Windsor Atcheson, brother of Nancy Atcheson Campbell

Timeline:

• 1802 born Berks County, Pennsylvania
• ca 1830 came to Holmes County, Ohio and purchased land
• Worked on Lockbourne Canal
• 1833 moved to Columbus to work for Mr. John L. Gill
• 1843 began buying property at old Allen Farm
• 1850 Franklin County, Ohio Census Windsor Actchison page 419
• (1845 according to his obit) or 29 July 1852 married Maria Kiser in Franklin County, OHIO
• 2 Oct 1853 daughter Minerva born (source Rootsweb / WorldConnect)
• 1870 Franklin County, Clinton Township, Ohio
• several sons also born to marriage according to obit
• 1885 died, wife survives him

Cousin Scott V Campbell was able to provide an obit for Windsor Atcheson that was a part of his parents pocessions. It was interesting to note that James's obit lists a niece, Mrs. Jamie Atcheson from Ohio. This lead me to thoughly research the connection of the Atcheson Family and the Campbell Family.

Some online research netted this inforamtion: From an entry by Harry Brumbaugh hbrumbaugh@aol.com; Windsor married Maria Kiser, daughter Minerva born 2 Oct 1853; she married David G. Belknap (3 May 1849 - 22 Apr 1889). Sadly, I have never been able to contact Harry, although I have tried via e-mail.

Census Records

1840 Franklin County page 162 Sharon Township
listed as W. P. Akin 1 male age 20 - 30 living near John Gill

1850 Franklin County page 419 Montgomery Township ed: 164-174 & 175
Henry Shoemaker, age 27, brickmaker, born Ohio
Martha " , age 26, born Ohio
Windsor A. " , age 8, born Ohio
Ann ", age 6, born Ohio
Erwin? " , age 4, male, born Ohio
Emma " , age 1, born Ohio
Windsor Actcheson, age 48, brickmaker, born Ohio
Jerris? " , age 25, laborer, born Germany
Michael " , age 16, laborer, born Germany

1860 - not yet located

1870 Franklin County, Clinton Township, OHIO very hard to read
Windsor Atchison, age 79, born Pennsylvania
Maria, age 39?, born Maryland
Minerva, age 19?, attending school, born Ohio
Windsor, age 14?, Ohio
Horatio, age , Ohio
Alfred, age 4?, Ohio
???, George, farm laborer
Kiser, Catherine, lives with daughter, born Maryland
???, John ?, age 26, farm laborer

1880 Franklin County, Clinton Township, OHIO
Windsor Atcheson, age 79, born Pennsylvania, father born Ireland, mother born Pennsylvania
Maria, wife, keeping house, age 48, born Maryland, father born Maryland, mother born Maryland
Windsor , son, at home, age 24, born Ohio, father born Pennsylvania, mother born Maryland
Horatio, son, at home, age 17, born Ohio, father born Pennsylvania, mother born Maryland
Alfred, son, at home, age 14, born Ohio, father born Pennsylvania, mother born Maryland
Ida, dau, age 9, born Ohio, father born Pennsylvania, mother born Maryland
Mike Florey, other, farmhand, single, age 50, born Prussia, father born Prussia, mother born Prussia
E. J. Harmon, other, farmhand, singe ,age 42, born France, father born France, mother born France

1900 Census not yet found

1910 Columbus, Franklin County, OHIO
Maria, age 78, widow, born Maryland
Windsor, age 53, born Ohio
Alfred, age 44, born Ohio

Obit - Funeral from High Street Congregational Church

Windsor Atcheson, aged eighty three years, was brought to his last earthly rest yesterday. The funeral ceremony was held in High Street Congregational Church. Some choice music, bass solo by Mr. Scheele and devout choir singing, prepared the audience for the warm eulogy of deceased by Rev. Gunsaulus. He did not choose a special text but preferred to give utterance to the most prominent thought, which he, belonging the younger generation, for which men like Mr. Atcheson had graded the road was privileged to recall to the bereaved mourners. Not the wealth of a nation, not the blue, red and white straps, not the political power, form and constitute a nation, but the true manhood, of which deceased had been so conspicuous an example, the representative of honesty, truth an character; that is what made other nations so envious of our commonwealth.

The speaker then dwelt in particular on the qualities of deceased as an early pioneer in the country, as citizen, patriot, husband and father. Although not belonging to any church, yet his character was the helpful ray, gliding over and through clouds, which was surely the way on which Christ would call him heavenward. A short synopsis of the speaker's deeply felt remarks, made from memory can no do either him or Mr Atcheson justice. They must have been heard, he must have been known, so as to fully appreciate the loss which his family and community feel in his departure.

Under the strains of the organ, on which Professor Mees rendered Chopin's Funeral March, the audience left and followed the remains to the cemetery. May they rest in peace.

Brief Sketch of Windsor Atcheson and His Deeds of Generosity

Mr. Windsor Atcheson died at his home, just northeast of the city, yesterday morning shortly after four o'clock. He was 80 years old and in the best of health up to the time of an accident which finally caused his death. Three or four weeks ago he was looking through the Tuller Buggy Company's works, and by an accident fell through a hatchway from one floor to another. His face and head were cut and his body bruised severely in several places. Dr. Loving dressed the injuries at his office, and he was taken home. the accident would have been a very serious one for a young man, but for a gentleman of fourscore years it could scarcely be otherwise than fatal. Mr. Acheson be otherwise than fatal. Mr Atcheson, by his unusual vitality made a hard struggle, and only succumbed after weeks of illness.

Windsor Atcheson was a remarkable man. The following facts were gathered from Mr. John L. Gill last night. He was born in 1802 in Berks County, Pennsylvania. He came to Ohio about the year 1830, living first in Holmes county, where he purchased one or two hundred acres of land which were not very valuable. He also did some work on the canal at Lockbuourne. In 1833 he came to Columbus, then only a small city, and went to work for Mr. John L. Gill as a wood cutter. Mr. Gill and his brother had purchased thirty-two acres of land on both sides of High Street, beginning about where the Park Hotel stands and extending north beyond the stands and extending north beyond the Hubbard property. It was then a heavy forest, out of the city limits. Mr. Atcheson's work was clearing away this forest for which he received twelve dollars per month. A brickyard was established very near where the High street Congregational Church now stands, in charge of which he was placed while the clearing was going on . Both enterprises continued until 1843, when the business connection between the two men was severed. By economy and frugality he had saved $10,000.

Mr. Atcheson then began buying property of the old Allen farm, northeast of the city, and in the course of time had obtained more than a thousand acres. He also went into the brick making business himself, and continued in it for 39 years, to the time of his death. He was a very rich man, and earned all money by the hardest work and best management. His fortune is worth several hundred thousand dollars.

He was married about 1845 and his wife survives him. He had one daughter now married and three or four sons, who are all quite young.

Mr. Gill, in talking of Mr. Atcheson speaks of him as the most perfect man he ever knew. No consideration could make him swerve from the truth at any time. He was entirely abstemious in every way; never drank intoxicating liquors, nor used tobacco in any form. His language was always pure and no one ever heard him utter an oath. His generosity was also very great, and his philanthropic acts more perhaps than those of any one man who has lived in Columbus. He was public spirited and long sighted for the good of the city. He was always among the first to subscribe for any enterprise which would benefit the city. He was as much respected among business men of years ago, while the prominent men of today were boys, as any in the country. Dr. Goodale, Judge Swan and Robert Neil were counted among his best friends, and where were at any time willing to assist him wherever financial aid was wanted. His faithfulness to his friends was complete. Mr. Gill expresses the greatest gratitude for many favors received at his hands. During the great panic of 1873 he loaned him $50,000 which to carry on his business, and without which he would have certainly failed. He did not require, indeed absolutely refused any security whatever, and not even a note of a signature was given. Mr. Atcheson has also been most generous in hundreds of instances to men of small means, assisting them to rise in the world, and bridging over difficulties.

Source: old newspaper clipping from 1885 from cousin Scott Campbell