William Clay Bostwick
Farmer, soldier and public spirited citizen, William Clay Bostwick has lived his life of seventy years within this county in such a way as to make him one of the most highly respected and honored citizens of the county. Enlisting for service in the Civil War when but a mere youth, he served gallantly and well, participating in a large number of the severest engagements of that memorable struggle. Upon the close of the war he returned to peaceful pursuits and by good management, close economy and strict attention to his interests, he has accumulated an estate of one thousand one hundred and seventeen acres in Madison township, this making him one of the four men in the county who owns more than one thousand acres of land. The Bostwick family has been identified with the history of this county for more than a century, and during all of these years the family has occupied a prominent place in the various phases of the county's development.
William Clay Boslwick, the son of Oliver and Malinda (Thomas) Bostwick. was born on the farm where he is now living. May 28, 1844. His father was born in this same township in October, 1816, and died April 29, 1867. Malinda Thomas was born in Pickaway county. Ohio. March 25, 1816. and died at Mt. Sterling. Ohio, July 14. 1885. Oliver and Malinda Bostwick reared a family of eight children: Morton, deceased ; Francis, who married Sarah Smith; Annette, the wife of James Jones, deceased; Eliza, the wife of S. F. Terry, deceased: William Clay, whose history is here presented; Melvina, the wife of C. H. Strawbridge; Sarah, deceased, who was lie wife ol Charles Miller, and Jane, who was the wile ot William Green.
Oliver Bostwick was the son of William and Sallie (Carter) Bostwick, natives of Vermont and early settlers in this county, where they reared a family of eight children, all of whom are deceased, Adoniram, Sarah, Joseph, Frederick C., William, Lucy Ann, Oliver and Adley. William Bostwick came from Vermont to Fayette county, Ohio, about 1805. and settled on land in the vicinity of Yankeetown. William was the son of Joseph Bostwick, a native of Vermont, who. in turn, was a descendant of Arthur Bostwick, the first member of the family to come to America.
William C. Bostwick attended the rude district schools of his neighborhood, and when eighteen years of age answered the call of his country for volunteers and served for nearly three years at the front. He enlisted August 13, 1862, at Mt. Sterling, Ohio, in Company G, One Hundred and Thirteenth Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry. His regiment, under the command of Col. James A. Wilcox, was attached to the Army of the Cumberland and saw service in Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina, and finally participated in the Grand Review at the nation's capital at the close of the war. Among the battles in which this regiment participated may be mentioned the following: Chickamauga, Knoxville, Rocky Face Ridge, Resaca, Kenesaw Mountain, Peach Tree Creek, Jonesboro, Savannah, Averasboro and Bentonville. Mr. Bostwick was with Sherman on his famous march through Georgia to the sea, and thence northward through the Carolinas into North Carolina. He was finally discharged at Columbus, Ohio, July 6, 1865, lacking but a month of being in the service three years. Mr. Bostwick is a loyal member of the J. C. Bostwick Post, Grand Army of the Republic, at Mt. Sterling, Ohio.
Immediately after the close of the war Mr. Bostwick returned to Fayette county and started farming on a farm of one hundred acres. To this as a nucleus he has gradually added to his land holdings until he now owns one thousand one hundred and seventeen acres of fine farming land in Madison township. In the accumulation of this splendid estate Mr. Bostwick has found a true helpmate in his wife, who has ably assisted him and who is entitled to a due share of the credit.
Mr. Bostwick was married November 6, 1873. to Clara Beatty. the daughter of Isaac and Margaret (Hidy) Beatty. of Pickawav county, this state. She was born October 22. 1852. and was one of three children, having a brother, Scott, and a sister who died in infancy. Mrs. Bostwick's grandfather came to Fayette county, Ohio, from Virginia in 1818. James Beatty was a soldier in the War of 1812. and about the year 1847 served as associate judge of Fayette county. He died in 1879, at an advanced age. Mr. and Mrs. Bostwick are the parents of two children, Harley Oscar, born October 10. 1875, and Oliver Newton, born May 6, 1880. Harley O. married Maude S. Welton, and has two children, Medrith and Welton; Oliver Newton married Loye A. Julian, and has one daugliter, Willa Jean.
Politically. Mr. Bostwick has long been identified with the Republican party, and while always taking a deep interest in the current issues of the day, yet has never been an aspirant for public office. He retired from active work several years ago. but still maintains his interest in the breeding of pure-bred Shire horses. He is an extensive stockholder, a director and vice-president of the First National Bank of Mt. Sterling. Ohio. The management of his farm has been entirely turned over to his two sons, Harley Oscar and Oliver Newton.
In 1884 Mr. Bostwick organized a military company in Mt. Sterhng, of which he was elected captain and served the state in that capacity for more than eight years.
From History of Fayette County Ohio - Her People, Industries and Institutions by Frank M. Allen (1914, R. F. Bowen & Company, Inc.)
William Clay Bostwick, one of the most energetic farmers in this county, is the third son, and fifth child, of Oliver and Malinda (Thomas) Bostwick, of this county. He was born in Madison Township, near his present residence. May 28, 1844.
William Bostwick, the grandfather of William C, came to Ohio, from Vermont, about the year 1805, settling on lands in the vicinity of Yankeetown, from which circumstance this place took its name. He was the father of Adoniram, Frederick C, Joseph, Sarah, William, Lucy Ann, and Adley Bostwick.
Oliver's children were: Morton, Francis, Marion, Annette, Eliza, William C, Elvira, Sarah, and Jane.
Our subject was ordinarily' educated, and at the age of eighteen, enlisted under Captain H. Z. Adams, in Company G, 113th R. O.V. I., August, 1862. He served with bis regiment with efficiency, until the close of the war, and was discharged at Columbus, Ohio, July 6, 1865. His regiment campaigned in Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina, and participated in the grand review at the nation's capital at the close of the war.
Mr. Bostwick was married, November 6, 1873, to Clara, daughter of Isaac N. and Margaret (Hidy) Beatty, of Pickaway County. Mrs. Bostwick was born in Pickaway County, October 22, 1852. She has but one brother, Scott Beatty, living in Pickaway County. A sister died in infancy. Her grandfather, James Beatty, came to this county from Virginia in 1818. He was a son of Charles Beatty, and a grandson of George Beatty. James Beatty was a soldier in the war of 1812, and about the year 1847, served as associate judge. He died, A. D. 1879, at an advanced age.
To the union of Mr. and Mrs. Bostwick have been born two children: Harley Oscar, born October 10, 1875, and Oliver Newton, born May 6, 1880.
Mr. Bostwick owns a large farm of excellent land, lying in this and Pickaway counties, and its condition indicates careful oversight. Mr. Bostwick is a staunch Republican, and is always outspoken and decisive in his views on public topics.
From R. S. Dills' History of Fayette County