The History of Miami County, Ohio, Part 102

Author: W. H. Beers & Co.
Publication date: 1880
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 1051

USA > Ohio > Miami County > The History of Miami County, Ohio > Part 102

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

JOEL T. THOMSON, undertaker, Troy ; another of the old and well-known citizens of Miami Co. ; born in Troy, Sept. 8, 1819 ; was a son of Andrew and Catharine (Tullis) Thomson. His father was born in Virginia, and with his par- ents came to this county soon after the beginning of the present century ; he served during the war of 1812, leaving his wife and two children in Troy ; after his return he removed to Indiana, where he entered the land on which Muncie now stands, he being the first settler in that locality. After remaining three years in the above place he returned to Troy in 1824, only to meet the summons of death the night after his arrival. They were parents of six children, of whom the two youngest alone survive-John F. and our subject ; the deceased are Jane, Sarah, Eliza, David and Aaron. The latter was killed by a cow the spring following his father's decease. His mother died in 1861, aged 67 years ; his father dying when he was yet young, the care and comfort of his mother depended on him as he grew older ; he was bound to a gentleman for five years to learn the cabinet trade, and after serving two and a half years, bought his time, went to Cincinnati, where he completed his trade after three years' labor, doing work in various towns. Return- ing to Troy in 1840, he purchased an interest in an establishment, which he soon sold and invested in another, and since has been identified with the interests of. "Troy. In 1861, he ordered his hands to close up shop, that his country needed him, and must go to her defense. The boys, aroused by his patriotism, suggested that he remain and care for those who depended on them, and they would go, which they did, causing the abandonment of the cabinet business, and the founding of an undertaking establishment. Of the soldiers from this county who died in service 'and were buried here, he has carried seventy-eight out of eighty one to their last sting-place. In the broad acceptation of the term, he is no political aspirant,

": "yet he has held many of the petty offices of the township. In 1841, he was mar- ried to Mahala Gilkerson, who has borne him eight children, six living-Emma,

Digitized by Google

717

CONCORD TOWNSHIP.

- - --

Charles E., Walter, Mary, Elmer E. and Nettie ; the deceased-Frances and Wil- bur ; the latter, was robbed and murdered in Hartford, Conn., when 21 years of age. Mrs. T. was born in Kentucky in 1824.

JOHN T. TULLIS ; born in Georgetown, Franklin Co., Ky., July 14, 1794; at the age of 10 he came with his father, Aaron Tullis, to Lebanon, Ohio, and in the succeeding year, 1805, the family pushed on toward Miami by way of Dayton ; leaving their father, mother and sister at the cabin of Col. Patter- son, our subject, with the other boys, drove on with the wagons, cows and calves, to the farm now owned by Mr. Turner, which then was all a forest ; the cows and horses were belled and turned loose, and the calves were tied up with ropes ; the boys woke up next morning to find the horses gone, and the calves calling loudly for their dams, which were not there; Mr. T.'s father, having married a second time, left the farm to him ; after remaining here some time, during which he was elected Justice of the Peace, he disposed of his real estate and moved to Troy, where he entered into the dry-goods business ; subsequently elected Surveyor, he served for some time, and in 1841 was appointed Postmaster of Troy ; previous to this, however, he, in partnership with a Mr. Drake, published the Troy Times ; from this, he started a book-bindery and store, which, in those early days, was not very lucrative ; at this juncture, when Mr. T. was anxiously looking for a more lucrative business, Mr. Malin Morris came into the store one day and asked him how he would trade his store for his farm ; terms were agreed upon at once, and Mr. T. once more became a farmer, the new purchase being located two miles west of Troy, on the Covington pike; he put up a neat little cottage and prepared to end his days here, but, his health failing, he was compelled a second time to remove to Troy, where, Aug. 25, 1877, he died; Mr. T. was one of the early pioneers of this county, and for a number of years the last survivor of a family of ten. Aug. 5, 1816, he married Margaret Murray, born Jan. 6, 1796, who bore him a numerous family, only one of whom, Mary, survives ; after living together nearly three-score years, his wife left him alone while she joined " the immortal caravan." Of the nine chil- dren born to them, Sarah, the oldest, died at 6; James Watson studied medicine, married a daughter of Dr. Lindsey, had five children, and died of consumption at 40; Gilbert died of consumption at 23 ; Henry Gilmore and Charles Bayless, born 1830-the former died in his 5th year, the latter in his 20th ; Mary Tullis, the only survivor, through severe sickness in early youth, became permanently afflicted in. mind and body, but was preserved to be the comfort of her parents in their declin- ing years, a charge which she most nobly and unselfishly fulfilled. Though a most devout Christian, eschewing the very appearance of evil and yielding not to temp- tation, Mr. Tullis was naturally disposed to look upon the gloomy side of life, so much so that the cheerful voice of his wife and the studious care of his devoted daughter could scarce remove his sadness.

MRS. MARY WASSERMAN, Troy. Mrs. Wasserman and her husband have a place, not only in the hearts of the citizens of Troy, but also in the record of their county. John Wasserman was born in Bavaria, and Mary Croner, in Wur- temberg, Germany, and were both young when they came from Germany ; when John came to New Orleans, he had no money, and his passage was paid in work ; he started West, working until he could get money enough to pay his way still further. He was 22 years of age when he reached Piqua, and soon after formed a partnership with Louis Schnyer, in the brewing business, which prospered greatly. In 1848, he came to Troy, engaging in the same business for a year. He was married, in 1843, to Miss Mary Croner, of Piqua ; they were the parents of thirteen children, eleven survive-Cardine, Charlotta, Charles, Edward, Henrietta, Amelia, William, George, Louis, Ida and Catharine ; Amelia married Mr. Charles Diehl, & druggist of Cincinnati ; Caroline is the wife of John W. Oblinger ; Edward married Miss Bertha Lehman ; Henrietta is the wife of George F. Norton, of Garrettsville, Ohio ; Charlotta was wedded to William Leidel, of Troy. Soon after coming to Troy, Mr. Wasserman engaged in the grocery business, and continued it for forty- six years at the same stand. He was worth, at the time of his death, in 1878,

Digitized by Google

718

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:

about $34,000. He was an honorable business man, enjoying the confidence of all with whom he associated in business. His sons, Charles and Edward, continue the business at the old stand, and are doing well. Christopher Croner, the father of Mrs. Wasserman, was the first German in Piqua. He was a baker by trade, and, during their early life in that city, he furnished bread for 300 Indians, who were encamped on the farm of Joseph Johnston. There were only a few log huts built on each side of the road, which is now Main street. Many changes have been made since then ; the log cabins being replaced by endless blocks of brick and business houses. Mrs. Wasserman lives in the house which is rendered doubly dear to her by the birth of her children and her long residence in it. She is well provided for ; the children near by are doing well, and a source of great comfort.

REV. J. P. WATSON, Pastor of the First Christian Church, Troy. Mr. Wat- son is descended from Welsh and English ancestry on the paternal, and from English stock on the maternal, side ; his father, Elijah Watson, was the son of Rev. Elijah Watson, of East Andover, N. H., a Baptist minister, whose father, Nathan, the third of his name, was born in Wales in 1729 ; he emigrated to New Hamp- shire in 1759, where, in 1819, aged 90 years, he died ; Mr. Watson's paternal great- grandfather, Josiah Sawyer, came from England to New Hampshire early in the eighteenth century, and died, aged 90 years, in 1819 ; his mother was Eliza Palmer, whose grandparents emigrated from England early in the eighteenth century, but of whom he has little knowledge; his ancestry served with distinction in the Revolutionary war. Josiah P. Watson, the subject of this sketch, was born in Lempster, N. H., June 29, 1838, and is, therefore, 42 years of age ; he is the fifth of eight children ; when a babe of 3 months, his parents removed to Nashua, N. H., in the schools of which city he received his education; at 15 years of age, his parents removed to a farm near East Andover, N. H. ; at 16, he was converted, was baptized in Highland Lake, and entered the Christian Church of the village; he at once felt seriously impressed that his life-work was to be that of the min- istry ; before him, his grandfather and four uncles had been honored ministers ; he was very active in general church-work during the winter, both in his home church and in the schoolhouses around ; his strong natural sympathies led him much, also, to the Township Infirmary, where he conducted worship; in the spring of 1855, he held meetings in the adjoining town of Wilmot, visiting from house to house and witnessing a limited work of grace ; singularly, the first person baptized by him was a convert of this meeting ; July 1, the same year, and two days fol- lowing his 17th birthday, he preached two sermons (his first) in the adjoining town- ship of Hill; he now gave himself wholly to the ministry, and soon had much work on his hands ; a revival began in Hill, which extended to another part of the township, the adjoining townships of Danbury and Wilmot, and continued through the fall and winter; June 13, 1856, in Wilmot, he was ordained to the ministry, Revs. P. M. Hershey, W. H. Nason and John Burden officiating-the latter preach- ing the sermon ; the Sabbath following, two weeks to a day before he was 18 years old, he organized a church in Wilmot and baptized seven adult persons ; the fol- lowing winter he taught, and, in the spring, attended one session of the Andover Institute, meanwhile preaching to three churches ; in the spring of 1857, he settled with the Christian Church of Bradford, Vt., but, health failing, he resigned at the end of three months and went to Illinois, where, in Ogle Co., he taught the following winter and spring, having, meantime, no regular charge, yet preaching irregularly, and seeing the most of his adult scholars converted ; he resumed ministerial work in the same county, in April, 1858, and in May, 1859, became Pastor of the Chris- tian Church of Belvidere, the county seat of Boone Co., Ill. ; with this church he remained nearly two years, and here, Oct. 13, 1859, he married Miss L. E. Witwer, the daughter of John Witwer, Esq., of Rockford, Ill .; Jan. 1, 1861, Mr. Watson became the Pastor of the Christian Church of Marion, Grant Co., Ind., and in October following, with leave of absence from his church, he accepted the chap- laincy of the 12th Ind. V. I., holding the position until they were mustered out in May, 1862, being, in their first enlistment, one-year men ; re-organizing, Mr. Wat-

Digitized by Google

719

CONCORD TOWNSHIP.

son was re-appointed chaplain, but, the regiment being immediately captured in the battle of Richmond, Ky., he resigned, and returned to his church in Marion, where he remained one year. Until 1871, he preached in Iowa and Illinois, nearly five years of the time with the Christian Church at Blackberry Station, in Kane Co .; Jan. 1, 1871, he entered upon his duties as Pastor of the Troy Chris- tian Church, which office he still holds ; during this pastorate, he has witnessed eighteen distinct revivals in his church in town and in schoolhouses about, and has received into fellowship more than 450 members-the present membership of his church ; in addition to his pastoral work, he has done much general work ; for two years he was Secretary of the Miami Co. Sunday-School Union ; for ten years he has been Secretary of the Denominational Assurance Association, and for eight years Secretary of the General Mission Work of his denomination ; meantime, in addition to numerous addresses on anniversary occasions, Odd Fellowship, Tem- perance, etc., he has published " A Manual for the Christian Pulpit," and edited the biography of Rev. A. J. Smith, a Baptist minister of this county ; this last work has had an extensive sale, and is well received ; Mr. Watson, for nearly twenty years, has been a constant writer for the press, contributing to various papers and magazines East and West; for the last twenty months, has averaged one column and a half of matter for his weekly paper in Dayton, without a single omission; he enjoys and gratefully appreciates the general favor of the public, and has been honored with ten annual and unanimous settlements with his church, be- tween whom and himself there ever has been a most harmonious feeling. His family consists of three sons-George Milton, Frank Elijah, Charles Evans-and one daughter-Jennie Palmer Watson. Though he has seen more than a quarter of a century in pulpit service, yet Mr. Watson is comparatively young, more vig- orous than ever, easily preaches three times on the Sabbath, and does more general work than ever before ; withal, he does not esteem his labor hard; would not will- ingly lessen it ; prefers rather that, in the right direction, it should continue to ex- pand on his hands, and has a hearty relish for it; his ambition is to honor his office and prove himself helpful to his fellows ; the reward he seeks is above.

W. H. WEDDLE, lumber-dealer, Pleasant Hill. W. H. Weddle, is, perhaps, as well known as any man in the township ; he is sole proprietor of the steam saw- mill four miles west of Troy, on the Newton Pike ; he was born in Newton Town- ship April 29, 1838, and was the son of Isaac and Margaret Weddle ; his early life was passed in a grist-mill owned by his father, and he had educational advantages that afforded him a practical education ; immediately after the war, he erected the mill which has been of such service to the farmers in this neighborhood. In August, 1862, he enlisted and served until the close of the war, being honorably discharged in May, 1865 ; he is the hero of twelve of the hardest-fought battles of the war, viz., Winchester, Mine Run, Locust Grove, Battle of the Wilderness, Spott- sylvania Court House, Cold Harbor, Petersburg, Monocacy, Opequan; Fisher's Hill, Cedar and Sailor's Creeks ; this was the last battle fought by the Army of the Potomac ; a wound was received at Winchester, but he was not seriously disabled ; he was a gallant soldier, and as such deserves a place in the history of Miami County's gallant sons.

C. C. WEILAND, of the firm of Weiland & Lawton, dealers and manufac- turers of furniture, Troy ; was born in Wayne Co., Ind., in 1847, his boyhood days being spent in the place of his nativity ; in 1856, he removed with his parents to Hardin Co., Iowa, where he received his education, and was afterward engaged in mercantile pursuits for ten years in Iowa Falls ; he then came to Troy, and for four years was engaged in the dry-goods business, which he abandoned, and, in partnership with another gentleman, engaged in the manufacture and sale of fur- niture ; his partner dying August, 1878, his interest was purchased by a Mr. Law- ton, his present partner ; they give employment to several skillful workmen, who manufacture a variety of plain, fancy and ornamental furniture, which no house in the city can compete with, and as honorable gentlemen, we commend them to the public. In 1870, Mr. W. was married to Mary J. Kelly, who has borne him three

Digitized by Google

720

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES :

children, viz., Elizabeth, John H. and Bertha ; he and his estimable lady are members of the Baptist Church, of which he is Clerk, and also Superintendent of the Sabbath school.

G. K. WESTLAKE, farmer; P. O. Troy. Mr. G. K. Westlake, a life-time resident of this county, is a son of Josias and Sally Westlake, and was born in Monroe Township. He has always followed the occupation of farming, prospering in a substantial manner. He was married to Miss Mary I. Pearson, daughter of Eli and Rebecca Pearson, Aug. 3, 1864, Rev. William Jay tying the matrimonial knot. Her grandfather, Samuel Pearson, was among the earliest settlers in Miami Co. Both Mr. and Mrs. Westlake are descendants of early pioneers, and justly feel proud of their ancestry. They commenced housekeeping upon the spot they now live ; the old log house (a souvenir of early times) still stands, and was one of the first houses built in this neighborhood ; they have four children-Dora, Della, Viola and Eva, all of whom are intellectual and beautiful daughters, rapidly acquiring an education. Mr. Westlake has erected a splendid brick residence upon his farm, surrounding his family with many comforts. The farm is neatly kept, and the revenue derived from it is a substantial one. Both himself and wife are members of the Christian Church, as are also their two eldest daughters, Dora and Della. Politically, he is a Democrat, and one of the stanch kind. The family are fond of literature, well supplied with books and periodicals. His father, Josias Westlake, has lived in Monroe Township, and is probably as well known as any man in the county, possessed of great erudition, and was formerly engaged in teaching. He, also, by his continued prosperity, became very wealthy, and after helping his children to obtain a good start in life, has nearly 200 acres left, which brings him a fine income. He was elected Colonel of the O. V. L. L., in 1836. Mr. Westlake and his wife will celebrate their fiftieth marriage anniversary this fall should they live, and as the old people are still hale and hearty, there is every prospect of the event being celebrated. He was for five years School Examiner of this county, and as such gave general satisfaction. Is a true Jacksonian Democrat ; reared a family of stalwart sons, who are also strong in the faith.

MARTIN A. WHITEMAN, retired, Troy ; born in the city of Philadelphia in 1828, there attending the public schools until the year 1838, when he, with his parents, emigrated to Auglaize Co., Ohio, and, from this date, followed farming until 15 years of age. In 1843, he commenced the carpenter's trade at Piqua, serving four years, after which he followed various pursuits for several years, when he moved to Toledo, and about the year 1850 located in Troy, where, until 1876, has been engaged in restaurant, grocery business, etc. At the above date he sold his establishment, and retired from active business. Married Jane Sherrer in Troy Dec. 27, 1863.

ELIHU S. WILLIAMS, lawyer, Troy. Elihu Stephen Williams was born Jan. 24, 1835, near New Carlisle, Clark Co., Ohio, and is the son of Elder Henry Will- iams and Elizabeth Williams, formerly Elizabeth Pettigrew. His parents were born in Virginia, where his mother remained until she was of age, his father being brought to Ohio in 1807, when a child, and the family settled near New Carlisle, where Elder H. Williams now lives. The subject of our sketch worked on a farm until 16 years of age, getting what education he could in the winter schools of the country district in which his parents resided. Not satisfied with that outlook, he demanded of his father that he should be sent regularly to school ; his father told ·him if he wanted a better education than he was getting at home, to get it himself; the boy took him at his word, and with $1.50 in his pocket, started out in life for himself ; he worked among the farmers until he got money enough to pay his board for a few months, then, under the tuition of Mr. Arnott, of Troy, he fitted himself to pass examination for a teacher's certificate, which he obtained, and. taught school the following winter in Brandt, Miami Co .; by working in the sum- mer and teaching in the winter, he struggled on until he obtained a fair education. In 1858, he commenced reading law in the office of F. P. Cuppy, Esq., of Dayton, Ohio, and by working in the summer and teaching school he supported himself

Digitized by Google

721

CONCORD TOWNSHIP.

until February, 1861, at which time he was admitted to practice by the Supreme Court of Ohio. After closing a school in which he was then engaged, he went to Southern Illinois to select a location to follow his profession ; while there, Fort Sumter was fired upon, and the nation had need of her young men ; he took the first train north for the purpose of enlisting, but, before he reached home, Ohio's quota was full ; he then went to Mercer Co., Ohio, and hung out his shingle in Celina, but, in a few weeks, the second call for troops was made, whereupon he took the stump for volunteers, in Mercer Co. (then, as now, one of the strongholds of Democracy), and raising a company of fifty-six men, conducted them to Camp Todd, at Troy, Ohio, and went into the ranks as a private; here the 71st O. V. I. was organized, and on Oct. 5, 1861, he was elected First Lieutenant of Company A ; he was commissioned Feb. 14, 1862, and promoted to Captain Feb. 10, 1863; he was in the battle of Shiloh, leaving a sick-bed to fight with the boys he enlisted ; the Captain being slightly wounded in the morning, Mr. Williams had command of the company during the bloody battle of Sunday, holding his men in the front of the fight until night closed the contest; he was with the four companies of this regi- ment stationed at Ft. Donelson, and was in the fight at Donelson, where their four companies defeated Col. Woodward's regiment, who had captured Col. Rodney Mason and the other six companies of this regiment at Clarksville, Tenn .; he was promoted to the command of Co. H, and was with the regiment in all its marches and skirmishes until September, 1863, when, although the fifth Captain in the line of his command, he was given charge of three companies and a section of artillery; sent by the General commanding to take charge of the Post, at Carthage, Tenn., one hundred and fifty miles by river above Nashville ; this post was established by Gen. Crook, with a division, and afterward held by Gen. Spears with a brigade ; there was a large amount of Government stores accumulated at this point, for the use of the army, which could not be removed on account of the low stage of water in the Cumberland River ; this post was thirty-six miles from any support, and the confederate commands of Col. Hughes and Col. Hamilton, estimated from 1,000 to 1,500 men, were in striking distance of Carthage; Gen. Payne afterward told Capt. Williams that he did not expect the post to be held a week, but he could not spare any more troops, and, from what he had heard of him, he knew the rebels would not get the place without a hard fight; Capt. Williams not only held the post until the river raised and the stores were removed, but kept his troops vigilant and active, and, with the aid of captured horses, mounted part of his command, driving the guerrillas from the country ; before Christmas he had captured or killed a rebel soldier for every man in his command, and, by the spring of 1864, had recruited a regiment of loyal Tennesseeans, which, under the command of Col. Garrett, did effective service for the Federal cause; Carthage was then made a recruiting sta- tion, and, by the petition of Union citizens, and the request of Andrew Johnson, then Military Governor of Tennessee, Capt. Williams was detailed for service in organiz- ing Tennessee troops, and remained in Carthage until the close of the war, partici- pating in every movement against the enemy in that part of Tennessee, and ren- dering effective service against the forces of the rebel Gen. Wheeler in his famous raid through Middle Tennessee. After the war closed, Capt. Williams remained in Smith Co., Tenn., and engaged in the practice of law, taking an active part in the reconstruction of Tennessee, being a member of the first convention held for that purpose in Nashville. In April, 1865, he was commissioned District Attorney for the Sixth Judicial District of Tennessee, and held that position until the summer of 1867, when he resigned, to accept the nomination as Republican candidate for the Legislature, to represent the district of Sumner, Smith and Macon Cos .; after an exciting and dangerous canvass, he was elected by a handsome majority, receiv- ing the largest vote ever polled for the Republican party in those counties; he served for two years in what is known as the Radical Legislature of Tennessee, tak- ing an active part in all the leading measures, retiring at the close of the term with the confidence of his party and respect of his opponents. He was married May 31, 1866, to Alice Gordon, daughter of Dr. Wiley B. and Virginia Gordon (the daughter

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

The History of Miami County, Ohio, Part 102

Author: W. H. Beers & Co. Publication date: 1880 Publisher: Number of Pages: 1051

Author: W. H. Beers & Co.
Publication date: 1880
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 1051