fraley, who died October 5, 1904. By this marriage there was no issue.
At the ripe old age of ninety-four and more years, Mr. France is still robust, hale and hearty, except his eyesight is somewhat bedimmed. He would easily pass anywhere among strangers for a man of not more than seventy-five years.
JAMES A. SHAMP.
It is by no means an easy task to describe the character of a man who has led an eminently active and useful life and stamped the impress of his individuality upon the plane of definite accomplishment. In an age bristling with activity it is the man of deeds who is at the front in every line of en- terprise and there can be no impropriety in justly scanning the acts of such a man as they affect his public, social and business relations. Among the representative men who have added to the various interests of Wooster and given the city wide publicity as an important business center the gentleman whose name introduces this sketch is entitled to specific and honorable notice. For many years identified with the public and political life of Wayne county and filling with marked ability positions of honor and trust, he has gained the confidence of his fellow men, irrespective of party affiliation, and stands above reproach in all that constitutes upright manhood and intelligent, enter- prising and progressive citizenship.
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James A. Shamp is a native of Wayne county, Ohio, and was born March 7. 1859. in Wooster township, of which his father, James M. Shamp, late of Wooster, was for many years a prominent and influential citizen. His mother, Mary C. Shamp, who is still living in Wooster, is a daughter of Christian Silver, who moved from Virginia to Ohio in the pioneer period and settled in Plain township, Wayne county, where he developed a good farm and in due time became one of the leading men of his community. James M. Shamp, a well-known architect, contractor and builder, as well as a public spirited man, departed this life in Wooster in the year 1885.
The early years of James A. Shamp were similar in most respects to. those of the majority of lads blessed with wise and considerate parents and excellent home training. At the proper age he entered the public schools where he made commendable progress and where he continued his studies until graduating from the high school at Wooster, with the class of 1879. Having selected law as the profession best suited to his taste and inclination, he began the study of the same the year of his graduation, in the office of D. W. Kimber, then mayor of Wooster, under whose able instruction he continued for a period of sixteen months, but the death of his father inter- vening, he was not admitted to the bar, although amply qualified to pass with ease the examination required. Being the oldest son and his mother in delicate health, with several younger children to be supported, he cheer- fully relinquished his cherished ambition of professional distinction and, assuming the responsibilities devolving upon him, addressed himself to the duty of the family's maintenance. Possessing a naturally strong and inquir- ing mind, which had been greatly strengthened and disciplined by studious habits while a student, Mr. Shamp while still young qualified himself for teaching, to which line of work he devoted his attention for a period of seven years, during which time he achieved an enviable reputation as a capable and popular teacher and rose to a conspicuous place among the successful educators of Wayne county. In the spring of 1890 he discontinued this work to become first assistant to Samuel Metzler, who was appointed that year postmaster of Wooster, and during the next four years filled the position in an eminently able and meritorious manner, proving capable in the dis- charge of his duties, judicious in his relations with the public and in all that he did justifying the wisdom of his selection. At the expiration of Mr. Metzler's term, Mr. Shamp continued four months with that gentleman's successor and later, in connection with R. T. Bechtel, now of the Wooster postoffice, embarked in the telephone business, then in its infancy. Through the persevering efforts of these two energetic and wide-awake men, the first
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Independent exchange in Ohio was established, but after conducting the enter- prise jointly for some time it finally passed to the Millersville, Wooster & Orrville Company, by which it has since been operated.
In April, 1898, when T. L. Flattery, of the Wooster postoffice, entered upon the duties of the position he very prudently summoned Mr. Shamp to his service as assistant postmaster, in which capacity he has since been employed and in which he has added continuously to his already well-estab- lished reputation as an able and faithful public servant.
Mr. Shamp has ever manifested a lively interest in public matters and since attaining his majority has been an influential factor in local politics, being recognized as one of the Republican leaders of Wayne county whose efficient services have been fully appreciated by the party and whose judi- cious counsel and well-grounded opinions carry weight and command respect. In 1905 he was nominated for the office of probate judge, but by reason of the formidable strength of the opposition failed of election, although mak- ing an exceptionally strong canvass and running ahead of the state Democratic ticket in the county. From time to time he has been called to various positions of trust, having served for several years as president of the board of examiners of the city of Wooster, which post he continues to hold, and at this time he is secretary of the public library board, besides assisting to the extent of his ability all enterprises and measures having for their object the material progress of the community and the social, intellectual and moral advancement of the populace.
Mr. Shamp is a believer in the efficacy of secret fraternal work and as an active member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, holding his membership with Wooster Lodge, No. 42, has made his influence felt in dis- seminating the principles of the order and demonstrating its practical worth in educating and improving the condition of his fellow men. He was a leading spirit in the movement which led to the erection of the present hand- some grand lodge buildings in Springfield, and at different times has been chosen to represent the lodge to which he belongs in the sessions of that honorable body. At the present time he is secretary of the board of trus- tees of Lodge No. 42, which office he has held for nine consecutive years, and in addition thereto has passed all the chairs and been honored with every position within the power of his fellow members to bestow.
On December 27, 1894, Mr. Shamp was united in marriage with Amanda Mock, of Wayne county, the marriage being blessed with three children who answer to the names of James D., Mildred M. and Miles A., all interesting
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and intelligent and pursuing their studies in the public schools of the city. Mrs. Shamp was born in Stark county, this state, and is a daughter of Wil- son and Emma Mock, who are among the well-known and highly esteemed people of the community in which they reside. In his religious views Mr. Shamp holds to the Methodist creed and with his wife belongs to the church in Wooster, being a member of the official board of the organization.
"In a very full and reasonable sense, Mr. Shamp may be termed a self- made man, all of his accomplishments originating in and directly flowing from himself." "No adventitious aids contributed to his unfolding develop- ment"; in every relation of life he has depended upon his own exertions and the honorable place to which he has attained and the esteem in which he is held by his fellow men indicate the high ideals which he has ever had in view and the noble purposes by which he has always been actuated. He shirks no duty, his work will bear the closest inspection and scrutiny, his promptness has become proverbial, his integrity a maxim and his judgment, always sound and sure, together with his optimistic and generous nature, eminently fit him to adorn any position within the gift of his fellow men.
CYRUS D. SMITH.
As a native son of Wayne county and a representative of one of the early pioneer families in this section of the Buckeye state, Mr. Smith is eminently entitled to representation in a compilation which has to do with those who have been the founders and builders of this commonwealth, while such is his personal honor and integrity of character and such his standing as one of the successful and progressive men of the county that this consideration is all the more compatible.
Cyrus D. Smith was born in Canaan township, Wayne county, on the 20th day of September, 1852. His antecedents were Scotch, from which blood come many of the sturdy qualities which characterize him. His pa- ternal grandfather. James Smith, was born about 1770 and followed the pur- suit of agriculture during his active years. He came to Wayne county about 1820, his having been the fifth family to settle in Canaan township. Here he entered land from the government, and among a number of interesting and valuable old relics in the possession of the subject of this sketch, there is the following tax receipt, thought to be the oldest tax receipt in this county :
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