USA > Ohio > Portage County > A portrait and biographical record of Portage and Summit counties, Ohio > Part 29
USA > Ohio > Summit County > A portrait and biographical record of Portage and Summit counties, Ohio > Part 29
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Frauk J. Davis was well educated in the common schools of Palmyra, was passed to the high school, and finished his education at the latter in 1875. His manual training was on the home farm, of which he became super- intendent at the death of his father, and then for a year worked in a saw-mill. He was mar- ried, September 27, 1878, to Miss Hattie Hiser, daughter of John and Sarah A. (Glass) Hiser, and this union has been blessed with two sons-Harry J. and Frank Alton. After his marriage Mr. Davis lived on the old home- stead until January, 1881, when he settled in Palmyra, and for a year was engaged in the livery and general delivery business, and then became an auctioneer and also entered into general merchandizing two years later, in both of which he was profitably engaged eight years, having gained his experience in the lat- ter branch as a clerk in the store of O. B. Mason, under whom he had been employed two years, from 1882 to 1884, when he en-
tered upon the mercantile trade. At the end of his six years' business experience, Mr. Davis sold out to A. Crookes, and attended to his mother's farm interests until her death, after which he engaged in farming on his own account for three years on the home farm, but holding his residence at Diamond, Ohio.
In politics Mr. Davis is a republican, and is extremely popular with his party. In 1895 he was the unanimous choice of his friends in Palmyra township as its candidate for sheriff of Portage county, but withdrew from the race, resigning in favor of the prior incumbent, Mr. Long. In the spring of 1897, Mr. Davis resumed his mercantile trade in Diamond, and the same year was appointed postmaster un- der President Mckinley. He and family are members of the Disciples' church in Diamond, in which he is a deacon, as well as assistant superintendent of the Sunday-school.
Mrs. Hattie (Hiser) Davis, wife of Frank J., the subject, was born in Milton township, Mahoning county, Ohio, July 28, 1858, her parents being natives of Pennsylvania.
O LIVER A. DAVIS, a respected agri- culturist of Boston township, Suminit county, Ohio, and ex-prisoner of the Civil war, was born in Cuyahoga county, Ohio, February 20, 1828, a son of Alvin and Levina (Seeley) Davis, who de- scended from old colonial ancestry of New York state. He was reared to farmning, and was a canal boat builder when a young man. He enlisted August 21, 1862, at Ada, Hardin county, Ohio, in the One Hundred and Eight- eenth regiment Ohio volunteer infantry, to serve three years, or during the war, and was honorably discharged at Columbus, Ohio, June 9, 1865. He was in the battles of Mossy Creek, Tenn., and on the famous Atlanta campaign, where his regiment was under fire
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two months and five days. He was in the battles of Resaca,.Dalton, Kenesaw Mountain, and in the battle of Atlanta, as well as in many hard fought skirmishes, too numerous to mention. After the Atlanta campaign his regiment followed Hood, and he was captured, in the fall of 1864, near Cedar Bluff, while foraging, and taken to Cahaba, Ala., and kept in prison four months and twenty days. This prison was an old cotton warehouse, and open in the top. The rations were one pint of corn meal, ground cob and all, and a very small piece of very poor beef, and under these con- ditions the prisoners were reduced to almost skeletons, and many died. Mr. Davis had 110 blanket or overcoat for some time, but finally blankets were sent from the Union lines. He was exchanged, near the close of the war, at Vicksburg, sent to Columbus, Ohio, and thence home, much disabled and in a bad condition generally.
Oliver A. Davis, married, the first time, Miss Melvina Van Orman, a daughter of Orrin and Mary Van Orman, natives of New York state, and who bore him two children, Orrin and Alfred. Orrin Van Orman, was a pioneer of Summit county, Ohio, and reared a family of six children -- Melvina, William, Isno, Francis, George and Lyndia Anna. Of this family, all the sons served in the Union army during the Civil war, George dying in Ken- tucky while in the service. Orrin Van Orman died at the age of sixty-three years in Everett, Boston township, a greatly respected citizen, of high religious attributes. Mrs. Davis died in 1863, during the Civil war, and Mr. Davis married, February 26, 1868, Miss Phylossa Jane Van Orman, a sister of his first wife; she was born September 5, 1841, in Michigan, and this union has been blessed with one daughter, Melvina. Oliver A. Davis is a free silver democrat in politics and is a member of George L. Waterman post, G. A. R., Penin-
sula, Ohio, of which he is sergeant. He was a faithful soldier, and although weakened by his prison life is an industrious and hard-work- ing man, and is highly esteemed for his up- right character and usefulness as a citizen.
Alvin Davis, the father of Oliver A., was born in Broome county, N. Y., where he grew to manhood, and while yet in early life came west and settled in Bedford township, Cuyahoga county, where he lived a pioneer life. He, like many other pioneers, came with limited means, and thus experiencing all the privations of life in a new country. He soon provided himself with a good farm, which he partly cleared from the forest, being an industrious working man of that day. He was married to Miss Lavina Seeley, who lore him four sons and two daughters, viz: Ephraim, Alvin, Oliver A., William, Lucretia, and Julia. Mr. Davis was quite a political worker, and in the fall of 1836, while celebrating an election in Bedford, Ohio, was killed by a premature discharge of a cannon. He was a greatly re- spected citizen throughout the township and county. Three of his sons, Alvin, Oliver A. and William, did service in the late war-Al- vin in the three years' service; Oliver A., who is spoken of in the first paragrah, and William, who was in an Ohio regiment in the 100 days' service. After the death of Mr. Davis, Mrs. Davis was married to William Loffin, and to them were born two children, Earlyhigh and Willis C., who both served in an Ohio regi- ment for three years, showing the patriotic spirit of the family.
AMUEL D. DETWEILER, of West Richfield, Ohio, one of the soldiers of the Civil war and a respected citi- zen, was born December 4, 1834, in Bucks county, Pa., Hilltown township, a son of John and Anna (Detweiler) Detweiler, who
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descended from an old colonial Pennsylvania family of German origin.
Samuel D. Detweiler received a common- school education, was reared to farming and milling, and came to Ohio about 1857, and worked in Coshocton and Holmes counties sev- cral years. Ile enlisted from Holines county in the summer of 1861, in company B, Six- teenth Ohio volunteer infantry, and was mus- tered in at Camp Dennison, Ohio, for three years, or during the war, and served until honorably discharged at Camp Chase October 31, 1864, a period of over three years and three months. January 19, 1862, the regi- ment reached Mill Springs just at the close of the battle. On March 12 a slight skirmish took place at Cumberland Gap. About March 22, the regiment was merged with the Forty-second Ohio and the Twenty-second Kentucky, forming the Twenty-sixth brigade of the Seventh division of the army of the Ohio, under the command of Brigadier-Gen. George W. Morgan. On April 28 another reconnoissance was made to the top of Cum- berland Mountain in the vicinity of Cumber- land Gap-arriving at the top at 8 A. M. in a heavy fog, when a brisk fight occurred. Dur- ing the month of May the rebels abandoned their position at Cumberland Gap, and the Sixteenth regiment was the first Union regi- ment to enter the stronghold. From this tiine until August 3, the troops were engaged in strengthening their position, drilling, fight- ing and frequently skirmishing. August 6, at a battle at Tazewell, Tenn., the entire division was obliged to retreat, and was much ha- rassed with frequent skirmishes on the way to Manchester, Ky., and suffered greatly for rest and food-having nothing to eat except ears of corn gathered from the fields, and pump- kins which they roasted and ate without salt. They had no water except that from stagnant pools, and they lived by foraging. On Oc-
tober 3, they arrived at Greensburg, Ky., worn out, ragged and shoeless, having been sixteen days on this march of more than 250 miles. December 20, the regiment united with Sherman's command and went on trans- ports to the siege of Vicksburg, Miss., and on the 26th was in the assault on Chickasaw Bayou, where the regiment lost 311 men and many officers killed, wounded and missing. At Thompson Hill, over 400 of the Union forces were taken prisoners, with Mr. Detweiler among them. He was taken to Vicksburg prison, confined during the winter, and suf- fered greatly for food, the rations being but a little mule meal, and corn, ground cob and all, which was dumped on a few rails in the prison pen, and the prison was very foul. From here Mr. Detweiler was taken to Pearl River, Jackson, Miss., and confined in a cov- ered bridge during the siege of that city, where they nearly starved until the last of May, and then were paroled and sent to New Orleans by water, being obliged to row their own boats. In the spring of 1863, Mr. Detweiler was started for St. Louis, Mo., with the oth- ers, but they all left the trains in Ohio and went home, remained until August, 1863, and then rejoined the regiment in Louisiana. He was in the Red River expedition under Banks, was in several skirmishes near Alexandria, assisted to build the dam across Red River at that place, and then went to the mouth of the river, where the regiment stacked arms, hav- ing been in many hard-fought battles and skir- mishes. Mr. Detweiler was always an active soldier, was not sick in hospital, and was in all the battles, campaigns, marches and skir- mishes in which his regiment took part, except while a prisoner, and he did his full duty promptly and cheerfully and endured the hard- ships of a soldier's life with fortitude.
After the war, Mr. Detweiler returned to Holmes county, Ohio, and went thence to
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Ahna, Mich., in 1868, and ran a flour-mill for twelve years, and while there married, Janu- ary 28, 1877, Miss Laura Gargett, who was born on her parents' farm in Medina county, a daughter of John and Mary ( Detweiler) Gar- gett. In 1881 Mr. Detweiler came to his present place, and engaged in farming and milling. The children are Lella, John and Leah. In politics Mr. Detweiler is a re- publican, and is also a member of Goldwood post, G. A. R., at West Richfield, Ohio. Mr. Detweiler is well known for his integrity of character and stands very high in the esteem of his fellow-citizens.
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PAYLAND S. HOUGH, M. D., is one of the oldest and most promi- nent physicians of Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio. He springs from an old colonial American family, and was born April 3, 1844, at Atwater, Portage county, Ohio, a son of Joel I. and Mary (Linn) Hough. Joel 1. Hough, also a native of Atwater, Portage county, was born in 1821, a son of Beziael Hough, one of the earliest pioneers of Portage county. Joel I. Hough was a merchant and passed all his days in Portage county, where his death occurred at the age of fifty-four years. His children were Dr. Wayland S., Lodema, William, John and Mary.
Dr. Wayland S. Hough attended the acad- emy at Atwater, Ohio, received a sound edu- cation and enlisted in the Civil war when about seventeen years old, in battery D, First Ohio light artillery, September 10, 1861, and was honorably discharged October 17, 1864. He was promoted for meritorious conduct to be corporal, and was on detached service for a year and a half as acting hospital steward, at Camp Nelson, Ky. He was in the battles of Pittsburg Landing and Corinth, and was taken
prisoner at Mumfordville, Ky., by Gen. Brag; in 1862, but was paroled after two days.
After his time had expired Mr. Hongh re- turned home, and immediately began the study of medicine at the Charity Hospital Medical college, Cleveland, from which he graduated in the spring of 1866. He began the practice of medicine at Mogadore, Ohio, where he practiced succesefully ten years, and in 1876 came to Cuyahoga Falls, where he has built up a large and lucrative practice, being widely known throughout the surrounding country. He was appointed trustee of the Cleveland State hospital during Mckinley's administra- tion, and is a member of the Ohio State Med- ical association and the National Medical society. He is a patron of the leading medi cal periodicals of the day, and has accumulated an excellent professional as well as literary library. He is a constant student, keeps well posted and fully abreast of the modern advances made in the science of medicine, is also a constant reader of the better class of literature of all ages, and has a clear comprehension of the currentevents of his own time, as re- flected through the daily press.
The doctor was married, in 1867, at Cleve- land, Ohio, to Miss Annie E. Golby, and this union has been blessed with one child, W. C. Fraternally, the doctor is a Mason, and is a member of Starr lodge, No. 187, Cuyahoga Falls, and is a past master; he is also a mem- ber of Howard lodge, I. O. O. F., at Cuyahoga Falls, and has passed all the chairs, including that of noble grand. The doctor is likewise an honored member of the G. A. R .. National Union, and the Royal Arcanum, which he has represented in the grand council for eighteen consecutive years. Dr. Hough is a very un- assuming man, but wields a strong influence for good. He was an active soldier, having enlisted for purely patriotic motives, and was in some of the hardest-fought battles for the
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WAYLAND S. HOUGH, M. D
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preservation of the Union, and did his full duty promptly and cheerfully. As a citizen he has always been noted for his sturdy adherence to the cause of the right, and for his public spiritedness. He is a firm friend of the canse of education, and his associates are numbered among the best citizens of Cuyahoga Falls and Summit county. In politics he is a repub- lican.
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RANK DICKERSON, an enterprising young farmer of Northampton town- ship, Summit county, Ohio, was born here April 16, 1860, and is a son of Willington and Sarah (Faylor) Dickerson, who were the parents of two children -- Frank, the subject, and Clara, who was born August 22, 1865, and is now the wife of Frank Horner.
Willington Dickerson was born in Lewis county, N. Y., September 9, 1832, and was a babe when brought to Ohio by his parents. He was reared a farmer in Northampton town- ship, and January 21, 1859, married Miss Sarah Fayloi, who was born March 16, 1840. Riley Dickerson, father of Willington, was born April 24, 1801, and Mary, his wife, No- vember 25, 1811. In 1830 they departed from Lewis county, N. Y., for Ohio, going by way of the Eric canal from Rome, Oneida county, to Buffalo, in Erie county, and thence starting by lake for Cleveland, Ohio. But the weather was so stormy and the water so rough that the little family were obliged to land at Ashtabula harbor with their goods, which latter were forwarded to Cleveland by water, while the family took the land route. From Cleveland they came to Summit county by ox-team, and settled in the woods of North- hampton township, where the father erected a log dwelling and barn, and eventually cleared up a good farm. Here Willington was reared among the pioneers from babyhood to man-
hood, and here he died in 1883; his willow is now living with her son Frank, the subject, on the original homestead. Frank Dickerson has lived on this, his birthplace, all his life, with the exception of one year, passed in work in Cleveland. He received a good common- school education in Northampton township, has been industrious and thrifty through life, and has proven himself a worthy descendent of one of the oldest families of the township, and as such is greatly respected by the eiti- zens, as well as for his personal merits. In politics he is a strong republican, but has never sought public office. He is unmarried, although very popular.
RS. ALAMANDA DOOLITTLE, of Streetsboro, Portage county, Ohio, is a native of the county and was born in Shalersville township June 23, 1819, a daughter of Simon and Lucy (Green) Burroughs, and still, notwithstanding her venerable years, has a most vivid recollec- tion of the events which occurred in the pio- neer days of the county.
Simon Burroughs was a native of the town of Alstead, Cheshire county, N. H., a son of Joel Burroughs, who was of hish descent, and the father of nine children, viz: Richard, Joel, David, Simon, Cyrus, Phebe, Hannah, Grace and Anna. . The progenitors of the family were among the earliest settlers of Alstead, and over 300 persons who bore the name of Burroughs lie interred in cemetery of the town mentioned. The old family homestead is still standing in Alstead, although nearly all the children born to Joel have become residents of Ohio. Simon Burroughs was reared a farmer and carpenter, and made three trips or more from New Hampshire to Ohio. His first trip was made when a young man, when he moved his brother David to Cleveland with an
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PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD)
ox-team; he next came as driver of an ox-team for his uncle Daniel, who settled in Shalers- ville; he started, the third time, and the last, on horseback, but his horse sickened and died in the state of New York, and he made the remainder of his way on foot to Shalersville, where he passed one year. Returning east, Simon was united in marriage, in Vermont, with Miss Lucy Green, who was born in Bethel, Windham county, Vt., a daughter of Amassa and Lucy (Dudley) Green, and then returned, in 1818, to Shalersville, with his bride, accompanied by Joel Thompson, this trip being made with ox-teams.
The first year after settling in Portage county, Simon Burroughs lived at Mason's Mills, pending the erection of a frame dwelling on his farm, of which he cleared up 100 acres; he subsequently sold forty acres of his tract and moved to Streetsboro township, about 1830, and settled on the land now occupied by his son, Horace Doolittle. This tract he con- verted into a fine farm and erected upon it sub- stantial buildings, which are still standing. His habit was to go to the forest in winter, cut the timber for his buildings, hew the frames, and shave the broad chestnut shingles, and by the time his bay was cut in June, his barns would be ready to receive it. He also built many substantial dwellings and barns for other settlers throughout the county, and became a man of much prominence, and was frequently employed by newcomers to point out suitable places for settlement. He was a steady man of good habits, kind and helpful in cases of sickness, and was greatly appreciated as being one of the most useful dwellers in the commu- nity. In politics Mr. Burroughs was a demo- crat, and in religion both he and wife were pious Methodists.
The children born to Mr. and Mrs. Simon Burroughs were Alamanda, whose name opens this biography; Aunis, who was first inarried
to Eli Musser, and, after his death. to Horace Peck; Dudley, who was an invalid, and for more than a quarter of a century was kindly cared for by his sister, Mrs. Alamanda Doo- little, and died in January, 1897; Howard and George and Henry (twins). Both Mr. and Mrs. Burroughs lived to reach the ripe age of seventy-five years, and died deeply lamented by every member of the community in which they had passed so many years of their useful lives. The family name was held in universal respect, as four of its immediate members- Joel, Richard, Daniel and Elijah-had served all through the Revolutionary war.
Mrs. Alamanda Doolittle received an ex- cellent education in her early days, and at the age of seventeen years, December 23, 1836, was united in marriage with Albert Doolittle, who was born October 7, 1806. in New Milford, Pa., a son of Benjamin Doolittle, a native of Cheshire, Conn., born February 10, 1771. Benjamin married Fannie Ward, who was born in Connecticut April 12, 1871, a daughter of Isabel Ward. Benjamin and his wife were the pioneer settlers of New Milford, Susque- hanna county, Pa., and after a residence of twenty-one years in that town were induced by Titus Street to come to Streetsboro, Ohio, where Mr. Doolittle bought a tract of 200 acres of land, deep in the woods, from which not a stick had been cut, except, perhaps, by hunters. Mr. Doolittle converted this land, in due course of time, into a profitable farm and comfortable home, and here Mrs. Alaman- da now resides. Benjamin Doolittle later be- came land agent for Titus Street, who owned the township, and also became a man of marked influence in the community. To his marriage with Miss Ward were born nine children, viz: Rev. Nelson, born March 17, 1805, a Universalist minister, who settled in Akron, where he preached many sertolls, Albert, born October 7, 1806; George, Novem-
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ber 22, 1809; Henry, November 14, 1811; Lydia A., July 10, 1815; William, July 18, 1817; Jane, April 1, 1819; Benjamin, April 20, 1821, and Eloisai, February 15, 1823. These last-named eight all settled in Streets- boro township.
Benjamin Doolittle was a man of eruditon, was a deacon in the Disciples, church, and when no minister of that faith was available, was fully competent to lead the services. Three of his sons-Nelson, Albert and Henry-were Universalists; George was a Baptist, and William was a Methodist, and each was capa- ble of showing or pioving his faith from the Scriptures. Mr. Doolittle was in politics a a whig, and for many years served as a justice of the peace. He lived to be over seventy-six years of age, having been born February 10, 1771, and dying September IS, 1849. His son Henry was extensively engaged in railroad contracting, and was also one of the builders of the Wabash & Erie canal. He lived two years in Eric, Pa., engaged in the railroad business, but died in San Antonio, Tex., in 1861, his brothers, William and Albert, having been associated with him in business.
Albert Doolittle, after marriage, settled on a part of his father's farm, which part he pur- chased, and became a prosperous, substantial and prominent farmer and a man of great in- fluence. He was well educated and of more than ordinary intelligence, and increased his estate to 230 acres. Contracting really, how- ever, occupied as much of his time as farming, and he was in fact the originator of this line of business in the family. He and his brother Henry held contracts on the canal, as well as on the Atlantic & Great Western railroad, and after the death of Henry he was for more than ten years occupied in settling up the estate. He was a very active and energetic man, and was strictly honest, his business reputation standing until the end without a blemish In
religion he was a Universalist. and in politics was a whig until the formation of the republic- an party, when he joined the ranks of the latter. lle was an honored citizen, and for a number of years filled the office of justice of the peace with great ability. His marriage was blessed with four children, viz: Charles R., Augusta, Horace A. and Lucy, the last named of whom died a married woman. The death of Albert Doolittle took place on the old homestcad, January 15, 1886, at the age of seventy-eight years, and no man ever left a more honored naine behind him.
Horace A. Doolittle, son of Albert and Alamanda Doolittle, has been twice married, his first union having been with Miss Mary E. Seymour, daughter of Nathaniel and E. (Calkins) Seymour, and to this marriage were born Nathaniel S. and Horace A. The second inarriage of Mr. Doolittle was to Miss Effie E. Peck, daughter of Henry and Emeline (Jen- kins) Peck, and this union has been blessed with one daughter -- Cora Lucille. In politics, Mr. Doolittle is a republican and has served his fellow-citizens as township trustee. He is a substanial farmer, owning 130 acres of arable land, and he and family are among the inost respected residents of the township. Mrs. Doolittle is a member of the Baptist church at Streetsboro, and is a lady of many estimable qualities.
'ILLIAM FERGUSON, a prominent farmer of Streetsboro township, Portage county, Ohio, is a native of this county, is a son of Robert and Mary (Lloyd) Ferguson, and was born in Deerfield township June 28, 1846.
Robert Ferguson was born in the north of Ireland, and came to America when about fifteen years old. He was married in Penn- sylvania to Miss Mary Lloyd, of Scotch de-
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PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD
scent, and after marriage came to Portage county and purchased a farm in Deerfield township. Of the six children born to Mr. and Mrs. Ferguson the eldest, Matilda, died a married woman; Robert, died at the age of five: the remaining four are still living, and are named Isabel, William (subject), Nelson and Julia. The mother of this family has been called from earth, dying in the faith of the Lutheran church; the father, now a venerable gentleman of eighty-three years, makes his home with his son William, who cares for his every want with filial affection.
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