Silas P. Waller
Silas P. Waller, farmer, P. O. Atwater, was born November 6, 1841, on the Waller estate, this township, in the old log-cabin which his father first occupied in 1837, since when two generations have been born within its honored walls. His father, David G. Waller, was born in Palmyra Township, this county, August 12, 1812, and was married to Catherine Webber, born in Pennsylvania, October 17, 1804, daughter of Peter Webber, who was born September 4, 1779, in Berkshire County, Penn., a son of Christian Webber, a native of Germany who fled from that country when eighteen years of age to avoid being pressed into the army. To this union were born the following children, viz.: Hiram, Silas P. (our subject), and David Webber. David G. Waller's parents, Silas, Sr., and Betsey (Knappen) Waller, were natives of Connecticut and parents of thirteen children, only two of whom now survive: David G., and Mason, a native of Palmyra Township, where he still resides. Silas Waller, Sr., was a son of Joseph (who died in Connecticut) and Sarah Waller, who accompanied her three sons, Silas, David and Asel, with their families, who settled in Palmyra in 1805; she died February 21, 1815. Our subject was married June 2, 1870, to Miss Angeiine V., daughter of Henry and Sophia Dawes, early settlers of Deerfield Township, natives of England and the parents of twelve children. To Mr. and Mrs. Waller have been born six children, four now living: Mary Sophia, Fannie Betsey, Cora Elizabeth and George Edmund. Our subject enlisted in 1861 in the three months' call, but did not go out. He re-enlisted for three years in Company G, Seventh Ohio Volunteer Infantry, was wounded in the battle of Cedar Mountain, Va., August 9, 1862, and was honorably discharged on account of same, March 16, 1863. After being discharged from the army he attended school at the Poland Seminary, Mahoning Co., Ohio, for one year, and during the winter of 1864-65 he attended the Iron City Commercial College, from which he graduated in the spring of 1865. In October, 1865, he removed to Lawrence County, Mo., and was engaged in teaching school for live years, during which time he assisted in organizing a teachers' institute, and establishing a teachers' library of over 350 volumes; was one of the prime movers in establishing a normal school at Marionville (the building costing $12,000). He was a member of its first Board of Directors, and Secretary of the Board of Directors for three years, and also one of the Building Committee. In the spring of 1870 he returned to the old homestead on a visit, during which he married Angeline Victoria Dawes, and in September returned with his bride to Missouri. During the winter he taught school. In the spring of 1871 he engaged in farming, in which he continued for five years, and during that time he held the ofiices of Township Clerk, Township Treasurer and Collector of Taxes; he was First Lieutenant of Company I, Missouri State Militia. During the fall of 1873 they lost their little boy, Edmund Guy, and in the spring of 1874 they buried their little boy, Henry Lester, over which his wife became very despondent. Her health remaining very poor all summer, she returned to Ohio on a visit the first of October, staying all the winter of 1874-75. During that time he was engaged in teaching school. In the spring of 1875 he returned to Ohio, and stayed all summer, during which time his wife's health greatly improved. In the fall of 1875 he proposed to his wife that they return to Missouri again, to which she objected, saying that she would rather live in Ohio in a log-cabin than in Missouri in a mansion. He then, decided to return to Missouri, dispose of his property and come back and settle on the old homestead, and is now living in the old log-cabin which has been standing some sixty- five years, and in which the third generation is now living. He has been a member of the Township Board of Education for seven years, and has always taken an active part in public and private enterprises.
From History of Portage County, Ohio, Warner, Beers & Co., Chicago, 1885