Mecosta County MI Archives Biographies.....Wadsworth, Wm J. May 1, 1838 - 
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Jan Cortez http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00020.html#0004939 January 27, 2009, 1:35 am

Author: 1883 Mecosta Co. Portrait & Bio Album

WM. J. WADSWORTH, lumberman and farmer, sec. 32, Mecosta Tp. (P.O.,Stanwood), 
was born in Belmont Co., Ohio, 

May 1, 1838.  His parents Josiah and Anna G. (Parker) Wadsworth, were of 
English and Irish descent, and 

natives of New York, early becoming residents of Ohio.  His father abandoned 
the family, and his mother 

married again before he was 15 years old.  At that age he went out into the 
world for himself,  His first 

employ was as a driver on the canal, which he followed until the fall of 1854, 
then engaging as hotel clerk; 

this position affording him a little leisure, he attended school and secured a 
moderate amount of education. 

 Leaving his situation, he was employed as a farm laborer in Venango Co., 
Penn., there operating until 1865. 

 In the winter of that year he acted as a teamster, next embarking in lumber 
trade and farming.

He was married Oct. 16, 1859, to Delia A., daughter of William and Permelia 
(Hancock) Jay, natives of New 

York, and lineal descendants of the Jays and Hancocks, of Revolutionary fame.  
Mrs. Wadsworth was born in 

Lorain Co., Ohio, Oct. 6, 1843.  Her uncle took her to Pennsylvania when she 
was a mere girl.  After his 

marriage Mr. Wadsworth was interested in oil speculation until the civil war 
broke out.  July 16, 1861, he 

enlisted in the Third Reg. U. S. Cav., under Lieut. Spaulding.  Soon after his 
enlistment he broke his arm 

and was discharged from the service.  As soon as he was sufficiently recovered 
to warrant the step, he 

enlisted again, enrolling Aug. 11 1862, in the 142d Pennsylvania Reg. Col. 
Inf., Co. I, Capt. Hasson.  

During the time of his service he was under fire at Fredericksburg, 
chancellorsville and Fredericksburg 

second, and Gettysburg, escaping unharmed.  He received his final discharge, 
Aug. 30, 1865.

He returned to Oil City, and thence to Ohio, where he rejoined his wife and 
went back to the oil regions, 

where he was engaged in shipping oil until the summer of 1866.  He returned 
again to Ohio and was engaged 

two years in farming, then coming to Michigan and finding a home in Mecosta 
Tp., in the fall of 1868.  He at 

once entered heartily into the business of lumbering, and the next year 
homesteaded a tract of 90 acres of 

land, where he has since operated as stated.

Mr. Wadsworth is a zealous and active Republican.  He has held various 
township and school offices.  Himself 

and wife are members in full standing of the Free Methodist Church.  They have 
six children, born as 

follows:  William, June 8, 1862; Myrtle G., July 14, 1864; Edith N., April 18, 
1868; Percy J., April 26, 

1873; Lester V., Sept. 8, 1875; and Harley A., March 10, 1883.

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