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Honorable Wesley Minor Tracy (1841-1922) of Mineral City Ohio

Hon. Wesley M. Tracy was elected to represent Tuscarawas County in the Legislature in the fall of 1893. He is a stanch Republican and is the second member of his party elected to fill this honored position in thirty years. Mr. Tracy, prior to entering public life, was one of the large merchants of Mineral Point, where he resides with his family in one of the most beautiful residences of the city.

Our subject was born in Sandy Township, September 10, 1841, to Nelson and Lucinda (Welch) Tracy. Grandfather Thomas Tracy was born of Irish parents, across the Atlantic, and about 1808, on leaving the Emerald Isle, journeyed to America, whence he located near Uhrichsville, Ohio. In this vicinity he entered land and engaged thereafter in farm life. He was a Whig in polities and died about 1844. He reared a family of two sons and two daughters: Nelson, James, Susan and Nancy, all of whom married and had families of their own.

Nelson Tracy was born near Uhrichsville in 1810. He acquired his education in the schools taught in the district, and in 1832 left home and came to Sandy Township, where he rented property for a time. Later he purchased two hundred acres in the southern portion of the above township, for which he was afterward offered a good price and sold. The money thus obtained he invested in other lands, but about 1858 disposed of all his farm interests and engaged in the mercantile business. In 1867 we find him a resident of. Sandyville, operating a store. The following year, however, he changed his location to Livingston County, Mo., where he made his home for two years, and then returned to this section and engaged in merchandising, following this business uninterruptedly until the death of his wife, in 1871. He then made his home in Mineral Point with a brother until, in 1881, he moved to this city with his son, at whose home his death occurred in March, 1884. He was a Republican in politics, and in religious affairs was an active member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He contributed liberally of his means toward the extension of this denomination in his neighborhood and aided in the organization of the first society in Sandy Township. The family of Nelson Tracy consisted of twelve children.

The mother of our subject was born in Carroll County, this state, in 1812, and was the daughter of John Welch, also a native of Ireland, as was the father of Mr. Tracy. On coming to America, this gentleman chose the above county for his future home, there entering and improving a tract of two hundred acres in Rose Township. He died about 1851, firm in the faith of the Methodist Episcopal Church. In politics he always cast a vote in favor of Democratic candidates.

The original of this sketch was given a fair education, and prior to the war taught in his neighborhood. When nineteen years old he clerked in his father's store, but in October, 1861, enlisted as a private in Company K, Fifty-first Ohio Infantry, and with his regiment was sent to the front. He was present at the battle of Perryville, after which the forces marched to Nashville and later to Louisville. He was taken sick with a fever while in the service, and on account of this was honorably discharged in February, 1863. He fought bravely during his experience as a soldier and soon after entering the service was promoted to be Corporal of his company.

On his return home from the army our subject clerked for a year in Mineral Point and was variously employed until 1866, when he established in the mercantile business in company with Messrs. Davis and Black. This connection existed for one year, when our subject moved upon a farm. His stay there was of short duration also, for a twelvemonth later he was stationed in Sandyville, taking charge of his father's business at that point. In the spring of 1875 he moved his stock to Mineral Point, and a year later disposed of his interests in this line.

Mr. Tracy was married, May 4, 1864, to Miss Sarah A. Crist, a native of this township, and the daughter of John and Mary Ann (Black) Crist. Of the three children born to them, William E. is deceased, as is also Ada May, who married Charles A. Diebold. Minnie A. is now the wife of this gentleman. Mr. and Mrs. Tracy are members of the Methodist Church, with which the former has been connected for thirty years and is at present Recording Secretary.

In the fall of 1868 Mr. Tracy was elected Justice of the Peace, and so well did he fulfill the duties of the office that he was retained for a period of twenty-four years. For twenty-three years he was Township Clerk, has been Assessor for one term, has also served as Mayor of the village, and for fifteen years was Clerk of the Village Board, and at another time was Treasurer. For one year he was Trustee of the Children's Home. As stated in our opening paragraph, he was elected to the Legislature in the fall of 1893 and is discharging his duties as Representative in a manner highly satisfactory to his constituents.

Socially Hon. Wesley M. Tracy is a Knight of Pythias and a Grand Army man, being a charter member of both bodies. Although be gives his entire time and attention to his official duties, he owns a one-half interest in the general store conducted by Isaiah Crist, besides being the possessor of three farms, which aggregate six hundred and twenty-four acres.

Ref:

The History of Tuscarawas County, Ohio (1884) Warner, Beers & Company

Manual of Legislative Practice in the General Assembly of the State of Ohio (1895) Ohio. General Assembly

Portrait and Biographical Record of Guernsey County, Ohio (1895) C.O. Owen & Co, Chicago

Another Tracy Family:

Susanna Westhafer & John B Tracy (son of James), residence Uhrichsville, Ohio

The Westhafer genealogy (1912) Dalcassian Publishing Company

James Tracy, a Virginian and a Methodist

FAMILY HISTORY

Thomas Tracy (Ireland-1844)

Nelson (1810-1884), James, Susan and Nancy

Wesley Minor Tracy (1841-1922)

William E. is deceased, as is also Ada May, who married Charles A. Diebold. Minnie A. is now the wife of this gentleman

1808-1809 First Tax List Tuscarawas County Ohio

Salem Township

Tracy, James

Tracy, Philip

http://freepages.rootsweb.com/~barbarar/genealogy/firsttax.htm

Nelson Tracy married Lucinda Welsh 5 Sep 1830 Stark, Ohio, United States

1834 Tax Assessment Sandy Ohio

Nelson Tracy, 1 horse $40, 2 cattle $16, total $56, 11 2 canal, 350 school, 84 road, total 54.6

1840 Census - Sandy Township, Tuscarawas, Ohio, United States

Nelson Tracy, Males 1 under 5, 1 5-10, 1 20-30 Females 1 under 5, 1 5-10, 1 30-40

1850 Census - Sandy Township, Tuscarawas, Ohio, United States

Nelsen Tracy, 40, farmer

Lucinda Tracey, 36, b. Ohio

James Tracey, 19, b. Ohio, labour

Eliza Tracey, 17, b. Ohio

Lethe Tracey, 14, b. Ohio

John Tracey, 11, b. Ohio

Wesley Tracey, 9, b. Ohio

Elizabeth Tracey, 3, b. Ohio

Samuel Welsh, 20, b. Ohio, labour

1860 Census - Sandy Township, Tuscarawas, Ohio, United States

Nelson Tracy, 49, b. Ohio, farmer

Lueyndia Tracy, 46, b. Ohio

James Tracy, 28, b. Ohio, laborer

Wesley Tracy, 18, b. Ohio, laborer

Elizabeth Tracy, 12, b. Ohio

William Tracy, 7, b. Ohio

Franklin Tracy, 3, b. Ohio

Magdalena Mussush, 19, b. Ohio, servant

1860 Ohio Directory

Nelson Tracy, potter, Uhrichsville Tuscarawas

1870 Census - Sandy Township, Tuscarawas, Ohio, United States

Nelson Tracy, 59, dry goods merchant, born Ohio

Lucinda Tracy, 54, born Ohio

Wm Tracy, 17, born Ohio

Franklin Tracy, 13, born Ohio

1880 Census - Mineral City, Sandy, Tuscarawas, Ohio, United States

William Tracy, 27, druggist, born Ohio, parents born Ohio

Annie Tracy, 23, wife, keeping house, born Ohio, parents born Ohio

Carrie L Tracy, 3, daughter, born Ohio, parents born Ohio

Morris Tracy, 1, son, born Ohio, parents born Ohio

Nelson Tracy, 70, father, retired merchant, , born Ohio, parents born Virgoinia

Lucinda Tracy died 27 Feb 1871 Sandyville Sandy Township Tuscarawas Ohio, age 56 years,

(b. Rowtown Stark Ohio d. of John Welch & Susanna Welch)

Wesley Minor Tracy, died 13 Jan 1922 Canton Stark Ohio, married to Sarah Ann Tracy, Notary Public Justice of Peace, buried Mineral City Ohio 15 Jan 1922

(b. 10 Sep 1841 Mineral City Ohio, s. of Nelson Tracy & Lucinde Welsh, both born Ohio), Informant Mrs C.A. Diabold Mineral City Ohio

Old Sandyville Cemetery, Sandyville, Tuscarawas County, Ohio, USA

Nelson Tracy died 2 Sep 1875 Tuscarawas County, Ohio, USA (Note: Son of N. & L. Tracy, Aged 13D)

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/146056571/nelson-tracy

Lucinda Tracy died 17 Feb 1876 (Note: w/Nelson)

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/141667511/lucinda-tracy

Stoneware; Tracy (N), Jar, Cobalt Floral & Impressed Date Decoration, 19 inch. Civil War-era six-gallon jug dated 1864 by N. Tracy. Six-gallon salt-glazed [stoneware jar] double-handled slave [?], with impressed block stamp "6" The first pottery was started by Andrew McObesney about 1843. Thomas Reed succeeded him; he sold to Nelson Tracy, whose son, John B., now operates it.

Last update: 09 October 2022