Biographical and historical memoirs of Muskingum County, Ohio. Embracing an authentic and comprehensive account of the chief events in the history of the county and a record of the lives of many of the most worthy families and individuals, Part 78

Author:
Publication date: 1892
Publisher: Chicago, Goodspeed Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 642

USA > Ohio > Muskingum County > Biographical and historical memoirs of Muskingum County, Ohio. Embracing an authentic and comprehensive account of the chief events in the history of the county and a record of the lives of many of the most worthy families and individuals > Part 78

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believes in educating his family. He has two subject of this sketch now lives, at that time con- children: Wilbert R. and Maud L. Wilbert R. sisting of about 128 acres of land and worth about received a good education in the common and high $10 per acre. At the present time it is worth school of Otsego, and then at the college at Gran- about $100. On this farm Mr. Deffenbaugh ville. He also received instructions in music at the resided until his death, which occurred in 1869. the Musical institute. He attended the high school The property which he accumulated was the result at Plainfield and the Muskingum college at New of honest toil, for upon his arrival here he was a Concord, has taught school two terms in this very poor man, and where many would have county and is a young man of intelligent mind and fainted and fallen by the wayside, he pushed good character. Maud L. has attended the com- vigorously on and gallantly surmounted the many mon and high schools of Otsego and the high difficulties that strewed his pathway. He was a school at Plainfield, and is a young lady of educa- soldier in the War of 1812 and held a number of tion and refinement. Socially Mr. Davis is a local offices. His wife died in 1873, she, as well as member of the Masonic lodge at Adamsville and Mr. Deffenbaugh, being members of the German Odd Fellows lodge at Coshocton. He married Lutheran church. She was a kind mother, a Hannah A. Buker, daughter of Alpha Buker [See devoted wife, and a warm and faithful friend, sketch of Decatur Buker. ] Alpha Buker was born beloved by all who knew her for her many Chris- February 28, 1800, at Gray Mains, and received a tian virtues. She bore her husband nine children, good education. He learned the woolen carder's as follows: Elizabeth, the deceased, wife of George trade, and at the age of eighteen years, in 1818, Harris; Christian R., who is deceased, but his came to Otsego. His father, Israel Buker, and his family reside in this county; Anthony, who resides brother Caleb were settled in Monroe township. in Texas; Sarah, the deceased wife of Robert He married Mary A. Bainter, and to this marriage Black; George, deceased; Mary, deceased; Henry, were born nine children: Israel, Jolin, Charles, who resides in Zanesville; James A., the subject Jacob, Adam, Elizabeth, two who died when small of this sketch; and Martha, wife of James Williams. and one died an infant. Mr. Buker taught school James A. Deffenbaugh was educated in the country in Muskingum and Coshocton counties many years. schools of this section, and obtained a fair practi- He was one of the early teachers of the county cal education. He was born in Perry county in and one of the first teachers at Plainfield. He came 1827, and at the age of nineteen years he com- from a family of school teachers, and in Maine one menced to farm for himself on the old homestead. was the author of a spelling book, and another of At the age of twenty-seven, or in 1854, he was a grammar. Mr. Baker first settled in Monroe married to Miss Nancy J. Moore, who was born in township, where his widow now lives. His first Kentucky, and who came with her parents to this wife died of injuries received from falling from a county when she was quite small. Joseph Moore,

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HISTORY OF MUSKINGUM COUNTY.

her father, was quite an early settler of this sec- the education and rearing of the average youth of tion, and by trade was a carpenter. He resided his day, and upon reaching manhood was married for quite a number of years near by and in the to Miss Mary George, daughter of John and Ann village of Beverly, following his trade. He was (George) George, distant relatives, the former be- married to a Miss Hedges. To James A. Deffen- ing a native of Ireland, who first settled in Penn- baugh and his wife the following children were sylvania and afterward moved to the falls of the born: Sarah, Solomon, Isaac, Harriet, wife of Licking river, where he followed his trade of car- William Ray, of Rich Hill township, Ethie, and penter and lived to be about sixty-five years of age. James H. Jr. Mr. Deffenbaugh purchased two Mr. Dickey has in his possession a cane which Mr. shares of the old homestead, besides his own on George brought to this country with him from Ire- which the old family residence stood, and now has land, and which lie called "Thorny," and which is a fine little farm of forty-three acres on which is now over one hundred yearsold. Mr. George was the one of the finest orchards to be found in this sec- father of six children: Mary, Betsy, Nancy, Will- tion of the country. He also gives considerable iam, James and Robert. James Dickey became attention to the raising of raspberries and black- the father of eight children: Ann, Robert, William, berries. Politically he is a democrat and is a James, Elizabeth, John, Jane and Sarah. Mr. member of Muskingum lodge No. 28 of the Dickey followed the calling of a carpenter, at the Falls, when a young man, residing there for about I. O. O. F.

Chancey H. Delong (deceased) was one of the eight years after his marriage. After residing on most esteemed and respected citizens of Meigs several different places he purchased a farm near township, and, as the first tanner of that township, Shannon, but later, sold it and purchased the farm was a complete success. He owes his nativity to which is owned and occupied by his son Robert, Washington county, Ohio, his birth occurring in and here he passed from life in 1880, at the age of June, 1804, and about 1820 he came to Muskingum eighty-four years and five months. He was a re- county. He settled in Meigs township, and was publican, politically, and was a soldier of the War among the earliest settlers, experiencing all the of 1812, being stationed on Lake Erie at the mouth hardships of pioneer days. In that township he of Black river. He was a young man of nineteen established the first and only tannery, and that he when he enlisted and went in place of his brother, made a complete success of this enterprise can not Robert Dickey. Mr. Dickey was very industri- for a moment be doubted, for at the time of his ous, a man of his word, and was always trustworthy death, which occurred on December 4, 1887, he and honorable. Robert Dickey, his son, was born was one of the wealthiest men of that township, at the falls of the Licking river, in Muskingum owning in the neighborhood of 800 acres of land. county, November 21, 1818, and in addition to ob- He was a member of the Baptist church, was a taining a common school education, he learned the liberal contributor to the same, and was active in details of farming. About 1822 he was brought all enterprises for the advancement and progress of by his parents to Muskingum county, and here has the county. In politics he advocated the princi- resided up to the present time. He was married ples of the democratic party. On October 22, 1878, to Miss Mary A. Clark, a daughter of Richard and he married Mrs. Mercy White, daughter of John Margaret (Stockdale) Clark, the former of whom and Charlotte McIntire. She had been previously was, for a number of years, a farmer about two married to Hiram White, by whom she had two miles from Baltimore. Upon selling his farm he children: Elizabeth, and John, both deceased. received for it a half-bushel measure even full of

Robert Dickey, Nashport, Ohio. William silver money. He then came to Ohio and settled Dickey, grandfather of Robert Dickey, came from in Wyandotte county, where, among the Indians Ireland to America, and first settled in Pennsylva- and wild beasts, he made a home for his family. nia, in which state he was married to a Miss Lysle, He was the father of the following children: Sarah who was also a native of the "Emerald isle." A., Margaret, Mary A., Isabel, Susan, Jolin, Jesse, From Washington county, Penn., they removed to and Cornelius. Mr. Clark was a soldier in the Jeffersonville, Ohio, about 1800, and Mr. Dickey War of 1812, and was called out when the British afterward turned his attention to farming, making invaded Maryland and burned Washington: He a good home for himself and family in the wilder- died when fifty-nine years of age. He was an old- ness. He died at the age of sixty-six years, a fashioned pioneer, and, like many of the first Presbyterian in religious belief. He was an old- settlers, killed himself with overwork in clearing line whig in politics, and in disposition was quiet, up land. Robert Dickey remembers well when amiable and generous. His children were: Nancy, most of the old pioneers obtained their meat by Mary, Jane, Sarah, William, Robert, James and means of the rifle. His father was a great hunter Joseph. James Dickey, one of these children, was and an expert marksman, and kept his family well born in Jefferson county, Ohio, in 1806, received supplied with wild game. Even when an old man

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HISTORY OF MUSKINGUM COUNTY.

of eighty years, could, without the aid of glasses, sought and found employment in the country with shoot the head of a squirrel in the top of a tall a farmer, who gave him steady work, good wages, tree. Mr. Dickey can remember when the woods and great kindness, savored with that Samaritan were full of game, and has often seen eight or nine hospitality which was never forgotten by him. deer at one time running along the high ridge east Several years thus employed he ventured farther of Irville. He has killed many wild turkeys, etc., west. Ohio as a state had taken a front rank and himself, and thinks his father killed the last deer employment was then to be found in building mills, of this section in the Bald hills. This was an old and on the construction of the canal. Coming to buck that had been chased so much that he was Taylorsville he was employed at that place for two very wary. Mr. Dickey followed him on horse- years, on the finishing of the locks, when a position back, with a bell on the horse, to the big bend of as head miller, in a flourmill at Duncan's Fall was the Tomaka creek, near where Squire Evans now offered him and acceptably filled for a number of lives, and back to within three miles of his home, years. At Taylorsville he was united in marriage easily tracking him in the snow. He was very to Miss Caroline Young, who also came to America large. Mr. Dickey remembers many interesting from Germany with her parents about the same incidents of pioneer days. He is the father of year young Dietz did. In 1853 he moved to nine children by his first wife: Richard, John, Lowell, Washington county. At this time his Margaret and Mary are the only ones that lived to family consisted of four children, Fred C., twin maturity. After the death of his first wife he mar- daughters, who were remarkable for their ex- ried Hannah McFarland, daughter of Charles and treme likeness to each other, and Theobald; and Sarah (Fairall) McFarland, the former of whom here he took the management of the Lowell flour- came from Virginia at an early day and settled in mills, for several years. He finally bought a flour- Licking county, and is now living at Granville. By mill on Duck creek, at a place now known as his second wife Mr. Dickey became the father of Whipple. Here he lived and prospered. He was one child, Nettie. He has resided on several farms noted for the excellent flour sent from his mills. In in Licking county, and from 1866 to 1869 he re- all his dealings with his fellow-men painstaking sided in Bartholomew county, Ind. Since then he was a characteristic. Living at this place until has been a resident of Ohio, and has resided on a 1863, his oldest son Fred left home to enter the farm he purchased from his father. He and his service of his country, and his father finding busi- wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal ness more burdensome in advanced years, bought church, and he is a stanch republican in politics some land near Zanesville and contented himself and was a strong Union man during the war. He in garden culture. His son returned after capitu- several times offered his services to his country, but lation at Appomattox, after participating in four- was refused on account of disability. He is now teen battles. His sons married and settled near in comfortable circumstances, free from debt, and him. Theobald carrying on garden culture in a is highly respected by all who know him.

Gottlieb Dietz, the subject of this sketch was tions of honor and trust and like their father born in 1812, in Spielberg, Baden, Germany, in that acquitted themselves with credit. In the M. church old country where civilization and intelligence had and I. O. O. F. he occupied a prominent place. been foremost among the nations for centuries. To such noble characters as Gottlieb Dietz, Ohio Born and reared in a home of warm religious at- owes much of her celebrity. Coming to this country mosphere, where love to God and fellow men was when the dense forests were cut away, the In- the first principal taught and practiced. His dians were driven farther to the west, there was father was an architect by profession. Of the many much need of men who were inspired by good pur- public and government buildings that his father poses to lay their willing hands to building up of had charge of it was a wonted pleasure for him to our public institutions. With his high standard of speak of frequently. At the age of twenty-one he morality, his industry, his fidelity to exemplify the became inspired by the oft-told wonders of America, golden rule, there can be no better representative to come to that far-famed country. Admiring his of the pioneer emigrant. To his adopted country own country's institutions he thought another he gave a loyal heart, to his fellow-men kindness. might contain all his native land possessed, and in to his family and friends a memory hallowed by his ideality he was not disappointed, and to the the purity of his life. In 1878 he passed away. day of his death he was a stanch supporter of his Thus ended a quiet, peaceful life. To such as he, adopted country, and withal never failing to give our government gives a welcome hand, for sustain- due tribute to his fatherland. Arriving in New ing her national, social, and religious privileges. York in the spring of 1833, he found employment Abraham C. Dorsey, farmer, Dresden. Ohio, is in the city at his own profession, that of a mill- a representative of two of the pioneer families of wright. But in the winter milling business he Ohio, and perhaps inherits from them those ster-

scientific manner. Both sons occupied many posi-

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HISTORY OF MUSKINGUM COUNTY.

ling qualities of push and perseverance which have agricultural pursuits for his calling in life, for his made him so successful in life. His grandfather, ancestors for several generations had been farmers. John Dorsey, was born in Virginia and was of He married Miss Isabella Lane, daughter of Jacob English descent. The tradition of this family is, and Achsalı (Butler) Lane. Mr. Lane was born that three brothers emigrated from England to on a farm in Huntington county, Penn., and was America at a period long antedating the Revolu- a prosperous and respected man. He came to tionary war and from these ancestors sprang men Ohio with his father, Abraham Lane (whose wife in great numbers who subsequently became prom- was Mary Morrison), and about 1808 the latter inent in different localities. John Dorsey, the brought his children, seven in number: Jacob, grandfather of our subject, and a worthy descend- Richard, Abraham, Samuel, Elizabeth, Presotia ant of his illustrious ancestors, was a substantial and Mary. Abraham Lane (the father) settled in farmer and resided in his native state until 1808 Muskingum county, Muskingum township, re- when he came to the Buckeye state, settling on a mained there for a short time and his next settle- farm near Shannon, now owned by Stockton ment was in Monroe township, where he passed Frazier. He was married in Virginia to Miss Jemi- the remainder of his days. Hissecond wife, Mary mah Gist, of the same neighborhood, and to them Baker, bore him eight children: George, Jeremiah, were born these children: Joseph, Michael, Owen, Achsah, Sarah, Ellen and three who died in in- William, John, Honor, Betsey and Jemimah. Mr. fancy. He was a member of the New School Dorsey's land was covered with heavy timber and Baptist church. Jacob Lane received a very with the aid of his sons he cleared the half section limited education and worked on a farm for old he had purchased, erected a good residence, and Capt. Taylor and here he married Miss Achsah gave all his sons land. He was a member of the Butler, on the 14th of October, 1814. [See sketch Old School Baptist church and was deacon for of Joshua Butler. ] He was drafted in the War many years. He was one of the hard-working of 1812 but as it was toward the close of the war, pioneer settlers, and lived to be sixty- four years of he saw no active service. His marriage resulted age. His son, Joseph Dorsey, was born in Virginia in in the birth of nine children: Morris, Jesse, Amos 1796 and when a boy of fourteen years came (died in infancy), Ebenezer, Jeremiah (died in with his parents to Ohio. He assisted his father infancy), Hezekiah (died in infancy), Helen (died in clearing up the land and received his education when eight years of age), Elizabeth (died in in the pioneer schools. He subsequently returned infancy) and Isabelle. Mr. Lane first settled on to Virginia and was there married to Miss Johan- the Taylor place, and there remained for a few nah Foster, who, when an old lady, would relate years. Both of these farms are now owned by how Mr. Dorsey returned five times to Virginia to our subject. When Mr. Lane first settled on this see her, before they were married. They had farm (about 1821) there was not a house south of been old schoolmates in Virginia. After marriage him within two miles. North of him the first they settled on a farm in Cass township, where house was at Mile run, one mile south of Dresden they resided for a short time, and then moved to and three miles away. There was not a stick cut the farm now occupied by the widow of John on the place and he cleared the most of it with his Dorsey. To. Mr. and Mrs. Dorsey were born ten own hands. He was a careful business man, a children: Benjamin, Jemimah, John, Elizabeth, practical farmer, and a prominent citizen. He Abraham, Johannah, Naomi, Joseph, Amelia and owned 519 acres and besides assisted his sons in Cecil. Mr. and Mrs. Dorsey were devout mem- buying land, giving three of them 100 acres apiece. bers of the Baptist church and Mr. Dorsey was He had money out at interest and after the death deacon of the same. They were married by the of the widow, when this was settled up, it amounted famous Alexander Campbell, the founder of the to $19,000. In politics he was formerly an old Campbellite church. In politics Mr. Dorsey was an line whig and later a republican. At the time Old Line Whig. He died in 1845, at the age of of his death, which occurred February 19, 1872, forty-eight years, eight months and a few days. He he was eighty-three years of age. He was entirely was a man of upright character, a substantial and a self-made man and all his property was the result enterprising farmer, and a citizen who had the of his own hard work. He was of a cheerful, pleas- respect of all. His son, Dr. Joseph Dorsey, of Dres- ant disposition, thoroughly enjoyed a joke, and den, was a soldier in the Civil war and was in the was very popular with the young people. Although famous ninety-seventh regiment, serving until ces- quick and passionate, he never bore malice and sation of hostilities. Another son, and the subject of soon forgave an injury. Abraham C. Dorsey set- this sketch, Abraham C. Dorsey was born in Cass tled on the old Lane homestead after marriage, township, Muskingum county, on April 30, 1830, resided there eight years, and then bought a farm and was educated in the common schools of his day. near by, the Munson farm, and resided on that It was but natural, perhaps, that he should select ten years. In March, 1872, he moved to the old

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HISTORY OF MUSKINGUM COUNTY.

homestead which had been willed to Mrs. Dorsey ease of any kind, either hereditary or acquired, and and which contained 219 acres. Mr. and Mrs. with an avoirdupois of 186 pounds. He then en- Dorsey's marriage was blessed by the birth of six tered the Dunlap's Creek Presbyterian academy at children: Salathial, Florida J., James L., Achsah, Merrittstown, Penn., where he remained for about Johannah and George B. Mr. and Mrs. Dorsey five years, being promoted from student to tutor, are members of the Old School Baptist church, then to first-assistant teacher, and finally to the and he has been deacon for about fifteen years. principalship of the institution. While here he He is now the owner of 339 acres of land, and has united with the Presbyterian church. Being given his sons 176 acres. Salathial married Miss almost wholly dependent upon his own exertions, Sarah B. McCann and became the father of three he had by this time, by rigid diligence and economy, children: Nellie I. J., Loulie A. and Charles T. acquired sufficient mental and moral and money He is farming in Perry township. He is interested equipment to enter the sophomore class, two-thirds in educational matters and held the office of school advanced, in Jefferson college, at Cannonsburg, director for some time. He was justice of the Penn., and was graduated in 1857, not receiving peace in Perry township for three years, and any class honors, but having a college grade that although a republican, he was elected to the office secured him a place on the commencement pro- by democrats. Mr. Dorsey is a good penman, and gram as one of the "elect " in a class of fifty-nine possesses excellent business acumen James mar- men, the faculty conferring on him the honor of ried Miss Lora King and has three children : Alma, delivering the humorous oration. In the autumn B. F. and Brice. He is farming in Colorado and of 1857 he began the study of theology in the doing well. Achsah married John W. Wirick, a Western Theological seminary, at Allegheny City. farmer of Knox county, Ohio, and they have one Penn. At the end of the term, April, 1858, he child, an infant, unnamed. The remainder of the was called to take charge of an academy at Mar- family are at home. The Dorsey family is one of tinsburg, Ohio, where he continued two and a half the best in the county and Mr. Dorsey is well years in the double work of teaching successfully known for his kind, genial disposition, and his a large number of young ladies and gentlemen and interest in all good work. He is now sixty-two studying theology under direction of Rev. Henry years old and his wife a few years younger. Her Hervey, and was licensed to preach the gospel by mother, Mrs. Lane, was the seventh daughter of the presbytery of Richland, June 13, 1860. the seventh daughter and was supposed to possess March 28 of the same year he was united in mar- great healing powers. Mrs. Dorsey was born, riage with Miss Martha M. Dayton, of Martins- reared, and has lived all her days on the same burg, Ohio, an estimable Christian lady, who died farm-nearly sixty years on the old homestead January 22, 1892. He was pastor of the Presby- that has been in the family about seventy-one years. terian churches of Utica and Homer, Presbytery When Mr. Dorsey was twenty-three years of age, of Zanesville, from 1860 to 1874; pastor of the 1852, he assisted in driving a herd of 110 cattle church at Lithopolis, Presbytery of Columbus, from Dresden across the Alleghany mountains to from 1874 to 1881; represented his presbytery in Philadelphia, and was from May 10 until July 1 in the sessions of the general assembly of the church making the trip. He attended the Centennial expo- in New York city and Pittsburg, Penn., in 1869, sition at Philadelphia and also visited Washington, and again in the assembly in Pittsburg in 1878. D. C. When a young man of twenty-one, he visited To secure the higher education of his children he Indiana and bought 160 acres of land. This land removed to Granville, Ohio, in 1882, where he re- he finally disposed of.

" Caleb Bracken Downs was born June 20, 1830, churches. In 1883 he purchased the printing on a farm in Redstone township, Fayette county, office of "The Granville Times" and successfully Penn. His father was Jonathan Downs, a sturdy edited and published that paper for a year, when farmer and a leading architect of the community W. H. Kussmaul became an equal partner with and a "straight-out" member of the old whig party. him. While here he collected and compiled and His mother's maiden name was Mary Miller, a published a neatly-bound history of his college daughter of Peter and Mary Miller, straight and class, together with a report of their twenty-fifth strict Quakers. Caleb remained on the home farm reunion, at which he had the honor of reading the until the age of sixteen, when he was apprenticed class poem. Here, also, he acquired the reputation to the carpenter's trade, in which he served faith- of a spicy, crisp and vigorous editorial writer. In fully for three years and worked at the trade a 1886 he was unanimously nominated for congress year afterward. During these years he took his by the republicans of the Sixteenth district, in chances for a very common-school education pecul- which the democratic majority was about 5,000. iar to the country and time, and came out with a He made a splendid race, preaching every Sabbath first-class physical constitution, untainted by dis- during the campaign, and receiving the strong en-

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Biographical and historical memoirs of Muskingum County, Ohio. Embracing an authentic and comprehensive account of the chief events in the history of the county and a record of the lives of many of the most worthy families and individuals, Part 78

Author: Publication date: 1892 Publisher: Chicago, Goodspeed Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 642

Author:
Publication date: 1892
Publisher: Chicago, Goodspeed Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 642