A history of Scioto County, Ohio, together with a pioneer record, Part 125

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 125

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Our subject's children are: John Harrison, Blaine, Gertie Mahala. Amy Ethel, Ida Ione, Walter McKinley, Samuel Hobart and Roy Homer. Mr. Dever is a republican and a member of the Christian church. He has never held any office except that of member of the Board of Education of his township for four years, and the president of the same board for two years. He is a fine looking specimen of the Scioto county farmer and as good as he looks. He has good health a great surplus of energy and industry, which he is capitalizing into property, and if he lives out his expectancy, he will die leaving a competency.

William Thomas Dever

was born in Morgan township, Scioto county Ohio, August 11, 1867. He is the son of Joseph Dever, grandson of Willliam Dever, and great-grandson of John Dever. John Dever. the great-grandfather, and his two brothers, George and James, came from Virginia, and settled in Scioto county in 1800. He had three sons, William, James and John, who were born in Virginia. William Thomas Dever's great-uncle, John Dever, was a soldier in the war of 1812. William De- ver, grandfather of William Thomas Dever, was born March 7, 1794, and died November 24, 1834. His wife, Asenath McDougol, was born in Ireland. October 12, 1797, married to him May 16, 1816, and died November, 1877.

Joseph M. and wife had seven children. Of their children, Joseph M. mar- ried Rebecca F. Wheeler, a native of Virginia; Belle, is the wife of Frank Simp- son; Mary E. is the wife of G. F. Lauman; William T., our subject, and James F., sons. reside at Clifford, Ohio; Catherine, is the wife of Dr. M. J. Beard, of Lucasville, Ohio. Mrs. Blanche M. Dodds resides at Butler, Pennsylvania, and Louisa, deceased, was the wife of H. C. Starr.

William T. was reared in Morgan township, where he always resided. He has always been a farmer and makes a specialty of raising fine Chester White hogs. Since 1892, he has taken more than 400 premiums, at State and County fairs. for fancy swine and for three years past has taken first premiums at the Ohio State Fair. He is a democrat and his forefathers were democrats. Mr. Dever has been for several years a member of the Board of Education of Morgan township. He married Ida B. Harwood, daughter of Daniel and Hannalı (Dar- lington) Harwood, December 27, 1888. They have one child Mary Frances. Mr Dever is a representative man of his neighborhood and has the esteem of all for his sterling qualities. Honorable and upright, kind and courteous he makes friends wherever he goes.

John Dice

was born October 18, 1841 in Wurtemberg, Germany. His father was George Dice, and his mother's maiden name was Fredericka Horn. His parents emi- grated to the United States when he was five years of age. They located in Cincinnati. He attended the public schools in Cincinnati until he was thirteen

REV. JOHN WILLIAM DILLON.

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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

years of age, and was then apprenticed to Isaac and Benjamin Bruce to learn carriage making. He remained with them five years. From 1859 to 1864, he worked as a journeyman in Cincinnati, except during his army service. In 1864, he came to Portsmouth and opened a shop of his own and he has carried on that business in Portsmouth tor thirty-eight consecutive years and is still in it, though he has also been concerned in other business.

He enlisted in Company G, 6th, O. V. I. three months men, the Cincinnati Guthrie Greys, in April, 1861, but was rejected on physical examination at the camp of rendezvous and was thus deprived of a military career. In 1862 and 1863, he was in government service at Corinth, Mississippi, as an expert mechan- ic, for seven months. His first location in business in Portsmouth was on Jet- ferson street. In 1868, he built his three-story carriage factory on Second street, and has occupied that ever since. He went into the livery business in 1870, with Thomas T. Yeager, and has been in that business ever since except from 1895 to 1898. On November 6, 1898, his livery stable at the old Maklem stand on Market street was burned down, and he built the three story brick building now occupied by him at 16 and 18 East Fourth street. He went into the undertaking business in connection with his livery and is now conducting three businesses in Portsmouth; livery, undertaking and carriage repairing. He was married in 1863 to Elizabeth Lind, a native of Hesse, Germany. He has six children: John W., who is in business with him; Anna, at home; Kate, married to Harry Doty, son of Theo. F. Doty; Louis, in his fourth year at West Point, United States Military Academy; Jessie and Essie, twins; Jessie is at home, and Essie is a student at Smith College, Northampton, Massachusetts. Mr. Dice has always been a republican. He was a trustee of the City Water Works from 1893 to 1899.

George Allen Dickens

was born at Tiffin, Ohio, June 6, 1864, the son of Simon and Sarah L. Dickens. When our subject reached the age of six, his parents moved to Milwaukee, Wis- consin, where he attended the public schools for the following ten years. He then started on his business career, remaining in Milwaukee until reaching the ,age of nineteen when he moved to Minnesota and accepted the position Of assist- ant secretary of the Minneapolis Chamber of Commerce, which position he filled with marked ability for three years, after which time he moved to Chicago and received his first introduction into the stone business. He represented the com- pany, with which he was then connected, at their various agencies and remained with them for eight years, when he severed his connection with them for a year's trip abroad, during which time he visited England and South Africa.

On returning to America he again took up the stone business, locating in Chicago, where he remained one year. He then came to Scioto county, in 1897. as the representative of the MeDermott Bros., and purchased the properties which have since been developed into one of Scioto county's most important business industries, that of The McDermott Stone Company at MeDermott, Ohio. He has been a director and officer in this company since its organization. Mr. Dickens resides at McDermott and in politics is considered a staunch republican. He is a member of all the Masonic bodies, a Shriner and an Elk.

An associate in business says of him: "He possesses many enviable qual- ities both as a citizen and as a business man. In business he is eminently ca- pable, honorable and successful, and as a citizen he stands high and ever ready to take an active part in whatever tends to advance the best interests of his town and county."

Rev. John William Dillon

was born October 18, 1835, in Mason township, Lawrence county, Ohio. His father was Samuel Dillon, son of Micajah and Mary Dillon, and was reared in Franklin county, near Rocky Mount. His mother Mary Dillon was the daugh- ter of John and Nancy White and was born and reared in Fincastle, Botetourt county, Virginia. Both families came to Ohio in 1830 and settled in Lawrence county. August 14, 1832, Samuel Dillon and Mary White were united in mar- riage. Our subject was their second son. His early life was spent on the farm. At the age of fourteen, the family moved to Millersport. He had such educational advantages as the common schools afforded at that time. He was under the tutorship of Judge Sylvester MeCown and Doctor I. T. Monaham for sometime. Later, under the direction of such critical and scholarly examiners,

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HISTORY OF SCIOTO COUNTY.

as Doctor George W. Brush and President Solomon Howard of the Ohio Uni- versity, he mastered very thoroughly the four years literary and theological course prescribed by the church.

In the fall of 1857, at the age of twenty-one years, he was admitted into the regular itinerant ministry of the Methodist Episcopal church. His ap- pointments have been as follows: In 1857-8, Rockville; 1858-9, Jasper and Spen- cer M. E. church, now Sixth Street M. E. church, Portsmouth; 1859-60, Rock- ville; 1860-61, Waverly; 1861-3, Piketon circuit; 1863-6, Burlington; 1866-9, Ironton; 1869-72; Newark; 1872-5, Zanesville; 1875-7, Presiding Elder of Galli- polis District; 1877-9, pastor Gallipolis; 1879-81, Presiding Elder of Portsmouth District; 1881-4, Pastor Bigelow church, Portsmouth; 1884-6, St. Paul's Dela- ware; 1886-90, London; 1890-95, Lancaster; 1895-6 Gallipolis; 1896-98, Mt. Ver- non Ave., Columbus; 1898 to the present, Presiding Elder of the Portsmouth District, now closng his fourth year. His term on the district will expire in September, 1904.

January 10, 1864, he was married to Mary C. Cox, eldest daughter of Mar- tin and Catharine Cox of Sandy Springs, Adams county, Ohio. They have raised five children, two daughters and three sons: Mary C., is the wife, of Morgan Mollohan of Marion, Kansas; Sarah J., is the wife of Gilbert D. Wait, superintendent of the Wait Furniture Company; John Grant, secretary and treasurer of the Wait Furniture Company; Edmond Bothwell is a lawyer in Co- lumbus, Ohio; Benjamin Hood, president of the Wait Furniture Company. Mr. and Mrs. Dillon have eleven grandchildren, three girls and eight boys.

Mr. Dillon is in no way responsible for these comments and will not see them till he opens his copy of this work. He is the living, walking exemplifi- cation of all the Christian virtues, and to his friends, it seems to be natural for him to be such. He is kind hearted, sympathetic and ever ready to say words of balm which come from his heart and go to the hearts of those to whom he speaks. He is the ideal of the old fashioned itinerant Methodist minister, a class which is fast passing away. He is a good edition of St. John, the evan- gelist and beloved disciple. He loves the whole world and will do good to all with whom he can come personally in contact. His influence has always been for the best and for the advancement of Christianity. He does not deserve to have any enemies and has none. There was never anything in his composition which would invite strife or contention. His gospel has always been peace and love and to teach men to live as Christ, his master, taught. He has ordered his own life according to the teachngs of the Master and that life is a standing. ever present invitation to others to do the same. In his church and in the commun- nity, he is a beacon light ever pointing the way Heavenward. He has reared a family of sons and daughters, of which not only he and his wife can be proud, but of which the whole community can be proud. The sons are not only magnificent specimens of physical manhood, but they are model citizens and first class business men. The writer believes that the minister who brings up his own children successfully is the best qualified Christian teacher, and as such the Reverend Dillon has no superior.

John Grant Dillon

was born in Burlington, Lawrence county, Ohio, November 21, 1863. His par- ents were Rev. John W. Dillon and Mary Catherine Cox, his wife. His boy- hood and youth were passed, three years at Ironton, three years at Newark, three at Zanesville and four at Gallipolis. He then came to Portsmouth and attended the public schools until he was twenty years of age. He took a course in book-keeping and since the organization of the Wait Furniture Company has been its secretary and treasurer. He has always been a republican and is a member of the Methodist church. He was married September 23, 1897, to Miss Estelle Tynes. They have one son, Donald Tynes Dillon.

Physically Mr. Dillon is built on a liberal plan. He could take the part of Milo and Hercules and fill it well. Nature has been as generous to him in the bestowal of mental qualities as she was of physical gifts. He is a man of keen, quick perception, of excellent judgment and large executive ability. As a business man he has succeeded well and has won him an excellent position among his cotemporaries. He is a strong factor in anything he undertakes and a most valuable citizen.

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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

Edmond Bothwell Dillon

was born at Ironton, Ohio, Feb. 9, 1869. His father was Rev. John W. Dil- lon and his mother's maiden name was Mary Cox. She was the daughter of Martin and Catherine Cox of Adams county. Mr. Dillon's early life is illus- trative of the active American boy who is willing to work. At fourteen, he was messenger in the First National Bank of Portsmouth, O., while the vener- able John P. Terry was president, and whose constant advise to the young man was "promptness and honesty." He received a public school education in the . various cities of the state where his father a Methodist minister, was from time to time located. In 1884, he entered the Ohio Wesleyan University at Dela- ware, Ohio. While attending school there he assisted himself to a small ex- tent in outside work. He was graduated in 1889.

He studied law in the office of Hon. S. W. Durflinge of London, Ohio, working as assistant postmaster from 6 a. m. until 7 p. m. and doing all his studying at night and on holidays. He was admitted to the bar of Ohio in 1891 and began the practice of law in Columbus, Ohio, though a perfect stranger to every person there. The Supreme Court of Ohio appointed him a mem- ber of the State Law Examining Committee in 1897 and continued to re-appoint him until 1901 when he was made Chairman of the Board. In politics, Mr. Dillon is a republican, but has only recently sought office. He is a mem- ber of the Columbus Board of Trade, the Columbus Civil Service Commission and numerous secret societies. For many years he has been counsel for the State Dairy and Food Department, which with his active membership in the Ohio State Bar Association has given him rather an extended acquaintance throughout the state. In 1898, Mr. Dillon was admitted to practice in the Su- preme Court of the United States.

He was married May 9, 1895, to Marian D. Whitney, daughter of Calvin and Marian Dean Whitney of Norwalk, Ohio. There were two children born of this union: Edmond Whitney, aged five, and Mary C. aged two years. He is an able lawyer and possesses the confidence of all who know him. At the November election, 1902, he was elected a Judge of the Court of Common Pleas of Franklin County, Ohio.

Benjamin Hood Dillon

was born in Newark, Ohio, Aug. 23, 1871, the son of Rev. John W. Dillon and Mary Catherine Cox, his wife. His boyhood and youth were passed at Newark, Delaware, Zanesville, Gallipolis, and London, Ohio. He graduated at Carmichael Business College, Delaware, Ohio, and came to Portsmouth in 1889. He is presi- dent of The Wait Furniture Company. October 7, 1897. he was married to Miss Cora Waller Selby, daughter of George D. and Lydia (Webster) Selby, of Ports- mouth, Ohio. They have one son, Edmond Selby Dillon.

Mr. Dillon is a gentleman esteemed by all who have the pleasure and hon- or of his acquaintance. He has a remarkable insight of business matters, which stands him well in his dealings with his fellowmen. He can come as near read- ing the thoughts of his associates as any man who ever lived. He is one of those fortunate men who cannot be imposed upon, and on whom it is useless to try imposition. He is not self conscious of the wonderful faculty he pos- sesses and is a most engaging companion and a good neighbor.

Frank F. Dinsmore,

attorney-at-law, now of Cincinnati, Ohio, was born December 22, 1869, in the same city where he now resides. His father's name was Henry Dinsmore and his mother's maiden name was Rebecca Jane Watkins. His father was a ha- tive of county Antrim, Ireland, but of Scotch ancestry. He came to the United States in 1848. His mother's parents were among the first settlers at Ports- mouth, coming from Virginia. His parents resided in Portsmouth for some years, afterwards removing to Cincinnati. They returned to Portsmouth in 1873. His boyhood and youth were spent there. He is a graduate of the Ports- mouth High School. He was a clerk in the County Auditor's office un- der Filmore Musser from 1887 to 1890 during which time he taught a night school in Portsmouth and studied law with Theodore K. Funk.

He attended the Cincinnati Law School, graduated in May, 1891, and was admitted to the bar on graduation. He began the practice of law in Cincinnati.

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On the first of May, 1894, he was appointed Assistant Corporation Counsel of Cincinnati by Frederick Hertenstein, Corporation Counsel. He held this posi- tion until January 1, 1897, when he was appointed Assistant County Solicitor of Hamilton county under William Rendigs, County Solicitor. He held this posi- tion until January 1, 1900, since which time he has been in general practice of law in the Atlas Bank Building, Cincinnati.

He has always been a republican and has always taken great interest in political matters. In religion, he is a member of the Presbyterian church. He was married at Ironton, June 24, 1896 to Miss Mary E. Campbell, daughter of Joseph H. Campbell, a granddaughter of Hiram Campbell, a well known iron-master of that city. He has had three children, the oldest, a boy, born in 1897, died in infancy. The second, Joseph Campbell, born March 29, 1899, and Jane, born March 26, 1900. He resides at 838 Hutchins avenue, Avondale. Mr. Dinsmore has always been noted for his remarkable industry and energy in everything he has undertaken. In all his professional labors, he is thorough and is one of the most promising lawyers of the Hamilton county bar, for his age and experience. His word is as good as his bond and his bond is gold standard all the time. He is one of the directors of the new Cincinnati, Georgetown & Portsmouth Electric Railroad. He is a force and power in' any enterprise with which he is associated. No one of his friends will ever be startled by any promotion he may obtain.

Here is what his tutor in law, Major H. P. Lloyd says of him, "He is a lawyer of unusual ability. He came to Cincinnati as a student in 1890, and entered my office. He applied himself with industry and unflagging zeal. He graduated from the Law School of the Cincinnati College with high honors, win- ning the first prize on general examinations, and also the first prize for best le- gal essay. This record had never been made by any other student. He early, es- tablished a reputation for integrity and ability of a high order, and his moral character is unblemished. No one of his age ranks higher at the Hamilton county bar, and no one has a brighter future.

Ephraim Marion Dixon, M. D.,

was born November 9, 1866, in Scioto township, Jackson county, Ohio. His fa- ther was Griffe Dixon, and his mother's maiden name was Eliza Schellenger. They had four children, of whom our subject was the third. His father was a farmer and served in the Civil War in Company D, 43d O. V. I. He entered that company March 25, 1864, and served until July 13, 1865.

Our subject had a common school education, and attended the Jackson Academy. He began teaching in the common schools at the age of nineteen, and taught six years in Jackson county. , He began the study of medicine in 1890, with Dr. L. D. Allard of Flat Post Office, Pike county, Ohio, but now of the city of Portsmouth. He entered the Medical University at Louisville, Ky, in September, 1892, and graduated in March, 1894. He located immediately at Wilkesville, Vinton county, and practiced medicine there for two years. He located at Flat, now Stockdale, in June, 1896, where he has since resided. He married Hattie L. Brown, daughter of Nathan Brown, June 18, 1899. He is a republican, a member of the Methodist Protestant church, and of the Knights of Pythias. In the summer of 1902, he took a post-graduate medical course at Baltimore, Maryland, at the College of Physicians and Surgeons.

Josiah Carroll Dodds

was born in Butler county, Pennsylvania, November 5, 1829. His father was William Dodds, and his mother's maiden name was Nancy Eakin. His parents had eleven children, ten sons and one daughter, and our subject was the eighth child. His father was a native of Pennsylvania, and followed the double occu- pation of farmer and brick-layer. The Dodds family came from Scotland into the north of Ireland, in 1614, and emigrated to America in 1748. Josiah received a common school education in Pennsylvania. He resided in Butler county, Pa., until he was twenty-one years of age. He taught school from 1850 to 1861. in Scioto, Pike, and Adams counties, Ohio. He was married April 14, 1853, to Margaret Hutchinson, of Clintonville, Pennsylvania.

He enlisted in the 179th Ohio Volunteer Infantry, Company E, at the age of thirty-four, August 31, 1864, for one year, and was mustered out with the

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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

company June 17, 1865. He was a farmer at Mt. Joy, from 1853 to 1890. He has four children: Robert Clarence, a Presbyterian minister, located at Lansing, Michigan, married and has a family; William Homer a lawyer at Pittsburg, Pa., located at No. 518 Fourth Avenue; Armina, died at the age of nine years; Ann Blanche, married S. T. Vanmeter, residing at Mt. Joy, a farmer; John Gilmore, attending medical college at Chicago, Ill. In 1897, he left Mt. Joy and moved to Dayton, Ohio, where he remained fifteen months. From there he went to Pitts- burg, and from there to Butler county, where on February 23, 1900, his wife died. He came to Portsmouth to reside April 25, 1900.

In his political views, he was first a whig, and then a republican. He is really a prohibitionist, but wants to see prohibition come through the instru- mentality of the republican party. He takes life easily. His greatest ambition has always been to be a first class citizen and he has realized it. As a member of the United Presbyterian church, he lives up to its teachings and is ready to respond when the Master calls.

Robert Henley Dodds

was born September 25, 1850, at Baden, Beaver county, Pennsylvania. His father was Thomas Henley Dodds and his mother's maiden name was Elizabeth Charles- ton. They were both born in the county of Down, Ireland, and came to America, settling in Pennsylvania about 1844. They came to Scioto county about 1851, and settled in Madison township. Robert attended the public schools until the age of eighteen and then took a teacher's course at Lebanon, Ohio. He began the profession of teaching in 1872 and has continued it to the present time, with the exception of one year. He held the office of Clerk of Madison township five successive terms. He was School Examiner of Scioto county from 1887 to 1893. He was reared a democrat, but became a republican in 1872. He is a member of the Regular Baptist church. He married Rachel A. Lair, December 7, 1872. He has six children: Heber H., Charles C., Marion, Roscoe, Emma and Grover.

William Homer Dodds

was born near Mt. Joy, Scioto county, Ohio. His parents were Josiah C. and Margaret (Hutchison) Dodds, of Butler county, Pennsylvania, of Scotch-Irish descent. He began teaching in the public schools at the age of sixteen, first at New Lebanon, Lawrence county, then in Scioto county, at Henley, Simpson and Sedan. He entered the preparatory department at Westminster College, Pennsylvania in April, 1877, and graduated in the classical course in 1882 re- ceiving the Bachelor's degree in the Arts course. Five years later, the same college conferred on him the Master's degree. After graduating he had charge of McElwain Institute, Mercer county, Pennsylvania, a college preparatory school, but resigned at the end of one year to accept the principalship of the High School of Alleghany City, Pennsylvania, where he taught for nine years, resigning in 1892 to pursue the study of law. He edited the "Pennsyl- vania Teacher" from 1883 to 1888; represented the Alleghany City educational exhibit at the Paris exposition 1889; and was for three years secretary of the University Extension Society of Western Pennsylvania. He read law with Hon. Walter M. Lyon, then Lieutenant Governor of Pennsylvania, but owing to ill health did not finish the course for three years, when he was admitted in 1895, to the Pittsburg bar, where he has since practised. In politics he is a re- publican.

As a student he was faithful; as an educator he distinguished himself and took a leading position. As a lawyer he has taken high rank in his seven years practice. He has earned the respect of the members of the bar with whom he has practiced and of the judges before whom he has appeared as an advocate. He is a clear thinker, a sound lawyer and an esteemed citizen.

Jonathan Sherman Dodge

was born in Madison township, Scioto county, Ohio, April 9, 1867. His father was George Lyons Dodge and his mother's maiden name was Sarah Louise Tibbs. He was educated in the common schools and afterwards attended the National Normal University at Lebanon, Ohio, graduating there in 1890 in the

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Classical course. In 1892, he graduated in the Cincinnati Law School at which he received the highest grade ever attained at that school, an average of 99.4. He stood at the head of a class of 90, and won a prize of $100 for best scholar- ship. He was married January 17, 1892, to Miss Mary A. Fritz, of Darke county, and located in the city of Portsmouth in September of that year. He built up a remunerative practice and was noted for his industry at the Portsmouth bar, but on account of his wife's health he left Portsmouth and opened a law office in El Paso, Texas, October 16, 1899, and is engaged in the practice of law there. He never held any public office. He was a candidate in El Paso, in 1901, for County Judge on the republican ticket, but had no show for election. His chil- dren are Alice Cora, Anna Louise and Charles Anderson. He is a member of the Presbyterian church. Mr. Dodge is one of the most active and energetic men who ever adorned or elevated the legal profession.

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A history of Scioto County, Ohio, together with a pioneer record, Part 125

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