Washington Spicer ^{3 4}

  General Notes:

"Past and Present of Muskingum County", by J. Hope Sutor, Chicago, 1905:

There is no life record that should awaken higher admiration or deeper respect that of the man who has traveled for on life's journey and whose path has been that of uprightness and honor, industry, integrity and energy. Such has been the career of Washington Spicer, who is held in warm esteem by young and old, rich and poor, throughout Salem township, Muskingum county. He was born in this township, June 9, 1827 (see extraction in grandfather John Spicer's notes and father Daniel Spicer's notes). Washington Spicer at the usual age entered the public schools and therein mastered the common branches of learning. Following the completion of his education he rented land on which he engaged in farming for several years and thereby he earned the money necessary for the purchase of property. In 1859 he bought the farm upon which he now resides and it has been his home throughout the succeeding years. At the time of the Civil war, however, he left the plow and shouldered the rifle, becoming a member of Company E, One Hundred and Sixtieth Ohio Infantry, at Zanesville, on the 7th of May, 1864. He served with that command for one hundred and twenty days and participated in several skirmishes and was also in the battle of Martinsburg on the 4th and 5th of July, 1864. He was never wounded nor ill in the hospital and during his military service was ever found loyal to his country.

On the termination of his enlistment Mr. Spicer returned to his home and family. He had been married in 1849 to Sarah Davis, who was born in Salem township, and was a daughter of Benjamin Davis. They had three children but only one is now living, Benjamin H., who was born in 1850, and married Caroline Winn, their home being near his father's farm. The wife and mother died November 16, 1856, and on the 31st of December, 1857, Mr. Spicer wedded Hannah Davis, a sister of his first wife. There are five children, four daughters and a son by this marriage, namely: Mary E., who was born January 19, 1860; Catherine A., born April 13, 1861; Jane A., who was born July 11, 1862, and lives in Perry township; Sherman W., born December 12, 1864; and Margaret C., who was born November 28, 1866, and is the wife of Arlington Bowden, of Perry township. Mr. Spicer's second wife died April 7, 1878. He had four grandchildren, three of whom are living: Mrs. G. N. Shroyer, daughter of B. H. Spicer; and Edith L. and Lolita Bowden, daughters of Margaret C. Bowden; Wilbur H. Spicer, son of B. H. Spicer, died in January 1895, aged about fifteen years, at the Deaf and Dumb Institution at Columbus, Ohio, where he was attending school. When he was about two years old he had an attack of scarlet fever from which he lost his hearing and speech. Mr. Spicer has five great grandchildren, the two sons and three daughters of Mrs. G. N. Shroyer. The home farm of Mr. Spicer comprises forty five acres of land about two and a half miles from Adamsville and to this place he gives his supervision. He votes with the republican party and has capably filled the office of supervisor and trustee in his township. He is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic and also of the Patrons of Industry and he and his daughters are members of the Bethel Methodist Episcopal church. For seventy-eight years, he has resided in Muskingum county and is today one of the oldest native sons living within its borders. He has watched with interest the events which have occurred and which have shaped his history and what to many are matters of record are to him matters of experience. He has seen the introduction of the railroad, the telegraph and the telephone and it is within his memory when much of the land in this portion of the state was covered with timber, while wild animals, deer and other game were found in the forests. There has been a wonderful transformation, the forest lands being now richly cultivated fields, while in the place of the pioneer log cabins are seen substantial residences. Mr. Spicer has done his full share in promoting the growth and development of the county and is today honored as a pioneer settler.
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  Noted events in his life were:

• He appeared on the 1870 US Census in Salem Township, Muskingum County, OH on 14 June 1870. ³

1870 US Census
Page 14, Dwelling 100, Family 105, Roll 1251
Salem Township, Muskingum County, Ohio
Washington Spicer..42..OH..Farmer
(Living with 2nd wife and 6 children.)
.

• He appeared on the 1880 US Census in Salem Township, Muskingum County, OH on 7 June 1880. ⁴

1880 US Census
Page 278B, District 170, Dwelling 63, Family 64, Roll 1054
Salem Township, Muskingum County, Ohio
W. Spicer..Head..52..OH..Farmer..Widowed
Mary L. Spicer..Dau..20..OH..Keeping House
Catharine A. Spicer..Dau..18..OH
Jane A. Spicer..Dau..17..OH
Sherman W. Spicer..Son..15..OH
Margaret Spicer..Dau..13..OH

(Washington was widowed and living with 5 children.)
.

Washington married Sarah Davis on 1 March 1849 in , Muskingum County, OH.¹ (Sarah Davis was born about 1830 in Salem Township, Muskingum County, OH and died on 16 November 1856 ⁵.)

Washington next married Hannah Davis on 31 December 1857 in , Muskingum County, OH.² (Hannah Davis was born in 1825 in Salem Township, Muskingum County, OH ^{3 6} and died on 7 April 1878 ^{6 7}.)

  Noted events in their marriage were:

• They appeared on the 1870 US Census in Salem Township, Muskingum County, OH on 14 June 1870. ³

1870 US Census
Page 14, Dwelling 100, Family 105, Roll 1251
Salem Township, Muskingum County, Ohio
Washington Spicer..42..OH..Farmer
Hannah Spicer..45..OH..Keeping House
Benjamin H. Spicer..20..OH..Farm Laborer
Mary L. Spicer..10..OH..Assisting Mother
Catharine A. Spicer..9..OH..Assisting Mother
Jane A. Spicer..7..OH..Attending School
Sherman W. Spicer..5..OH..At Home
Margaret C. Spicer..3..OH..At Home
.