Biographical Sketches of Leading Citizens
Lawrence County Pennsylvania 1897
[p. 558] The business of general merchandising in a community like East Brook, Hickory township, this county, is always of considerable importance. The man who has the faculty to carry this on successfully becomes an important factor in its general prosperity, and, indeed, to a considerable extent, determines its standing, for by his good judgment he may lead his patrons and the people of the community at large to desire the best goods and refuse to accept anything but what is superior in its line. Mr. Waddington has been such a merchant, and has dealt in all the articles required by the household from provisions to clothing and embracing all intermediate articles.
Our subject is a son of John and Sarah J. (Fisher) Waddington, and grandson of Benjamin and Nancy (Burnley) Waddington. Benjamin Waddington was born in 1798 in Leeds or Eccleswell, Eng., and came to this country with the desire to better his condition in life in 1832, settling in Beaver County at first, later moving to what is now Hickory township, where he purchased a farm, and engaged in agricultural pursuits a short time. His trade was that of a wool-spinner, and so we next find him interested in the manufacture of woolen goods at East Brook, Hickory township. He lived in the latter place until 1879, when on account of his wife's death, he moved to Fort Wayne, to live with his son William, where he died in 1875, aged seventy-seven years. He was a very active, progressive man, and was considered a very prosperous citizen. His wife, who was like him a native of England, bore him these children: John; Wilkes, who married as his first wife a Miss Simington of Wilmington township, as his second wife Nancy Galloway of Beaver County, who bore him three children, Joseph, George, deceased, and one that died in infancy, and as his third wife Catherine Lint by whom he had William, Benjamin, Frank, and C. Andrew; Sarah, who became the wife of Alexander Carpenter of East Brook; Benjamin, who married Abigail McDonald of Brighton township, Beaver Co., Pa., and had six children—Laura, deceased, Joseph, Horace, Cora and Nellie, twins, and Lawrence, deceased; William, deceased, who married Rose A. Andrews of Pittsburg, Pa., and had three children—Jane, Walter, and Benjamin; Thomas, whose first wife was Bell Book of Scott township, this county, by whom he had three children, Charles W., Seth, and Emma, and whose second wife was Anna Emery of Scott township, who bore him Sylvester, Thomas and William; Louisa, who married John Lankard and had two children, Ella and Mary, and then at her husband's death married William Bright of Ft. Wayne, Ind., and had three more children, Benjamin, Fannie, and Flora; Emeline, who married John Chriswell of East Brook, and had one child, Emma (O'Neil); J. Seth, who married Jennie Howard of Allegheny, Pa., and has five children, Emma, Lennie, Fannie, Howard, and Cora.
John Waddington, the eldest son of Benjamin, was born in England, in 1819, and came with his father from the old country in 1832, and settled in Beaver County and in a short time came to East Brook, which was then in Neshannock township, Hickory township not having been set off at that time; he was one of the pioneers of the village, there being only two houses then to mark what has become a thriving business center. He learned the cabinet-maker's trade in Beaver County, and followed the same until 1854, when he moved his family to East Brook and he himself went to Crestline, Ohio, where he served as baggage-master a few months, returning at the conclusion of his service to East Brook; he engaged in mercantile pursuits until 1884, when he retired from active business life, devoting his time to the duties of his official position as postmaster of East Brook, till the date of his death. He was one of the first postmasters, his father-in-law, John Fisher, being the first. His activity far exceeded that of the ordinary man, and his energetic nature did not seem to be content unless important measures were being rushed to completion. In politics, he was a Whig, and then a Democrat, and served in various township offices, such as school director, auditor, etc. On June 13, 1844, he was joined in matrimony with Sarah J. Fisher, daughter of John Fisher of East Brook, Pa.; she was born Oct. 1, 1825. Nine children, as follows, were the fruit of this union: Isophene, who married Hezekiah McCreary of East Brook, and has three children—Frank L., Lennie, and John T.; Charles L., who married Augusta Bauman, and has two children—William and Anna L.; Ollie, deceased; John W., our subject; Sarah J., who married Benjamin C. Rhodes of East Brook, and has two children, John W. and Cora; Anna M.; Emma, who became the wife of Elmer Shafer of New Wilmington, and has one child, Harry; two died in infancy, named Nancy and Laura.
John W. Waddington was born March 12, 1857, received his elementary education in the common schools of East Brook, and finished with a college education at Beaver College, and also at New Castle, Pa. As soon as his school days were fairly over, he engaged in the mercantile business with his father in 1879, and continued with him until 1881, when he purchased the latter's business and in company with his brother-in-law, B. C. Rhodes, ran the store one year on a partnership basis, when Mr. Rhodes purchased the stock of goods and good-will of the business of our subject and carried on the business alone one year, during which time Mr. Waddington was engaged in dealing in stock of all kinds. In 1884, he bought the store of Mr. Rhodes and carried on the business himself for two years, selling out at the expiration of that period to T. W. Chambers. Mr. Waddington then moved to New Castle, and accepted an important position in the new rod mill as foreman, and continued to serve in that capacity for two years and a half. He then in company with his aforetime partner, B. C. Rhodes, purchased the stock of grocers Kay & Wilkinson of New Castle, and conducted a stand in the city until our subject disposed of his interest, returned to East Brook, and has been located there ever since. He is evidently on the high road to prosperity, is a fair and square business man, and, though still young in years, has made his mark in the community of which he is a resident and honored citizen. He has a large and increasing trade, and is esteemed throughout the county for his strict business principles and upright character.
His marriage with Amanda Jordan, daughter of George Jordan of Washington township, was celebrated March 12, 1879, and this happy union has resulted in the birth of six children: William; Frank; Ollie, deceased; Lennie, deceased; Gertrude; and John. Since arriving at his majority he has always supported the Republican party, and now occupies a prominent place in the local councils of that party; he is now a member of the Republican County Committee from Hickory township. He has been auditor for three years, and is at the present time a school director; he has also been postmaster under Cleveland's administration, but resigned, his place being filled by Mr. Chambers. Socially, he is a Mason, and belongs to Mahoning Lodge, No. 243 of New Castle. He is also a member of the Protected Home Circle, Junior Order of United American Mechanics, and Ancient Order of United Workmen. In his religious attachments, he is a member of the M. E. Church.
Biographical Sketches of Leading Citizens Lawrence County Pennsylvania
Biographical Publishing Company, Buffalo, N.Y., 1897
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Updated: 17 Jul 2001