PATRICK WADE
Patrick Wade, dealer in grain, 251 and 253 W. Main street, Madison, Indiana, was born March 6, 1842, in Ireland. When only eight years old he came to the United States with his mother, his father having come over to America less than two years before this time, and located in Madison, Ind.
His parents were natives of Ireland, and were named Martin and Ann Wade. His father is still living. His mother died September 19, 1872.
Mr. Wade was educated in the Catholic and public schools of Madison. After leaving school he went to work for his father. In 1864 he secured a position with F. Prenatt & Co., wholesale dealers in groceries and liquors; he remained with them as clerk about three years, and in 1867 went to Louisville, Kentucky, and secured a position there as stock keeper in a wholesale grocery kept by McKee, Cunningham & Co., remaining two years with them. Then he came back to Madison, Ind., and took a position with Jas. Hargan & Co. as a clerk in their wholesale grocery and liquor house, remaining with them over thirteen years.
In March, 1882, he succeeded his father in the feed and grain business, which business he is still in. He also handles seeds in large quantities. And with his business experience, and by giving it his undivided attention, he has built up the largest trade in this line in the city.
Mr. Wade has been a very successful business man; commencing with a small capital, he now owns two storehouses and one of the finest residences in the city.
He is a member of the Catholic Church and of the order of the Catholic Knights of America.
He was married in 1864 to Miss Celia Langan, of Madison, and has six living children, four girls and two boys: Mary, Ella, Maggie, Annie, Martin and John.
Mr. Wade is a Democrat; he has never held any office, although he has been importuned to run for office at different times, but always refused because of his business needing his attention.
Mr. Wade is a man of best character for attention to business, and in all points a good citizen.
Patrick Wade, Martin Wade’s father, was born October 2, 1818, in the County Galway, Parish of Kilkerrin, Ireland. He came to the United Sates March 7, 1849, and located in Madison, and was engaged in driving a dray for Mr. Martin Mullen, in which employment he remained nine months. He then went to work for Mr. Dawson Blackmore, who was engaged in the commission and pork-packing business. He continued with him between six and seven years.
In the latter part of 1856 he was engaged as wharf master at the depot wharf, where he remained for two years.
In October, 1858, he opened the feed and grain house now carried on by his son Patrick. He continued in this business until 1881, when he was succeeded by his son. Mr. Wade commenced business with a capital of only $1,000; now he owns three large store buildings on Main street, two of them occupied by his son Patrick and the other by himself. He has been very successful in business, having made his start in life by hard work, principally by hauling merchandise for some of the largest business houses in the city.
He is a member of the Catholic Church, and was married by the Rev. Patrick Henry, a Catholic priest, to Miss Ann Burns, on the 31st day of January, 1841. They had two children--John and Patrick. John was born June 29, 1844, and is now in business in Memphis, Tenn.
His parents were James and Ellinor (McLoughlin) Wade. His father was born in 1788, and died in 1858. His mother died about 1866.
WILLIAM WALCH
William Walch, of the Madison, Machine Company, was born February 4, 1845, in Cincinnati, Ohio; was the son of Willam and Anastia (Cavinaugh) Walch, who were both natives of Ireland, and came to this country in 1843. His father was a cooper by trade, and died in Memphis, Tenn., where he was at work, at the age of 33 years. His mother died in 1868, at the age of 48 years, at her home in Madison, Ind. Mr. Walch came to Madison, Ind., with his parents, when only six months old. He attended the Catholic schools of this city, and when only 14 years old commenced to learn his trade, that of a machinist, at the old Neal foundry of this city, where he continued for three years. At the breaking out of the war this foundry closed down. In 1862 Mr. Walch worked as journeyman in the Indiana foundry of this city, where he remained about fourteen months, when he took a position with Cobb, Stribling & Co., foundryment, also of Madison, and worked for them as journeyman for four years, when he was made foreman, and continued as foreman for them for four years more. In 1872, Mr. Walch formed a partnership with John McKenna and Julius Halfenberger, and bought the Indiana foundry, firm name being McKenna, Walch & Co. This firm continued for three years, when McKenna withdrew from the firm, and the firm anme became Walch & Halfenberger. This firm continued for four years, when Mr. Halfenberger died. Mr. U. B. Stribling bought the interest of the heirs, and the firm name was changed to Stribling & Walch, and they continued for five years, when they sold out to the Madison Machine Co. (the present company), in the year 1885. Mr. Walch is now superintendent of the Madison Machine Co., and one of the principal stockholders of the concern. Mr. Walch was married in 1869 to Miss Mary Cavinaugh, of Madison, Ind., who died in 1882, at the age of 37 years, leaving three children, of whom only two are now living--Maggie and Thomas. Mr. Walch is a member of the Catholic Church and of the order of the Catholic Knights of America.
WILLIAM WATLINGTON
William Watlington, farmer, Madison township, was born in New Jersey, in 1810. His father, William Watlington, was a native of Bermuda, and came to America in 1804, and settled in Philadelphia. In 1814 he came to Indiana, and settled in Madison township, Jefferson county. He was a sailor in the United States service, and was taken by the English as an English subject, but was released by a friend swearing that he was American born. He died in 1815.
Our subject’s mother was Phoebe Loper, daughter of Evan Loper, of New Jersey; she died in 1867.
William Watlington was raised on a farm, and received a common-school education.
In 1839, Nov. 26, he was married to Miss Mary Hewson, of Madison, Ind., and a daughter of Thomas and Mary Hewson. Her father was a teacher, merchant and preacher.
The result of this marriage was seven children, all of whom attained maturity: William who enlisted in the Fifty-fifth Indiana Regiment during the late war--he was afterward discharged from the regiment, and re-enlisted in Third Indiana Cavalry; Thomas H., Mary F., Emma, Charles E., Abraham L. and Elizabeth.
From 1833 to 1839, Mr. Watlington was engaged in mercantile business in Madison. At this time he settled on the farm where he now lives, it being the same 80-acre tract entered by his father.
Mr. Watlington has succeeded in raising his large family, and giving to each one a good education, and is accumulating some little of this world’s goods. He lives well and comfortably. His children are now scattered--one in Kansas, one in Illinois, and the rest in Jefferson county; two of them are married.
Mr. Watlington has been prominent as an Odd Fellow, and was the first man initiated into that Order in Madison. He has been a member of P. of H.; was also a school-teacher. He may properly be placed among the pioneers of Jefferson county.
DILLARD C. WHITHAM
Dillard C. Whitham, farmer, Shelby township, was born in Ripley county, in 1828. He is the son of Benjamin Whitham, and was raised a farmer. Was educated in the schools of his day.
In 1854, he was married to Elizabeth Buchanan, whose father was an early settler of this county (Jefferson). They have the following named children: Festus M., Nancy J., Adrian, Orbia and Carrie.
Mr. Whitham has 400 acres of good land in Jefferson county, where he lives comfortably. The grandfather of the subject of this sketch came to Indiana in 1812, and settled near Buchanan’s Station, in Jefferson county, while the Indians were still here, and raised a family of seven sons and five daughters.
Mr. Whitham is an enterprising and successful farmer.
GEORGE WHITHAM
George Whitham, farmer, Shelby township, is the son of Benjamin Whitham, who was from in Maryland, but spent his boyhood days in Kentucky, and came to Ripley county, Ind., about eight years ago, where he died twenty-four years ago. The mother of the subject of this sketch was Nancy Birchfield, daughter of Robert Birchfield, who came from Kentucky in early times to Indiana. Her father was a Revolutionary soldier.
Mr. George Whitham was born in 1832, in Ripley county, Ind., was raised on the farm and was educated in the country schools of his day.
At the age of 24 he married Emily J. Schnetger, daughter of Charles Schnetger, a native of Germany, and they are the parents of eight children: Benjamin B., Charles C., Anis, Mollie, William M., Joseph W., Robert Newton and John L. Mr. Whitham entered the service in 1864 as private in Co. I, Fortieth Reg. Ind. Infantry, and served some eleven months. He was in the battles of Spring Hill, Franklin and Nashville and in some minor engagements. After the close of the war he returned home and settled down to the quiet life of a farmer. He owns some 600 acres of well-improved land in Jefferson and Ripley counties, and is one of Jefferson’s best and most energetic citizens.
He was married a second time to Miss Sallie E. Conner, daughter of Louis Conner, who was a son of Louis Conner, a pioneer of this county.
He has never been an office seeker, and is not a member of any order save the G. A. R.
GEORGE L. T. WIDERIN
George L. T. Widerin, pastor of St. Patricks, North Madison, Indiana, is a native of Louisville, Ky. He was born June 20, 1847. His father, Christian Widerin, was a native of Austrian Tyrol; and his mother Mary Ann Meder, a native of Bavaria.
Father Widerin was about fourteen years old when his father, a tailor by trade, enlisted in Co. A, Twenty-third Indiana Vol. Infantry; being disabled was discharged in or about 1863.
George L. T. Widerin was a private of Co. A, One hundred and forty-fourth Indiana Vol. Infantry. He was educated at St. Meinrads, Spencer county, Ind., excepting one year course at Indianapolis, Indiana.
In May, 1877, he was ordained priest at St. Meinrads, Spencer county, Indiana by the Rt. Rev. Bishop Maurice De St. Palais.
His first charge was Haubstad, Gibson county, Princeton and Abertsville, Indiana. In 1882 was removed to North Madison, Jefferson county, Indiana, attending to St. Anthony’s Church, China P.O., and to Immaculate Conception, Vevay, Switzerland county, Indiana.
The parish of North Madison, as by late census taken, shows up seventy-six Catholic families, the parish of China P.O. fifty, Vevay thirty-eight.
The North Madison Church was established March 22, 1853. The first pastor proper was Father Hypolite Du Pontavice, residence at Madison.
At time of building of the church, the congregation numbered over one hundred and twenty-five families. The J., M. & I. car shops, and other important enterprises, removed from North Madison, families also removed. The church is a brick building, forty by ninety feet; parsonage a comfortable stone cottage; the school building and Sisters’ residence is a frame building. Sisters of Providence, of St. Marys of the Woods, Vigo county, Indiana, are conducting the boys’ and girls’ school.
BENJ. B. WILLIAMS
Benj. B. Williams, Lancaster township, Jefferson county. The subject of this sketch was born and reared on a farm in Lancaster township. He learned the blacksmith trade from his father and has been engaged in that business the principal part of his life--the greater part of the time in this county.
He was born four miles southeast of Dupont, April 7, 1826, and attended the schools of that day.
In 1847 he started to work at his trade in the town of Dupont, in a shop of his own, and continued at that business until 1854, when he went to Rising Sun and engaged in the retail drug business. He remained there until December, 1857, when, on account of his health, he was compelled to sell out the business. At that time he came back to Jefferson county, and purchased an interest in the mill at Lancaster, now known as the “Landon Mills.” The mill was owned by John B. Craft and himself, the firm being Craft & Williams.
This firm continued until 1860, when Mr. Craft sold out to Mr. T.G. Payne, and the firm name became Payne & Williams. This firm continued until December, 1868, when Mr. Williams sold out his interest in the mill. In all, about eleven years spent in the milling business.
In 1868 Mr. Williams came back to Dupont and engaged in the blacksmith and agricultural implement business, ever since. In connection with his agricultural implement business he has dealt largely in the sale of fertilizing material ever since bone dust was first introduced into this county.
He is a Democrat in politics, and was elected as Township Trustee of Lancaster township, in 1880 against a majority of seventy or eighty on the Republican side.
Mr. Williams is a member of the Baptist Church at Dupont, and is a trustee for the church.
He has been an Odd Fellow since 1874.
He was married in November, 1852, to Miss Esther J. Craft, daughter of John B. Craft, Sr. They have five living children, three boys and two girls: Mary E., married May 12, 1875 to Rev. John E. McCoy, a Baptist preacher of Indianapolis; James R., who is now practicing medicine in Indianapolis; John C., city editor on Democrat, Anderson, Ind.; and Benj. A. and Myra are still in school.
Mr. B. B. Williams is the son of Robert and Elizabeth (Blue) Williams, who were the parents of twelve children (Benjamin being the eldest), nine sons and three daughters.
Robert Williams was born a few miles back of Louisville, in Nelson county, on Salt river, and went, while quite young, with his father, to Greene county, Ohio, and from there came to Indiana in 1814, and settled four miles southeast of where Dupont now is, where he died February 24, 1876, at the age of 79 years.
Elizabeth Williams died at the old homestead, Jefferson county, Ind., May 26, 1872, aged 65 years.
REMEMBRANCE J. WILLIAMS
Remembrance J. Williams was a son of Roberts Williams; the latter a native of Kentucky, and who left Kentucky, when two years old, with his father, Remembrance Williams, and migrated to Greene county, Ohio. From Ohio he removed to Jefferson county, Lancaster township, in 1814, where he died at an advanced age.
In 1804 or 1805, his elder brother, Remembrance, passed through Jefferson county in the employ of the United States surveyors. Remembrance, the father of Robert, was a soldier in the Revolutionary war, and was with Washington during the distressing winter at Valley Forge.
Sarah Moncrief, a native Kentuckian, was the mother of Remembrance J. Williams.
‘Squire Williams was raised on a farm, and educated, in a manner, in the log schoolhouse when puncheon floors were famous. One of the teachers was in the habit of “getting in liquor” occasionally; one day he got too much, and, to punish him, the “big boys” and the “giddy girls” buried him and dismissed his school.
When quite young, ‘Squire Williams learned the blacksmith’s trade in his father’s shop, and has wrought at it until of late.
In 1844 he married Miss Emily Fenton, daughter of Bartholomew Fenton, who was born in Kentucky.
The children from this marriage are as follows: Mary E., who married Willis Singer, and lives in Ripley county, Ind.; Robert A., who married Miss Baxter, and lives in Monroe township; Sarah E. married Wm. A. Shuck, and lives in Jennings county, Ind.; Joana B., who married Rev. John Threlkeld, and lives in Bartholomew county, Ind.; Willard R., who lives at Haney’s Corner; John B., M.D., practicing at Honey Creek, and George H., who is also practicing physician.
‘Squire Williams enlisted in the Sixth Indiana Volunteers in the year 1861, and was discharged for disability in 1863.
He has been Justice of the Peace in his township for some ten years. He owns 145 acres of land in this township.
MRS. MATILDA WILLOUGHBY
Mrs. Matilda Willoughby, farmer and trader, Monroe township, Jefferson county. Mrs. Willoughby was born in the State of New York, July 31, 1825. Her father was Abraham Smart, a native of England, and came to the Untied States in 1820. His family were James, born March 12, 1819; Christopher, 1824; Matilda, July 31, 1825; Isaac, November 22, 1828; Elizabeth, December 10, 1830, and Alford B., August 5, 1831.
The subject of our sketch was married June 14, 1859, to David McKay, a native of Virginia, who died October 21, 1870. She lived a widow for three years, when she was married to Thomas Wiloughby, who was born in Virginia, and came at an early date to this county. Mrs. Willoughby owns 110 acres of land, some valuable stocks, and other property of various kinds.
She never raised any children of her own, but has raised three of other parents. She has been a church member for the greater part of her life, and is now an earnest supporter of the Adventist doctrine or faith.
JAMES C. WOODS
James C. Woods, farmer, Monroe township, was born in 1828, in Dearborn county, Ind.; was raised on a farm, and educated in the common schools.
His father, Joseph Woods, was born in Pennsylvania in 1793; he came to Indiana in 1816, an settled in Dearborn county. Here he remained until 1837, when he removed to Jefferson county, into what is now Monroe township, where he died in 1853.
He was one of the first Justices of the Peace in Dearborn county, and was elected to that office in Jefferson county, where he held the office for nine or ten years, and was serving at the time of his death.
The mother of Mr. James C. Woods was Miss Isabel Bushfield, daughter of Samuel Bushfield, all natives of Ireland. The family of Joseph Woods was composed of nine children, seven of whom lived to maturity.
Mr. James C. Woods, at the age of 22, began to learn the trade of coach blacksmithing. He served part of his time in Madison, Ind., and finished at Frankfort, Ky. He worked at his trade for five years.
He married Susan A. Read, in December, 1852. She was the daughter of Andrew Read, a native of Virginia, who removed to Kentucky after his daughter was born. He was of Scotch-Irish extraction. His father, Frank Read, was a Revolutionary soldier, and he, himself, was a soldier in the War of 1812-15.
Her mother’s family, of French extraction, named Leftwich, were early settlers of Virginia.
The result of this marriage was six children, viz: Belle, Kate, Elizabeth, Anna, Howard and Ida. Kate is married to George Craig, and lives in Johnson county, Ind.; the others are at home, except Belle, who is at Indianapolis, Ind. Mr. Woods owns 200 acres of good land, well improved. Is a member of the I.O.O.F. and the Grange. Once held office of township treasurer, and is a good citizen.
ROBERT H. WOOD
Robert H. Wood, one of the most enterprising and progressive farmers of Jefferson county, was born in Jefferson county, in 1852, March 25, and is a son of Ezra and Cassandra T. (Mayfield) Wood. Mr. Ezra Wood is a native of New York State. His father, Thurston Wood, came to Jefferson county in 1837, and bought a quarter section of land in Madison township, bordering on the line of Monroe township. Cassandra Mayfield was a native of Trimble county, Ky., and came to Indiana with her father in 1834. Ezra was born in 1827. Served in the Home Guards during the war of 1861-65. Was elected to different township offices and as justice of the peace.
The subject of this sketch is the second child of six sons and three daughters. Was educated in the common schools of the county. He was for two years gardener at the State House of Refuge, in Hendricks county, this State. He owns sixty acres of land and farms it in vegetables, fruit and flowers, and is in good substantial condition in business. June 12, 1879, he was married to Miss Clara T. Seidel, a native of Carrolton, Ky., whose parents are Germans. They have four children: Jessie A., Alfred C., Nelda A. and R. Emmet.
Mr. Wood is a director in Patrons Mutual Insurance Company; also director of Jefferson County Agricultural Society.
Mr. Wood is the largest grower of vegetables under glass in the county. He was the first man in the county to put in a system of pipes for supplying water for stables, dwellings, greenhouses, etc. In 1887 he built three greenhouses, 20x50 feet.
He is more extensively engaged in market-gardening than any man in the county, and beside, in connection with general farming, he is interested in breeding thoroughbred Jersey cattle and fancy poultry.
DR. C. H. WRIGHT
Dr. C. H. Wright was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, December 22, 1839. His parents were John H. and Anna M. Wright.
His father was born and raised in Maryland, his mother in Virginia. They were of English and German origin.
In early life Dr. Wright was thrown upon his own resources and had to make his own way and to educate himself; with pluck and energy, he succeeded in getting almost through his collegiate course at the Hartsville University, and one course of lectures in medical college. When the war broke out he volunteered as a private soldier on the 16th of April, 1861, for three months. At the expiration of this term he re-enlisted with Col. Lew Wallace in the Eleventh Indiana Zouave Regiment, for three years; in which regiment he served as a private soldier until after the battle of Shiloh, being in the battles of Fort Donnelson and Pittsburgh Landing, and after the battle was detailed to take charge of a number of sick and wounded on board a floating hospital (or hospital barge) “Ripley.” When this boat was retired, was made hospital steward and assigned to duty on board the hospital boat “Stephen Decatur,” and remained in this capacity until late in the summer of 1862, when, by reason of the injuries previously received while on the road to Corinth, was so incapacitated for any kind of duty, was, by special order, sent to St. Louis, Mo., and discharged, totally disabled.
During the following winter recuperated, and finished a second course of lectures in the St. Louis Medical College, graduating in the spring of 1863. Commenced the practice of medicine in that city, but getting stronger determined to go to the front again; this time passing an examination by board of examining surgeons, became an acting assistant surgeon, U. S. A., in which capacity he served for several months, when the exposure and hardships were too much for him, and he was again compelled to return North, or die from injuries and hemorrhage from the lungs. During the following winter he improved very much in health, and again, in the spring of 1864, assisted in organizing the 134th Indiana Regiment, and went South with it as regimental quartermaster, in which regiment he served his time out, and was mustered out with the regiment at the expiration of its term.
During the fall of 1865 went North, and while there, having an opportunity, took a third course of lectures at Ann Arbor, Mich., coming back to Indiana in April, 1866, much improved in health. In June he married Miss Jennie Davis, a former schoolmate, and immediately commenced the practice of his profession in Jackson county, Indiana. In May the following year his wife died. In 1869 he again broke down in health; this time consulted the eminent surgeon, Dr. Geo. C. Blackburn, of Cincinnati, and while under his care and advice became much stronger, and attended another, the fourth course of lectures, at the Ohio Medical College, graduating from that college March 1, 1870.
He was again married, to Miss Jennie Vawter, of Jackson county, and remained there until April, 1873, when he moved to a healthier location at North Madison, where he has resided and practiced his profession to the present date.
During his professional life he has been for many years a member of the National Medical Association, having represented both County and State Societies in that body; also for twenty years a member of the State Medical Society; is at present Assistant Secretary of the Indiana State Medical Society and Secretary of the Jefferson County Medical Society.
He has been nineteen years a member of the I.O.O.F., having represented his lodge in the Grand Lodge of Indiana; is at present a member of Madison Lodge, No. 72, in Madison. He has, for some years, been a member of Alois Bahman Post, G.A.R., and one term surgeon of the Post; was appointed Examining Surgeon on the Board of Pension Examiners, at Madison under President Arthur, and was relieved from duty, for being an offensive partisan, when President Cleveland came into office.
He has at present a pleasant home, a fine practice, an a very productive as well as beautiful farm near his home.
He is one of the most successful practitioners in the county, and has attained to more than an ordinary degree of success in his profession, and is regarded as one of the most progressive members of the medical fraternity.
