The Wilson Families of Montgomery County, Ohio

BARTHOLOMEW WILSON, one of the oldest business men and farmers of Wayne township, Montgomery county, Ohio, was born here, on his father’s farm, July 26, 1826, and is of remote Scottish extraction.

Israel Wilson, father of Bartholomew, was born in Loudoun county, Va., May 24, 1798, but at the age of three years was left an orphan and was bound out to Moses Miller, of the same county. In 1812, when Israel was fourteen years of age, Mr. Miller came to Ohio, bringing with him his family, young Wilson included, and settled in the woods of Wayne township. Israel here began learning blacksmithing under Mr. Miller, but, disliking the trade, was permitted to learn millwrighting under a Mr. Staley. In March, 1824, Mr. Wilson married, in Wayne township, Miss Elizabeth Booher, who was born in Washington county, Pa., August 16, 1804, a daughter of John and Elizabeth (Crull*) Booher. John Booher was a native of Washington county, Md., whence he moved to Pennsylvania, and in 1807 brought his family to Wayne township, Montgomery county, Ohio, and settled on a tract of 160 acres, the title to which he received from the government in 1814. His children were named John, Margaret, Catherine, Samuel, Elizabeth, Bartholomew, Mary, Daniel, Anna, Sarah and Levi. Mr. Booher died on his farm at the age of eighty-six years, a member of the German Baptist church; his widow lived to reach the great age of ninety-three years and seven months, and died at the residence of her son Daniel, in Harrison township, her descendants numbering eleven children, eighty-six grandchildren, 118 great-grandchildren, and one great-great-grandchild.

After his marriage Mr. Wilson settled on seventy acres of wooded land in Wayne township, and this farm he increased to 201 acres. He and his wife were members of the United

Brethren church, of which he was a steward and trustee for many years. In politics he was at first a whig and then became a republican, and for several years served as township treasurer. His death took place January 16, 1874, in his seventy-sixth year, and he left behind him a spotless name. The children born to Israel Wilson and wife were named Bartholomew, John, Ephraim, Isaiah and Mary J. The mother of this family died August 17, 1872, at the age of sixty-eight years, and was a woman of many estimable qualities.

Bartholomew Wilson, at the age of twenty years, in 1846, began burning lime on his father’s farm. He furnished lime for the old stone court house in Dayton and for many other large buildings in the city and elsewhere, and carried on the business for forty-eight years, when he retired with a competency. October 25, 1846, he married Miss Margaret A. Brenner, who was born in Wayne township June 2, 1828, a daughter of Jacob S. and Sarah A. (Mathews) Brenner, and went to housekeeping on the Wilson homestead, where they lived for three years. They then moved to a farm three miles south of the Miami river, where they lived seven years, when Mr. Wilson bought a farm in company with John L. Brenner, at present a member of congress from the Dayton district. This farm contained 163 acres, and here Mr. Wilson lived for three years, when he built the first house in Sulphur Grove, where he resided for ten years. In 1880 he moved to Dayton, where he made his home until 1893, when he retired to his present place. The marriage of Mr. Wilson was blessed with six children, viz: Henry, Sarah E., Dr. Isaiah B., Levina, Laura and Mary. Mrs. Wilson was called from earth April 3, 1893, in the faith of the United Brethren church, and on December 7, 1895, Mr. Wilson married Miss Catherine Brenner, who was born in Wayne township October 10, 1846, a daughter of Elias and Barbara (Detrick) Brenner. Mr. and Mrs. Wilson are members of the United Brethren church, in which Mr. Wilson has served as steward, choir leader and trustee. In politics he is a republican, and served as township treasurer for ten years from 1860; fraternally he is a member of Osborn lodge, No. 414, I. O. O. F. Mr. Wilson is a man of enterprise, liberality and public spirit, and enjoys the confidence and esteem of the entire community. He has done much toward the development of Wayne township, and the product of his industry is scattered throughout the county as a component part of many a substantial building.

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

ISAIAH WILSON, a prominent citizen of Wayne township, is a son of Israel and Elizabeth (Booher) Wilson, of whom mention is made in detail in the biography of Bartholomew Wilson, published above.

Isaiah Wilson was born on the Wilson homestead in Wayne township, Montgomery county, Ohio, August 6, 1835, received a good common-school education, and for thirty-five years was in the lime business. At the age of twenty-eight years he married, in Montgomery county, January 23, 1863, Miss Elizabeth Brenner, who was born on her father’s farm in Wayne township, December 9, 1833, a daughter of Michael and Mary (Booher) Brenner.

Michael Brenner, father of Mrs. Wilson, was a native of Fauquier county, Va., a son of Lewis and Dorothy (Reprogel) Brenner, and was a mere boy when he came with his father to Montgomery county, Ohio, in 1808. He here grew to manhood and married Miss Mary Booher.

After marriage, Isaiah Wilson settled on the Wilson homestead, and this has ever since been his place of residence. He has considerably improved the farm and has a substantial modern dwelling, containing every feature essential to a pleasant home. Mr. Wilson is a member of the Odd Fellows’ lodge at Dayton, and socially stands with the best citizens of the county. In politics he is a republican, for three years was treasurer of Wayne township, and has always held the confidence of his fellow-townsmen. He is very fond of the chase, and has made many trips to the woods of Michigan and Minnesota for the purpose of gratifying his taste for that exciting sport.

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

ISAIAH B. WILSON, M. D., physician and surgeon, of Dayton, Ohio, with his office at No. 66 East Jones street, has been a resident of the city for the past nineteen years. He was born in Montgomery county, December 28, 1853, and is a son of Bartholomew and Margaret A. (Brenner) Wilson.

Isaiah B. Wilson was educated at the Otterbein university, Westerville, Ohio, and afterward studied medicine with Dr. A. R. Moist, now of Dayton, Ohio, but then of Sulphur Grove, Montgomery county. Afterward he attended and graduated from the Miami Medical college, of Cincinnati, Ohio, being a member of the class of 1877. He immediately afterward located in Dayton, on Jones street, where he has ever since been engaged in general practice, and has met with much success.

[This passage is too damaged in the scanned book to reproduce. See the original book.]

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

WALTER C. WILSON, the worthy and experienced superintendent of the public schools of West Carrollton, Miami township, Montgomery county, Ohio, was born in Jackson township, in the same county, October 9, 1862, and is a son of John R. and Susan (Oldfather) Wilson, natives respectively of Jackson and German townships, and descendants from early settlers of Montgomery county.

John Wilson, paternal grandfather of Walter C., was a native of Washington county, Pa., of Scotch-Irish descent, and in 1815 settled in Jackson township, Montgomery county, Ohio, where he cleared up and improved a farm from the wilderness, and there resided until his death, in 1874. His wife, Susan (Ault) Wilson, was also a native of Washington county, Pa., and bore her husband twelve children, named Hiram, Joseph, Jacob, Mary A. (Mrs. Jacob Oldfather), Elizabeth (Mrs. Thomas Smith), Sarah (Mrs. Henry Oldfather), John R., Henry, Susan (Mrs. Wesley Kline), Anna (Mrs. William H. Oldfather), Lucy (Mrs. A. M. Sterling), and Jenny.

Samuel Oldfather, maternal grandfather of Walter C. Wilson, was a son of Jonathan Oldfather, a Pennsylvanian who came to Ohio in 1804 and settled in German township, Montgomery county.

John R. Wilson, father of Walter C., was reared on a farm, but in 1867 embarked in mercantile business in Farmersville, Montgomery county, and also engaged in the manufacture of boots and shoes, and continued in these lines until 1876, when he became a subcontractor in the mail service, which occupied his time until 1891. During this interval he was also postmaster at Farmersville for four years. His children who grew to maturity were named Walter C., Ora, Etta (Mrs. Joshua Albaugh) and Harry.

Walter C. Wilson received his elementary education in the common schools of Jackson township and later attended the National Normal university at Lebanon, Ohio, and Antioch college at Yellow Springs, Greene county. Ohio. He began his business life as a baker, and also learned the barber’s trade. In 1880 he began teaching, and in this profession discovered his forte, which he has since pursued with much credit and success. His first graded school was at South Lebanon, Warren county, where he taught one year; he then went to Bellbrook, Greene county, and taught four years; since 1890 he has been superintendent of the public schools in West Carrollton, in which position he has given the greatest satisfaction to the community and won for himself an enviable reputation. For six years, 1890 to 1896, he has also been associate principal of the normal department of Antioch college.

Mr. Wilson was united in marriage, September 18, 1884, with Miss Amanda Snethen, daughter of George and Catherine (Stahl) Snethen, of Warren county, Ohio, and to them have been born three children: Clyde S.,

K. Grace and Morris C. Mr. and Mrs. Wilson are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and in politics Mr. Wilson is a democrat. Fraternally, he is a member of the I. O. O. F., and the O. U. A. M., and socially he and his wife enjoy a very high standing.

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

J. CLINTON WILSON, farmer, P. 0. Dayton, was born on the 13th day of May, 1826, on the corner of Fifth and Main streets, Dayton. His parents were Samuel and Jane (Newcom) Wilson. His father was born in Pennsylvania, and his mother was the first female child born in Dayton, Ohio, and was the daughter of Col. George Newcom, so well known to the first settlers. Our subject was with Brown & Wilson in the dry goods business until 1855, when he was married to Miss Elizabeth Young, of Dayton, Ohio. Mr. W. moved to Van Buren Township, in this county, remaining one year; thence to Dayton, for one year; thence to Van Buren Township again, for three years, and then to his present home, where he has since resided, and where Mrs. Wilson died on the 12th of April, 1872. They had ten children, viz.: Hugh M., Nathaniel, Malinda, Elwood C. and Jane E., living at home, and five children deceased.

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

HUGH M. WILSON.

Dayton recently received an addition to her business circles when Hugh M. Wilson entered upon active association with the Barney & Smith Car Company as vice president and director. For a considerable period he was president of The Wilson Company, Chicago, publishers of The Railway Age and the Electric Railway Review, and he is especially fitted for the duties of his present position because of his wide acquaintance with railroad men and his understanding of matters pertaining to railway administration and operation.

Mr. Wilson was born in Jacksonville, Illinois, June 29, 1866, and is a son of Hugh and Isabella (Smith) Wilson, both of whom were natives of Scotland. He attended the public schools of Jacksonville and in 1882 he entered Illinois College, located in his native town, from which he was graduated in 1887 with the degree of Bachelor of Science. He was active in the student life of his college, was associate editor and business manager of the college paper and was orator of his class. He is a trustee of his alma water and in 1904 on the occasion of the celebration of its seventy-fifth anniversary the college conferred upon him the degree of Master of Arts.

Hugh M. Wilson received his early business training under the direction of his father, who was an architect, contractor and builder and also conducted a planing mill, door, sash and blind factory. The son gained varied experience by doing many kinds of work about the factory and the office, acting for a time as bookkeeper, and he also attended a business college, so that he received the training in fundamentals which qualified him for business life. He spent a year in his father's business between his sophomore and junior years in college. It was his intention at that time to study law but a disastrous fire, which destroyed his father’s business, so limited the financial resources of the family that it was necessary for him to provide for his own support. He secured the position of city editor of the Jacksonville Daily Journal.

In March, 1888, Mr. Wilson went to Minneapolis, Minnesota, and became a reporter on the Minneapolis Evening Star. A year later he became associated with the Mississippi Valley Lumberman, a weekly commercial journal, at Minneapolis. It was during his residence there that Mr. Wilson was married on the 9th of October, 1890, to Miss Olive Mary Williams, of Red Wing, Minnesota. In May, 1801, he became associate editor on the Northwestern Railroader at Minneapolis. During his business career up to this time his energies were divided

HUGH M. WILSON between editorial work and business management. Even in his college days he was both associate editor and business manager of the college paper. The tendency he early manifested to gravitate from editorial to business life has continued up to the present. Within two weeks after he went to the Northwestern Railroader as associate editor he was in the business department straightening out the company’s books.

Although Mr. Wilson spent a good many years in successful editorial work he has always been more of a business man than an editor. Hie attended the conventions of the Master Car Builders’ and Master Mechanics’ Associations for the first time at Cape May, New Jersey, in June, 1891. On the 15th of September of that year he moved to Chicago, for at that time the Northwestern Railroader was consolidated with the Railway Age, and he continued with the consolidated company as secretary-treasurer. He handled not only the office work of the business department but also a great deal of the news of the paper, especially that relating to equipment and supplies. He subsequently became manager and associate editor, still retaining the title and duties of secretary-treasurer. He was elected president of the Railway Age Company in 1899. In 1905 that company published a daily at the International Railway Congress in Washington, which was the official journal of the congress. This daily was printed in both French and English and was considered by railway officials of many nations to be a considerable undertaking. For the successful issuance of this journal, Mr. Wilson was decorated Chevalier of the Order of Leopold by the King of Belgium. In May, 1906, The Wilson Company was organized with Mr. Wilson as president. This company continued to publish The Railway Age and also bought the Electric Railway Review, which it changed from a monthly to* a weekly. Mr. Wilson’s active and energetic work for years in behalf of the railway supply interests is well known. He was secretary of the Railway Supply Manufacturers' Association from 1893 until 1897, inclusive, and thus the greater part of his experiences up to the present time was such as to qualify him for the duties of the position which he has recently assumed — that of vice president of the Barnev & Smith Car Company.

Mr. Wilson is not unknown in social life. In fact, he is a popular member of the Lffiion League Club of Chicago, the Chicago Athletic Club, the Chicago Engineers Club, the City Club, the Caxton Club and the Glenview Country Club, all of Chicago. Already he has a somewhat extended acquaintance in Dayton, his reputation having insured him a warm reception in the business circles of the city.

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