A history of Scioto County, Ohio, together with a pioneer record, Part 124

Author: Evans, Nelson W. (Nelson Wiley), 1842-1913
Publication date: 1903
Publisher: Portsmouth, O. N. W. Evans
Number of Pages: 1612

USA > Ohio > Scioto County > A history of Scioto County, Ohio, together with a pioneer record > Part 124

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Our subject was one of ten children, seven boys and three girls. Of the seven boys, six served in the Union army during the Civil War. The youngest, Isaac starved in Andersonville prison. Alpheus, who lives in Preston county, W. Va., is the only son living. One sister is living, Lucinda Smith, widow of Jo- siah Smith, at Bruceton Mills, W. Va. Mr. Cuppett attended the country schools of W. Va. about three months in the year until he was seventeen and then came to Portsmouth and worked at farming until 1861 when he enlisted in Company G, First Ohio Volunteer Infantry, Captain Bailey, and went to Lancas- ter, Pa., but was returned on account of too many men. He re-enlisted in Company B, 22nd O. V. I., Captain Jesse J. Appler for three months. He was discharged at Athens, Ohio, August 2, 1861. He re-enlisted under Capt. O. Wood, September 2, 1861 in Co. B, 13th Missouri, and served until the summer of 1862. The regiment was then changed to 22nd O. V. I. and was mustered out at Camp Dennison, September 12, 1865. He has always been a republican. He served as Treasurer of Upper Nile township from 1897 to 1902. He was married August 22, 1868, to Sarah D. Webb, daughter of John Webb, who came to Adams county, Ohio, from Virginia. Of ten children born to them, seven are living: John S .; W. Benton; Nora, wife of Joseph Odle; Lucy B., wife of J. W. Hisel; Harry; Maggie and George C. Mr. Cuppett formed a partnership with D. L. Webb in the lumber business in 1872, which was continued until 1900. He now resides on his farm on Turkey creek. He has been a member of the M. E. church for twenty years and at present is a trustee of Wesley chapel, Friend- ship, Ohio. Mr. Cuppett is noted for his remarkable resemblance to Gen. John A. Logan. He is a gentleman ot quiet tastes. He has always been industrious

LOUIS CHARLES DAMARIN.

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and a hard worker. He is honest to the core and expects to find the quality in others. He prefers the life of a farmer to all other occupations and enjoys it. He made a most excellent soldier and makes equally as good a citizen, and what is more he knows just what good citizenship is worth to the state. Mr. Cup- pet is highly esteemed by his neighbors and observes the Golden Rule every day of his life.

Frederick Charles Dæhler

was born at Hoechst, Hesse-Darmstadt, April 14, 1836. His father was Freder- ick Wilhelm Daehler, a carpenter, and his mother's maiden name was Mar- garet Clarius. They had eight children, five sons and three daughters. Fred- erick was their third child. He attended school in Germany till his fourteenth year, when he was apprenticed to the cabinet maker's trade at Frankfort-on- the-Main. He spent three years learning his trade, and then worked at it one year, a part of the time at Lindheim, and a part at Hochstadt. When he was eighteen years of age, John Leichner, whose daughter he afterwards married, was about to take his family to the United States, and young Daehler asked to go along. He was made welcome and the party went down the Rhine to Rot- terdam, thence to Hull, in England. thence to Liverpool, where they embarked on the ship Dreadnaught, and after five weeks on the ocean, landed at New York. From there, they journeyed to Buffalo, Cleveland, Cincinnati and Ports- mouth.

They landed in Portsmouth, June 15, 1854. Young Daehler earned his first dollar in Portsmouth, by working in the "red" mill, where the Times of- fice now stands. Then he worked for Legler and Mesmer in building the Star Hotel, on Front street. In the fall of that year, he hauled corn from the bot- toms for George Coffrin. Young Daehler was always ready to do anything which offered. That winter, he worked at the United States hotel. In 1851, he went to Louisville, Kentucky, then to Henderson, Kentucky, but returned to Portsmouth and worked two years for Grassman and one year for John Her- der. About the time the war broke out, he started in business for himself, in the Kricker building, whch stood where the postoffice now does. He made, sold, and repaired furniture. He was in this location for about three years, and then moved on Front street. west of Damarin & Company's grocery. Soon after this, the Cabinet Makers' Union was formed and Mr. Daehler became the manager. At the end of two years. he concluded he could do best for himself. and sold out of the Cabinet Makers' Union. He then opened business for himself at Fourth and Chillicothe streets. He remained there some three to four years and then bought out John Herder, on Market street. He remained there till 1884, when he purchased and built the warehouse now occupied by David Stah- ler which he still owns.

All the time, he kept extending his business and on June 1, 1900, he re- moved to the handsome five-story building, erected expressly for him at 82. 84 and 86 west Second street. He confines himself to the furniture and undertak- ing business. He has been successful from the start and has at all times made money and increased his trade.

In 1859, he was married to Margaret Leichner, daughter of John Leich -. ner. and has had ten children. His daughters are Ellen. the wife of Prof. John Dieterle, of the University of Michigan; Emma Catharine, Louisa Augusta and Clara Amelia, unmarried and at home. His sons, Charles, Daniel. William and Albert Christian, are in business with him. His son, Edward Jacob. is an attor- ney in Portsmouth, Ohio. John Walter is a student of law in the Michigan University at Ann Arbor.

Mr. Daehler was formerly a democrat. but in recent years has acted with the republicans. He is a member of the German Evangelical church, and the Masonic lodge. Mr. Daehler is an excellent business man and he and the members of his family conduct his business. He is highly esteemed by all who come in contact with him, as an honorable citizen, and for his ability and success in his business career. In recent years he has almost retired from active business life.

Louis Charles Damarin

was born September 24, 1827. He received his education at St. Xavier's Col- lege, Cincinnati, Ohio, and at Kenyon College, Gambier, Ohio. At the age of

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HISTORY OF SCIOTO COUNTY.

twenty, he entered the wholesale grocery house of C. A. M. Damarin, at Ports- mouth, Ohio. He soon became a partner. and after the death of C. A. M. Dam- arin in 1860, he was the head of the house which prospered greatly under his management. The remarkable rise in iron that had done so much to promote the prosperity of the firm of Damarin & Company, afterward, became the cause of reverses in the private fortune of Mr. Damarin. In 1881, he retired from the firm of Damarin & Company, and entered the insurance business. He was postmaster at Portsmouth from 1882 until 1886. During his term as postmas- ter, he was stricken with paralysis from which he never recovered. Other strokes followed the first one and he died November 12, 1888.

He was married December 27, 1852, to Mary Catlin Peck, daughter of Judge William V. Peck. His wife and three daughters survived him: Mary, the wife of William C. Gregg of Minneapolis, Minnesota; Louise, the wife of James Huston Varner of Cncinnati, Ohio, and Jessie, the wife of Henry T. Bannon of Portsmouth, Ohio.

Mr. Damarin's life was an eventful and energetic one. He was a public spirited man and while health lasted, was either at the head, or an active par- ticipant in all the schemes for the prosperity and good of Portsmouth. He was for many years a member of the city Council and was ever ready to assist in mu- nicipal reforms. He was the father of the steam fire service of Portsmouth. He was a member of All Saint's church and one of its vestrymen for nine years. Kind and courteous, he made friends everywhere. Those who knew him best. admired him most and loved him for his sterling qualities. He was always a re- publican, a man of strong will, conservative in his views, calm and respectful in the expression of his opinions and firm in his convictions. His friendship was of the strongest character and could be relied upon at all times. His intense application to business in the period of his activity, caused the failure of his health. When in his prime his energy and activity was limitless.

George Davis

was born in Ross county, Ohio, October 9, 1830. His father was Charles Davis and his mother, Elizabeth Hayes. He was the second son of six children. He was reared on a farm and from youth, was connected with farming interests. He obtained his education in the common schools and attended the Ohio Wes- leyan University at Delaware for a short time. His father died when he was eight years of age. He began life for himself at the age of sixteen, when he as- sociated himself with his brother, Charles Davis who rented a farm in his native county and engaged in its cultivation. At the age of eighteen. he and his brother purchased a farm in Fayette county, Ohio, and carried it on for a year, when they sold it.

In 1850, he came to Scioto county. with his brother, Charles, and purchased a farm near Portsmouth, of six hundred and twenty acres for $27,250. This partnership was profitable and harmonious and the brothers continued this as- sociation until the death of Charles in 1862. Not long after this, they purchas- ed other farms adjoining them, and they were among the heaviest land holders in Scioto county. In 1884, Mr. Davis owned nearly 4 000 acres of land in Scioto county of various qualities. In 1859, he and Lucien Newton Robinson bought the flouring mill and distillery in Washington township. In 1861, Robinson re- tired from the firm. In 1867, Stout Morris and Stephen Morrow went into the business. They retired in 1880, and after that date, he conducted the business alone. The distillery closed down when the Cattle Feeder's Trust was organ ized.

When the Farmer's National bank was organized in February, 1865, Mr. Davis was a director and continued such until his death. In 1871, he became its president and held that office until his demise. There was scarcely any business of a corporate nature conducted in Portsmouth between 1865 and 1894. in which he was not a stockholder or a director. He was always ready to take stock in anything to add business to the city. In 1873, he became a stockholder in the Burgess Steel & Iron Works and was president of the company. He was also a large stockholder and director in the Scioto Fire Brick Company. He carried on a flour and feed store in Portsmouth, Ohio, for years.

Mr. Davis married Sarah Claypool of Ross county, Ohio. and she had two children: Charles and Emma. The former lived to the age of twenty-six years,

带串

JOHN FROST DAVIS, M. D.

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married and died in California. July 7, 1885. Emma, the daughter, married Frank Connolley, who died April 28, 1883. He has a sketch in this work. She has a son, Fred and a daughter, Augusta, and all of them reside in Columbus, Ohio. Mr. Davis' first wife died May 25, 1862. On February 18, 1869, he mar- ried Miss Martha Lewis, daughter of the late Thomas C. Lewis. There were two children of this marriage: George and Edna. They reside with their mother on the Davis farm six miles north of Portsmouth. Mr. Davis died suddenly at his residence in Portsmouth, January 11, 1894.

He was not an educated man in the sense of book learning. He was a plain farmer all his days. He was a citizen of great public spirit. No public enterprise was ever put forth in his time which he did not aid and assist. He was liberal to all charities and generous where generosity was suggested. He went on every officer's bond in the city or county and lost but little by it. He was a republican in his political views, took a great interest in the party con- tests, but never held any office. He was not a member of any church but at- tended the Methodist Episcopal church regularly. He knew everyone in the county and was courteous to all. At one time he was a witness in court and it was necessary for him to state his occupation. At that time he had a half dozen occupations and was equally busy at each. Counsel insisted that he should state his occupation and he said that if compelled to name one occupa- tion, he would name that of a farmer, as he liked that best and was best fitted or it. Then counsel proceeded to examine him as an expert at farming and he was able to tell all about the subject enquired of.

John Frost Davis

was born December 28, 1828, in Williamson county, Tennessee. His father was Wilson B. Davis and his mother's maiden name was Capland. They had seven children of whom he was third. His father was a farmer. When he was but eleven years of age, his father died; and his mother died two months later. He was sent to an uncle Stokely Davis, who lived nine miles from Franklin, Tennessee. This uncle had a number of children of his own, but he was will- ing to take the care and rearing of our subject, but his aunt at that time had to make all her children's clothing on a loom and she did not think she could provide for an extra child and required her husband to send him to Franklin. He walked to Franklin alone with a walking cane and left it outside of the city and went back after it on Sunday. He carried all his effects in a ban- dana handkerchief. costing 12 1-2 cents. His uncle apprenticed him to Richard and Franklin Gordins, tailors, in Franklin. They had shops in Franklin and Columbia. He was apprenticed until of age but he remained with these parties four years.

At that time he made an agreement with his master to buy his time and gave them his note, payable when he came of age. which he afterwards scrupulously paid. Having a great thirst for knowledge. he went to Franklin College industrial school. near Nashville, and remained there until he was eigh- teen years of age. He then spent one year at Harpeth Academy in Williamson county and after that began the study of medicine with Doctor Kimbrough of Franklin. He had inherited $400 from his father and his uncle Stokely Davis was his guardian. He persuaded his uncle to pay him the money before he became of age. With this money, he attended the Medical College in Cincin- nati in 1848 and 1850. While in Cincinnati studying medicine. he fell in love with the state of Ohio and thought he would make it his home. In 1850 he obtained his diploma from the Botanical Medical College of Cincinnati.

He located in Charlotte, Tennessee, and was married there to Miss Ara- bella C. Collier. They had two children born in Charlotte: Mary L. who mar- ried Rev. O. F. Erb and died January. 1881, and a son Frank who now lives in Portsmouth. He left Charlotte and located in Nashville in May. 1861, and re- mained there for two years. Directly after Nashville was taken by the Federal forces, he went into Giles county and gathered up all the Confederate money he could find and invested it in 100 bales of cotton for which he paid $900 and sold it on the ground without moving it for $5,000 in gold to one of the de- scendants of the patriarch Jacob. His purchaser made more out of it than he did.

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HISTORY OF SCIOTO COUNTY.

In December, 1863, he removed to Cincinnati and went into the drug busi- ness on Pearl and Vine streets. He was engaged in the drug business for seven years and lost from $2,400 to $3,000 while in it. He quit the drug busi- ness and went into the spice business and lost $2,500. He was never discourag- ed and came to Portsmouth in 1873 and bought an interest in the drug store then owned by J. W. Ricker and David Jones. In 1875, he bought out his partner and continued in the drug business alone until 1895, when the J. F. Davis Drug Company was formed and he became president. He retired Novem- ber 10, 1900.

His wife died in 1875 in Portsmouth and he was married a second time to Mrs. Susan Fay. In 1844, he joined the Christian church in Franklin, Ten- nessee, at the age of 16 years and was baptised in the Harpeth river. During his residence in Cincinnati he was an elder in the Richmond Street Christian church and has been an elder since his residence in Portsmouth. He was large- ly instrumental in building the new church in Portsmouth, and gave over $5,000 to it and it cost $10,000. He nas given away large sums in charity since he has been in Portsmouth. He became a trustee of the Children's Home in 1900 and has continued such ever since.

Prior to the war he was a whig, since that time he has been a prohibi- tionist. Doctor Davis is a man of remarkable judgment and is a first class business man in every respect. Whenever a situation is presented to him, he investigates it in all of its features and then passes judgment on it. If he un- dertakes anything, it will succeed. If he determines any measure is not feasi- ble, he will have nothing more to do with it. He has made a wonderful success in his business, no one ever prospered more than he and it was because he gave his entire time and attention to its details. In the Christian church he is a power and in the community as an individual Christian, he is a power. As a worker in his church he is not excelled. He is in no way responsible for this article and these comments are the tribute of a friend who knows him well and judges him impartially. He has a faith in his religion which would move mountains and he carries it out in his daily life. The Christian church in Portsmouth in the period of his residence in the city has had a most remark- able growth, more so than any church in the city, and it is largely due to the start which he gave it. While the work is now being conducted by others prin- cipally, the foundation and early growth of the church was largely his. There is no better example today of true Christian manhood than Doctor John F. Davis.

Lot Davis

was born November 8, 1856, in Gallia county, Ohio. He was educated at Gal- lia Academy, Gallipolis and Rio Grande College. He began the study of law under his brother David Davis, at Jackson, in 1881. While studying he re- moved to Chillicothe, Missouri, and was admitted there in June, 1883. He practiced there until 1884 when he located in Ironton, Ohio, in the month of April. He held the office of Probate Judge of Lawrence county, Ohio, from February, 1888 till February 1894, since which time he practised law un- til 1891, when he removed to Cincinnati, Ohio, and engaged in the manufacturing business. He manufactures a compound for cleaning boilers. The firm is H. Kohlsurd & Company of Norwood, Ohio. As a lawyer and a business man, Mr. Davis has been energetic, enterprising and thorough in everything he has under- taken.

He was married in August, 1883 to Ellen I. Salter of Thurman, Gallia county, Ohio. The children of this marriage are: Margaret E. attending St. Mary's school at Columbus, Ohio; Benjamin H. attending school at Philadelphia. His wife died in August, 1891. In September, 1893, he was married to Ida W. Dean, daughter of L. T. Dean, of Ironton, Ohio.

Robert Kenton Day

was born November 11, 1859. He was the son of David Day, and the grandson of David Day, a native of New Jersey, who came to Mt. Joy, with his family, about 1854, from Venango county, Pennsylvania. His mother was Mary Elizabeth (Jones) Day, daughter of James and Eliza (Smith) Jones. He attended the pub-

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lic schools and prepared himself to teach. He entered the profession and has taught regularly ever since. He attended school a short time at the National Normal University at Lebanon, Ohio, and at the Ohio Normal University at Ada, Ohio. During all this time, he has improved himself and has become one of the best teachers in the county. He has been employed the past two years as principal of the public schools at Otway, Ohio, giving good satisfaction. He was elected Mayor of Otway in 1902, and also Justice of the Peace of Brush Creek township the same year. He is a follower of the democratic faith, but votes for the man and the measure as often as for the party. He is a member of the Christian church at Mt. Joy, Ohio. On June 4, 1885 he was married to Malina Adams, daughter of Hugh and Emily (Long) Adams, of Mt. Joy. Their chil- dren are: Monford Earl died at the age of ten; Millie Belle, age twelve; Mettie, deceased in infancy; and Ruth, age six.

Jacob Deemer

was born in Beaver county, Pennsylvania, November 2, 1841. His father Jacob Deemer was born in Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, and was of German ancestry. His mother was Susan Bunzo, whose mother was a native of France. Our subject's life, until he was sixteen years of age, was spent in Beaver county, Pennsylvania, where he received all his school training. In 1857, his father with his family came to Scioto county, and located in Madison township. August 21, 1862 he enlisted in Company F, 1st Ohio Heavy Artillery and was made a cor- poral, August 1, 1863. He was discharged July 25, 1865. After the war, about 1871, he was engaged in the lumber business, and lived in Washington township, where he operated a saw-mill for several years. He also owned a good farm on Carey's Run. He was a Trustee of Washington township, in 1875. December 4, 1870, he was married to Samantha Mckinney, daughter of Lorenzo Dow Mc- Kinney. Mr. Deemer has two children, Charles D. and Lucy Jane. In 1880 he removed to the northwestern part of Rush towship, near McCulloch creek, where he has one of the finest and best equipped farms in the county. His farm build- ings are models of usefulness. He is known all over the county as an upright, honest, successful man and is esteemed for his genial manners and obliging dis- position.

Francis Marion Dever

was born March 17, 1843, in Jackson county, Ohio. His father was Solomon De- ver, and his mother's maiden name was Chloe Mault. He received a common school education. He was raised a farmer, and has been engaged in farming, ever since. He owns the farm of 840 acres on which he was born. He was married October 22, 1883, to Margaret Slavens. He has two children: Sadie, mar- ried Floyd Purdy, a farmer, residing at Lucasville; Frank S., married Sadie Shurd, resides with his father, and is engaged in farming. Mr. Dever owns a farm of 170 acres in Madison township. He is also engaged in stock raising. He has always been a republican.

At the age of eighteen years, he was as ambitious and anxious to succeed . and as much inclined to hard manual labor upon the farm as any member of the large family. At about that age, he met with an accident that lamed him for life. It was really a fortunate circumstance for him in one sense. It took him out of the furrow and gave him an opportunity to think. Instead of going on doing the manual work of one man, he has been enabled to give such em- ployment to many. He now owns and operates the largest and best equipped farm in his county, and also does a large business in the handling of live stock.

He is of a lively and cheerful disposition, and has always been a great lover of children. Without letting his most intimate friends know anything about it, he delights in helping a deserving boy in getting an education or ob- taining desirable employment and has spent much money in that direction.

While he is strictly business-like in his trades and financial transactions, exacting and giving full measure he is most liberal with his family, and ex- ceedingly generous to the numerous young friends, whom he has seen fit to as- sist in various ways.

He takes great interest in the betterment of the condition of all the people in his employ, or in any manner connected with him and while he has succeeded himself, and justly prides himself upon his success he takes equal pleasure in the

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success of those around him, and in whose welfare he has interested himself. His friendships are marked and strong, and his animosities decided. There is no distance he will not go to oblige a friend, and he will go about as far to punish one who has done him a deliberate wrong. But he is quick to make reparation, if he finds himself in the wrong. He is what may be called a strict man of af- fairs, of sturdy honesty and of a positive, aggressive nature, yet most liberal and indulgent with his family and generous and helpful to all deserving persons with whom he comes in contact.

John Newton Dever

was born September 13, 1858. His father was George Dever and his mother Mary White, daughter of John White, one of the pioneers. His grandfather was Solomon Dever. He was born in Madison township. He received a common school education. He taught school from 1876 to 1895, most of the time in Mad- ison township, but he taught two terms in Vernon township and one in Hamilton township, Jackson county. He was married July 1, 1881, to Clara Gertrude Rig- ley, daughter of John Rigley and Jane Titus, his wife. John Rigley enlisted in Company F, 91st O. V. I. on August 11, 1862, for three years, at the age of twenty- three. He was wounded at the battle of Stevenson's Depot, Virginia and was mustered out April 27, 1865, at Cumberland, Maryland. His death in 1869, was due to his army service.

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A history of Scioto County, Ohio, together with a pioneer record, Part 124

Author: Evans, Nelson W. (Nelson Wiley), 1842-1913 Publication date: 1903 Publisher: Portsmouth, O. N. W. Evans Number of Pages: 1612

Author: Evans, Nelson W. (Nelson Wiley), 1842-1913
Publication date: 1903
Publisher: Portsmouth, O. N. W. Evans
Number of Pages: 1612