Latty Township (part 3 of 3)

S. M. Thompson. - One of the progressive and enterprising men of Paulding was born at Zanesfield, Logan county, Ohio, September 1, 1846, the eldest son, though second born, of a family of five sons and three daughters, born to Amos and Ruth (Ray) Thompson, who were natives of Virginia, and of English extraction. Amos Thompson was one of three brothers, left orphans in childhood, and thus became one of the bound boys. He was taught the cabinet maker's trade, and received a good education. He came to Zanesfield in his boyhood, and here grew to manhood; he also married, in early life, Miss Ray. In 1861 he enlisted in the Thirteenth battery, and did active service for eight months, and at Pittsburg Landing was taken sick, returned home soon after and died, aged thirty-five years, leaving his life companion, and five sons and two daughters. Mrs. Thompson succeeded in rearing her family to man and womanhood, as well as to accumulate an estate, living to see her family grown and self-sustaining. Mrs, Thompson died in 1881, aged sixty-two years, having been a devout member of the Methodist Episcopal church. Our subject was the eldest of the family at his father's death, and he at once assumed many responsibilities in assisting to provide for the family. At the agé of sixteen he began learning the shoemaker's trade, which he followed for nine years. He then engaged in mercantile pursuits, handling boots and shoes, also merchant tailor stock. He came to Paulding county in 1874, and has since been identified with the growth and development of the county. He is a shrewd trader and a practical business man, having been engaged in the following businesses in Paulding: Druggist, restaurant, livery, saddlery and hotel, and as mine host is hard to be excelled. He began in life emptyhanded, and by industry, economy and good financiering has become a well-to-do man. He and 8. M. Thompson own the Thompson house, also the Logan house, at Bellefontaine, Ohio. Mr. Thompson is a democrat in politics, and a member of lodge No. 424, I. O. O. E. Inthe spring of 1875, he was united in marriage with Miss Nora Williams, of Paulding, though a native of Logan county, Ohio. Mrs. Thompson is a most estimable lady, the daughter of Alexander Williams, and is a worthy member of the Methodist Episcopal church. Miss Carrie May is the only child.

Will Thompson, dealer in furniture and undertaking, handles a first class stock of well selected goods. Mr. Thompson is thoroughly competent in doing embalming, as he received his instruction of Prof. J. H. Clark, of Springfield, Ohio. His quiet and unassuming manners make him popular as an undertaker and funeral director. Mr. Thompson was born at Zanesfield, Ohio, October 20, 1860. The youngest of the family, he received a good education and remained at home until his monther's death in 1882, when he began hustling for himself. He soon after engaged in the restaurant business at Paulding, Ohio, in company with his brother, S. M. Thompson. Later he engaged in each of the following: Livery, drug and grocery business, for a short time, then in 1885 the firm of S. M. Thompson & Bro. was organized, locating on south Main street, with a complete stock of furniture and undertaking goods. Six months later Mr. Thompson purchased his brother's interest, becoming successor to the firm, and has built up a large lucrative business. Politically he is a republican and a member of the Paulding lodge, No. 170, K. of P. April 22, 1891, he was united in marriage with Miss Ollie, the accomplished daughter of H. E. McClure, one of the representative men of Paulding.

R. D. Webster, ex-auditor of Paulding county, was born March 9, 1855, in Portland township, Chautauqua county, N. Y., the son of J. H. and Mary (Tucker) Webster. He spent his early life upon the farm and subsequently attended the Westfield and Jamestown schools. He learned the printer's trade at Mayville,and worked at it for several years at Jamestown, N. Y., Toledo, Upper Sandusky and Port Clinton, Ohio. In January, 1879, he came to Paulding and purchased the Paulding Democrat, publishing the same until 1890. In 1884 he was elected auditor of Paulding county, which office he filled until June, 1891, when he resigned to gointo the newspaper business at Defiance. Asa democrat, he has also occupied the minor town offices. He is a member of Paulding lodge, F. & A. M. also the En-Sa-Woc-Sa chapter of Defiance, and commandery No. 30, K. T. Mr. Webster was married, in 1875, to Miss Clara J., the daughter of Philip Snyder, of Ottawa county. ''He is now engaged in publishing the Defiance Democrat, at Defiance, with Mr. F. J. Mains.

W.J. Wheeler, of the firm of Wheeler Bros., manufacturers of coiled elm hoops and staves, was born March 16, 1855, in Cuyahoga county, Ohio, the son of Edwin Sallie M. (Sanford) Wheeler, natives respectively of New Yorkand Connecticut. The paternal grandfather, Zenas Wheeler, was a native of Massachusetts, and spent the most of his life in New York. The Wheeler family is originally of Puritan stock, and the chris tian name of Zenas has been handed down, generation after generation using it since 1700. Zenas Wheeler was one of the four charter members who formed the first temperance society in western New York. Edwin F. Wheeler, the father of our subject, removed in early life to Connecticut and there married in 1840. He went to western New York, thence via Buffalo to Bedford, Ohio, where he located and engaged in farming. He was a strong advocate of temperance and a friend to all educational works. He reared a family of four sons and one daughter, and since the death of Mrs. Wheeler, which occurred in 1881, he has made his home with his children, spending part of his time at Paulding. W. J. Wheeler was educated in the common schools, and at the age of nineteen years, engaged with Z. J. Wheeler, in business at Cleveland, Ohio, in the wholesale of harvesting machinery. In 1880 Mr. Wheeler located in Indianapolis, and embarked in the agricultural implement trade, being very successful. He remained there until 1889, where he traveled through several states selling his goods. Hethen located in Paulding and became the junior member of the firm of Wheeler Bros. This concern was established in Oakwood, in the fall of 1882, with a capital of 830,000, under the firm of Bruner & Wheeler, which was subsequently changed to that of Wheeler & Wisely, then to Wheeler & Fuller, and then to Wheeler & Day, becoming, in 1889, the firm of Wheeler Bros. This firm is a successful one and does an extensive business in hoops and staves. Mr. W. J. Wheeler was married in 1882 to Miss Nettie R. Clark, of Willoughby,

Ohio, and to this union two children, Lois M. and Clark Sanford Wheeler, have been born. Mr. and Mrs. Wheeler are communicants of the Disciples church.

Mr. Z. J. Wheeler, brother of the above,and senior member of the firm of Wheeler Brothers, was born January 16, 1844. He was reared on the farm and acquired a common school education. In September, 1861, he enlisted in company D, Forty-first regiment of Ohio volunteer infantry, and was assigned to the army of the Cumberland. He took part in the battle of Shiloh and engagements of lesser importance, and in 1862 was discharged on account of disability. Returning home, Mr. Wheeler resumed work upon the farm until March, 1865, when he re-enlisted in company K, One Hundred and Ninety-seventh Ohio volunteer infantry, and was commissioned first lieutenant. During his last term of enlistment, Mr. Wheeler served until the close of the war. After the war our subject worked for a time at farming, and then engaged in saw-milling in Au Sable, Mich. For two years he worked on the island, near Put-inbay, and was later put in charge of the warehouse there. Locating at Cleveland, Mr. Wheeler traveled for the Peekskill plow works, and in two years' time went with the Johnston harvester company, where he remained forfour years. Sometime after he engaged with the D. M. Osborn company, and in 1881 located in Defiance, Ohio. With Mr. A. Bruner he embarked in the sale of farm implements, selling out in 1882, They then erected a coil hoop factory at Oakwood, where, until 1887, they were successfully engaged. At this time the firm of Wheeler & Day removed their plant to Melrose and there added their stave factory. In October, 1890, Mr. Wheeler came to Paulding and is nicely situated there. The firm which he established is energetic and prosperous and enjoys a lucrative patronage. Mr. Wheeler was married to Miss Emma R. Drake, of Bedford, Ohio, October 14, 1874, and their children are George, Z. Frank, Robert and Chase. Mr. and Mrs. Wheeler ate members of the Christian church, in which they enjoy high standing. Mrs. Wheeler is the daughter of Alonzo and Sarah Drake, and was born in June, 1851, at Bedford, Ohio.

Wm. A. Woodford, jeweler of Paulding, was born in Springfield, Mass., January 6, 1858, and is the third son born to Rensselaer and Sarah B. Woodford, who were natives of New York, and Massachusetts, respectively, and also early settlers at Niles, Mich., where they still reside. Mr. Woodford was an infant when his people located at Niles, Mich., where he grew to manhood, receiving a common school education, and during his vacation working upon the farm. At the age of sixteen years he went to Texas, securing work on a sheep ranch, where he remained three years, then returned home and began an apprenticeship at the jeweler's trade with R. P. Micks, of Niles, Mich., remaining four years. In 1882, he again went west, locating a homestead and tree claim near Langford, South Dakota, remaining there two years, when he proved up his claims and went to Chicago, where he resided for one year, thence to Elkhart Ind., where he continued working at his trade until April, 1888, when he located at Paulding. During the fall of 1890 he began business for himself on Perry street, and commanded a large patronage until late in the fall of 1891, when he sold out. He is an experienced workman, and a progressive young man; also a stanch republican.

John Yager, county recorder, is one of the leading young men and representative citizens of Paulding. He was born September 14, 1858, in Henry county, Ohio, the son of Christian and Sophia (Bumgardner) Yager, of German parentage. At an early age, Mr. Yager removed to Antwerp, where he was reared and received a good education in the common schools. He entered the employ of J. B. Zuber, of Antwerp, as clerk when eighteen years of age and remained with him three years. In 1886 he engaged in the boot and shoe business, and conducted the same until in 1890, when he sold out, having been elected as the democratic nominee for recorder of the county. He has proven himself to be an efficient officer, serving the people to their entire satisfaction. He is a good citizen in every sense of the word and his friends are legion.

T. W. Young, proprietor of the grocery, restaurant and bakery of Paulding, was born in 1854, at North Lewisburg, Ohio, the son of Edward C. and Elizabeth W. (Winder) Young. He was reared on the farm, meantime receiving acommon school education. Learning the trade of a tinsmith, he followed it until 1880, when heengaged in his present successful business. Politically Mr. Young is a democrat and has filled the minor town offices. He is a member of the Paulding lodge, F. & A. M., and the En-Sa-Wac-Sa chapter, No. 89, of Defiance, Ohio. Miss Elma, the daughter of Samuel Jones, of Columbus, Ohio, became the wife of Mr. Young ip 1878. He is one of the active and energetic young business men of Paulding, highly respected by all who know him.