Browse Items (35 total)

Otto Bardon served in the 102nd Ohio Volunteer Infantry during the Civil War. he was captured by the Confederates along with a large portion of his regiment and sent to a prison camp at Cahaba, Alabama. Upon his release he survived the Sultana…

One of the College of Wooster’s prominent early professors who taught Latin and Greek from 1873 to 1928. After his death, his daughter, Lucy L. Notestein, compiled a book of his notes on the college, Wooster of the Middle West, published in 1972.

William Given, who served as Wooster's judge, organized the recruitment efforts in the city when the Civil War broke out. He hosted meetings to encourage young men to join the Union Army, and later joined himself, serving as the colonel of the 102nd…

Edmund Secrest: Known as “the father of forest conservation in Ohio,” this man was made director of the OARDC in 1937. The beautiful Secrest Arboretum on the OARDC campus is named after him.

Howard Lowry: The College of Wooster president responsible for adding the requirement of Independent Study to the curriculum.

Charles E. Thorne: This man was the first director of the OARDC.

Herman Freedlander: This man was the proprietor of the immensely important Freedlander’s department store.

The mausoleum of Aquila Wiley, who served as a colonel with the 41st Ohio during the Civil War and lost his leg during the Battle of Missionary Ridge.

The tombstone of Charles Follis, nicknamed "The Black Cyclone," who was the first professional African American football player.

Tombstone of James Hill. He was born in Scotland and fought for the British Army in the Crimean War. After moving to America, he served in the Civil War and survived Custer's defeat at the Battle of Little Bighorn. (Paul Locher, "1st Sgt. James Hill…

Elias Compton served as dean at the College of Wooster and had three sons, Karl, Arthur, and Wilson, who went on to gain distinction.

Herman Freedlander was the proprietor of the immensely important Freedlander’s department store.

The McDonald Masoleum was erected by Angus Burns McDonald (son of Angus McDonald, of McDonald Works in Wooster), and celebrates the legacy of the McDonald family.

Relatives of Adelaide Critchfield are buried in Wooster Cemetery. She died tragically in a fire that destroyed her Wooster home in 1895.

Michael Nachtrieb was a well-known portrait painter in Wooster, who painted depictions of many of the city's important citizens. He also painted portraits of national celebrities, including Abraham Lincoln and Robert E. Lee.

Joseph Larwill: It is curious that Joseph Larwill was not buried in the Mausoleum with his two brothers, as he too was one of Wooster’s first residents and part of the initial surveying party. However, according to letters found at the Ohio…

Gen. Cyrus Spink: This man served as the Deputy County Surveyor for many years under Joseph Larwill. He is most well known, however, as the person who organized the first fire company in Wooster in 1827, which was located at Every Woman's House on…

William Henry: This man was one of Wooster’s surveyors along with the Larwill brothers and John Bever. While he did not stay in Wooster after the fact, as the Larwills did, he still made his mark on Wooster as one of the men responsible for laying…

Levi Cox: This man was the first owner-publisher of the “Ohio Spectator,” the predecessor of the Wooster Republican and Wayne County Democrat, first printed in 1817.

Richard Reddick: This man built the first three miles of the Pennsylvania Railroad track, before Wooster even had paved roads in 1851, which greatly impacted Wooster’s reach to outside markets.

Adam Foss: This man was the founder of Wooster Brush Works, now known as Wooster Brush Company. (Notestein book, 11)

Annie B. Irish: This woman served as the University of Wooster’s first female professor, starting in 1882.

Standing proudly on the main square downtown, the courthouse is the most well-known building to Wooster residents and visitors.

- John C. Larwill: This man was one of Wooster’s earliest settlers, along with his brothers William and Joseph. In 1820 he became Wooster’s first Justice of the Peace. (“Biography of John Larwill” by Ben Douglas for the Wooster Republican)
- William…

Jacob Frick: The Frick family did much to help Wooster in the late 19th century. Jacob Frick, a longtime resident of Wooster, built the War monument currently in the Wooster Town Square. His nephew, the famous industrialist and art collector, Henry…

Charles Frost: This man served as the first Mayor of Wooster, starting when it was incorporated as a City in 1808.

Col. John B. Sloane: This man held many important roles in the local, state, and federal government levels. Throughout his life, he served as an Ohio State Representative, a Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas of Wayne County, the Secretary of State…

Ephraim Quinby, Jr: This man contributed greatly to the Wooster Community in the late 19th century. Not only was he an important businessman who collected profitable pieces of real estate, he also donated large sums to many different charitable…

Leander Firestone, MD: This local Wooster doctor also served as one of the University of Wooster’s first professors and the first local professor. He began as a lecturer in anatomy and physiology, but was later promoted to a full time staff member in…

Richard L. Morrison, Sr: One of Wooster’s first african american residents, Morrison made a name for himself in the community as a respected barber at the Morrison Barber Shop and as a leader at second Baptist Church. (“Dick Morrison, Color Man Who…