Hamilton and James County Biographies U - Z

---

Wadkins, Carmon 

          From information in a pension application, Carmon Wadkins was living in
Hamilton County, TN when he joined the 2nd Tennessee Infantry during the Mexican War where he was a Captain in J. Standifer's Company. Carmon was a son of Jesse and Margaret Wadkins who settled in Hamilton County before 1830.

Carmon's first wife was Eliza Martin who died before 1848. Carmon married Jane Ramsey 1848 in Harrison, Hamilton County and joined Jane's brother and his family in Arkansas by 1851; Carmon and Jane had no living children; they had no
surviving children and lived with her relatives past 1910 in Arkansas.

Carmon's parents, Jessee and Margaret Wadkins had other children: Nancy who married Zachariah Lea, Robert who was first married to a Matilda, then Millie ?, Terrel, Carmon, Thomas, and an unknown daughter who married a Rogers/Rodgers. Thomas married Matilda Wood, daughter of Martin and Rachel Wood, in Pulaski Co., MO (no marriage record has been found, but Thomas with some other Hamilton Co. surnames were living in the same area on the 1840 Pulaski Co., MO census); by 1850, they were living near Jesse and his wife Margaret for the 1850 Hamilton Co., TN census. Later Thomas and Matilda Wadkins moved to Wright Co., MO by 1857 where Thomas died June, 1862. Thomas and Matilda had a son Jesse Wood Wadkins. Jesse Wood Wadkins died early December 1917 in Carter Co., Oklahoma.

Submitted by Nita Emberlin aeberlin@texhoma.net

 Wagner, Ambrose         

           Ambrose Wagner was born in Baltimore, Md., October 2, 1856 , and is the son of John M. and Mary A. (Kirshuer) Wagner, both of whom were natives of Bavaria. Our subject was reared and received a fair education in the city of Baltimore, where he also learned the pattern and model making trade. At the age of twenty-one, he left his native State, came to Tennessee, and located in Chattanooga where be worked at his trade one year. In June, 1878, he established his present foundry machine shops (a sketch of which appears elsewhere in this work). The January previous, of the same year, he was united in marriage to Miss Annie M. Zinkand, of Baltimore, Md., and to them one daughter, Agnes (deceased) was born. Mr. Wagner is a Democrat, a member of the Catholic Knights of America and of the Catholic Church and is one of the enterprising and reliable businessmen and manufacturers of Chattanooga. 

Goodspeed's "History of East Tennessee" 1887 

 Walden, Leonard           

           Dr. Leonard Walden is a son of Bishop J. M. and Martha (Young) Walden, both of whom were born and reared in Ohio. Of their family of five children our subject was the eldest. He was born April 20, 1860 , at Lynchburg, Ohio, and received his literary education at Cincinnati and Delaware, Ohio. In 1884 he graduated from the Ohio Medical College. After practicing a short time in Covington, Ky., he came to Chattanooga, and in less than a year was elected city physician. He was connected with the board of health, is a member of the Sons of Temperance and other secret orders. He is a very successful practitioner. His father, Bishop J. M. Walden, was born in Lebanon, Ohio, on a farm. He received his literary education at Farmer's College, College Hill, Ohio, and graduated at the age of twenty-one. He was a correspondent of the Commercial Gazette, Cincinnati, Ohio, and during the year 1853 started a paper in Illinois, but this proved a failure. In 1855 he left Illinois and moved to Kansas, where he started a paper, but this also proved a failure. He was elected to the office of commissioner of education of that State in 1856, and in 1858 he returned to Ohio and entered the Cincinnati Conference. His first circuit was near Cincinnati. He afterward went to Lynchburg, Ohio, where he was stationed three years and was then sent to Cincinnati. He was connected with the Freedman’s Bureau until 1868, when he was elected junior member of the Methodist Book Concern. In 1880 he was elected senior member of the same, and in 1884 was elected bishop. 

Goodspeed's "History of East Tennessee" 1887 

 Walker, Frank M.           

           Green & Walker, hardware merchants of Chattanooga, established their business August 1, 1886, at their present quarters, 828 Market Street. They carry a large and well selected stock of general hardware and mechanic's tools and control a large share of the trade in city and county. The individual members are William T. Green, and Frank M. Walker. Mr. Green was born in Knox County, Tenn., in 1849, and is a son of the late Augustus P. Green of this city, who died in this county in 1878. William Green was reared and educated in Hamilton County. In 1874 he engaged in mercantile pursuits near Memphis, Tenn.; in 1880 returned to Chattanooga, and for four years has been engaged in the hardware business. He has been quite successful in this occupation. He is a Democrat, a Mason, and is one of Chattanooga's reliable businessmen. Frank M. Walker (other member of the firm) was born in Rogersville, Hawkins Co., Tenn., April 3, 1863, and is the son of the late Gen. Frank M. Walker who was killed during the late war. Frank R. Walker, Jr., was educated in Rogersville, and in 1880 came to Chattanooga, where he learned the hardware business with J. R. Warner & Co. In 1886 he engaged in his present business with Mr. Green. June 2,1886, he married Miss Maggie Whitman, of Georgia. Mr. Walker is a Democrat in politics and is a wide-awake thorough going businessman. Goodspeed's "History of East Tennessee" 1887 

 Walker, George M.           

          G. M. Walker, a physician and druggist of Soddy, was born in 1847, and is a son of Harvey and Sarah Walker. He was born in Lookout Valley, and in 1856 moved to the State of Arkansas. In 1858 his father moved to Texas and left our subject at Cane Hill to finish his education. In 1861 the trouble between the States caused him to leave Cane Hill and join his father in Texas. In 1863 he enlisted in the Confederate Army, in the Fourth Missouri Cavalry. His company operated principally in Missouri and Arkansas.  He participated in the following battles: Arkansas Post, Jenkinson Ferry and Poison Spring; went on a raid through north Arkansas and south Missouri; thence through the Indian Territory, the Cherokee and Choctaw Nations, and went into winter quarters on Red River. He was in all the severe skirmishes and minor engagements in which his command took part. He was captured at Arkansas Post, and three days afterward made his escape. In 1865 our subject was surrendered with the army of E. Kirby Smith, in Texas, and went from there to Honduras, with a company composed of some of the chief officers commanding in the trans-Mississippi department, but returned in the fall of the same year, when he again joined his father in northwest Texas, and left there for this State where he arrived in 1866. In 1868 he attended a course of lectures at Louisville, Ky. In 1869 he was at McMinnville and went to Beersheba Springs, where he completed his studies in the Latin language under a private instructor; he then traveled one year. While engaged in the life insurance business, in 1871, he married Margaret Hackworth, daughter of Jasper Hackworth, of Marion County, and in the fall of the same year, 1871, located near Soddy. Margaret presented him with one child, Thomas Dick. Mrs. Walker died in September 1880, and in November 1882, Dr. Walker married M. M. Clift, who was born in 1861. She is a daughter of R. B. Clift, of Hamilton County. This union resulted in the birth of two children - both girls: Sallie (deceased) and Tinque Nay. Dr. Walker is a Democrat, a Master Mason, and in 1880 was appointed notary public, which position he now holds. Mrs. Walker is a member of the Presbyterian Church at Soddy. Our subject's father was of English and his mother of Scotch descent. His grandfather, Walker, came from Virginia, settled in Warren County (now Grundy), and was one of the earliest settlers in that region. His father and mother were Baptists. 

Goodspeed's "History of East Tennessee" 1887 

1880 US Census, District 12, Hamilton Co., TN; Page 114. 

 Walker, T. H.           

          T. H. Walker, superintendent of the southern division of the Baltimore & Ohio Express Company, was born in Washington, D. C., January 19, 1857, and educated in the public schools of Baltimore and Washington, D. C. His father, William Walker, was a native of Virginia, and a contractor on public works. He died in 1861, at the breaking out of the late civil war. His widow, Sue (Michael) Walker, was born in Maryland and still lives. Our subject began with the Baltimore & Ohio Company many years ago, and has held the positions of depot manager, cashier, traveling auditor, and in 1886, when they ran a line into Chattanooga, he took his present position. By our subject's marriage to Miss Ella Taylor in 1884, he became the father of one child, Josette. Mrs. Walker is a daughter of Samuel H, Taylor, of Indiana. Our subject is a live businessman and is well respected by all who know him. 

Goodspeed's "History of East Tennessee" 1887 

 Wall, Perry A.          

           P. A. Wall, a schoolteacher in the Twelfth District, was born October 18, 1844 , in Spartanburg, S. C., and is the oldest of nine children born to J. and S. L. (Jackson ) Wall.  The father was born in South Carolina June 24, 1817, and died June 20, 1884. The mother was born July 29, 1820 , in South Carolina, and is of Scotch descent. Our subject was educated in the common schools and at New Prospect Academy in South Carolina. He engaged in agricultural pursuits until the breaking out of the war. He then enlisted in Company K, Fifth South Carolina Infantry, in October 1864, and took part in all the battles and severe skirmishes in which his regiment participated. He surrendered with Gen. Lee's army April 9, 1865. For the first two years after the war, he attended school, then up to 1870 he tilled the soil. He then began school teaching and has made that his life's work. He has taught the school at Soddy for the past seven years and is holding that position at present. This alone speaks well of his efficiency as a teacher. December 12, 1875, he married Miss Sarah Copeland, a native of Walker County, Ga., born December 27, 1849, and the daughter of Alexander and Malissa (Sartain) Copeland. Mr. Copeland was of Irish and Mrs. Copeland of Scotch decent. Our subject and wife are members of the Presbyterian Church. In politics Mr. Wall is Democratic, casting his first presidential vote for H. Seymour. He is a Master Mason and a good citizen. To Mr. Wall and wife have been born six children: Bertha L., Jasin A., Robert W. (deceased), Walter (deceased), Lizzie C. and Anna L. Mr. Wall's fore parents on his father's side, came from Pennsylvania to South Carolina about 1800. On his mother's side they came from Scotland to America about 1750 and settled in South Carolina about 1776. 

Goodspeed's "History of East Tennessee" 

1887 1880 US Census, District 15, Hamilton Co., TN; Page 77. 

 Wallace, Isaac A.            

          Isaac A. Wallace, farmer, was born on December 7, 1841, in the Twelfth District of Hamilton County. He is the sixth of ten children born to Benjamin and Mary (Anderson) Wallace. The father was born in Blount County, and educated at Marysville College of that county, for the ministry. He was one of the first Presbyterian preachers of the Twelfth District and was a successful minister of the gospel. He has two sons who are ministers in the same church. Both father and mother were of Scotch-Irish descent, the former born about 1808 and died about 1855, the latter was born in 1811 and is still living. Our subject was educated in the common schools of the Twelfth District. He began life a poor man, has accumulated considerable property and is quite comfortably fixed. He owns 200 acres of land which is considered the best farm near Soddy. He married Miss Nancy McDonald, a granddaughter of Col. William Clift, and also a granddaughter of James McDonald, one of the early settlers of the county. Mrs. Wallace was born in December 1844, in Hamilton County, and by her marriage became the mother of six children: Benjamin E., James P. (deceased), Joseph W., Albert E., Fannie B. and Mary A. Mr. and Mrs. Wallace are members of the Presbyterian Church of which he has been an older for ten years. Mr. Wallace is a Democrat and cast his first presidential vote for H. Seymour. He is at present clerking in the Soddy Coal Company's grocery department. His father was an early settler of this part of the county and was a very successful schoolteacher. J. Albert Wallace, a brother of our subject, is one of the leading educators of Sullivan County. He is president of King's College at Bristol, where Isaac A.’s oldest son is attending school.

 Goodspeed's "History of East Tennessee" 

 Wallace, Robert F.            

          Dr. R. F. Wallace is a son of John and Rose (Lamar) Wallace, both natives of Anderson County, Tenn., where they are now living, the father engaged in agricultural pursuits. In their family were nine children - six sons and three daughters. Two of the sons are physicians. Our subject was born in the same county as his parents, February 12, 1859 , and was the sixth child. He attended college in Jefferson County, where he received a good education. Having read medicine with Dr. J. P. Wallace, he took a course at the medical department of the University of Tennessee where he graduated in 1886, receiving the first prize, faculty medal, for general proficiency. 

Goodspeed's "History of East Tennessee" 1887 

 Warner, Joseph H.           

          Joseph H. Warner, of Chattanooga, was born in Sumner County, Tenn., September 5, 1842, the son of Jacob L. and Elizabeth J. (Cartwright) Warner, natives respectively of Virginia and North Carolina. Our subject's maternal grandfather, James Cartwright, immigrated to Tennessee in 1780, and was one of the pioneer settlers and Indian fighters of Middle Tennessee. Our subject was reared and educated in his native county. In 1862 he enlisted in Company A, Nineteenth Tennessee Regiment Confederate Infantry, serving as private and non-commissioned officer until captured at Missionary Ridge, and was held in the Federal prisons until the close of the war. He then engaged as clerk in a wholesale hardware store in Davenport, Iowa, and in the latter part of 1865 he engaged in the business for himself in Nashville. In December 1866, he removed to Chattanooga and started his present hardware business on a limited scale. His trade now extends to Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee and Kentucky. He employs twenty men in the house which is located on the southwest corner of Seventh and Market Streets. It is five stories high and is a commodious structure. He also employs five traveling salesmen. Mr. Warner is one of the original founders of the Chattanooga Street Railroad Company and has been its president for four years. He was one of the organizers of the Third National Bank, and its president some years. June 20, 1867, he married Miss Alice G. Hood of Rutherford County, Tenn., and has five living children by this union - two sons and three daughters. Mr. Warner is independent in his political views but has affiliated with the Democratic party. He is a Knight of Pythias. 

Goodspeed's "History of East Tennessee" 1887 

 Warner, T. C.          

          T. C. Warner, D. D., pastor of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Chattanooga, was born December 11, 1843, in Medina County, Ohio. His father, Lorenzo Warner, was a native of Connecticut, and in early life moved to Ohio, where he was educated in Western Reserve College and at Ohio Medical College. For about fifteen years he practiced medicine and then turned his attention to the ministry, in which he became eminent. He was a representative in the Ohio Legislature, and for seven years was chaplain of the Ohio penitentiary. He was chaplain of the Fourth Ohio Infantry two years during the late war. The mother, Mary O. Kingsbury, was born in New Hampshire, and in girlhood moved to Ohio. The parents were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, as are also their five children. Our subject received his early education in the common schools and was well advanced in his course at the Ohio Wesleyan University, when the stirring events of the war put a stop to further study. In 1861 he enlisted in Company C, Fourth Ohio Infantry, and after serving two years was discharged on account of wounds received at Fredericksburg, Va. He then returned home and engaged in mercantile pursuits for some time. He entered the ministry in 1866 and for eighteen years was a member of the Northern Ohio Conference. In 1884 he was called to Chattanooga, and under his able management the church has increased rapidly in prosperity and numbers. While in Ohio Dr. Warren gave public lectures on a variety of subjects. Since coming here, the Doctor has thoroughly identified himself with the interests of the South in helping to solve the social and other difficulties that have arisen. In 1864 he married Miss Frances, daughter of Alex. Laughlin of Ohio, and by her became the father of ten children, seven of whom are living. In 1885 he received the degree -of D. D. from Little Rock University. He is a member of the G. A. R., was chaplain of the department of Ohio a year, also of the department of Tennessee and Georgia a year and is now chaplain in chief. He is a member of the executive committee, and trustee of Chattanooga University.  
Goodspeed's "History of East Tennessee" 1887 

 Warren, C. A.          

           C. A. Warren (deceased) was a native of London, Canada, born November 7, 1837, and at the age of thirteen moved with his parents to Detroit, Mich. At the age of nineteen he enlisted in the United States naval service, where he continued two years, after which be followed railroading in Michigan two years. He was then in the employ of the Louisville & Nashville Railroad until May 1867, when he was transferred to the M. & C., serving as conductor for five years. In 1873 be accepted the position of passenger and traveling agent for the A. G. S., and after one year was appointed passenger and traveling agent for both the A. G. S. and C. S., which position he held until the time of his decease. September 25, 1867, he married Miss Louisa Seaman, a native of Cincinnati, Ohio, after which they resided one year at Memphis, and then located in Chattanooga. Mr. Warren was one of the most popular citizens of Chattanooga, and had many warm friends, being loved and respected by all who knew him. He was a charter member of the K. of P., A. O. U. W. and K. of H. lodges of Chattanooga, each of which, by his death, March 25, 1886, lost a valuable and efficient member. He left but one child, William, aged fifteen. He and his wife were members of the Episcopal Church and be departed this life with a full realization of the Christian hope. His parents, William A. and Pauline (Charles) Warren were natives of Canada. The father's death occurred at Detroit, Mich., where the mother still lives. Mrs. Warren is still a resident of Chattanooga, but was a resident of Cincinnati, Ohio, up to the time of her marriage. Her parents, Joseph C. and Louisa C. (Arnold) Seaman were natives of Ohio and Kentucky respectively but resided in Cincinnati the greater part of their lives, the father being engaged in the mercantile trade. Their death occurred in 1861 and 1879 respectively. 

Goodspeed's "History of East Tennessee" 1887 

 Watkins, Zachary T.           

          Zachary T. Watkins, an enterprising merchant of Ooltewah, was born in Hamilton (now James) County, February 8, 1847. He is next to the eldest of six children, born to Finley P. and Tressie M.(Kelso) Watkins. The father was born in North Carolina about 1810. He was married in Monroe County about 1840, and a few years later moved to Hamilton County. He was an active member of the Missionary Baptist Church, and a Whig. By occupation he was a farmer and merchant. He established the first store in Ooltewah and was the first depot agent. He held that position at the time of his death in 1861. The mother was born in Monroe County in 1812 and is now a resident of James County. She is a consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal Church South. Our subject's education was required principally at the high school at Cleveland, and at the Jefferson College, Blount County. He was engaged in farming several years. In 1867, in partnership with G. B. F. Guthrie, he established a store of general merchandise at Ooltewah. In 1871 he bought his partner's interest. He has a first-class stock of goods and receives a liberal patronage. He owns considerable valuable property near and in the town. He is a true Democrat and popular citizen, and a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church South. Mr. Watkins was appointed postmaster on the 23d of September,1885, and is still officiating in that position. 

"Goodspeed’s History of East Tennessee,” James County, 1887. 

 Webb, Alfred         

           Alfred Webb & Co., one of the prominent manufacturing firms of Chattanooga, is individually composed of Alfred Webb and F. I. Stone. The business was established in 1880 by J. M. Wilson, who started on a small scale with all hand tools and a force of six men. He conducted it one year when Alfred Webb, James Hagie and John McVey purchased his outfit. They conducted the business about four years when the other members of the firm withdrew, leaving Mr. Webb, who conducted it alone for one year. In 1886 the present firm became proprietors and have put in the most improved steam-power tools used in boiler making. In February 1887, they completed their present new and elegant works on Cowart and Market Streets. The boiler shop proper being 60xl50 feet, and the warehouse being 40xl50 feet, is used by Mr. Stone for general wholesale hardware business. The machinery department, which will be conducted by the company, will carry a full line of all kinds of wood and iron making machinery, viz: engines, boilers, sawmills, etc. They employ on an average fifty men. Their machine agency is superintended by Mr. W. A. L. Kirk Machine Co., who is an able and efficient manager. Outside of the regular business they are building standpipes extensively for use in Southern States as water works. They are energetic, wide-a-wake businessmen. 

Goodspeed's "History of East Tennessee" 1887 

 Wells, W. B.           

           Dr. W. B. Wells, a successful surgeon and practitioner of medicine at Chattanooga, is the son of John and Mary (Stewart) Wells, both natives of South Carolina. They came to Georgia when young, and here passed the remainder of their days. The father followed the occupation of a farmer. Of their family of eight children-four sons and four daughters-our subject was the eldest. He was born June 8, 1838, in Habersham County, Ga., and received a good academic education. At the age of twenty-one he began the study of medicine and took a course in the Atlanta Medical College. During the war he served in the medical department of Hardee's corps, Walker's division and Gist's brigade. After returning from the war, he entered the Atlanta Medical College and graduated from that institution in 1866. Dr. Wells has practiced his profession for twenty-six years, and twenty of those years were passed in practicing in one locality in Georgia. In 1885 he went to New York, and graduated in the Polyclinic, a school of clinical medicine for graduates from other schools, and afterward came to Chattanooga. He is a member of the Georgia Medical Association and also of the American Medical Association. Four children were the result of his marriage to Miss M. E. Pope in 1867. The Doctor is a Mason and he and his wife are mem­bers of the Missionary Baptist Church as are also his children.

Goodspeed's "History of East Tennessee" 1887

  Wert, F. O.           

          F. O. Wert, attorney and counsellor at law, is a native of the State of Alabama, where he was reared and educated. He is a son of M. and E. C. (Cowen) Wert, who were natives respectively of Harrisburg, Penn., and Alabama. They are yet living and are now residing in the latter State. After acquiring his literary education, the subject of this biography studied law and was admitted practicing his chosen profession at Decatur, Ala., where he continued until the fall of 1880, when he removed to Chattanooga which has since been his home. He takes an active interest in all public matters and is deservedly popular because of his enterprise and liberality. He is the present Vice-chancellor of the local lodge of K. P. In 1882, the solemnization of his marriage with Miss Lucy Crow occurred, and to them two children have been born: Aubin and Louise. Mr. Wert and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

Goodspeed's "History of East Tennessee" 1887 

 Wester, Samuel D.         

          Samuel D. Wester, of Chattanooga, was born in Roane County, Tenn., January 10, 1849, son of Christopher C. and Mary (Johnson) Wester, both natives of Roane County, Tenn., and members of pioneer families of East Tennessee. Our subject was educated at Wesleyan University (now Grant Memorial), Athens, McMinn Co., Tenn. He came to Chattanooga in 1877 and engaged in the grain business, in company with Mr. William M. Nixon, which he has continued up to the present time. He married Miss Lelia A. Rice, of McMinn County, Tenn., and three children are the fruits of this union. Mr. Wester is a Republican, a member and trustee in the First Methodist Episcopal Church of Chattanooga, and trustee in the Chattanooga University.

Goodspeed's "History of East Tennessee" 1887 

 Whatley, Pezavan AKA “Pistol” Pez Whatley        

           Pez Whatley was born Jan. 10,1951 in Chattanooga where he remained his entire life. Whatley died 0n Jan. 18, 2005 and was buried in MT Olivet Cemetery in East Ridge.  Pistol Pez was a home-grown Chattanooga professional wrestler best known for his time with NWA MId-America and WCW (World Championship Wrestling) Whatley played football and wrestled for Notre Dame High School in Chattanooga and attended UTC. He was UTC's first African American wrestler.    Whatley started wrestling in 1973 after a brief career as a power lifter. Whatley started with Nick Gulas’s Mid America wrestling working in the Tennessee Territory. He then wrestled for the (original) Sheik's Big Time Wrestling, after which he wrestled primarily in Georgia, Alabama and Tennessee. While in Georgia Championship Wrestling, he had a memorable angle on television, where he was confronted by the Junkyard Dog, before a match against Buzz Sawyer. JYD slapped Whatley in the face, enraging him enough to pin Sawyer twice in a single episode of World Championship Wrestling.    While in Ga, Whatley had a feud with Paul Ellering's Legion of Doom that included matches against Jake "The Snake" Roberts. He also had a match in the Omni for the United States Heavyweight championship against Greg Valentine. Whatley was one of the most popular wrestlers in Ga, before going to Chattanooga native Eddie Graham’s Championship Wrestling from Florida in 1984. He won the Southern Title twice while there. He was one-third of the "Convertible Blondes" with Rip Rogers and Gary Royal in the Angelo Poffo-promoted ICW, even though he didn't dye his hair blonde. One of Whatley's best-known moments in ICW was the "Mop Head" angle where Whatley had to wear a mop wig after losing a match to Ron Garvin. The match stipulation also required him to keep wearing it until he won another match. This led to not only a lengthy feud with Garvin but also to a long losing streak for Whatley. Most of Whatley's losses were by disqualification due to outside interference when Garvin would attack Whatley's opponent. The angle lasted for several months until Whatley finally won a match

      He went to the NWA's Jim Crockett Promotions in 1985 and often teamed with Jimmy Valiant against members of Paul Jones' Army. He frequently teamed with The Barbarian and Baron von Reschke in their war against Valiant and would frequently spit on his opponents during matches. He eventually lost a hair vs. hair match to Valiant and was shaved bald. In 1986, during a short stint when Dusty Rhodes was NWA Champion, Whatley appeared to freelance during a TV interview and made the announcers visibly uncomfortable when he said that he wanted to become the first black NWA Champion.

        In late 1987, Whatley had left Jones and started teaming with Tiger Conway Jr. as "The Jive Tones". They did not have much success, and Whatley left for Florida in 1988. He was part of Kevin Sullivan's goon squad in Florida and departed for Alabama shortly after his arrival. 

In Alabama's Southeast Championship Wrestling, Whatley became "Willie B. Hert" and was one of the top faces for the company. In the early 1990s Pez Whatley had a short stint in Japan's UWF. He also worked for the World Wrestling Federation as an enhancement talent on their weekly television programs from January 1990 until April 1991, putting over many of the WWF's top stars. He also picked up a few victories on house shows, most notably over Buddy Rose, Paul Diamond and The Genius. Whatley then made sporadic appearances in World Championship Wrestling throughout the 90s as an enhancement talent as well as appearances at the 1995 and 1996 World War 3 events until his in-ring retirement in 1998, becoming a backstage worker for WCW and an assistant trainer at the WCW Power Plant in Atlanta.

       Whatley was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame class of 2021 as a legacy member. While working for WCW in the late 1990s, Whatley was hospitalized for bronchitis, where doctors discovered he was suffering from heart failure; he was pronounced dead on two occasions while awaiting a heart transplant. He suffered a heart attack in 2003. On January 15, 2005, he had a heart attack and died in the hospital in Chattanooga on January 18. He left behind four children.
Championships and accomplishments All-American Wrestling    

AAW Heavyweight Championship 2 times

Championship Wrestling from Florida NWA Southern Heavyweight Championship 2 times

Georgia Championship Wrestling Omni Thanksgiving Tag Team Tournament (1983) – with Butch Reed

International Championship Wrestling  ICW U.S. Heavyweight Championship 1 time

ICW U.S. Tag Team Championship 1 time – with Rip Rogers

ICW U.S. Tag Team Championship Tournament (1980) – with Rip Rogers

NWA Mid-America NWA Mid-America Tag Team Championship 2 times – with Ray Candy[

Pro Wrestling Illustrated PWI ranked him # 345 of the 500 best singles wrestlers during the "PWI Years" in 2003.

Universal Wrestling Association   UWA Heavyweight Championship 1 time

Western States Sports NWA Western States Tag Team Championship 2 times – with Abe Jacobs

WWE WWE Hall of Fame (Class of 2021)

Other titles    NCW Tag Team Championship 1 time – with Sam McGraw

Wheeler, Xenophon         

           Xenophon Wheeler, senior member of the law firm of Wheeler & Marshall, is a native of Licking County, Ohio, where he grew to man's estate. After securing the common-school education conferred upon all who attended the district schools, he entered Yale College, which graduated him in 1860, and at the commencement of the war he enlisted in the Sixty-seventh Ohio Volunteer Infantry. He was mustered out at Cleveland, Ohio, with the rank of captain in the One Hundred and Twenty-ninth Ohio Volunteers. While on a leave of absence in 1863, two very important events occurred in the life of Mr. Wheeler-his marriage with Miss A. E. Knowlton, a native of the Buckeye State, and his admittance to the bar at Newark, Ohio. When the war ended, in 1865, he came to Chattanooga, and associated himself in the practice of his profession as a member of the firm of Stanley, Henderson & Wheeler. In 1867 the firm name changed to Stanley, Wheeler & Marshall, which was dissolved in 1869, Mr. Wheeler practicing alone one year. In 1871 the present firm of Wheeler & Marshall was organized, and their long practice at the bar of Hamilton County has placed the firm among the first of the State. The parents of Mr. Wheeler, Salmon and Gillin (Chipman) Wheeler, were natives of Vermont, and their respective deaths occurred in 1874 and 1868.

Goodspeed's "History of East Tennessee" 1887 

 Wheland, George Washington          

          George Washington Wheland is one of the solid citizens who have made Chattanooga the city she is. Actively and success fully engaged in manufacturing, he has done much to build up our material interests, while by his personal life he has set a good example to his contemporaries and to those who shall come after us. He was born, 15 August, 1843, in Center County, Pennsylvania, and was raised on a farm in Hancock County, Ohio, receiving a common school education. He served thru the Civil War in the One Hundred and Eighteenth Ohio Volunteer Infantry and has ever since been in the machine and foundry business. He came to Chattanooga from Athens, Tenn., in 1874. He is president of the Wheland Machine Works, vice-president of the Chattanooga Plow Company, and one of the principal stockholders of the Chattanooga Machinery Company. These facts alone indicate how large a factor he has been in our industrial progress. Wheland was on the first police commission of Chattanooga. He is a member of the First Methodist Church, of this city. On October 9, 1872, he married  at Grand Haven, Mich., Miss Emily L. Winsor, who died, 12 February, 1895. There are two children of the marriage, Z. W. Wheland and E. F. Wheland. On 20 November, 1901, Mr. Wheland married, at Hagerstown, Ind., Mrs. Sara J. Greenleaf. He is still in full business activity, with, probably, many years of active usefulness yet before him.

Standard History of Chattanooga Tennessee,  

Chas. D. McGuffey 1911

George W. Wheland founder of Wheland Company            

          George Washington Wheland was born in Pennsylvania on August 15, 1843 to William and Hannah Kohlmeyer Wheland and was the oldest of four children. In 1863 George enlisted as a Private in the Union Army, serving in Company G, 118th Ohio Volunteer Infantry. Wheland mustered out of the Army June 5, 1865 at Columbus, Ohio and returned home. In 1866 Wheland moved to Athens, Tennessee to live with an uncle who ran a foundry there. George met Emily Windsor and the two were married on October 9, 1872. The couple had two sons, Zenas Windsor Wheland and E.F. Wheland.          In June 1874 Wheland decided it was time to make his own name in business. The George W. Wheland Family moved to Chattanooga where George founded Aetna Foundry Machine Works. Soon the name changed to Wheland Machine Works with George W. Wheland as President. The family built a big two-story house at 216 Belleview Avenue in ST Elmo. Sadly, on February 12, 1895 Emily Windsor Wheland passed away leaving a big void in Wheland. Then on November 20, 1901 he married a woman named Sara J. Greenleaf.          In 1912 Wheland merged with Chattanooga Machine Company and became known as the Wheland Company. George Wheland also helped found the Chattanooga Plow Company and served as vice president of the company. George Wheland passed away on August 26, 1929 leaving his foundry in the hands of his son Zenas Windsor Wheland who had served the company as vice president. The company under Zenas Wheland continued until it could not no longer compete with foreign manufacturers and closed was in 2001.

Written and Submitted by Jeffrey C. Webb mysaintelmo.com