William W. Wilson

As printed in 1914

WILLIAM WESLEY WILSON.

lliere is no positive rule for achieving success, and yet in the life of the successful man there are always lessons which might well be followed. The man who gains prosperity is he who can see and utilize the opportunities that come in his path. The essential conditions of human life are much the same, the snrroimdings of individuals differing but slightly, and when one man passes another on the highway of life it is because he has the power to use advantages which probably, in the main, encompass the whole human race. Today among the prominent citizens, prosperous farmers and successful business men of Fayette county stands the gentleman whose name forms the caption to these paragraphs. The qualities of keen discrimination, sound

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

William W. Wilson, who owns and operates a splendid and well improved farm in Union township and who is also interested in a prosperous fencing and implement business in Washington C. H., comes of good old Virginia stock in both the paternal and material lines, and exemplifies in himself those splendid qualities which have ever characterized the people of the Old Dominion state. He is himself a native of Fayette county, having been born in Perry township on August i6, 1857. Hig parents, James and Martha (Simmons) Wilson, were born in Highland county, Ohio, but became early settlers in Fayette county, in the pioneer life of which they became active factors. For a number of years after coming to this county their home was in Perry township, but in April, 1877. they moved to Union township, where the father bought a farm of one hundred and thirty-four acres, to the improvement and cultivation of which he devoted himself. Subsequently he located on another farm near Washington C. H.. where his death occurred in 190 1, when past sixty-seven years of age. He was a man of splendid qualities of character and was an affiliated member of the Baptist church. His widow, who still survives him, is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. James Wilson was a man of sound business judgment and rendered efficient service as real estate appraiser in 1890 and

The subject's paternal grandparents, William Wesley and Elizabeth ( Fishback) Wilson, were born and reared in Staunton, Virginia. Having determined to seek a home in the New West, they started on the overland journey to the Indian Reserve in Indiana, but when they reached East Monroe, Highland county, Ohio, one of their horses sickened and died, preventing their continuing their journey further. They were the parents of five children, Williain, James, Henry, Alfred and Joseph.

The maternal grandparents of Mr. Wilson were William and Sarah ( Harber) Simmons, also natives of the state of Virginia, who settled in Highland county, this state, in an early day and there spent the remainder of their lives, dying there when about ninety years of age. Their children were Elijah, Oliver, Trusten, Edmund, Sarah, Mary, Martha and Louisa.

He to whom the following lines are devoted has spent practically his entire life in the county of his nativity, never having been induced by the wanderlust spirit to seek richer fields elsewhere, and in this he has shown a commendable judgment, for he has, by perseverance, good judgment and

Google indefatigable energy, succeeded in his material affairs, until today he is one of the leading men of his community. He is indebted to the district and graded township schools for his educational training, which he has liberally supplemented through the years by habits of close observation and by extensive reading. He was about nineteen years of age when the family moved from Perry to Union township, and he was reared to manhood on a farm. At the time of his marriage, Mr. Wilson rented land, and was so successful in his vocation that a few years later he was able to purchase thirty-five acres in Union township. In the management of this tract he was also successful and has added to his original holdings until today he owns one hundred and seventy acres of as good land as can be found in his section of the county, the farm being located about one mile south of Washington C. H. In addition to his farming operations, Mr. Wilson is, as stated earlier in this sketch, interested in the fence and implement business at Washington C. H.. in which he has met with well deserved success. He is also a stockholder in the Fayette County Bank, one of the strong and popular banks of this county.

Politically, Mr. Wilson has been a life-long supporter of the Democratic party and for the long period of twenty-eight years he has rendered faithful and appreciated service as a member of the school board. Religiously, he is, with his wife, an active member of the Methodist Episcopal church, to the support of which they give of their time and means.

On the 27th day of October, 1878, William W. Wilson married Martha Swift, who was born in Highland county, Ohio, the daughter of William and Nancy (Amos) Swift, the former a native of Ireland, born in Kirkele, county Down, Ireland, in 1810, and died in 1902. In 1818 he voyage to America by sailing vessel. Nancy Amos was born in Highland county, Ohio. Both are now deceased. Of the eight children born to Mr. and Mrs. Swift, five are now living, namely: John Wesley, Elijah William, Harrison, Elizabeth and Martha. Mrs. Wilson's paternal grandfather preceded his family to the country, and was supposed to have been killed by the Indians. His widow and children came later, but found no trace of him and they settled in Pennsylvania, later coming to Highland county, Ohio, where their deaths occurred.

To Mr. and Mrs. Wilson have been born the following children: Eva became the wife of E. C. McCoy, of Union township), and they have three children, Wilby, Dorothy and Helen: Marion, who operates a farm adjoining that of his father, married Mary Cavinee, and they have five children, Marjoric. Ilnio. Elizabeth. Woodrow and Rosaline: Willard, who is in the employ of his father in the fence and implement business, married Blanche

Michael; Everett and Horatio are also in the employ of their father. Everett was married October 29, 1914, to VVynema Wilson, no relation.

Thus briefly have been recorded the salient features in the life history of one who has, by proper motives and a lofty example, honestly won a place in the front ranks of lXvette county's citizens, and because of his sterling integrity and his efforts for the advancement of the public welfare, has won the approval of all who knowhim.

gp:orge w. mcCOY.

The McCoy family has been identified with the history of Fayette county, Ohio, for nearly a century, and during all of these years they have performed their share in the development of this favored spot of Ohio. George W. McCoy, whose history is here presented, has spent his entire life of more than sixty years within the limits of this county, consequently he is well known among the citizens with whom he has lived. A life of such duration spent in one community enables a man's character to be familiar to everyone with whom he has been associated, and the high esteem in which ilr. McCoy is held by his fellow citizens is indicative of the clean and wholesome life which he has lived.

(george W. McCoy, the son of Patterson and Eliza (Bryant) McCoy, was born February 28. 183 1, in Wayne township, this county. His father was a son of Patterson McCoy, and was born in Union township, this county, where his father settled when he came from Virginia in the early history of the county. Patterson McCoy was reared, married and spent all of his days in this county, and he and his wife reared a family of nine children, Nathan, Mrs. Clara B. Kearney, Jackson, George, Jannette, Mrs. Nettie Cline, Mrs. Eliza Smith, Edward and Mrs. Armata Smith. All of these children except Jackson and Edward are still living.

(george E. McCoy attended the district school known as the Shady Grove school during his boyhood days and helped his father with the work on the farm during the summer vacations. At the age of twenty-one he commenced renting land from his father and lived on a rented farm until i8g6, when he felt able to purchase his present farm of fifty acres, on which he has since resided. He has engaged in intensive farming with the result that he has realized as much each year from his farm as many farmers do from a much larger acreage. He is progressive in his methods and, being a man of good

Google management, has had the satisfaction of seeing his farm yield more satisfactory returns year by year.

Mr. McCoy was married March 21, 1884, to Lida Cline, the daughter of John and Sarah Cline, of Ross county, Ohio, and to this union has been born one daughter, Mrs. Blanche Pleyley.

The Democratic party has claimed the support of Mr. McCoy and its candidates have always received his vote. He has always been interested in educational affairs and at present is a member of the school board of his township. Mr. McCoy has always maintained an intelligent interest in the welfare of his community and unreservedly gven his support to every movement for the educational, moral or material advancement of his fellow citizens.

As printed in History of Fayette County, Ohio : her people, industries and institutions (1914). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.