The history of Madison County, Ohio, Part 104

Author: Brown, Robert C; W.H. Beers & Co., pub
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: Chicago, W.H. Beers & co.
Number of Pages: 1180

USA > Ohio > Madison County > The history of Madison County, Ohio > Part 104

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HENRY WARNER, deceased, was born in Fairfax County, Va., nine miles from Alexandria, on the Potomac River, June 15, 1795, and came to Ohio with his parents and grandparents in the spring of 1805, settling in Belmont County. He removed to London in September, 1812, where he lived consecutively until the day of his death, a period of sixty-four years. When he came to London, it was a collection of less than a dozen huts, and he assisted Judge Patrick McLene in laying out the town. He was married, February 27, 1823, to Keturah H. Gosslee, by whom he had eleven children, seven now living, viz .: Mrs. William Riddle, of London; Mrs. R. A. Harri- son. of Columbus; Capt. James R. Warner; Gen. D. B. Warner, U. S. Consul at St John, N. B .; Mrs. Eliza Baker, of Chicago; Mrs. Asa Myers, of Brooklyn; and Miss Mary Warner, who lives at home. Mr. Warner came of a long lived family, his grandfather having attained the remarkable age of one hundred and four years, his father eighty eight, and his only living brother, the venerable William Warner, of London, is now one of the oldest citizens of the city. Mr. Warner was a merchant, surveyor and dealer in real estate, besides having held several county offices. He was four years Sheriff of the county, fourteen years County Treasurer ( elected in 1834 ) and for a number of years County Surveyor. He retired from business, more than twenty years prior to his death. By industry, frugality, sound sense and force of character, he became possessed of a considerable for- tune. Many anecdotes are related by old citizens, illustrative of his rigid honesty and eccentricity, for honest he was and eccentric to a marked de- gree. Kind of heart when convinced of duty or when charity deserved, he was, nevertheless, one of the most sarcastic of men. For instance: Once when he was representing his own canse before a magistrate, the lawyer for the other side remarked that he "did not wish to take advantage of Mr. Warner, as he saw he was there without counsel." "Oh, go on," said Mr. Warner. "your side of the case is in the same condition." Mr. Warner had been an invalid for thirty years previous to his death. Mr Warner was an invalid, but he was always a pleasant and instructive gentleman, and a worthy member of the Methodist Church, to which he had belonged for more than half a century. He was a Whig in politics, so long as that party had an existence, and endorsed the Republican party at its birth. with which he ever after affiliated. He never missed voting at an election in his life until the fall before his death, when his physical health was such that he could not get to the polls. He died Friday, January 31, 1879, at the advanced age of eighty-three years six months and sixteen days. His remains were interred in Kirkwood Cemetery. on the afternoon of Monday. February 2, 1879. the funeral sermon being preached by Rev. J. C. Jackson. Mr. Warner was one of the oldest. best known, and most highly respected citi- zens of this county. As an officer, citizen, parent, or friend. he was conscien- tious, liberal, faithful and affectionate, and his loss was deeply felt and la- mented by the church, State, and society, as well as by a large circle of mourning relatives. Mrs. Warner is a daughter of Richard Gosslee, who was born in Sussex County, Md., in 1781, and died in London November 26, 1872,

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aged ninety-one years six months and one day. He emigrated to Ross County, Ohio, in 1804, and to Madison County in 1816. Before his death he represent- ed the oldest of five generations living in London. He was married three times. He left fourteen children, thirty grandchildren, and over thirty great-grandchildren, and two great-great-grandchildren. He was a consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal Church for seventy-one years. If he had lived three months longer he would have been enabled to have witnessed the golden wedding of his daughter, Mrs. Warner.

DENNIS WARNER. London, one of the oldest physicians and Sur- geons of Madison County. was born in Union Township, this county, near Lon- don, May 19, 1818. His father. William Warner, was a native of Virginia, and is a planter by occupation. He never owned any slaves. but hired them, paying them amply for all service rendered. He married Elizabeth Denty, a native of Virginia, who bore him six children and then passed away from earth. He subsequently married Susannah Weiser, of German parentage. who was the mother of eight children. William Warner came to this coun- ty with his family in 1812, locating 200 acres of land adjoining the now corporate limits of London. He subsequently sold this, and removed to the city, where he died in his eighty-seventh year. Mrs. Warner departed this life in October, 1797. Our subject was reared on the farm. and remained there until twenty years of age. He received only a fair education, and about 1838, commenced the study of medicine with Dr. Malsby, an old prac- titioner of London. He was subsequently under the tuition of Dr. Toland, and graduated from the Ohio Medical College of Cincinnati, March 2, 1847. He then located in London, and for uearly forty years has been minister- ing to the sick of Madison County. During this time, Dr. Warner has been moderately successful in a financial way, but has also been an acute sufferer from that terrible disease, rheumatism. Politically, Dr. Warner had always been a Whig, and later a Republican. He was Pension Examiner a few years, and also served a short time as Assessor. He was married, October 10. 1847, to Mary, daughter of John F. Chenoweth, an old and honored citizen of this county. They had two children, a son and a daughter, the latter dying in infancy. The former, James McLene Warner, is Deputy County Clerk. and married Ida, daughter of William Hall, now of Iowa. They have one daughter, Gertie P.

ELI G. WARNER. farmer, P. O. London, was born in London Sep- tember 29,1816. He is a son of Joseph and Sarah ( Atkinson ) Warner, of English descent, the former a native of Virginia, and the latter of Ohio. Our subject worked at the carpenter's trade, with his father, who was a car- penter, until he was twenty-one years of age, when he took up the occu- pation of farming, which he has since followed. He owns a farm in this county which he is cultivating in the most approved style, in addition to 160 acres in Kansas. He was married in 1852 to Elizabeth Ann Maria Zartman, daughter of Samuel and Margaret Zartman, of German descent. By this union three children were born-Mattie C., Edwin Z. and Clara S. Mr. and Mrs. Warner are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which he has been class leader and steward. He has long been an advocate of total abstinence, and strongly indorses rigid prohibition.

STEPHEN WATSON. President of the Madison National Bank, and Acting President of the London Exchange Bank, was born in Union (now Paint) Township, Madison County, June 4, 1827. His father. David Wat- son, was born in Maryland October 17. 1783. He was a son of Walter Watson, also a native of Eastern Maryland, who was one of six brothers-

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said to be the smallest, and his average weight was 235 pounds. After Da- vid's birth, he moved to Virginia, and came to Ohio in 1806. He located in Ross County, near Chillicothe, and one year later moved to this county. David came to Madison County in 1805, to help his father-in-law, Peter P. Helpinstine, in surveying. Mr. Helphinstine's father was a Major in the Revolutionary war. and had a land grant calling for 5, 011 acres. His son, our subject's father, came along to survey it. They laid it out in three places on Oak Run, Walnut Run, and Deer Creek. After the land was divided there were 100 acres overplus, which Mr. Watson purchased at $2 per acre, giving in exchange a horse valued at $100, and a watch valued at $20, and owing the balance. In 1807, he settled on the land in Madison Coun- ty. boarding with Jonathan and Eleanor Minshall, his brother-in-law and sister, until a cabin was built on his land by friendly neighbors. His wife was Mary Helphinstine, a native of Frederick County, Va., who died in 1852. Mr. Watson was a farmer and stock-raiser through life, and died in April, 1870. They had twelve children, five sons and seven daughters, of whom only four, two daughters and two sons, are living, viz .: Susannah, wife of Wesley Yocums, of Champaign County, Ohio; Isabella, wife of A. H. Nixon, a wholesale tobacco dealer of Dayton, Ohio. Our subject, the eighth child and fourth son; and David, one of the County Com- missioners, residing on the old homestead, in Paint Township. Our subject was reared on the home farm, and received his early education, which was limited, in a log schoolhouse on his father's farm. When twenty -two years of age, he purchased, with his brother Samuel, 258 acres of land, which they kept three years and then sold it at an advance of $3,000. With the proceeds, he purchased 145 acres, to which he has since added until he now owns about 600 acres. He was engaged in farming and stock-raising intil 1871. In 1868, he came to London, and purchased his present residence. He and Mr. Charles R. Cover engaged in the business of brokers on Novem- ber 9, 1869, and have been engaged in it since. On July 1, 1870, a stock company was formed and bought the Madison County Bank of Addison Shanklin and Robert Boyd Mr. Watson was appointed Vice President, and the name of the bank changed to the Exchange Bank He has since been Act- ing President. In June, 1880, he was elected President of the Madison National Bank. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and a trustee and treasurer of the church at London. On December 23, 1852, he was married to Elmira, daughter of John Dungan.

E. R. WATTS, of Mckinnon & Watts, saddlers and harness makers, London, was born at Xenia, Greene Co., Ohio, March 4, 1828. His father Edward Watts, was a native of Virginia, and a farmer by occupation. He came to Ohio about 1816 or 1818. He first located at Mechanicsburg, Champaign County, Ohio, where he tanght school. He subsequently locat- ed in Greene County, and there married Margaret Snively, a native of Maryland. He died in Greene County, Ohio, in 1856. Mrs. Watts died in August, 1881. They were the parents of one daughter and tive sons, four living. Our subject is the only one of the family residing in this county, and was reared and educated in his native county. He learned the sad- dler's trade at Xenia, and subsequently traveled for a time in Central and Western Ohio. He then returned to Xenia and there remained twelve years. On January 1, 1866, he came to London, and the same year entered into a .partnership with W. H. McKinnon, in his present business. This is one of the oldest business firms in the city, and their trade is excellent Mr. Watts is a member of Madison Lodge, No. 70 (Odd Fellows), the American Le-

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gion of Honor, and a firm Republican. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and a Steward in that body. He has been a member of the London School Board eleven years, and its able and efficient Secretary the greater portion of that time. Mr Watts was married September 12, 1851, to Mary J. Mckinnon. Of their four children, one is living-Reed in attendance at the public schools. Mrs. Watts is also a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

PETER WEBER, proprietor Weber House, London, also the restau- rant and bakery connected therewith, was born in Rhine Bavaria, Germany, December 29, 19233. He is a son of Jacob Weber, who lived and died in Germany. He married Barbara Riddlesburger. They were the parents of eleven children, seven sons and four daughters, only two of whom are in America. Our subject was reared in Germany, and there learned the bak- er's trade. He was a member of the Sixth Regiment of Infantry, and served five years. He then came to America, locating at Columbus, Ohio, and worked there one and a half years. He then came to London and es- tablished himself in the bakery and grocery business. His trade increased steadily, and he soon opened a restaurant. He also established a brewery, which he has lately abandoned. In 1880, he started a brick yard, and the same year erected his present building. Mr. Weber is a pioneer business man of London, and has been quite successful in his mercantile operations. He is Democratic in politics, and has been a member of the Village Coun- cil. He was united in marriage, in 1852, to Mary Hahen, a native of Wur- temberg, Germany. They are the parents of six children. Mrs. Weber is a member of the St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church.

ALMIRA WILLIAMS, nee Rouse, P. O. London, is a daughter of Thomas and Anna (Platt) Rouse, the former a native of Vermont, of English descent, and the latter a native of Connecticut, of Scotch descent. Her father was a carpenter by trade, and emigrated from the East in 1839, settling in Union Township, where Almira was raised and where they spent their lives. Our subject was born in 1826, and when eighteen years of age married Harvey Fellows, who was born in New Hampshire August 25, 1804. He was a son of Ebenezer and Deborah (Ross) Fellows. They had two chil- dren-Sarah A., wife of Col. Ross, of London; and Harvey, who died in 1881, leaving two children. Mr. Fellows was a War Democrat. He was County Commissioner two terms, and Township Trustee three terms. He died in 1865, and in 1876 his widow married Vincent Williams, who died in 1881, aged sixty-five years. Mrs. Williams owns a fine farm adjoining London.

DAVID M. WILLOUGHBY, Marshal of London, was born in Paint Township, this county, June 17, 1852. His father, A. J. Willoughby, was a native of Range Township, and a son of Laban Willoughby, who came to Ohio about 1807 or 1808. A. J. Willoughby was a farmer until about the time of the war, when a fever sore caused him the loss of one of his legs. He subsequently resided with his sons until the date of his death, January 22, 1870, in his fifty-fourth year. Hemarried Catherine Coberly, a native of Paint Township Of their seven children, five are living. Mrs. Wil- loughby is still living, and resides with our subject, in her fifty-sixth year. David M. grew to manhood in his native township, and in early life resided in Indiana one year. He learned the painter's trade, and for three years was employed in the Champion Machine Shops, Springfield, Ohio. He was. a locomotive fireman on the Michigan Central Railroad, in Michigan, for a short time, and was appointed Night Police of London, in April, 1880. He

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was elected to his present position in April, 1882, on the Republican ticket. Mr. Willoughby was married, March 17, 1879, to Ellen Harrahan, a na- tive of Paint Township. They have two children -- Rosser and Mabel. Mr. Willoughby has made an efficient Marshal, and enjoys the esteem of all his acquaintances.

G. H. WILSON, farmer, P. O. London, was born in Madison County, June 6, 1852. He is a son of Eli and Atha (Prugh) Wilson, who were of English descent, and among the early settlers of this county. His father was one of the leading farmers of the county, and at the time of his death, in 1880, owned 900 acres of land, which he had made by his own industry. Our subject was educated in Oak Run Township, and adopted the occupa- tion of farming, which he has since followed. He is the owner of 119 acres of good land, on which he resides. He was married in 1875, to Delia Wilson, a daughter of Jacob Wilson, and a native of Ohio, of English de- scent. They have two children, Norman and Pearl. Mr. Wilson is a Re- publican in politics.

J. M. WINCHESTER, London, the oldest clothing merchant and a life- resident of London, was born in the village November 9, 1828. His father, Alvah Winchester, was a native of New York, and in early life accompanied his parents to Ohio. They came down the Ohio River from Pittsburgh, Penn., on a raft, and located on the Colerain road, near Cincinnati, and soon after entered a piece of land in Clark County, Ohio, where his father, Lyman Winchester, died. Alvah Winchester came to this county a short time afterward, and was one of the first tailors to locate and do busi- ness in the then small village of London. His trade increased, and he finally opened a clothing house, and enjoyed a good trade until his death, January 8, 1863, aged sixty-five years, His wife was Matilda Barnett, a native of Tennessee, who bore him ten children, four living, and three still residents of London. Mrs. Winchester departed this life July 26, 1865,

at about the same age as her husband. Our subject was the sixth child of this large family, and in early life assisted his father. He also learned the tailor's trade, and worked at it until 1853, when he became associated in business with his father, under the firm name of A. Winchester & Son. The firm did business under this name until the death of the senior partner, when his son purchased the stock and trade, and has since carried on the business. Mr. Winchester has met with very fair success in business. and is well esteemed by his numerous friends throughout Madison County. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, the Lodge, Chapter and Council of London, and Republican in political matters. He was united in the holy bonds of wedlock. December 31, 1857. to Margaret Southern, a native of Maryland, who accompanied her parents to Ohio when quite young. Four children have been born to this union, three living -John and Dennis W., with their father in the store, and Nettie. Stephen is deceased, Mrs. Winchester is a member of the Presbyterian Church.

WILLIAM WINGATE, farmer, P. O. London, was born in Union Township July 16, 1811, and is a son of William and Margaret (Warner) Wingate, natives of Virginia, of English and Irish descent. They were among the early settlers of this county. Our subject was educated in the early subscription schools of this county. He was reared on a farm and has made farming the occupation of his life, now owning 145 acres of land. He is a prominent member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which he has been a class leader twenty years, and Trustee four years. He was the youngest child of a family of five children. He has lived in the house

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where he now resides since 1815. He has lived a life of retirement, never having married, and since 1870, has been suffering with impaired health. He is a lover of good literature, a practical farmer and an enthusiastic stock-dealer.

DARBY TOWNSHIP.

WILLIAM ALLEN, merchant, Plain City, was born in Vermont, April 15, 1811. He is a son of Calvin and Eunice (Delano) Allen, natives of Vermont, the former of Irish and the latter of French descent, who emi- grated to this county in 1818. His father was a brick-mason. Our subject was reared on the farm and worked with his father until twenty years of age. He served a two-years' apprenticeship to the brick-mason's trade, and followed his trade for nearly a quarter of a century. In 1863, he engaged in mercantile pursuits in Plain City, where he still continues. He was mar- ried, in 1839, to Harriet, N. Ewing, a daughter of Joshua Ewing, who set- tled here in 1822. By this union eight children were born, five surviving, viz., A. W., Caroline, Lyman, Mary and Wilbur G. A. W. Allen is the junior member of the firm of Hager & Allen, dealers in groceries, boots, shoes and produce, and extensive shippers of eggs. This firm shipped in

1881, 1,200 barrels of eggs, with seventy-five dozen eggs in each barrel, making 1.080,000 eggs. A. W. Allen enlisted in 1861 in Company G, Seventeenth Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, for three months, and, at the expiration of his term, re-enlisted in Company I, Forty-seventh Ohio Volunteer In- fantry, Col. James A. Garfield, and was honorably discharged at the end of his term of service. He was wounded at the battle of Port Gibson, and did not rejoin his regiment until they were at the siege of Vicksburg, in which they participated. Caroline is the wife of Rev. C. S. Irwin. Lyman B. is a train dispatcher and telegraph operator in California. Mary is the wife of R. C. Hager, of Hager & Allen. Wilbur G. is in the store with his father. Mrs. Allen died in 1868. She and her husband were members of the Presbyterian Church, and he has been an Elder and Deacon in the church at Plain City. He is a Republican in politics, and has been Town- ship Trustee and Justice of the Peace. He is a man of reliable business principles and strict morality.

CHARLES AMANN, Cashier of the Exchange Bank, Plain City, was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, December 6. 1842. His parents were Xavier and Bridget (Duplar) Amann, the former a native of France and the latter of Switzerland. His father emigrated to America when a young man, and, after stopping a short time in New York, located at Cincinnati, where he worked at his trade-tailoring. He was twice married, Charles being the only child by his first wife. Our subject enjoyed the advantages afforded by the graded schools of Cincinnati until eight years of age, when he went to Sidney with his father, who engaged in the merchant tailoring business there, and Charles attended the Sidney Public Schools. He then learned the molder's trade, which he followed until 1862, when he enlisted from Adams Township. Champaign County, in Compary H, Forty-fifth Ohio Vol- unteer Infantry, Capt. Rhodes. On the 20th of October, 1863, he was capt- ured, at Philadelphia, Tenn., together with a large number of others, and taken to the rebel prison at Belle Isle. afterward being removed to Dan-

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ville, Salisbury and Florence. From the last-named place he was taken to Charleston, S. C., in 1864, and placed, with 600 Union officers and 600 Union mon, in a building, under the fire of the Federal guns then shelling the city. On the near approach of Gen. Sherman, Mr. Amann was removed to the prison at Goldsboro, from whence the records show he was paroled February 24. 1865. He well remembers seeing emaciated and fever-stricken prisoners, in great numbers, left by the rebels to die. He was fever-strick en at Goldsboro, and, white unconscious, was thrown into the "dead-wagon" and hauled off for burial, the records of Wilmington. where the Goldsboro dead were buried, showing that " Charles Amann. of Company H, Forty- fifth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, died March 26, 1865," and was buried in the National Cemetery. He has no recollection of his release, and does not know how he regained his release. It is said that, according to the prison records, he was a prisoner longer than any Ohio soldier, with but one ex ception, during the war. After the war. he engaged in business at Plain City, with marked success, for twelve years, in the drug business, with Isaac Leonard, and in 1881 he took his present position. He is a member of the Odd Fellows Lodge, and of the Grand Army of the Republic, and a Republican in politics. He has been Township Clerk and Trustee, and Mayor and Councilman of Plain City.

WILLIAM I. BALLINGER, M. D., Plain City, is the oldest son of Joshua and Delilah (Inskeep) Ballinger, of Logan County, Ohio, where he was born October 18, 1828. The former, who was born in New Jersey, came to Ohio with his parents in 1810, and settled on the head-waters of Big Darby Creek, where he died. The latter was a native of Ohio, and still lives. The subject of this sketch spent his youth and boyhood with his parents, brothers and sisters, on a farm, until the spring of 1848. Then, having no special appetite for the gymnastics and manual duties of farm life, he was sent to the " Old Academy," in Marysville, Ohio, at that time under the auspices of the Rev. James D. Smith, who was assisted by the Rev. James A. Sterrett, as Principal. He spent three summers in this insti- tution, the last two of which were under the tutelage of the now Hon. James W. Robinson, of Marysville, Ohio, who took charge of the academy as Principal in 1849. Here he acquired the rudiments of algebra, Latin, and of such branches as are usually taught in the high school departments in the graded system of the present day. The winters were passed in teaching district schools, and our subject remembers, with much regret, the mistakes of those whose duty it was to employ teachers, and to look after the moral and mental welfare of the youth, in employing young men and young wo- men to perform these sacred duties, whose only qualifications were a " cer tificate to teach," and a sufficiency of muscular development to assert their authority in the schoolroom by the help of the rod. In September, 1850, he was sent to the Ohio Wesleyan University at Delaware, Ohio, and en tered the Senior Preparatory Class, and remained in the university for three years, pursuing the classical course of study. In the fall of 1553, he com- menced the study of medicine in the office of Dr. D. W. Henderson, of Marysville, Ohio; taught a district school at Amity, in this county, during the following winter months; resumed his studies in the office in March, 1854. and, in October of the same year, entered Starling Medical College at Columbus, Ohio, for his first course of lectures. In March of 1855, he re- turned to Dr. Henderson's office, and there remained till the October follow- ing, when he went to Cleveland, Ohio, and entered the Cleveland Medical College, where he was graduated a Doctor of Medicine early in March, 1856.

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The history of Madison County, Ohio, Part 104

Author: Brown, Robert C; W.H. Beers & Co., pub Publication date: 1883 Publisher: Chicago, W.H. Beers & co. Number of Pages: 1180

Author: Brown, Robert C; W.H. Beers & Co., pub
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: Chicago, W.H. Beers & co.
Number of Pages: 1180