The Wamsley Family
Isaac Wamsley, the great-grandfather oi the present race of Wamsleys, was born in North Germany sometime in the seventeenth century. He was a seafaring man, the captain of a vessel whose appearance in American waters, about the year 1770, is the beginning of the Wamsley history in this country.
His vessel seemed to be of a warlike character and took part in the early struggle of America upon the high seas. It is not definitely known under which flag he sailed, whether English or American, and the tradition is that he was a kind of free lance, sailing upon his own hook and doubtless exacting tribute from any and all the parties engaged in those early days, when privateers and bucaneers sailed the seas, some with, but more without, letters of marque from organized forms of government.
After the loss of his vessel by wreck or capture, Isaac Wamsley settled in Maryland or Delaware. After the close of the War of the Revolution he removed with his family to what was then known as the Northwest Territory, and located on Ohio Brush Creek, at Forge Dam in Jefferson Township. His family consisted of wife and four stalwart boys, Isaac, Jr., Jonathan, Christopher and William. The three last named settled within the present boundaries of Adams County. Isaac, however, went farther west and became a "wild man," as he was called by the rest of the family, because of his roving disposition, and his fondness for hunting and the wild sports of the trackless forest. His descendants have been traced to California and the isles of the sea.
William Wamsley was the youngest son of Isaac Wamsley and the grandfather of the extensive family of that name scattered over the State of Ohio. He settled upon the fertile banks of Scioto Brush Creek, right at the Mouth of Scioto Turkey Creek, and purchased all the bottom land upon both sides of this creek from its mouth five miles up the stream, being careful to follow, in his line of survey, the base of the mighty hills which enclose this valley upon both sides of this stream.
This land was entered for him by William Bayless. William Wamsley was married to Sarah Wikoff about the year 1798. Of this union nine children were born, eight boys and one girl. Leah, the daughter,died at an early age. In the naming of their children the strong religious sentiment seemed to prevail, for all were given Bible names save two, as follows: Peter, Isaac, William, John, Samuel and Christopher (twins). Leah, Amos and Jesse. All these men were devoutly religious and members of the M. E. Church, and every one of them uncompromising Democrats of the "Old Hickory" stripe.
William Wamsley and his sons built the M. E. Church which was called "Wamsley Chapel." This church was the third meeting house erected within the boundaries of Adams County. It was erected as a matter of convenience for these God-loving men and women who were thus saved a weary journey of seven miles to Moore's Chapel, which was the first meeting house in the county.
How little do the present generation understand how precious the Word of Life was to these toil-worn sons and daughters of men, who, in the almost unbroken forest, with ax, plow, and gun, were laying the foundation to a mighty superstructure whose towering proportions would afford shelter and safety to the weary and oppressed of every land.
William Wamsley died September 26, 1845, in the seventieth year of his age. and was followed by his wife, April 27, 1850, in her seventy-ninth year. They are sleeping side by side in the Wamsley graveyard.
Isaac and Jesse Wamsley were ordained ministers of the Methodist Church. John and Samuel were exhorters in the same church, and all the rest were class leaders and earnest, devout workers in the interest of that church.
It would be interesting to follow the history of each member of this family of eight boys; we must, however, content ourselves with but two of the fathers of the present living race of Wamsleys residing in Adams County.
Rev. Jesse Wamsley was the youngest son in this family. He was born July 11, 1813, and was married to Mary McCormack, December 15, 1831. Of this union two children were born. James Pilcher, who is still living upon the old homestead where he was born, and William Finley. who crossed the silent river but a few years ago. Pilcher Wamsley was born March 30, 1833, and was married October 23, 1856, to Miss Elizabeth A. Graham. Jesse Wamsley, Jr., the only child living of this family, is a young man of fine personal appearance, cultured and refined, a pleasant gentleman, and an honest man.
Jesse, the father of Pilcher and Finley Wamsley, spent his life in the Christian ministry, being converted and licensed to preach in his fourteenth year. He was admitted to the Conference and ordained as a preacher at Chillicothe, Ohio, when about twenty-eight years of age. His first circuit was on the home work which extended hundreds of miles, taking him two weeks of constant travel to get around. After years of travel upon horseback, Rev. Wamsley concluded that it would rest him in his work to ride in a buggy, so he bought one costing him $110.00. This purchase came very near destroying his career as a Methodist preacher, the people seeing in this buggy the symbol of pride, and a worldly spirit refused to hear him preach; and when he was compelled to buy a set of false teeth, in order to talk plainly, the climax was reached and his best friends withdrew their support. But as the years went by, and buggies and false teeth became common, his friends returned and enjoyed many a hearty laugh at their own expense over the foolish prejudice of those early years. Rev. Wamsley was compelled to travel to Cincinnati for his teeth, which cost, at that time, one hundred and thirty-five dollars. In 1864, Rev. Jesse Wamsley's name was dropped from the Conference roll of the M. E. Church, the charges brought against him being that he had subscribed for and was reading the Christian Witness, a paper published in the city of Columbus by one Rev. J. F. Givens, the founder and leader of the Christian Union of Ohio.
In 1865, Rev. Wamsley attended the Annual Council of Christian Union at Edenton, Ohio, where his venerable appearance and his high preaching ability at once advanced him to the front ranks of those early workers in the cause of liberty and fraternity.
Returning home he organized a local church with nine charter members, and became their pastor, serving them faithfully for many years. Many local churches were organized by him in the years that followed his identification with the Christian Union cause. He died February 18, 1887.
William Wamsley, the father of Rev. Wm. Wamsley, now residing in Wamsleyville, was born in 1804, and died October 12, 1868. He was married to Elizabeth Bolton in 1825. Of this union eight children were born, five sons and three daughters.
Rev. William Wamsley, the subject proper of this sketch, was born August 3, 1843, on the old Wamsley homestead at the mouth of Scioto Turkey Creek. When he was six years of age, his own dear mother departed this life. Deprived thus early of a mother's love and care, the resolution was formed in his young mind to accomplish something for himself, to build a town that should bear his name, and surround himself with friends and neighbors in whom his heart delighted. As the years went by Young Wamsley attended school some little, but the most of the time was engaged in financial ventures which in every instance proved successful, drawing the attention of the people to his giant struggles. At the age of twenty, he had achieved his fortune, and in 1864 began to put in execution the dream of his young life, to build a town. Before this, however, he had purchased the home farm containing 210 acres. He laid off the streets of his village through this beautiful farm and began the building of a large mill, blacksmith shop, storerooms and dwelling houses. This town grew in size and importance and was called by the people "Bill's town." About this time young Wamsley concluded that he needed a helpmate to share his joys and sorrows, and on the twenty-third day of May, 1867, he was joined in wedlock to Sarah W. Wamsley. One child was born to bless this union, a son, Milton Bina, now grown to manhood, married, and with wife and children resides in Wamsleyville, aiding his father in his busy life of toil and ventures.
So prodigous were the efforts of Rev. Wamsley that the attention of the leading men of the county was directed to this rising town, the only one in Jefferson Township. So great was the excitement over his achievements, that Hon. John T. Wilson and Col. Cockerill came to visit Wm. Wamsley and to talk over the situation. After an excellent dinner they visited the steam mill, the shops and stores, had a review of the two hundred men then in the employ of William Wamsley, and expressed their pleasure and interest with all they saw. When about to depart, Mr. Wilson asked Wamsley if they could aid him in any way, and was told that a postoffice was the pressing need of the town. Mr. Wilson then and there promised that an office should be established, and Col. Cockerill declared its name should be Wamsley. The mail route established was from West Union through Wamsley and on to Mineral Springs with mail twice each week. Now, however, it is twice each day. Other visitors came to see and find out all about this wonderful little town. Among the number were bankers R. H. Ellison, Crocket McGovney, and John A. Murry, who at once opened a bank account with young Wamsley which was a benefit and profit to all parties.
Finding that it would be impossible to transport the manufactured articles of this busy town without better roads, Hon T. J. Mullen, of West Union, was called upon and drew up a petition for a free turnpike from Rome, on the Ohio River, to Mineral Springs. Young Wamsley was the promoter of this enterprise, aided by Mr. Salisbury, of Mineral Springs: A. J. Jones, of Wamsley; Dr. D. H. Woods, George A. Lafferty, of Rome, and others. The struggle was made, and the road granted under the Two Mile Law. Eventually, other roads were opened to the town.
On the evening of November 28, 1879, the fire demon visited this enterprising town and the large mill, the lumber yard, stores, and all the property in touch with it, were entirely destroyed, entailing a loss of some twenty thousand dollars from the hard earnings of William Wamsley. But this disaster did not daunt the courage of Young Wamsley. In a few hours the ashes were cleared away and work began in the building of a larger and better mill. Five years afterward, fire again destroyed nearly the entire town, burning every house, store and barn upon the east side of Main Street, entailing a loss of sixty thousand dollars, ten thousand of which fell to the lot of William Wamsley. But again the courage of this tireless worker rose above the ruin of all his hopes, and he determined that the town should be rebuilt, and at once began work upon his own home, which had perished in the flames, and the town arose, phoenix-like, from the ashes of its own destruction.
The third time fire broke out, and on the sixth of February, 1892, the great and famous mill was consumed, bringing a loss of twelve thousand dollars upon the aching head of its owner. But still over these losses this man moves onward; his mill is in process of erection, and backed up by the fertile acres of his valley farm, he still stands erect, his hair streaked with gray, but his mind and heart young as ever full of vigor and courage to battle on. It is proper to mention that the town of Wamsleyville was laid out, surveyed and plotted, January 15, 1874, and put on record January 30, same year. There has been added to the town a beautiful Fair Park owned and controlled by Rev. Wamsley, whose management of the Wamsleyville Fair is a noted event in the history of the county. This ground furnishes a pleasant and convenient place for celebrations, Sunday School gatherings, as well as other purposes for which it can be used.
Rev. Wamsley's home life is an ideal one. Between himself and wife love reigns supreme, and peace and plenty crown their board. Big-hearted, big-bodied and generous, his home door stands open night and day to all comers and his table filled with the food that delights the eye and pleases the palate.
Himself and wife are earnestly religious and devout members of the Christian Union in whose ranks he has been an efficient minister for many years.
His only son, with his interesting family, live near the happy father and mother and the words "grandpa" and "grandma" from childish lips gladden the heart and home of this happy pair.
From History of Adams County, Ohio from its Earliest Settlement to the Present Time - by Nelson W. Evans and Emmons B. Stivers - West Union, Ohio - Published by E. B. Stivers - 1900