Walter C. Wilson

As printed in 1897

ALTER 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 Centennial portrait and biographical record of the city of Dayton and of Montgomery County, Ohio, containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, together with the biographi (1897). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.