The Wilson Families of Clark County, Ohio

MICHAEL B. WILSON, a representative citizen of Harmony Township, where he owns one hundred and twelve acres of valuable land which he devotes to general farming, was born in 1845, in Clark County, Ohio, and is a son of Michael and Lavina (Henry) Wilson.

The Wilson family is an old one in Harmony Township, the grandparents, Michael and Temperance Wilson, having had their home here and reared a large family. One son, Michael, was born in the same township and when he attained manhood, he married Lavina Henry. They had a family of thirteen children born to them, to whom they gave the following names: Jasper, James T., Temperance, Elizabeth, Jefferson, Johnson, Michael B., Lavina, Washington, Emma, Anna, Fremont and Skillman. Jasper married Ellen Prugh and they had four children: Wilburt H., Charles, Samuel and Elesta. Jasper Wilson served in the Civil War. James T. married (first) Abigail Turner and they had five children: Temperance, Nora, Samuel, Ada and Anna T. He married (second) Ida Tingley, and they had one daughter, Bessie. Temperance, daughter of James T., married Edgar Sweete, and they have one son, Chandler. Nora Wilson is deceased. Samuel married Dollie Tingley and they have five children, namely: William, Carl, Delma, Horace and Gltnna. Ada married Chance Mahoney and they have three children: Maud, Nellie and Edna. Anna died aged fifteen years.

Temperance Wilson, eldest daughter of Michael and Lavina Wilson, died aged two years. Jefferson, the next son, was killed while serving as a soldier in the Civil War. Johnson married Jiilia West and they have the following children: Howard, Effie, Alta, Walter, Mary and Floyd. Johnson Wilson served in the Civil War. The three brothers were brave soldiers, but only two lived to reach home. Lavina married Edmund West and at death left one child, Lillie. Washington Wilson married Frances Porter and they have four children: Porter, Charles, Nina and AVashington. Both Emma and Anna are deceased. Fremont Wilson married Minerva Shary) and they have the following children: Mary, Lavina, Clara, Boss, Wealthy and Methia. Skillman, the youngest of the family, married Lida Sidebottom.

Michael B. Wilson has lived in Clark County all his life and since boyhood has followed agricultural pursuits. His land was purchased from his father by himself and wife and is divided into two tracts, one containing fifty-five acres and the other fifty-seven acres. It is as good land as can be found in Harmony Township. Mr. Wilson was married in 1871, to Estella Boberts, who was born in Madison County, Ohio, but who has lived in Clark

County for thirty-seven years. She is a daughter of Charles and Harriet (Mc- Cann) Boberts, the former of whom was born in 1805 and died in 1853. The latter was born in 1814 and died in 1890. They were, married in 1832 and had nine children, namely: John, Henry, Benjamin F., Catherine, Charles, Harriet, Peter, Mary E.. and Estelle, five of whom are deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Wilson have two children, namely: Nellie F. and Frank E. Nellie F. was born October 14, 1876, married Balph Christ and they have two children, Glen W. and Katharine E. Frank E. was born January 20, 1882, married Myrtle Neer and they live in Harmony Township.

Mr. and Mrs. Wilson are members of the Christian Church and he is serving as a deacon in Wilson Chapel. He belongs to Lodge No. 345, Odd Fellows, at Vienna Corners.

As printed in the source². Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

WILLIAM S. WILSON, president of the Springfield Savings Bank, with which he has been prominently identified since 1885, is one of Springfield's most highly respected citizens and representative business men. He was born in Moorefield Township, Clark County, Ohio, and is a son of Hugh and Martha B. (Rutherford) Wilson.

Hugh AVilson was a native of Pennsylvania who came to Clark County, Ohio, in 18.33 and here engaged in business until the time of his death, which occurred in 1860. He married Martha B. Rutherford, who was also born in Pennsylvania, and their union resulted in the birth of four sons and one daughter, three of whom are still living, namely: Moses S., who lives in Green Township; Mary E., wife of Jacob Barnett of Springfield, and William" S., subject of this notice.

William S. Wilson was reared and educated in Spring-field and early in life entered the Old Springfield Bank, with which he was connected for some time, having been in their employ at two different periods. In 1861 he enlisted in Company H, Seventy-first O. V. I., and was in the service for about four years, his regiment forming a part of the Army of the Cumberland. Beginning as a private, he was promoted to second lieutenant, and later to first lieutenant, and was mustered out October, 1865, as captain of his company.

Upon his return from the war, Mr. Wilson engaged in the grain business in Springfield, buying and shipping grain for some ten or eleven years with much success, after which he served as treasurer of Clark County from 1881 until 1885. In 1888 he became president of the Springfield Savings Bank, and has since been prominently identified with that institution, retaining the presidency. Mr. Wilson is also president of the Springfield Coal and Ice Company, and is interested in other business enterprises of Springfield.

In 1865 Mr. Wilson was united in marriage with Elizabeth Weakly, who died in 1876. They had no children. Mr. Wilson's second marriage occurred in 1894 to Maria Goode and they have one son, William G. Wilson. Mr. Wilson is a member of the Mitchell Post G. A. R., and religiously, of the Second Presbyterian Church.

As printed in the source². Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

THOMAS C. WILSON, farmer; P. O. New Moorefield; was born in Mercer Co., Ky., Sept. 11, 1806. Is a son of James and Anna (Clelland) Wilson; he a native of Virginia and she of Maryland, becoming settlers of Kentucky about 1802, and remained residents there about five years; thence removed to Indiana near Lawrenceburg; thence to Greene Co., Ohio, about 1813; thence to Clark Co. about 1815, remaining about one year; thence into Champaign Co., where they resided till their death. He died Feb. 21, 1837, aged 64 years; his wife died in October, 1833, aged nearly 57 years. They were parents of eleven children; five now survive—Rebecca, Elizabeth, Thomas O., Philip S. and David V. "They were noted as active members of the Presbyterian Church from their early life, and died in the triumphs of a living faith. Our subject, at his majority, started out in the world for himself by working for $7 per month, and from this made his first capital and start in life. Was married, March 19, 1835, to Miss Jane H., daughter of Joseph and Elizabeth Baldwin, natives of Virginia. She was born Dec. 19, 1801, being one of a family of eight children, one only now living—John W. Their issue is three children—Elizabeth Ann (now Mrs. Kennedy), James B. and Mary Jane, who married Evan R. Price, by whom she had two children— Evan Clelland and James B.; her husband died Sept. 26, 1871. Mr. Wilson's wife died Nov: 20, 1875. Mr. Wilson spent the first portion of his married life upon the farm where he now lives; thence bought a farm near New Moorefield, where he resided seventeen years. In June, 1856, he bought and located again upon the farm where they first lived, and where he has since resided for a period of twenty-four years. He has 340 acres of excellent land, with fine buildings and improvements, most beautifully located, constituting a very pleasant farmer’s residence. Mr. Wilson has never held or sought office, preferring to give his undivided attention to his own business affairs. Has been an active member of the Presbyterian Church since 1833, almost half a century. Has been a friend to education, having given his children special advantages by sending them to the high school at Springfield several terms. His life has been one of active usefulness, giving liberally of his abundant means to the support of schools and churches and all worthy objects.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

WILLIAM W. WILSON, manufacturer, Springfield; is a native of Pennsylvania, 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 1865, 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 sélf:made men, having begun life as.a farmer boy, and remembers when he cradle 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 circumstances. 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 Belmont County; by her he has one child—Anna, now Mrs. I. W. Frey.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

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 Americh in 1819; lived in New York State until 1830, 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 1863, when he sold out and retired from active business, and in 18'/8 removed to Springfield, Ohio, and is comfortably located at No. — South Limestone street.

946 BIOGRAPHICAL sS&riuni.

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, 1880,to James H. Perrin, of the firm of Perrin & Shanks, house-builders of this city; Charles is located at South Charleston, Clark Co., Ohio, where he is engaged in commercial pursuits.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

TEMPEST W. WILSON.

Tempest W. Wilson is the oldest member of the police force of Springfield in years of continuous connection therewith. He is familiarly known as “Temp” Wilson, and throughout this state he has a wide acquaintance, having gained many friends by reason

+ of his fidelity to duty and by his genial manner. He was born near the town of York,, in York county, Pennsylvania, March 31, 1847, and in the paternal line he comes of English ancestry, while on the material side the line of descent can be traced back to German ancestors.

John H. Wilson, the father of our subject, was a farmer by occupation, born, reared and educated in York county, Pennsylvania. He married Sarah Heistand, also a native of the same locality, and died at the age of fifty-two years, and his wife passed away in York county, Pennsylvania, when about seventy-six years of age. In their family were eleven children, of whom three daughters and five sons are yet living, namely: Mary; Mrs. Emma Haffer; Sarah; John, who is an engineer on the Pennsylvania railroad and resides in Philadelphia; Tempest W., of this review; Stephen, who is proprietor of a hotel at Wrightsville, Pennsylvania; Webster, who carries on farming on the old homestead; and Frank, who is a foreman in a cigar manufactory. Those who have passed away are: Heistand, George and Thomas, who died in Pennsylvania. The others are all living in Pennsylvania, with the exception of our subject. Upon the old home farm they were reared, while in the - common schools they pursued their education. The father died when the children were small, but the widow kept her children, together, putting forth every effort to provide a comfortable home for them.

As Tempest W. ‘Wilson was one of the oldest of the family, he began to support himself at the age of sixteen years and for several years was employed as a farm hand. He afterward spent eighteen months in loading and running ore cars from the mines’ to the furnaces. He was foreman of a construction gang in Maryland on the new railway and later he came to Ohio. He had some relatives living in Clark county and in 1870 he made his way to this locality. Here he worked upon a truck farm for a short time and then came to the city, where he found employment as a laborer in the shops of the New (Champion Company, being thus employed through three years. For a time he served in the fire department of the city and then returned to the shops, but later again entered the fire department, with which he was connected for thirteen months. Ata meeting of the city council he was elected to a position on the police force February 3, 1875, and has since been connected with this department of the city service, proving a very efficient officer. For about two years he was city detective. At that time he met with an accident, being shot in an encounter with a criminal, and he yet carries the bulletin his body. Since 1894 he has been captain of patrol No. 1, and in all the departments of the service with which he has been connected he has proven an efficient officer.

Mr. Wilson was married in Springfield in 1878 to Ellen Day, who was born in Greene county, was educated in the public schools, and was living in this city at the time of her marriage. They now have six children, four sons and two daughters: Frank, who is employed in a tool shop in Chicago, Tlinois; Ellen, a milliner working at her trade in Springfield; Harold; Paul; Ruth; and Carroll John. Mrs. Wilson is a member of St. Raphael’s Catholic church, and the children were educated in the parochial school connected with that church.

Mr. Wilson has made his own way in the world from the age of sixteen years, and although he has met with some difficulties and obstacles, he has steadily advanced, owing to his fidelity to duty and to his capability. He now resides at No. 56 West Co- Jumbia street, having purchased his home there in 1902. In politics he is a Democrat. He is a member of Ephraim Lodge, I. O. O. F., and also of the Firemen's Relief Association, of which he was one of the organizers-while connected with the fire department. He 1s now the oldest man in continuous service on the police force of this city, and this fact indicates unmistakably how faithful he has been to his duties as a preserver of the peace and of law and order.

As printed in the source³. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.