USA > Ohio > Clark County > The history of Clark County, Ohio, containing a history of the county; its cities, towns, etc.; general and local statistics; portraits of early settlers and prominent men, V. 2 > Part 49
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).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72
WILLIAM W. WILSON, manufacturer, Springfield; is a native of Peun- sylvania, born in Washington County in 1821; he was raised on a farm, then a want of facilities made it necessary for the boys to know hard work, and he began to follow the plow when 12 years of age, and made a full hand in the harvest field at 16, and consequently received but little education. He remained on the farm assisting his father, until 27 years of age: afterward. was engaged in milling and mercantile pursuits, and did quite an extensive business; but two- fires, one burning his mill and the other his store, were a severe loss, and led to his removal to Springfield in 1855, and in 1868 he became a member of the new Champion Machine Company, being the road man of the firm, and traveled eight years; but of late years, the home business has required the attention of all the members of the firm. Mr. Wilson is one of the self made men. having begun life as a farmer boy. and remembers when he cradled all day for 75 cents. and. although so unfortunate as to have the proceeds of the labor of his early years consumed by fire, has more than replaced his loss, and is now in good circum- stances. He has been twice married; his first wife was a Miss Mary Parish. of Eastern Ohio, and his present wife was Nancy Sharpe; she is a native of Bel- mont County: by her he has one child-Anna. now Mrs. I. W. Frey.
ROBERT WILSON. retired woolen manufacturer, Springfield. Ohio. Mr. Wilson was born in Selkirkshire. Scotland, near the home of Walter Scott. June 26, 1807; he came to America in 1819; lived in New York State until 1836, when he moved to Pennsylvania, where he resided two years, and thence to Knox Co., Ohio, where, in 1843. he erected a woolen-factory, which he ran until 1853. when he sold out and retired from active business, and in 1878 removed to Springfield, Ohio, and is comfortably located at No. - South Limestone street.
946
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
He was married, in 1837, to Adeline Whitney, who was born in New York Jan. 19, 1814; they have but two children-Aurilla U. and Charles; Aurilla was married, Sept. 2, 18SO, to James H. Perrin. of the firm of Perrin & Shanks, house-builders of this cit. , Chilis is I cated at South Charleston, Clark Co., Ohio, where he is engaged in commercial pursuits.
AMAZIAH WINGER, lumber-dealer, Springfield; he is a son of Jacob and Catherine (Trout) Winger; was born in Lancaster Co., Penn. He came with his parents to Clark Co., Ohio, in 1835. His boyhood days were spent in school; at the age of 20, he began work in a lumber-yard. In 1862, he received a commission as 2d Lieutenant to recruit a company, and was assigned to the 94th O. V. I .; he served to the close of the rebellion, when he received an hou- orable discharge; in 1564, he was promoted to the rank of Captain for meritorious service; he was in the battles of Chickamauga, Stone River, and with Sherman on the march to Atlanta, participating in the battles of that march, and was also in Sherman's grand march to the sea; he was in the grand review before the President, Gen. Grant and others in 1865. His father, Jacob Winger, an old pioncer of Springfield, was born in Lancaster Co., Penn., Aug. 6, 1810, where he lived until 1537, when he moved to Springfield, Clark Co., Ohio, in a wagon: he has been connected with quite a mumber of enterprises here, but his chief P In 1852, be went into partnership with William Whiteley, Esq., and erected a shop for the purpose of building cars, but first began making the Cook reaping machine; they sold one of these machines to Andrew Whiteley for $30; with this machine, he (Andrew Whiteley) experimented, and the now famous Champion is the outgrowth of that machine. They began building cars in 1853, but in 1854, when the railroads failed, they were compelled to quit the business. In 1857, Jacob was engaged very exten- sively in manufacturing wheat drills, known as the Enoch drill, but, on account of the failure of the "Trust Company," it so affected his trade that he was obliged to suspend: but, being of an indomitable will, never allowed himself to be discouraged. He was married. Dec. 27, 1832, to Catherine Trout, who was born May 11, 1809, in Pennsylvania; of their ten children, but six are now liv- ing; their son Hezekiah died at the age of 26, from the effects of wounds received in the late rebellion. Amaziah has been twice married; the first time, to Mary A. Crothers, in November, 1867; she died in 1873, leaving two children, both girls; his second wife was Mrs. Mary D. Torbert, widow of James L. Torbert (deceased), and daughter of Amos Barr. In 1865, the Captain formed a partner- ship in the lumber trade with Mr. Hayward, his present partner.
H. A. WISE, of the firm of Andrews, Wise & Putnam, Springfield; is a native of Massachusetts, born in Deerfield Jan. 18, 1845. His youth was spent on a farm and attending school; he began his business career as a clerk in Greenfield, Mass., when about 21 years of age: subsequently learned the photog- rapher's art, and was thus engaged in Greenfield until 1869, when he removed to and continued his business in Springfield until the fall of 1874; during this time, he also conducted a gallery in Xenia. In January, 1876, he became a mem- ber of the firm of Wilson, Wise & Putnam, who were the successors of Rice & Co .: this firm continued without change until 1878, during which time they had established a branch house at Urbana, under the firm name of H. A. Wise & Co .. Mr. Wise being in charge: in 1878, Mr. Wilson took the Urbana stock, and Mr. Wise returned to the establishment here, the firm then being Wise & Putnam until April, 1880, when Mr. Andrews camo in, and the style of the firm became as now, Andrews, Wise & Putnam. Mr. Wise is now in the prime of life, sys- tematic, enterprising and successful in business, and affable and respected in the social circle. He married, in 1568, Miss Frances E. Burnam, who was also a native of Deerfield, Mass .; she having died, he married, in 1876, Miss D
--- -
.
947
SPRINGFIELD TOWNSHIP.
Flora, daughter of William Ford, now a resident of Urbana, but formerly for a mimber of years a resident of this city; two children have been born of the sec- ond union-H. Edna and Mallie.
LEWIS WISE, farmer; P. O. Springfield. Mr. Wise was born in this county Dec. 14, 1529; he has followed farming all his life, and is of a true. genuine, hospitable nature. He was married, Sept 18, 1856. to Me- linda Hatfield, daughter of James and Margaret (Kitchen) Hatfield; they have had six children, viz., Alice. Joseph, Charles C., James H., Minnie E., John S., all living except Alice and Joseph, who have crossed the river to that purer and better home in heaven, . Mrs. Wise was born in this county Sept. S, 1533; Mr. and Mrs. Wise moved to their present home a few days after their marriage, being their first and only moving. Mr. Wise is the son of Jesse and Debora (Strong) Wise: Jesse was a native of Virginia, and, when but a small boy, his father died, leaving the mother with the care of their two children, Jesse and Polly, and, in 1807, she, with her children, came to Ohio and to this county, traveling all the way from Virginia here on horseback, with one of the children before and the other behind her on the horse. Mrs. Wise's father, James Hat- field, was a native of Kentucky. and her mother of Pennsylvania, he coming to Clark County in 1806, and she in 1812. Lewis' mother died in 1832, and his father in 1516. The farm on which fr. and Mrs. Wise now live was entered by her Grandmother Hatfield about the year JSOS. and has remained in the pos- session of some of the family ever since; and on the 25th of August, 1850, when a family re-union was held on the old farm, there being present 100 persons, all relatives, except three, of Mrs. Wise; during the day, the older ones related many interesting incidents which had occurred on the old farm during their boyhood days.
DANIEL WISSINGER, wholesale and retail coal, Springfield. Mr. Daniel Wissinger comes from good old Virginia stock, being born at Harper's Ferry March 27, 1812; came to Springfield in 1533, commencing business as a builder and contractor, which he followed thirty-five or thirty-six years. In 1871, he commenced the sash, door and blind manufacture, under the firm name of Wis- singer & Shanks, which was subsequently changed to Wissinger & Arthur. In March. 1579, he discontinued this business, and, in September following, he went into his present business-wholesale and retail coal-with his son, under the style of C. E. Wissinger & Co. Mr. Wissinger was married, in 1834, to Miss Cynthia Conklin, of this city, by whom he had eight children, of whom four sons and two daughters are living. Losing Mrs. Cynthia Wissinger in Angust. 1848, he was again married. on Feb. 7, 1850, to Miss Catherine Kelly (cousin of Oliver S. Kelly, so prominently known here), who bore him three sons and three daughters, the latter of whom they lost: all three of his sons by the first marriage were in the Union army, the first, Luther, enlisting in the 94th O. V. I .; the second, Daniel, was also in the infantry service, and the youngest, John, in the 5th O. V. C. first, and, after being wounded, he joined the 110th O. V. I .: he was again shot. through the hip, in this, in the battle of Morocacy, Md. Of Mr. Wissinger's sons by his second union, C. E. Wissinger is his partner in business, and was formerly of the firm of Morrow & Wissinger; the second, F. K. Wissinger, is a physician; and George W. Wissinger is a book-keeper in Pect & Elster's Novelty Works: Oscar W., his oldest son, is a coal-dealer in Urbana; Luther is a machinist in railroad employ in Memphis, Tenn .; Daniel, a carpenter in Springfield: and John, machinist in the Champion Knife & Bar Works. The Wissingers are a large, widely known and highly respected family, and have been for many years identified with Springfield's best interests. Mr. Wissinger's family attend the Second Presbyterian Church.
SAMUEL WOLFE, farmer; P. O. Springfield; son of Henry and Elizabeth
LL
948
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES :
(Haller) Wolfe: was born near Harper's Ferry, Va., June 14, 1809. Whey Samuel was 11 years old, his parents came to Ohio and settled on the farm now owned by him: they were among the early settlers of this county; their family consisted of nine children, of whom Samuel is the seventh child. Mr. Wolfe was a man who never sought public office, but worked quietly along on his farm. providing well for his household; and Samuel. like his father, has passed through life having the Golden Rule for his motto. following the same strictly, being loved and respected by all who know him. Samuel has always lived on the farm, and received his education at the district school. He was married, in 1847, to Margaret J., daughter of George and Rachel (Prickett) Kitt: Mrs. Wolfe was born in this county in 1823. and it was her Grandfather Prickett who bought the old mill of Lagonda from Simon Kenton. To Samuel and Mar- garet J. Wolfe were born the following children; Elizabeth C., Rachel Ann, James Milton, George H., Louisa, John K., William (who died Jan. 20, 1578). Frank and Howard. For thirty-three years they lived happily together, enjoy- ing the comfort of each other's society and doing their duty in all things; but, on the 19th of July, 1850, death visited this happy home and took from him his partner through life's joys and sorrows. leaving a void in the household and heart of her companion that can never be filled. Mr. Wolfe remembers, when a boy, of seeing the Indians on his father's farm, but at that time they were friendly. He is a Republican in politics, and is considered one of the honest, upright pioneers of his township-a plain. practical man, with no pretensions but honesty. morality, charity and justice toward all mankind. In 1865, he and wife united with the Baptist Church, in which faith his wife died, and of which Mr. Wolfe is a consistent member, patiently awaiting the day when he shall meet, in a better land, those whom he knew and loved on earth -- such being the hope and consolation that religion gives him.
PHILIP N. WOLISTON, manufacturer of plows, etc .. Springfield. At the tender age of 43 years. Philip N. Woliston accompanied his parents to Springfield; they came from Adams Co., Penn .. in May, 1828. the place of his nativity. In the fall of 1849. Mr. Woliston married Eliza Anderson: they trav- eled life's journey together for thirty years; she was taken from him by the hand of death. May 10. 1879; Mrs. Anderson, his mother-in-law, and her daugh- ter Mary, are living with him at 25 Clifton aveme; his only brother, John G. Woliston, his senior by four years, lives in South Springfield. Mr. Woliston has been all his life a wood-worker, pattern-maker and machinist, and an indus- trious and thorough-going man; four years since, he formed his present copart- nership of Woliston, Chambers & Burnett, for the manufacture of the Whiteley plow, and sash, doors and blinds, under the trade name of the Springfield Plow Manufacturing Company: their business has prospered, and they have all they can do to supply the demand for their manufactures. Among Mr. Woliston's recollections of early days is that of the rude log crib-bridge over Mill Run. its south end occupying the present site of the extensive factory of the St. John's Sewing Machine Company; he says he used to hunt squirrels at what is now the corner of High and Plum streets, and remembers when he Springfield Republic was printed on a hand-press of the old quaint style. in a one-story frame house. and edited by John D. Nichols: he also alludes to a 4th of July celebration on the common about where David West's shop now is, on which occasion Samuel Rouser's arms were shot off by the accidental premature discharge of the cannon. Rouser was an intemperate man, but this terrible accident quite reformed him. In the mouths of these same cannon. birds used to build their nests, ad interim. Mr. Woliston is a consistent member of the First Congrega- tional Church- a whole-souled, cheerful man, with a smile and manner that bespeak the absence of guile or malice.
949
SPRINGFIELD TOWNSHIP.
ISAAC COREY WOOD. retired farmer: P. O. Springfield. This well- known pioneer comes of pure English origin, his paternal and maternal grand- fathers. Jeremiah Wood and Thomas Corey, having been natives of England, who settled in New Jersey at an early day. Here his father. Isaac Wood. was born. July 10, 1771, and was married. Oct. 9. 1797, to Jane Corey, a native of that State. born July 2. 1779, and in 1798 they came West and settled in Warren Co., Ohio, where they remained until March, 1812. when they came to Clark County, settling on Sec. 15. Springfield Township, removing, in the following year, to Sec. 9, where his son Thomas now resides; they had thirteen children; six aro yet living; five sons reside in this county, and one daughter in Allen Co., Ohio: he died Ang. 24, 1825, his wife surviving him forty-six years, dying May 12, 1871. The subject of this sketch was born in Warren Co., Ohio, May 16, 1802; removed with his parents to this county in 1812, and here grew to man- hood, attending the primitive log schoolhouse a short time, where he learned the rudiments of reading, writing, etc. . On the 15th of June, 1825, he was mar- ried to Honora Scantlin, daughter of Jeremiah and Diana Scantlin, he a native of Ireland and she of Virginia, her father being Filled in the war of 1812, while inavely fighting against the English foc, sacrificing his life in behalf of freedom! and to defeat the oppressors of his native land. Mrs. Wood was born in Virginia Dec. 12, 1808, and, after her father's death, her mother married John Collins, who died in that State, when she was married to Spalding Winchester, who came with the family, in November, 1822, to Clark County, settling in the west part of Harmony Township, removing thence to Springfield Township, where they died in 1857, sincere members of the M. E. Church, she dying Aug. 15, and her husband Sept. 15, of that year. About forty-five years ago, Mrs. Wood joined the Free-Will Baptist Church, and has since taken an active interest in that- denomination. Politically, Mr. Wood was a Whig, casting his first vote for Clay in 1824, but, upon the formation of the Republican party. he joined its ranks, and, since his first vote, has never missed casting his ballot for the Presi- dential nominee of his party, and has always been an Abolitionist; he has been a rigid temperance man all his life, and his honesty and integrity are too well known to be doubted, his word at all times being as good as his note. On the 15th day of June, 1875, they celebrated their golden wedding by an excursion to the Soldiers' Home at Dayton, whither they were accompanied by twenty-two of their friends, and, if both live to the same date of June, 18SI, they will be fifty-six years man and wife-an event that seldom occurs in the annals of mar- ried life. Mr. Wood belongs to no church, his motto through life being the Golden Rule, which he has ever tried to follow in all his transactions with his fellow-men. For over sixty-nine years he has lived in Clark County, and has judiciously saved the results of his industry, but is without children on whom to bestow his means; he has retired from active business, and, with his aged wife, is now enjoying the blessings of a moral, well-spent life.
THOMAS S. WOOD, farmer; P. O. Springfield .. His farm, which is located four miles east of Springfield. on the Charleston Pike, is among the best in the county. He was born in Butler County. this State, April 30, 1810; he is a sor of Isaac and Jane (Corey) Wood. In 1812, his father entered the land now owned by Thomas, on which he settled the following year and began clearing the land, getting it ready for cultivation. When Thomas was 6 years old. he started to school; he had a little over a mile to go, and would frequently meet twenty and thirty Indians on the way. Of his father's family of thirteen chil- dren, but six are now living. When Thomas was 15 years old, his father died, and he, being the oldest of the boys at home, took charge of the farm for his mother. He was married, March 27. 1837, to Rhoda Ann Morton, daughter of Abraham and Jane (Sampson) Morton; Rhoda was born Oct. 25, 1819, near
950
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHIES :
Gallipolis, this State: their issue has been fourteen children-seven boys and seven girls -- three boys and five girls still living, Mr. Wood cast his first Prosi- dential baliot for Hemy Clay, and has boon identified with the Whig and Re- publican parties ever since; he has never missed an election, except two town- ship elections, since he has been old enough to vote. He is now 70 years old and is considered one of the well-to-do, upright citizens of his township.
JOHN WOODROW, wood worker and turner, Springfield. Mr. John Woodrow, although numbering his threescore and fifteen, is virtually a native of Clark County, for, although born in Fayette Co., Western Pennsylvania. m 1805. his father moved from Pennsylvania to Kentucky when the subject of this sketch was less than 1 year old, and moved again to this county, settling in Montgomery County, at so early an age that Mr. Woodrow has but the faintest recollections of it, being too young to remember well the events of this period: he relates from hearsay that, after coming to Ohio, his father and a man named Oberholz made up a flat-boat load of flour, pork and similar produce for the Lower Mississippi market; on reaching Natchez, his father was taken sick and died, and was buried at Natchez, Miss .: young Woodrow was then left an orphan. Oberholz went to New Orleans and sold out; a short time thereafter. one Daniel Rouser, from Maryland, but then living in Miami County, about half way between Springfield and Troy, came to Dayton looking for a boy to adopt, he and wife being well-to-do and childless, and, finding our subject a bright boy and an orphan, and liking him, adopted him and took him with him to Miami Co. and raised him to years of maturity and self-support. From Miami Co. he came to Clark Co. to live, when Woodrow was but 10 years old. He first worked on a farm, thon commenced learning the trade of wood-working and turning, under a man named David Pettigrew. His adopted father died on Oct. IS, 1832, when young Woodrow was about 18 years old, since which time he has, in every sense of the word, "paddled his own canoe," having no help whatever from any one. This Daniel Rouser, his foster-father, was the uncle of Samuel Rouser, whose arms were blown off at a 4th of July celebration in early days, of which men- tion is made in the sketch of Philip N. Woliston, of Springfield; he afterward fell down the stairs and broke his neck. Mr. Woodrow belonged to a home artillery company about seven years, from 1830 to 1537. He was married, on March 8, 1829, to Mary Berry, from Virginia; he has one son and two dangh- ters living, one of his daughters having married Mr. J D Smith, of this city: his son, David N. Woodrow, was in the Union army as a member of the 100- day troops, and re-enlisted in the 5Sth O. V. I., and is now working in the Champion reaper shops, and is still ummarried. Mr. Woodrow has been a wood-turner for over half a century, and probably no man in Ohio has done more work with a foot-lathe than he; and he still does it daily, at his advanced age of 75. Mr. Woodrow is one of stock that are now so rare -- blunt, square, to the point, but withal so courteous and kind, and to know him even slightly is to like him.
ROBERT C. WOODWARD, City Librarian, Springfield; is a native of Springfield, a son of Jacob and Sarah (Christie) Woodward; his father was a native of Pennsylvania, and came, when a young man, to Springfield, and was connected with the business interests here until his decease, which occurred in 1829, being associated with JJudge Ira Paige ir the proprietorship of the woolen- factory, and subsequently a merchant; his widow and two sons still survive. The subject of this sketch was born in 1829, and was but 3 months ofdl when his father died: his mother, by teaching, took care of him and gave him a rudimen- tary education, and, after her second marriage. in 1837, he attended the Ohio Conference High School, and was one of the first students enrolled at Witten- berg College, but, after passing the Freshman year, circumstances compelled him
951
SPRINGFIELD TOWNSHIP.
to relinquish school, and he entered the Republic office, and, after two years' service as "devil," was promoted to foreman of the office, but, three months later, accepted a position as compositor on the Cincinnati Commercial, a position he obtained by reason of his ability to read short-hand; during the three months in which he was employed in the Commercial office, he completed a commercial course under the direction of R. S. Bacon, after which he returned to Spring- field and accepted a position as traveling salesman for his step-father, J. D. Nich- ols, who had a special contract to sell stationery, etc., on the Pan Handle line of -railroad; after one year's experience, he discontinued that business, as it did not prove as profitable as he had hoped; after spending eighteen months at Davenport, Iowa, he went South and spent the winter of 1857-58, and in 1859 he was induced to pucrhase a book store here in Springfield, which business he continued until September, 1861, when he engaged in the same business in Lima, Ohio; there Mr. Woodward became prominently identified with the local religious interests, being the honored and trusted Superintendent of the Sunday school connected with the Presbyterian Church, and his wife, nee Miss Lizzie A. Crooks, formerly from Lowell, Mass., but at the time of their marrige, April 12, 1860, a teacher in the Springfield public schools, was an active and prominent member of the Women's Christian Commission, gratefully remembered by every soldier of the late war; but in 1865 his wife died, and the five years which fol- lowed were filled with bitter experiences; dispirited by the loss of his wife, his partners took advantages of him, and, in the spring of 1868, he returned to Springfield, to retrieve, as far as possible, the losses he had sustained. In 1869, he, in partnership with his step-brother, W. G. Nichols, bought his old book- store, and, with the proceeds of that stock, credits, and some money Mr. Wood- ward was able to borrow, they started a job printing office, and in eighteen months, by dint of careful management and at the expense of severe wear to his constitution, they sold out and were clear of debt. From this time Mr. Wood- ward was variously employed until 1877, when he was appointed City Librarian. When he entered upon his duties, he found matters in a chaotic state; but, by his usual energy and industry, he has brought system and order into all the details, and no better regulated public library can be found than that over which Mr. Woodward presides; he is ably assisted by his wife, nee Miss Har- riette De Witt, formerly of Fostoria. but, at the time of their marriage, Oct. 10, 1866, a teacher in the Springfield schools.
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.