Robert Wollam

WOLLAM, BOUGH, SLOAN, CHAMBERS, MCCLURE

Posted By: Deb barker (email)
Date: 7/30/2005 at 07:52:43

ROBERT H. WOLLAM, an intelligent and wellto-do agriculturist of Montgomery township, is a member of one of the most highly respected pioneer families of that locality.

In still earlier times his ancestors came from near Winchester, Va., and were settlers on the then frontier line of eastern Ohio, his grandfather, Henry Wollam, who was born September 15, 1777, having been among the first to make his home in Columbiana county. On December 17, 1800, he married Mary Bough, who was born October 11, 1783, and they reared a family of thirteen children, of whom our subject's father, the late Joseph Wollam, born February 8, 1824, was the next to the youngest. He was exceptionally gifted mentally, but the common schools of his day were poor, and he had no good opportunity to develop his powers in early life. He learned the carpenter's trade, and for some time worked at boat building in Wellsville, Ohio. On June 27, 1844, he was married, in Columbiana county, by Rev. O. S. Patterson, to Miss Mary A. Sloan, a native of that county, born February 7, 1827. Her father, Robert Sloan, came from County Antrim, Ireland, at the age of eleven, with his parents, Allen Sloan and his wife, who located in eastern Pennsylvania, where he grew to manhood. He married Elizabeth Stapleton, and eight children were born to this union: William, a farmer in Davis county, Iowa; Margaret, who married William Chambers, and died in Iowa; Joshua, formerly editor of the Keosaqua (Iowa) Republican; Elizabeth, now Mrs. Butler Sloan, of Missouri; Mary A., our subject's mother; Martha, who married Mr. McClure, and died in Iowa; John, deceased, formerly a resident of Bloomfield, Iowa, and a prominent politician, holding various county offices; and Robert, a well-known member of the Iowa bar, and at present a judge, residing at Keosaqua.

For some time after his marriage our subject's father lived upon a farm in Columbiana county, but later moved to New Lisbon. In 1834, when he was ten years old, he came to Wood county with his brother Benjamin, remained through the summer, and then returned home to Columbiana county with his father. In 1851 he again came to Wood county, this time with his family, locating first at Hatton. Soon after he removed to Montgomery township, Section 25, N. W. J, where he settled in the primeval forest in true pioneer style. building the first house ever on the place, a log cabin. As prosperity came he erected a larger home, and in 1876 he built a third, a substantial brick residence, which is still in use. He worked at the carpenter's trade while his farm was being redeemed from the wood and water, finding plenty to do, and at one time he conducted a plant for making molasses from sugar cane. At the time of his death he owned 200 acres of land, and was regarded as one of the representative farmers of the township. A prominent member of the Disciples Church, he was in sympathy with all movements tending to benefit the people, and was an early patron of newspapers in his section, being an interested reader of all questions of his tune. Until the assassination of Lincoln he was a Democrat; but after that event he gave his influence to the Republican party, and was several times elected to township offices on that ticket.

Since his death his widow has continued to
occupy the old home, where she has long been held in high esteem, not only on her husband's account but for her own good qualities. Robert Henry, our subject, is the eldest of their family of six children; the names of the others, with dates of birth, are as follows: William, September 2, 1847; C. F., May 15, 1851; Mary E., September 8, 1853, died February 6, 1878; Martha A., May 25, 1859, married David Myers, and died at Risingsun, April 13, 1882; and Joseph H., March 7, 1863. The four sons are all residents of Montgomery township, and are engaged in agricultural pursuits
WOOD COUNTY, OHIO History 1895