USA > Ohio > Putnam County > A Portrait and biographical record of Allen and Putnam counties, Ohio, containing biographical sketches of many prominent and representative citizens, together with biographies and portraits of all the presidents of the United States, and biographies of the governors of Ohio, pt 2 > Part 11
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Mr. Davis has been twice married; his first wife, Miss Lizzie, was a daughter of William Dinsmore. She died July 29, 1890, leaving two children, viz: Walter Russell, and Gertrude, deceased. Mr. Davis's second marriage was with Miss Carrie, daughter of Hugh Baker, and two children are the result of this union, as follows: Marie and Mildred. Politically 'Mr. Davis is a republican, and is also a men- ber of the Knights of Pythias
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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY
ILLIAM DONNELL, a well-known farmer of Union township, Putnam county, Ohio, is a native of county Tyrone, Ireland, and was born Sep- tember 24. 1823, a son of Samuel and Mary (Calhoun) Donnell, the former of whom died about 1840, a member of the Episcopal church, and the latter about 1845, in her fiftieth year -the parents of three children, viz: William, our subject; Thomas, born in Ireland in 1828, died in 1848, in Philadelphia, Pa., nine months after coming to America, and Sarah Jane, still living and married to a Mr. Barnes, of Kensington, Philadelphia.
William Donnell was reared on a farm and was fairly well educated in his native country. He came to America in 1846, landing in Philadelphia. For five years he worked in Huntingdon county, Pa., saved his earnings, and applied them to the bringing over of his brother and sister. In 1852 he came to Ohio and entered a quarter section of land in Pauld- ing county, cleared up a good home from the woods, and for fourteen years resided upon his property, making a comfortable living. In 1857 he married Sarah J. Stillwell, the union resulting in the birth of two children, viz: Mary E., wife of Isaiah Clevenger, of Panld- ing county, Ohio, and an infant son that died unnamed. Mrs. Donnell died in 1861, and in the same year, in August, Mr. Donnell enlisted in defense of the flag of his adopted country, in company F, Thirty-eighth Ohio volunteer infantry, and at the sanguinary battle of Mill Springs was so badly wounded, January 19, 1862, that he was discharged at Mud Creek, Tenn., in July, 1864. Having fully recuper- ated, patriotism again, took possession of his sonl, and he re-enlisted, this time, in company 11, Thirty-ninth Ohio volunteer infantry, and served until the end of the war. He took part in all the battles in which his regiment was . engaged, marching with Sherman from Atlanta
to the sea and receiving a grape-shot wound at Bentonville, N. C.
At the conclusion of hostilities Mr. Don- nell returned to his home in Paulding county and continued farmning until 1869, when he came to Union township, Putnam county, and purchased his present farm, situated on Otta- wa river, and this farm he has brought under a fine state of cultivation and made equal to any of its dimensions in the township, both as to productiveness and appearance, and in 1883 built the modern dwelling he and family now occupy.
The second marriage of Mr. Donnell took place in January, 1864, to Miss Mary Leidy, who bore him two children, to-wit: Rebecca J., born June 20, 1865, now the wife of Stephen Vaughn, a farmer of Jennings town- ship, and Matilda E., born July 7, 1868, the wife of David Bogart, a farmer of Allen county. The mother of these two children died m May, 1871, and the third marriage of Mr. Donnell took place November 17, 1871, to Miss Susan Clevenger, who was born in Putnam county July 5, 1833, a daughter of Jacob and Eliza (Rimer) Clevenger, of the renowned pioneer family mentioned so often in these pages, and who in the infancy of Mrs. Donnell utilized a sugar trough for a cradle in which to rock her to sleep. Mr. and Mrs. Donnell are consistent members of the Presbyterian church, and Mr. Donnell is an advanced Mason, being a mem- ber of Blue lodge, No. 280, of the ()ttawa chapter, No. 115, R. A. M., and Putnam council, No. 69, R. & S. M. In politics he is an independent, and in Paulding county served as township clerk of Jackson township for five years, and was school director for numberless terms, he being a highly educated gentleman and an excellent conversationalist. As a citi- zen he is among the most desirable, and sus- tains a high reputation for usefulness and pub- lic spirit.
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RANCIS MARION DOTSON, one of the thrifty and thoroughly prac- tical farmors of Monterey township, Putnam county, Ohio, descends from an old Revolutionary family of Maryland. His grandfather, Michael Dottson (as he spelled the surname), was a native of the state (or colony) named, and was a son of William Dottson, a native of England, who was a sailor in the merchant marine service, married a Welsh lady and early settled in Mary- land. Tradition relates that he was a man of remarkable physical strength, and could handle a burden that required the strength of four ordinary men to cope with. His son, Michael Dottson, enlisted in Maryland in the army of Washington when but seventeen years of age. fought at Brandywine and Germantown (now a part of Philadelphia, Pa.), and served through the entire war. After his return from the heroic struggle he married and became the father of five children: John, Joseph, Thomas, Samuel and Annie, all of whom, however, were born in Blair county, Pa., whither Michael moved immediately after his marriage and cleared up a farin of 200 acres; he was a captain in the state militia. Some years later he came to Ohio and lived in Muskingum county with his son Joseph, the father of our subject, and died either in Muskingum or Mor- gan county.
Joseph Dottson, son of above, was born in Blair county, Pa., April 2, 1794, was reared a farmer, und there married Margaret Justice, a daughter of Jesse Justice.' Some years after marriage the family came to Ohio and settled in Muskingum county, purchasing eighty acres in Morgan county adjoining, but, through lending his money, or by going security, Mr Dottson lost this land and all else he possessed. He then moved to Athens county, and in Octo- ber, 1853, came to Putnam county and bought a tract of eighty acres of government land in
Monterey township-making the purchase at the land office at Defiance, and President Franklin Pierce signing the deed. Mr. Dott- son, with the assistance of his sons, Francis and Joseph, cleared up this tract, with the exception of twelve acres, and here Mr. Dottson died July 24, 1883, at the advanced age of ninety years. Originally Mr. Dottson was a member of the Methodist church, but after coming to Ohio joined with the United Brethren church, in which be became a class leader. In politics he was first a whig, but later became a democrat.
To Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Dottson were born nine children, all of whom reached the years of maturity and were named in the order of birth as follows: Michael, Thomas, Annie, Susan, Isaiah, Keziah, Joseph, Mary A., and Francis M. Of these Isaiah was a soldier in the Thirty-second Ohio volunteer infantry, having enlisted in Panlding county for three months. He was in several skirmishes and in the noted Cheat Mountain campaign, in which he suffered a great deal from exposure to the cold, and died of mountain fever at Beverly, Va. Joseph was also a soldier in an Ohio regiment and served two years. The eldest three of this family of children were born in Pennsylvania and the remainder in Ohio. The father was a truly honorable man and was universally respected by his neighbors and the general public.
Francis Marion Dotson (as the name is now spelled) was born in Muskingum county, Ohio, February 6, 1840, received a good common- school education and was reared to farmning. He was a studious young nem and added greatly to his stock of knowledge by reading well selected books at home, particularly works of history, studying chiefly n night by the light of a hickory torch. He has not missed a harvest since he was nine years of age and is now over fifty-five. He came to Putnam
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county in October, 1853, with his father, being then but thirteen years old, and has done most of the clearing off of the homestead with his own hands. He was married September 5, 1861, in Washington township, Paulding county, Ohio, at the home of the bride's mother, to Miss Matilda Thatcher, David Mil- linger, J. P., tying the matrimonial knot. After his marriage he lived on his father's farm as tenant, but his father soon afterward deeded him twenty acres in the woods, adjoining twenty acres he had already deeded to Joseph, an elder son. Francis cleared up his place, made money and added to his possessions until he now owns 247 acres, He has one of the finest farms in the country, the greater part by far being the result of its own industry and economy. To Mr. and Mrs. Dotson have been born seven children, viz: Donald, Will- iam, Francis M., Isaac B., Barbara E., Mary L. and Samuel 'He has deeded to Donald, William and Isaac forty acres each, and is ar- ranging to deed all his children equal portions, reserving for himself at present 122 acres. Mr. and Mrs. Dotson are members of the United Brethren church, and in politics Mr. Dotson is a democrat. He is a strictly honor- able man and lives for his family, in whose prosperity all his interests are centered. He is recognized as one of the best agriculturists in the township and is greatly honored for his public spirit and liberal disposition.
ATRICK and FRANK DUCEY, broth- ers, were born in Waterford county, Ireland, in 1852 and 1847. respect- ively. Their father, Michael, was born in 1808 and educated in the common schools, was reared a farmer, and was a faith- ful Catholic. When arrived at the age of man- bood he married Ann Tobin, who was born in 1822 and was also reared a faithful Catholic.
After their marriage they settled on a farm which the father had rented, and while living here, seven children were born to them, named as follows: Morris, now a blacksmith in Lima, Ohio; Margaret, deceased; Frank, a farmer in Ottawa township, and Patrick, whose names open this paragraph; John, deceased; Barthol- omew, of Deshler, Ohio; Annie, now the widow of John Sheehy. Here the happy fam- ily lived and prospered until 1868, when death called away the husband and father. A year after his death, the mother, with four children, emigrated from this beautiful Emerald Isle, and came to America and rented a farm in Ottawa township, Putnam county, Ohio, on which they resided until able to purchase a farin from the proceeds of the hard work and economy of Mother Ducey and her sons. It was here that Frank and Patrick ploved a prominent part in working on the farm, and here, in Ottawa township, they were eared from childhood, upon the farm, under the guidance of their kind mother, becoming; duti- ful sons as well as loyal and progressive citi- zens of this great commonwealth.
Patrick Ducey laid the foundation for his education in the common schools of his native land. His father taught him farming and he decided to follow that calling in his adopted country. He was happily married to Della Ford, who was likewise a native of Ireland, a daughter of Michael and Ann (Ginnane) Ford Mrs. Patrick Ducey's father died in Ireland May 17, 1895; her mother still resides i .. that country. In July, 1885, Mrs. Patrick Ducey came to America in company with a sister and located in Toledo, Olno, where she lived nntil her marriage. She was one of a family of five daughters and one son, four daughters now living in America -- Della, Maria, Jennie and Lizzie -- the last named, the wife of Patrick Welsh, of Toledo, Ohio. After their marriage, Mr and Mis Ducey set-
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John H Duell
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tled on the farm they now occupy, where they have prospered. Four children have been born to them: Alfred, Loretta, Herbert and Irene, who have been reared in the Catholic church, to which both their parents belong. In politics Patrick Ducey is a democrat.
Frank Ducey received the foundation for his education in the common schools in his native country, and at the age of seventeen years he came to this country alone, and fol- lowed railroad work until his mother came, when they settled on a farin, on which he com- menced to work industriously to gain the name of a successful farmer. In 1881 he married Mary, the daughter of Patrick and Bridget Kelly, who had come from county Clare, Ire- land, and settled in Pennsylvania, where, in January, 1856, Mary was born. This mar- riage has been blessed with five children; Thomas, Annie, John, Ella and Edward.
These two brothers, starting at the foot of the ladder, have, by industry and thrift, climbed high up and are known as prosperous, pro- gressive and substantial men, not afraid of work.
J OHN H. DRERUP, one of the most ex- tensive farmers of Ottawa township, Put- nam county, Ohio, was born in Prussia, Germany, August 25, 1834, and is a son of John B. and Annie L. (Wesning) Drerup. The Drerup family came to Putnam county in :835; here the father purchased 160 acres in section No. 29, Ottawa township, and erected a round-log cabin in the woods, in which the family lived about fifteen years while the farm was being cleared up, when a hewed log house was put up and used until the present fine frame was erected in 1852 or 1854. This residence, now occupied by our subject, is 25x36 feet in size, with kitchen attached, and is situated one-half mile south of Glandort and
one mile west of Ottawa. Here Mrs. Annie L. Drerup died August 9, 1852. at the age of forty-seven years, and Mr. Drerup continued farming until he, also, was called, at the age of sixty-five years, October 15. 1863. To Mr. and Mrs. Drerup was born twelve children, of whom eight died in infancy; Joseph died at thirteen years, and Caroline died after her marriage to Frank Rothman. The two still living are John H., our subject, and Elizabeth, wife of J. H. Uphaus, of Glandorf. In politics the father was a democrat, and in religion all the family were and are Catholics.
John H. Drerup, our subject, was reared reared on the home farm and was educated in the common schools, both in German and English, as far as their scope extended, and supplemented this education by home study. At the death of his father he came into pos- session of the homestead, and he has also purchased considerable additional land, includ- ing seventy acres in sections 20 and 21, in Ottawa township, and too acres in section 4; also eighty acres in section 9 -- - all of which he still owns; he had also owned a tract of 120 acres, which he gave to his son, John B., who is married and resides on this farm, which is located in section 5. Mr. Drerup has likewise owned several other tracts, which he has sold. The marriage of Mr. Drerup took place, in 1862, to Miss Annie M. Shirloh, a native of Glandorf and a daughter of William and Clara (Inkrot) Shirloh. This lady died in 1864, and in 1865 Mr. Drerup married Miss Thirsa MI. Mersman, who was born in 1848 on a farm adjoining that of our subject. This imion has been blessed with eight children, viz: John B., farmer; Henry, Frank H., Angust, Addie, Freddie, Annie M. and Lucy P., all at home. The two daughters are being prepared for music teachers, the eller being already quite proficient. The other children are also being well educated, and the whok family are com-
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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY
municants of Saint John's Catholic church at Glandorf. Mr. Drerup has done much for the improvement of the agricultural interests of the township, and is always prompt in respond- ing to calls for aid in advancing the public prosperity. He has devoted considerable at- tention to improving the live stock of the county, and handles, himself, only the higher grades, such as short-horn cattle, Poland- China hogs, etc., and now has a fine herd of the former. In politics he is a democrat and has filled many of the township offices from a sense of public duty, but has invariably re- jected all solicitations to become a candidate for county or other higher positions. He is, how- ever, a truly public-spirited citizen and enjoys the respect and esteem of all who know him.
S AMUEL DUNAAVIN, a prominent farmer of Jackson township, Putnam county, Ohio, was born in Essex connty, Del., August 1, 1831, a son of John Littleton and Levina (Essex) Dun- avin. John L., the father, was also a native of Delaware, of Irish descent, and about 1826 married Miss Essex, who was born in 1804, and to this union were born three children, viz: John Littleton, of West Virginia; Caleb, a retired farmer and money broker, of Colum- bus, Ohio, and Samuel, subject of this sketch. In 1832 John L. Dunavin brought his sinall family to Ohio, and after a residence of three months in Franklin county, was called to his final rest. His widow was next married to Josiah Campnell, this 'union resulting in the birth of seven children, as follows: Mrs.
Rosina Spencer, deceased; John, a farmer, near Kalida; Elizabeth, wife of Elias Medley, of Paukling; Emma, wife of Lerota Loup, of Jackson township, Putnam county; Mrs. Julia Diens, of Findlay, Ohio; Joe, living near Kalida, Putnam county, and Mary, wife of
Winfield Scott Dicus, whose biography may be found on another page. The mother of this family was called away in 1875.
Samuel Dunavin, the subject of this sketch, at the age of one year was adopted by Mr. Thomas Wilcox and his wife Mary, of Frank- lin county, Ohio, and was by them educated and reared to farming. November 11, 1852, he married Eliza J. Freeman, who was born near Lancaster, Ohio, July 11, 1835, a dangh- ter of Jonathan and Susan (Kemper) Freeman. Her death occurred September 16, 1895. To Mr. and Mrs. Dunavin were born the following children: Nancy Aurilla, wife of Samuel D. Shank, a farmer and blacksmith, of Greensburg township, Putnam county; Samuel Franklin, farmer, on the home place; Ida Alberta, widow of Jacob Charles Boxwell, who was killed by the fall of a tree, May 13, 1892, the father of one child, Alberta, born September 10, 1890; William W., clerk at Kalida, and Caleb Leroy, farming at home. Jonathan Freeman, father of Mrs. Dunavin, was a native of Vir- ginia, was a farmer, came to Ohio in 1825, and located near Lancaster, Fairfield county, where he farmed until 1856, when he came to Putnam county and bought a tract of land in Jackson township, which he cleared and re- sided upon until the death of his wife, in 1861. This lady was also a native of Virginia and a daughter of Joshua and Ellen Kemper, and bore her husband the following children: Ellen, wife of Benjamin Veach, of Illinois; William and John, deceased; Mrs. Nancy Veach (see sketch of Martin Veach, of Jackson township) ; James, deceased; Mrs. Cynthia Lane, deceased; Mrs. Lydia Rogers, of Frank- lin county; Eliza J., wife of our subject, Jon- athan, who lost his life m the army at Vicks- burg; Mrs. Aurilla Doherty, residing near Columbus, Ohio; Jarrett, who was a member of the Forty-seventh Ohio volunteer infantry, and died in Libby prison, and Louisa, wife of
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OF PUTNAM COUNTY.
Joshua Doherty, of Hardin county, Ohio. The father of this family, after the death of his wife, made his home with his daughter, Mrs. William Veach, until his death, which oc- curred in 1877. He had served in the war of 1812, was an active democrat and a very prominent citizen.
Samuel Dunavin, our subject, remained in Franklin county nearly one year after his mar- riage, continuing to make his home with his adopted father. In December, 1853, he came to Putnam county and bought the tract of land on which he still lives, but which was then in the wilderness. Here he put up his log cabin, which he occupied until 1875, when he erected his present beautiful mansion, which is an adornment to the neighborhood. In politics Mr. Dunavin is a republican and has held a number of local offices. For many years he has been a trustee in the Methodist Episcopal church and for a long time has been a class leader. He at present carries on gen- eral farming, but for years bought and sold cattle to a large extent; his place, wrested from the wilderness by his own hands, is one of the most productive and best cultivated in the township, and Mr. Dunavin is acknowl- edged to be a model farmer. He is self- mnade as far as his fortune is concerned, is liberal and public-spirited, and enjoys the esteem of the entire community.
J OSEPH DUNLAP, one of the old set- tlers of Jennings township, Putnam county, Ohio, was born in Washington county, Pa., March 26, 1815. His grandfather, Robert Dunlap, who came from Ireland, was the progenitor of the family in Washington county, and was the father of three children-James, Joseph, and Polly. He was the owner of a farm of 120 acres, winch he cleared up from the woods, and on which
he died at an advanced age, a member of the Presbyterian church, of which his wife was also a member. Joseph Dunlap, second son of Robert, was the father of our subject, was also a native of Washington county, Pa., was a carpenter, and married Nancy Gory, dangh- ter of Robert and Margaret Gory, in Pennsyl- vania. In 1817 he came to Ohio and located in the woods of Guernsey county, where he farmed and followed his trade of carpenter and millwright until 1851, when he came to Put- nam county. He and wife were parents of eight children, viz: Mary, Marthia, Robert, Hester, Joseph, Thomas, William and Nancy. The father died at the home of liis son, Robert, in Jennings township, at the age of eighty- eight years.
Joseph Dunlap, whose name opens this sketch, was a child of two years when brought to Guernsey county, Ohio, by his father. He grew to manhood among the pioneers, devot- ing his chief attention to farming. He attend- ed school, in all, about six weeks, and that attendance was after he had reached his twenty-first year of age; but he afterward ac- quired a good education by self-teaching. July 15, 1842, he was married, in Muskingum county, Ohio, to Miss Jane Jenkings, who was born September 9, 1826, a daughter of Presley Jenkings, and to this union were born ten chil- dren, seven of whom lived to reach the years of maturity, viz: Joseph Presley, John W., Samuel, Thomas, James, Alfred, and Nancy J. After marriage Mr. Dunlap lived on his eighty- acre farm in the woods until November, 1851, when he came to Putnam county and bought eighty acres in the woods, now near Rush- more. This land he cleared and lived on until 1877, when he settled on his present farm of 102 acres, which was partially improved, but which Mr. Dunlap further cleared up and transformed into one of the most productive farms m the township.
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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY
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Mrs. Jane (Jenkings) Dunlap, having died at Rushmore, Mr. Dunlap married, September 28, 1862, Mary Chamberlain, who was born May 30, 1834, daughter of Godfrey and Mar- garet Chamberlain, and to this union were born three children- Godfrey C., Mary A., and Margaret M. The second Mrs. Dunlap was also called away, and the third marriage of Mr. Dunlap took place February 28, 1870, to Elizabeth Catherine Chamberland, who was born May 4, 1835, in Putnam county, and the children born to this union were named Alex- ander, Wesley, Martha, and Edward. God- frey Chamberlain, the father-in-law of Mr. Dunlap, and his wife, Margaret (Weller) Chamberlain, were born in New Jersey. They became the parents of nine children who were named, respectively, William, Margaret, Peter, John, Henry, Elizabeth C., Nancy J., and James D., of whom all reached maturity (ex- cepting Peter, who died young), and married and reared families. Mr. Chamberlain is a pioneer of Jennings township, having settled on his farm of eighty acres in the year 1838. In religion he is a Presbyterian and in politics is a republican.
ESTER DUNLAP, a substantial farmer of Jennings township, Put- nam county, Ohio, was born in Union county May 16, 1842, a son of Robert and Louisa (Spain) Dunlap, of Irish ancestry. He was reared to farming, and in 1861 came to Putnam county with his father, who located in Sugar Creek township, and as- sisted in the clearing up of the farm until 1864, when he enlisted, May 2, at Gomer, under Capt. I. W. Patrick, in company F, One Hundred and Fifty-first Ohio infantry, 100- day service, and served until he was honorably Ascharged at Camp Chase, Ohio, August 27, 1864, having been on guard and patrol duty in
Maryland and the District of Columbia. On his return home he resumed farming, and in December, 1864, he married Mary Young, who was born in July, 1842, a daughter of David and Susan (Beery) Young, the union resulting in the birth of three children-William E., Emma J. and Rachel J. April 20, 1871, Mrs. Mary Dunlap passed from earth, and Mr. Dunlap chose for his second helpmate Rebecca Huffer, who was born April 8, 1852, a daugh- ter of George and Keziah (Neihizer) Huffer, and to this marriage have been born eight children, namely: Eliza A., Robert W., George E., Mary, Louis, Marion C., Charles and Hulda.
Mr. Dunlap has always been a hard-work- ing, industrious man. and by his thrift has been able to add to his farm until he now owns 100 acres, all well improved and culti- vated. In politics he is a republican and is the present township trustee. He is public spirited and popular, liberal and charitable, and one whose integrity has never been ques- tioned. He is a skillful farmer, and has won the respect of all with whom he has ever come in contact. He is a friend of education, and gives an earnest support to both schools and churches.
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