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 7
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and Sarah A., died young. The mother of this family was called to rest March 28, 1880, a consistent member of the Methodist Protest- ant church, of which denomination her hus- band is still a member.
Volney O. Gaustrander, the deceased hus- band of Abigail Darling, was born in Carroll county, Ohio, in 1844. At the age of ten years he lost his father, and was reared by his step-father, a Mr. Weaver, and by him was brought to Putnam county, his mother accom- panying him. Volney O., as has been stated, was educated as a chemist. His term of serv- ice in the army was three years; he received an honorable discharge at the close of the war, after which he followed agriculture fourteen years, and at his death left his family well pro- vided for. His children were named Zoe, who is now a school-teacher; Joe and Matthew O., the latter two being at home with their mother, with whom, also, our subject is now making his home.
In polities the Darling family have for many years been adherents of the democratic party, with which our subject for many years also affiliated, but of late he has sympathized with the prohibitionists. He has served his fellow- citizens as township appraiser, also as town- ship trustee, and has likewise filled a number of minor positions. He is steward of his church society, and has always been regarded as a pillar of that organization. He is much respected as an experienced agriculturist, on whose advice reliance can at all times be im- plicitly placed, and he is honored for his in- tegrity and unswerving morality. .
LARK DARLING. - In the subject at hand we have one of Ohio's honored pioneers and a man whose father and grandfather before him were among the earliest and best known settlers of this
section of the state. The name of Darling is a familiar one in the counties of Richland and Putnam, where four generations of the family have lived, and in the latter county our sub- ject is a successful and representative farmer of Monroe township, where nearly the whole of his life has been passed.
Jonathan Darling, our subject's paternal grandfather, was a pioneer of Richland county, Ohio, and a man prominent in the early his- tory of the state. He formerly lived in Penn- sylvania, and after his marriage in that state, came to Ohio to seek his fortune and to make a home for himself and his family. He had been a participant in the war of 1812, where he distinguished himself, and in after years he was a democrat of the old Jacksonian type. When he first settled in Richland county that section was almost a stranger to the presence of white men, and the forests were filicu with Indians and wild animals. There Jonathan Darling labored assidnonsly, and with success, to attain a competency. He started without financial aid, but a man of his energy and capacity could not fail to amass property, and he became a prominent farmer, owning over 300 acres of land. At the same time he be- came a leading man in the county, his influ- ence being widely felt.
Vincent Darling, our subject's father, was born in Richland county, Ohio, July 9, 1820. He was reared upon his father's farm, and throughout life he followed agricultural pur- suits. He received a good practical education and upon attaining manhood was umted in marriage to Miss Margaret Catlitt, who was born in Virginia, October 20, 1822. She was the daughter of Hanson and Elizabeth (Miller) Catlitt, who came from Virginia to Richland county, and who afterward removed to a farm in Pleasant townslup. Putnam county, where they lived the remainder of their days. They were consistent members of the Methodist
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church and were people of high standing in the community. Harrison Catlitt was a Jack- sonian democrat in politics and a man of influ- ence. Vincent and Margaret Darling were married in Richland county, where they lived for two years. In 1848 they came to Putnam county and located in Pleasant township, where they purchased a tract of wooded land and proceeded to make a home there. They endured all of the privations incident to pio- neer life, and made for themselves a com- petence, developing the tract of land into a fine farm of 242 acres. In politics Vincent Darling was a Jacksonian democrat, and in the early days of the county he was one of the most influential and public-spirited citizens. His death occurred February 6, 1883, while the mother is still living at North Creek. Eight children were born to this estimable couple, all of whom are now living, their names in order of birth being as follows: Clark, Editha, Caroline, Sophia, Columbus, Louisa, Hiram and Harriet.
Clark Darling, our subject, and the eldest of the family of children, was born in Rich- land county, Ohio, August 9, 1847. He was reared upon the home farm, and has followed the vocation of farming through life. With the exception of a short time spent in Kos- ciusko county, Ind., he has always lived in Richland and Putnam counties, Ohio, where he is widely known. In 1874 he was united in marriage to Miss Ada Marshall, who was a native of Xenia, Ohio, being the daughter of William and Eliza (Cleland) Marshall. Mrs. Clark Darling was a lady of lovely character and a prominent member of the Methodist church from her youth. She was the mother of four children: Ehner E., Minnie M., Flora B. and Wesley M., the last named being now deceased. The mother died June 12, 1886. Om subject was later united in marriage to Miss Katie Pettit, who was born in Riley town-
ship, Putnam county, Ohio, November 7, 1863. She is the daughter of Moses and Sarah (Soverns) Pettit, and a sister of Mrs. William R. Summerland, concerning whom individual mention is made in connection with the sketch of her husband, appearing elsewhere in this volume. Moses and Sarah Pettit came to Putnam county in 1862, and gained recogni- tion as people of intelligence and honor, occu- pying a position of prominence in the com- munity. Mr. and Mrs. Clark Darling are the parents of one son, Hugh L. In 1883 Clark Darling settled on his present farin of eighty acres, which he cleared and transformed from dense woods into a fertile and productive tract, equipped with good buildings and with every- thing necessary for the successful carrying on of agriculture. In politics our subject is a democrat, although in no sense an active par- tisan, and is a man who retains the regard of a wide circle of acquaintances.
RANCIS M. CURRY, an industrions and thriving farmer of Union to: '1- ship, Putnam county, Ohio, was born in Davis county. lowa, December 5, 1843, a son of James and Diana (Titns) Curry. The father of Francis M., James Curry, was born in Pittsburg, Pa., March 30, 1809, and was a son of William Curry, was a native of Pennsylvania, and his only child was James, father of subject. William Curry was acci- dentally drowned, and his widow married for her second husband Josiah Twambley, and to this union were born two children, David, of Delaware counry, Ohio, and George of Chi- cago-Mr. Twambley having been a soklier of the war of 1812.
James Curry, father of Francis M., in 1821 was brought to Olno by his grandparents, who settled in Knox county, where he received a limited education and was reared to farm-
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ing. He there married, January 13, 1831, Miss Diana Titus, who was born in Coschoc- ton county, Ohio, December 12, 1811, and still survives, a daughter of George and Mar- garet (Sheets) Titus. To this marriage were born ten children, in the following order; John C., Josiah T. and Sarah C., who died in childhood; Mrs. Margaret Best, of Columbus Grove; Mary E., wife of Fred Frucher, of Pleasant township; Francis M., our subject; Maria, wife of George Southworth, of Colum- bus Grove; Cordelia, married to C. Frucher, of Allen county; James, farmer of California, and Eliza J., wife of H. White, of Toledo, Olio. Mr. Curry continued to farm in Knox county until 1840; when he went to lowa, where he was employed in farming and shoe- making. He then engaged in the practice of medicine until about 1846, when he returned to Ohio and farmed in Delaware county until 1851, and then came to Putnam county and entered eighty acres of land, which he cleared and on which he erected a comfortable dwell- ing, where he still lives, in Union township, on the same place with his son, Francis M., our subject. He is a republican in politics, was a constable in Iowa, and has held the office of school trustee in Putnam county, Ohio. At the age of sixteen he was a Methodist but later in life became a member of the United Breth- ren church.
Francis M. Curry was reared to farmning in Delaware and Putnam counties. In Decem- ber, 186!, he responded to his country's call for defenders of her flag, and volunteered in company F, Fifty-seventh Ohio infantry, under Col. Rice, and served three years and eight months, taking part in thirty-three hard- fought battles, among the chief of which were Shiloh, Corinth, Vicksburg, Jackson, Atlanta campaign, Lovejoy Station, the march to the sca, Bentonville, Raleigh and all the engage- ments in North Carolina and South Carolina,
and also participated in the grand review with his regiment at Washington, D. C., receiving an honorable discharge at Little Rock, Ark., August 14, 1865. October 31, 1866, Mr. Curry was united in marriage with Miss Amanda Hull, born in Putnam county, Janu- ary 28, 1843, of Scotch-Irish descent, and daughter of Ludwig and Martha (Todd) Hull. There have been seven children born to this happy union, as follows; Thomas W., of Cali- fornia; Francis H., tile manufacturer of Put- namn county. Ohio; Ida M., wife of H. Frost, of Paulding county; Edith D. and Henry L., at home, and two infants deceased. After his marriage Mr. Curry settled on his present farm, but in 1885 his dwelling and contents were destroyed by fire, and the same year he erected the fine residence he now occupies. He is a skillful and progressive farmer and public-spirited citizen, a republican in politics and a member of Ogilvie post, No. 64, G. A. R., while his social standing is all that any one could desire.
ORRIS A. DARBYSHIRE, M. D., one of the leading physicians and surgeons of Ottawa, is a native of Putnam county, Ohio, born May 19, 1863. His father, Jesse Darbyshire, was born December 5, 1817. in Fayette county, Pa., and when a lad of thirteen, accompanied his parents to Guernsey county, Ohio, thence, later, to Clinton county, where he made his home until 1845. In that year he can to Putnam county, purchasing a tract of 100 acres of wild land in Sugar Creek township, from which, in due time, he developed the farm where his remaining years were passed. He added to his original purchase at intervals, until he accumulated a tract of 200 acres, the greater part of which was brought to a high state of cultivation under his skillful manage-
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ment, and he became one of the leading agri- culturists and stock raisers of the county. May 22, 1844, Jesse Darbyshire and Lydia Pierce were united in the bonds of wedlock, and of their marriage were born children whose names and dates of birth are as follows: Mary M., born May 5, 1845, married Jacob Deffen- baugh, and resides in the township of Sugar Creek; James M., a resident of Continental, Putnam county; John W., May 13, 1850, a farmer of Sugar Creek township; Benjamin M., November 23, 1852, also a resident of Sugar Creek township; David D., March 20, 1855, minister of the Disciples' church, sta- tioned at Bluffton, Ind .; Harvey N., August 20, 1857, died August 25, 1860; Samuel J. and Eliza J., twins, born September 28, 1860 -- the former a physician and surgeon, of Warren, Ind., the latter the wife of Albert C. Wood, of Riner, Ohio; and Morris A., our subject. The father was for many years an active member of the Christian church, in which he held the office of deacon. He was a true type of a christian gentleman, and de- parted this life on the 14th day of August, 1894, at the age of seventy-seven years. Mrs. Darbyshire was born in Logan county, Ohio, December 2, 1825, and is still living.
Dr. Morris A. Darbyshire spent his youth- ful years upon the home farm in Sugar Creek township, attending, in the meantime, the common schools until his eighteenth year, when he began teaching, which he followed, during the winter seasons, for some time, earn- ing, thereby, means to prosecute his studies in the National Normal university at Lebanon, Ohio. He also attended the Ohio Normal university at Ada, from which institution he received the degree of B. S., and afterward that of M. S. In 1887 he began the study of medicine with his brother, Samnel J. Darby- shire, at Fort Wayne, Ind., and subsequently attended the Starling Medical college at
Columbus, Ohio, from which place he was graduated March 6, 1890, receiving honorable mention for efficiency in a class of thirty-nine students. He prepared for the general prac- tice of his profession and located first in the town of Gilboa, Ohio, where he remained until 1894, in December of which year he sought a wider field, and came to Ottawa, where he has since resided.
The doctor was married February 1, 1893, to Miss Mary M. Matthias, daughter of Dr. A. C. and Eleanor (Harris) Matthias, of Gilboa. Mrs. Darbyshire was born November 12, 1871, and is a lady of many excellent qualities of mind and heart. The doctor is a member of the I. O. O. F., having united with the Gilboa lodge, No. 459, in February, 1894.
ICHAEL C. DAUB, an honored resident of Rice, Monroe township, Putnam county, Ohio, is the senior member of the firm of Daub & Lewis, who for the past five years have been successfully engaged in the manufacture and sale of high-grade tile at this point. Michael Daub, father of M. C. and H. M. Daub (post- master at Rice), was a native of Germany, where he was born November 1, 1813 In his youth he became proficient in a trade which is now gone into decadence, learning to mann- facture wrought-iron nails, the whole process being accomplished by hand. He worked at this trade until seventeen years of age, having in the meanwhile acquired a good German education. At the age noted he came, in company with an uncle, to America, and settled in Lancaster county, Pa., and when twenty-five years of age, he was united in marriage to Catherine Harmon. Their chil- dren in order of birth are as follows: Lydia, wife of James Whitmer; Amos, who died in infancy; David; Rebecca, wife of James A.
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Bruner; Catherine, wife of James A. Mills; Sarah, wife of Andrew Rockey; Henry M. and Michael C. The parents retained their resi- dence in Lancaster county, Pa., for many years and there all their children were born, the father having been engaged in farming and quarrying. In 1866 he came to Sandusky county, Ohio, and thence removed to Seneca county, where he remained until 1885, when he came to Putnam county. The mother's death occurred in 1880, she having been a devoted member of the United Brethren church.
Michael C. Daub was born in Lancaster county, Pa., December 5, 1857, passing his youth on the old homestead farm and receiv- ing a common English education. In the year 1880 he came to Monroe township, Putnam county, Ohio, and has since been identified with the interests of this section. For a time he was engaged in farming and later purchased forty acres of wooded land, and gave his at- tention to its reclamation. He finally bought a farm of eighty acres and devoted himself to its cultivation for five years. In 1890 he be- came identified with lus present line of busi- ness, the firm having a well equipped plant, from which is turned out tile of the most superior order-a fact which has secured to them a good patronage, which is constantly increasing in extent. Mr. Danb is well de- serving of the title of a self-made man, since he has gained his present prosperity entirely through his own efforts. In politics he is a stanch republican. In 1882 he was united in marriage to Margaret A. Parrott, who was born in Fayette county, Ohio, April 1, 1862. The children of this union are Wallie B., Alpha, Arullie, Leafy M., and Perry W.
Mrs. Daub's father, J. S. Parrott, is one of the substantial and honored pioneer citizens of Monroe township, being of German descent. His grandfather, Samuel Parrott emigrated
from the fatherland and settled in Rocking- ham county, Va., where he owned a large plantation, distillery and a number of slaves. In an early day he removed with his family to Perry county, Ohio, where he remained until his death. He was a democrat in poli- tics and a Presbyterian in his religious faith; he was an active participant in the Revolu- tionary war and saw many years of hard service. Phillip Parrott, father of John S., was born in Rockingham county, Va., and there passed his entire life. He was the pro- prietor cf 360 acres of land, and conducted an extensive business in the distilling and merchant-milling line. He took up arms in defense of the Union in the war of 1812. He married Barbara Snider, of Rockingham county, Va., and their children in order of birth were as follows: Bronson M., Susanna, Jeremiah, Leanna, John, Mary A., Samuel, Barbara E. and John S. In politics the father was a den- ocrat, and religiously was' a member of the Methodist church, while his wife adher d to the Presbyterian faith.
John S. Parrott was born in Rockingham county, March 23, 1835, and in that connty was united in marriage to Angeline Fifer, a native of the same county, born October 25, 1821, the daughter of Benjamin and Elizabeth A. (Daugherty) Fifer, the former of whom was born June 28, 1803, and the latter July 3, 1810. Four years after their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Parrott removed to Fayette county, Ohio, and thence to Illinois, finally returning to Fayette county, where they remained until 1865, when they removed to Monroe township, Putnam county, locating in the woods and reclaiming a farm of seventy-four acres. In politics Mr. Parrott was an adherent to the faith of his father, and has served his town- ship as trustee; both Ir and his wife have long been members of the Christian church Mr. Parrott inherited a distinctive loyalty and in
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the time of his country's need tendered his services in her defense, enlisting July 3, 1862, as a member of company C, Ninetieth Ohio volunteer infantry, and participating in active campaign work throughout Kentucky, Ten- nessee, Alabama and Georgia-in which con- nection he participated in the battles of Stone River, Shelbyville, Nashville, Chickamauga, Lookout Mountain and Mission Ridge. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Parrott are in order of birth as follows: William H., Mary J., Perry F., Samuel E., Elizabeth E., Cynthia A., Cyrus H., Margaret, John S., Harvey and Rose E.
ICHOLAS D. DAVIS, a prosperous and enterprising farmer of Van Buren township, Putnam county, was born in Hancock county, Ohio, October 5, 1844, was reared on his father's farm, and educated in the common schools. He is a son of Alford and Nancy (Houchins) Davis, the former a native of Kentucky and the latter of Ohio. Alford Davis was about three years of age when he first came to Ohio in company with his parents, and first located in Ross county, thence moved to Wyandot county, and finally to Hancock county, where he still lives, at the age of eighty years, being one of its most prominent and extensive farmers, although he started in life without any means whatever Alford Davis was first married to Nancy Houchins, to which union were born « ight children, of whom five are still living, viz: Laura, wife of John Vansicle, a farmer of Hancock county; Nicholas D., our subject; Delilah, married to Benjamin Henline, also a farmer of Hancock county; William L. and Herman, both farmers of the same county and ummarried. The mother of this family died August 6. 1857, a consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and Mr. Davis
remained single until 1867, when he married Mrs. Amanda Stows, a widow with one child and a daughter of a Mr. Findlay; to this mar- riage have been born two children, viz: Nancy, wife of Frank Robinson, a farmer, and David H .. also engaged in agricultural pursuits. Mr. Davis is not a member of any church, but is a strictly moral man, and in politics is a re- publican.
Nicholas D. Davis, the subject of this sketch, remained on his father's farm until 1868, when he married Miss Anna E. Van- gilder, who was born in Stark county. Ohio, May 4, 1845, a daughter of Isaac Vangilder, proprietor of a woolen mill, but who. after two or three changes of location in the state, finally settled in Lucas county. Iowa, where for a time he was engaged in farming, then sold his land and engaged in the grocery busi- ness at Russell, in the same county. He was there overtaken by an accident in 1893, being killed by the cars, and dying a member of the Presbyterian church. His children, by two marriages, were Anna E., wife of our subject; Williamson, a resident of Chicago; Isaac N., a railroad man, living in Salt Lake City; James, farming in fowa, and Matthew, of the same state. The union of Mr. and Mrs. N. D. Davis has been blessed with four children, one of whom, however, died young, the sur- vivors being Cora L., wife of Bruce Dukes, a farmer of Hancock county, Ohio; Orrin P., yet single and a teacher by profession, and Merle C., still at home.
At his marriage, in 1868, Nicholas D. Davis bought eighty-three acres in Van Buren town- ship, Putnam county, on which he still resides -153 additional acres of the same tract hav- ing recently been received by our subject from his father. At the time our subject made his purchase the place had been improved with a small house, and forty acres had been cleared of timber. The place is located five miles
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east of Leipsic, and five miles west of Mc- Comb, Ohio, and is now all cleared, ditched and tiled, and under a thorough state of culti- vation. It is improved with a large two-story modern frame dwelling, furnished with every convenience, and has a substantial barn and other proper and needful out-buildings. Mr. Davis carries on general farming, and also gives some attention to live stock, raising short-horn cattle and Poland-China hogs, and all other stock necessary for home use. Mr. Davis has brought his farin to its present state of perfection entirely through his own skill and excellent management, and has made it the boast and pride of the township. He has reared his family in respectability and use- fulness, and he is himself noted for his public spirit and generous-hearted impulses-never neglecting to aid freely any enterprise designed to advance the welfare of the township and county, nor to assist the poor and needy on all suitable occasions. He is a faithful mem- ber of the Methodist Episcopal church, and in politics is an active supporter of the republican party.
LFRED H. DAY, one of the leading citizens and business men of Colum- bus Grove, and one of the well known men of Putnam county, Ohio, is a native of the old Bay State, having been born at Wilbraham, Mass., in 1840, and is a son of Alvin and Anna M. Day.
Alfred H. Day, our subject, received his schooling in the common country schools of his neighborhood and at the age of sixteen years left home, going west to Rockport, Ill., where he spent two years working in a flour- ing-mill and clerking in a store. In 1858 he came to Lima, Olno, and for three years was employed in the warehouse of King & Day. In 1861 Mr. Day came to Columbus Grove,
and in partnership with J. W. King, of Xenia, Ohio, engaged in the general mercantile busi- ness. The firm of King & Day continued three years, when the senior member withdrew, since which time Mr. Day has continued gen- eral merchandising, meeting with deserved success.
Mr. Day was united in marriage on Sep- tember 20, 1865, at her native place. with Ada L., daughter of Rufus M. and Lucy A. Pease, of Monson, Mass. To this union the following children have been born: Rose E., born September 17, 1866, and married to Dr. Frank H. Pugh, of Bryan, Ohio, but formerly of Toledo; Kyle M., born September 7, 1869 Med February 14, 1870; Homer R., born April 9, 1873, and now associated with his father in business.
Mr. Day has been a citizen of Columbus Grove for thirty-four years, during all of which time he has been identified with the business interests of the town, and has proved namnself an exemplary and most worthy citizen. His enterprise and progressive ideas have kept him abreast of the times, and every movement leading to the building up and improvement of the town and community has had his endorse- ment and encouragement. His large business interests have necessarily caused him to oc- cnpy a place in the front rank among his fel- lew-citizens, and his business methods and sterling qualities of mind and heart have won for him the full respect and confiden .... of all who know him. His has been an active and useful life, and he has made his impress upon his community. Beginning life at the bottom as a boy withont means, Mr. Day has worked his way to his present position of affluence un- aided, relying upon his own energy, mdustry and perseverance. He has been unitorinly successful in his busmess ventures, and his adopted town has been benefited by hus pros- perity in the way of sene of its most substan-
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