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 1 > Part 26
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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY
Fort Wayne, Ind., for about two years, and then went with the Toledo, St. Louis & Kansas City R. R. as roadmaster between Holgate and Celina and between Delphos and Marion. He was with this road about five years, and then became roadmaster of the Pittsburg, Akron & Western R. R., the road then running from Delphos to Carey. With . this road he has remained as roadmaster since the fall of 1881, and is at present roadmaster in charge of the entire road from Delphos to Akron. In 1890 he also began farming, pur- chasing his father-in-law's homestead of eighty acres in section No. 26, Washington township, Van Wert county, where he now makes his home.
Mr. Dolt was married, in 1863, to Martha Will; daughter of Peter Will, deceased, one of the pioneers of Van Wert county. To this mion eleven children have been born, via Peter J., Robert A., John, deceased; Annie. George, Alice, Katherine, Emmadus, Hugh, Martha, and an unnamed infant, deceased. Mr. Dolt and family are members of Saint John's Roman Catholic church.
J ULIAN DORIOT, widely and well known as the proprietor of the Bluffton Roller mills, and one of the most highly respected citizens of Bluffton, sprang from French parents, his father, Frederick Doriot, having been born in Canton Doub, Angust 15, 1820. Frederick Doriot was a blacksmith by trade, as had been his fathers before him for generations in the same canton in which he was born. He married Clemence Chappie, who was born December 25, 1819. in the same canton, and was a danghter of Peter Chappie. Frederick Doriot emigrated to the United States abont ten years after his marriage, o: in 1854, embarking at Havre, France, in March of that year. in a sailing
vessel, and landed in New York after a voyage of thirty days, which was not a very lengthy voyage for a sailing vessel at that time. At first he went to Buffalo, N. Y., and engaged in blacksmithing. Six months later he went to Pendleton, Ohio, where he lived three years, and moved then to a farm one mile from Pandora, in Putnam county, where bought 160 acres of land, which was partially cleared. The rest of this farm he cleared and lived upon until 1884, when he moved into Pan- ! dora, and there died September 23, 1893, In politics he was a republican and in religion a Lutheran. His children are as follows: Rose S., Emile and Julian-the later the subject of this sketch. Mr. Doriot was a hard-working, industrious and successful man, accumulating a handsome property, and acquiring a reputa- tion for honorable and fair dealing throughout the community in which he lived. Mrs. Dor- iot is still living, an aged lady. and highly re- spected for her many womanly qualities.
Julian Doriot was born on his father's farm in Putnam county, Ohio, September 2. 1860, was well educated in his youth in the common schools, and was married Septen ber 16, 1885, to Lycha J. Wamsley, who was born Septem- ber 28, 1861, in Putnam county, her parents being William and Ennice (Rice) Wamsley, a pioneer family of that connty. Mr. Wams- ley was a soldier in the late Civil war and died in the service, leaving his wife and his daughter, Lydia, then but six months old. Mrs. Wainsley died in 1863.
To Mr. and Mrs. Doriot there have been born seven children, as follows: Glenn W., Hazel V., Carl E., Lester I .. , Lois L., Will- iam F., and Corwin J. Four of the above children died in infancy-Glenn, Hazel, Les- ter and Lois. Mr. Doriot, in 1884, bought a mill at Pandora, removing to Blitton, and in 1886 removed the mill to Bhiffton, and erected here a full rollei mill of the
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OF ALLEN COUNTY.
latest pattern and 100-barrel capacity. He also owns'an elevator in connection with his mill, which has a capacity of 20,000 bushels. The mill produces the finest grades of flour, which finds a ready sale in the surrounding country. Mr. Doriot has invested in his plant about $20,000, and buys grain from the sur -. rounding country. In politics he is a republi- can, and is a member of Bhiffton lodge, No. 371, I. O. O. F., having held at the chairs, including that of noble grand. He is a man of excellent business ability. and of known in- tegrity of character, and sustains a high stand- ing in the business world.
J OHN R. DRAY, one of the progressive farmers of Richland township, Allen county, Ohio, and an ex-soldier of the Civil war, was born in Trumbull county. Ohio, December 30, 1835, on his father's farmn. and is of sturdy Irish stock, his paternal great- grandfather having come from the Emerald isle to the. United States many years since. The grandfather of subject was born in the America and was one of the earliest pioneers of Trumbull county, Ohio.
Robert Dray, father of subject, was born in Trumbull county, and there married Re- becca Battles, who was born June 8, 1800, near Meadville, Crawford county, Pa., and to this union were born five children, viz: Sam- iel, Nancy, Beriah, John R. and Thomas. The father, Robert Dray, brought his family from Trumbull county to Allen county in 18 18, and here settled on a tract of eighty acres of Land, in Richland township, which is now the home of our subject. This tract Mr. Dray re- deemed from the forest and converted into a comfortable home and fertile farm, on which he passed the remainder of his days, dying at the age of seventy-two years -- a democrat ml
politics and a highly respected citizen. His widow reached the extreme age of nine-four years, two months and seventeen days, and died a devout member of the Campbellite or Christian church.
John R. Dray, at the early age of thirteen years, left the parental farm to seek a fortune, and first found employment with William Por- ter, an extensive dealer in live stock and a farmer, with whom he remained some years, and then sought and found other occupations which engaged his attention until about Jan- uary, 1861, when he came to Bluffton, and in August of that year enlisted in company B, Twenty-first Ohio volunteer infantry, for three years, or during the war, the company being in command of Capt. George B. Walker -- after its organization Mr. Dray being elected sergeant. Mr. Drey served out his term of enlistment faithfully, and was honorably dis- charged, twenty miles south of Atlanta, Ga., in September, 1864. He took an active part in the following battles, in the order named: Ivy Mountain, Ky., November 9, 1862; Bridge- port, Ala., April 15, 1862; LaVergne, Tenn., October 7, 1862; Nashville, Tenn., November 5, 1862, and for four weeks was detailed to guard a private house at Murfreesboro; Stone River, Tenn., December 31, 1862, and Tulla- homa, Tenn., later on the same day; Dug Gap, Ga., September 11, 1863; Chickamauga, Ga., September 19-20, 1863; Mission Ridge, Tenn., November 25, 1863; Buzzard's Roost, Ga., May 8, 1864; Resaca, Ga., May 13-16, 1864; New Hope Church, Ga., May ?8, 1864; Kene- saw Mountain, Ga., June 9-30, 1864; incluid- ing the general assault, June 27. 1864; Vinings Station, July 2-5, 1864; Chattahoochee River, Ga., July 6-10, 1864; Peach Tree Creek, Ga., July 20, 1864: Atlanta, Ga., July 23, 1864: Jonesboro, Ga., September 1, 1864, and in all the other battles and skirmishes of the Atlanta campaign. At Chickamauga part of Mr Dray's
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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY
regiment was captured, having run out of amu- nition, and Mr. Dray was himself struck in the head by a spent ball, was knocked senseless, and in consequence was confined in the hos- pital for a short time at Chattanooga, Tenn., after which he rejoined his regiment, and served until honorably discharged, as men- tioned above, when he returned to Bluffton, where he has since resided.
March 10, 1867, Mr. Dray was united m marriage, at Bluffton, with Miss Rebecca C. Cramer, who was born February 22, 1843, in Hancock county, Ohio, a daughter of Henry and Mary Cramer. Mrs. Dray was but two weeks old when she lost her mother; when her father died she had reached the age of fourteen years only. Her only living relatives then left were her brothers-Jesse, William, Andrew and Michael-and of these her brother Jesse was a gallant soldier of company B, Twenty-first Ohio volunteers, and served in all the engagements in which Mr. Dray par- ticipated. After marriage Mr. Dray was for eight years the genial and accommodating host of the American House at. Bluffton; he then erected a fine two-story brick residence, fol- lowed the live stock trade four years, for which his early experience with Mr. Porter had well qualified him, and then purchased from his mother the old homestead, on which he has since resided, and which he has greatly im- proved, both as to the dwelling and the culti- vation of the farm, having now an elegant home. In politics Mr. Dray is a democrat and for six years was township trustee. He is a member of Robert Hamilton post, No. 262, G. A. R., in which he has filled severa! of the offices; he is also a member of the Royal Arcanmin, and few men stand higher as a citizen. He was a good, faithful, brave and true soldier and he has been as faithful and trne to all the duties and positions he has been . called upon to fulfill and to hold as a civilian.
and there is no man, either in the town of Bluffton or the township of Richland more honored or respected than John R. Dray.
BRAM EARLY, a prominent farmer of Monroe township, Allen county, Ohio, is a native of the county, and was born December 25, 1840, the third of the nine children born to Jacob and Mary (Simmons) Early, natives of Shenandoah valley, Va., where they were married in 1838, and whence they came to Ohio and located, first, in Bath township, Allen county, then re- moved to a point near Lima, and many years later retired to West Cairo, where the father now lives, having lost his wife in 1882.
Abram Early was reared on his father's farm, but was afforded good school advantages, and when a young man entered a store at Lima, Ohio, as a clerk, and hell the position until his enlistment, in 1862, m the Ninety- ninth Ohio volunteer infantry, and was as- signed to the army of the Cumberland. He took part in all the hard-fought battles and weary marches of his regiment until, when marching with Sherman to the sea, he was captured by the enemy November 6, 1864, and taken consecutively to Macon, to Athens, to Augusta, to Savannah, to Thomasville, and lastly to Andersonville, in which last-named prisen-pen he was held until the close of the war, when he and his fellow-prisoners were taken to Jacksonville, Fla., and there turned loose. Mr. Early succeeded in making his way to Washington, D. C., where he received an honorable discharge. He ther returned to Lima and resumed clerking, winch he followed until 1866, when he married Sarah Miller, daughter of John B. Miller, of Virginia, who settled in Allen county, Ohio, in 1838, and was a large land owner, and also a prominent member of the German Baptist . hurch. To.
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OF ALLEN COUNTY.
the union of Abram and Sarah Early were born seven children, viz: Mary, wife of Cario Swick; Emily, a missionary, but now in Chi- cago; Ella, at home: Calvin, a medical student; Mildred, a teacher; Eunice and Carl S., at home.
After his marriage Mr. Early at once set- tled on his present farm near Rockport, where he buys, raises and feeds stock, and largely handles and ships hogs; lately he has been interested in an organization having in view the development of the oil interests of the county; the company has already sunk one well, but. not having struck oil, is on the lookout for a more prolific field. January 3, 1889, Mrs. Early was called away, dying a sincere believer in the faith of the German Baptist church. In 1891 Mr. Early married Miss Susan Miller, a daughter of Samuel R. Miller, a native of Pennsylvania, but now a resident of Elk- hart county, Ind., where he settled when a young man, and where, as a democrat, be has served twenty years as township trustee and six years as county sheriff. To his second marriage there have been born no children to Mr. Early. Mr. and Mrs. Early are members of the German Baptist church, to the support of which he is a liberal contributor; in politics Mr. Early is a stanch republican, and while no office seeker, takes an interest as a good citi- zen in the affairs of the party and the country.
S AMUEL EAST, of German township. Allen county, is a native of Pickaway county, Ohio, and was born Decem- ber 2, 1830. He was reared on the farm in that county, and was carly initiated into the art of clearing land and in the per- formance of all the work incident to the preparation of a farm for successful tillage. The old log school-house was his academy, and in this academy he received all the i-
struction necessary for a successful agricul- turist and useful citizen. He remained at home with his father as long as that father lived, and continued to operate the farm until his mother died, which was in 1871, when he purchased a portion of his present farin, the amount then purchased consisting of 228 acres, located in sections Nos. 22 and 15. German township. Upon this farm he has since re- sided and has long been known and recognized as one of the most solid and substantial men of the county. He has always contributed his full share toward its progress and development and has been and is ready to aid any move- ment promising to promote its best interests. Some time after the purchase of the original portion of his present farm, he purchased seventy-six acres just north of the home, in section No. 15, immediately adjoining the 228 acres, and later 160 acres in section No. 2 , of which he sold eighty acres to his son, Monroe. He also has sold forty acres of that lying in section No. 15 to his son-in-law, Daniel Crider. Of the 160 acres, which he owned in Jackson township, Van Wert county, he sold eighty acres to his son, Alfred. Besides these several parcels of land he owns eighty acres in sec- tions Nos. 15 and 16, German township, Allen county, and summing up the several portions, his present possessions consist of 504 acres of as fine farming lands as any man need wish to own. Mr. East began life at the bottom of the ladder, and like many other citizens of this free land, so full of opportunities for the industries, has, by industry, persistent determi- nation to overcome difficulties, and by honest dealing with all those with whom he has sus- tained business relations, achieved success, and is to-day one of the well-to-do citizens of Allen county.
In politics Mr. East is a democrat, and while never seeking politcal preferment, he has held the office of township trustee five
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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY
years. In religious belief he is a Baptist, and has always lived consistently with that faith. Mr. East was married December 29, 1854, to Miss Elizabeth Mumaw, a native of Knox county, Ohio, and a daughter of Frederick and Eleanora (Logan) Minaw. To this marriage there have been born nine children: Marian, deceased: Monroe M., Alfred and Albert, twins, of whom Alfred is deceased; Melissa E., deceased wife of Newton Ransbottom; Mari- etta, wife of Daniel Crider of German town- ship; Duly I., wife of Titus Crites of German township; Sarah P., wife of Harry Desinberg of German township, and Irene B. (dead).
Monroe M. East is one of the most pros- perons young farmers of German township, Allen county. He was born in this township March, 13, 1858, and was reared on the old homestead, to which he has always been much attached. His education was received in the publie schools. Remaining at home until his twentieth year, he then rented 160 aeres of land of his father, in section No. 16, of Ger- man township, upon which, in 1886, he ereeted a frame residence, 14×28 feet in size, with an "L" 14x14 feet, all two stories in height. Many other improvements were made, among them the erection of a wind-pump, for the purpose of raising water for his stoek. In 1891 he purchased eighty aeres of the land he had rented of his father, continuing to rent the remaining portion of the 160 acres. In 1886 he purchased fourteen and one-half acres in section No. 21, which he still retains. Mr. East follows general farming and stoek raising, as does his father also, and beside has made a specialty of raising sheep, though of recent years he has not found this branch of farming as profitable as he could have wished. For some years he gave considerable attention to market gardening, but this branch of industry he has of late abandoned. At present he is engaged in baling hay, operating one baler by
gasoline power, and now also owns a steam thresher.
Politically, like his father, he is a staneh demoerat, and, as is also his wife, he is a member of the radical branch of the United Brethren ehureh. Mr. East was married November 1, 1877, to Miss Priseilla A. Crider, į daughter of Isaae and Susan (Seerfast) Crider, and a native of Auglaize county, Ohio, born in the town of Cridersville, March 17, 1855. Mr. and Mrs. East are the parents of six ehil- dren: Susan E., deceased; Olive E .; Irene B .; Bessie M .; Samuel C. and Catherine G. Mr. East is a young man of energy and in- dustry, and is unusually progressive, fully abreast of the times; is ambitious and intelli- gent, and without doubt the future has in store for him great prosperity and happiness.
AVID EAST, of German township, Allen county, Ohio, is a son of Isaac and Barbara (Burkholder) East, both deceased. The father was born August 7, 1819, in Piekaway county, Ohio, and when about thirteen years of age came to Allen county. November 28, 1839, he was married to Miss Barbara Burkholder, who was born in Pennsylvania, January 12, 1819. She was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Burk- holder, and of German origin. After the marriage of Isaac East he settled in German township, Allen county, Ohio, on a tract of fifteen acres, the gift of his father. Here he worked with his father, and aided in operating a tread-mill, where flour and meal were ground and lumber sawed. In 1848, being the entire owner of the plant, and believing it behind the times, he purchased a steam outfit and applied it to his milling interests. He operated this until 1855, when he erected a modern one, with four pairs of burrs. He also added machinery for carding wool and attached it to
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the new plant. He continned in this business until August 23, 1863, when the mill was de- stroyed by fire, whereupon he went to Lima, purchased ground and erected a grist and carding-mill combined, which was carried on successfully until 1869, when this plant was destroyed in the same manner as the first. Isaac East then turned his attention to farming and operating a saw-mill. His death occurred December 9, 1894, at the residence of his son David. A vohune of no mean size might be written with profit of this man, and the his- torian should redeem it from obscurity, which it nowise merits.
David East, the eldest of the nine children born to Isaac and Barbara East, was born September 26, 1840, was reared on the farm and assisted in the mills, getting his education in the public schools of the county. After the milling plant in Lima burned, in partnership with J. W. Ross, he erected a grist-mill on the site of the old one, and, after having operated this mill under various names, Mr. East, in 1876, was elected county treasurer, and had assumed his duties as such when the mill was again burned to the ground. In 1882 it was again burned, making four fires which Mr. East had to contend with, sustaining heavy losses each time. He filled the office of county treasurer four years. His ruling passion was milling in its various departments, but in 1887 he made a departure and directed his entire attention to the dairying business, which Mrs. East had established in 1877 with one cow, and in 1887 the herd had increased to twenty-four. They continued in the dairy business until 1895, when the enterprise was then disposed of. In 1888 they moved to their present home, a farm of 103 acres in section No. 22, German township, where they are now en- gaged in farming. Mr. East was married, in 1863, to Miss Sarah J. Curtice, daughter of Lewis Curtice, and was born in Fairfield
county, Ohio, January 9, 1841. Five children were born to them: Ida F., Elmer A., Mary E. (deceased), Lillie M. and Clara B. The family are members of the Disciples' church, Mr. East being a deacon in the same.
The great-grandfather of our subject was Christopher East, who was born in Germany- a Hessian-and came to America under the banner of King George, of England, with a company of 1,200 soldiers, to participate in the war of the Revolution. He, with about ninety others, deserted King George and joined Washington's forces, fighting for freedom until the close of the war, after which he set- tled in Pennsylvania, near Carlisle. He had a family of seven children. John East the grandfather of our subject, was born Decem- ber 12, 1794, in Pennsylvania, where he learned the carpenter's trade when a young man, and came to Lancaster, Ohio, and worked at his vocation, and when his father came to Pickaway county, John joined him. He married Miss Elizabeth Huffer, of Fairfield county, who was a native of Virginia and born in 1797. In 1832, John and his family came to Allen county, Ohio, to a tract of land which he had before entered, and in time erected a tread-mill for grinding flour and meal, and a saw-mill in which he did the sawing for the neighborhood. His children were, Mary, Isa- dore (deceased), Abraham, (deceased), Eliza- beth and Samuel. He was in religion a strong old-school Baptist and a man of broad and progressive views.
.. V. EATON .- The history of the Eaton family is a long and most in- teresting one, as many of them have been distinguished m many ways. The sketch which follows will be devoted to the ancestry of Judge James Harvey Eaton, and then to the life of the judge himself, who
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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY
was until quite recently a prominent figure in the business life of Bluffton. He was a man highly respected for his sound judgment, keen foresight, and integrity of character. He He was well known for his public spirit and as a pioncer of northwestern Ohio.
Judge Eaton traced his ancestry through many English generations to a brave soldier who fought under King William III. This was John Eaton, great-great-grandfather of Judge James H. Eaton, the principal subject of this sketch. The battle in which John Eaton first distinguished himself was fought on the banks of the Boyne river, Ireland, in 1690. July 1, near the town of Oldridge, in which King William defeated James II. After the subjugation of Ireland John Eaton remained in that country, receiving, in common with others, a large grant of land from England He then became a citizen of Ireland, and there reared a large and highly respected family of children, both sons and daughters.
One of his sons, John, the great-grand- father of the subject, lived on the old farm in Ireland, and of him as of his father it was said that he was a good churchman and an honest man. John Eaton became the father of James, Hugh, and Mary, by his first wife. Of John is known that he was a man of iron constitution, six feet high and of unusual strength, as had been his father before him. He was an extensive farmer, raised many horses and cattle, and also owned a fulling- mill. After the death of his first wife he mar- ried again, and his second wife died in Ireland. Then, in company with his brothers-in-law, a Mr. Kerney and a Mr. Douglas, he emigrated to America. Mr. Douglass afterward became a member of the legislature of Pennsylvania when it convened at Philadelphia.
James Eaton, his son, was born on the home- stead in Ireland. Like his father, he was a man of large frame, but not so tall, being only five feet ten inches in height. He was of a very robust constitution and lived to be eighty- three years old, without having known sick- ness until the last. In his youth he was a great traveler, and was seven years on board a man a man of war, sailing up the Mediter- ranean sea in the old ship Moxus. He was in many battles with the French on sea and land, and on the coast of Africa was at the capture of the Isle of Gory.
Janies married a Miss Croft, who was of a good family, and bore him a son, whom they named Edward. Soon afferward, James and Hngh, a brother wishing the assistance of their father, who was wealthy, went to Ireland, finding that their step-mother was dead, and that their father had emigrated to America. They both then sailed for Philadelphia, and upon reaching that port, having no money to pay for their passage across the sea, one of them remained on board the vessel in port at Philadelphia, while the other found their father and secured the necessary money from him. James sent back to London for his wife, to oome to this country, but, as was frequently the case in those early times, she received no word nor money from him. He settled at Redstone, Fayette county, Pa,, and made im- provements on a farm, returning himself to London in a year, found his wife dead, and as her family wished to keep his child, he gave it to them, and returned to this country alone. In Harford county, Md., he married Elizabeth Downing and, moved west of the Alleghany mountains, settled on land where now stands the town of Cannonsburg, Pa. James Eaton and his wife later moved to Maryland, located at Green Spring Furnace, his wife's father having settled there previously, and they lived
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