History of Delaware County and Ohio, Part 131

Author: O. L. Baskin & Co; Perrin, William Henry, d. 1892?
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Chicago, O.L. Baskin & Co.
Number of Pages: 818

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of Delaware, after which he practiced a short time at Belle Point ; the Doctor then attended lectures for three terms at the Ohio Medical College, in Cincinnati, graduating June 6, 1863, resuming practice in Belle Point, where he continued until Jan. 1, 1864, when he received the' appointment of Assistant Surgeon of the 33d O. V. I. ; during the most of his army service, the Doctor per- formed the duties of Regimental Surgeon; in 1865, he returned to Delaware and associated himself in his profession with Dr. Welch; in June, 1867, he went West to Kansas; returning, be traveled on horseback as far as Illinois; upon arriving in Delaware, he entered upon his profes- sional duties ; in 1870, he engaged in farming and stock-raising, two miles south of Belle Point, on the west side of the Scioto River ; in 1874 removed to his present residence, two and one-half miles southwest of Delaware, on the Delaware and Belle Point pike, devoting himself to his profes- sion. March 31, 1870, he was married to Mrs. R. D. Cutler; one child has been born to them- Annie M., May 27, 1879. Their present place contains 47 acres; he also has 8 acres adjoining the corporate limits of Delaware ; Mrs. Ropp holds a life interest in 106 acres two miles south of Belle Point. Dr. Ropp has recently been appointed medical attendant of the Girls' Industrial Home, where they have over three hundred inmates. The Doctor gives considerable attention to bee cult- ure, having at this time 67 stands. Jacob M. Ropp, the father of the Doctor, died Dec. 11, 1851; about three years later his mother, Mrs. Harriet Ropp, joined the spirit of the departed father. They were both members of the M. E. Church.

REV. NATHAN SMITH is a native of Clark Co., Ohio, and was born on the same farm as his mother, July 28, 1828. He is Superintendent of the Girls' Industrial Home; his appointment to this position took place soon after the death of Dr. Hill (former Superintendent) in September, 1879. At the age of 13, Mr. Smith became a Christian and united with the church; his early life was spent in attending and teaching school, and he was licensed to preach at the age of 23, being or- dained the same year ; Mr. Smith entered upon his calling in Ross Co., and the greater portion of his labor has been in this State, having, however, served as Pastor of the Third Presbyterian Church at Fort Wayne, Ind., for six years. The church was organized under his ministry, becoming self- sustaining and thrifty, when, in 1873, Mr. Smith lo- cated in Delaware, Ohio, where he served as Pastor

of the Presbyterian Church for five years, when he removed to Chillicothe temporarily. He has been honored with the degree of D. D., conferred by the University of Wooster (Presbyterian). At the age of 23, Mr. ' Smith married Rachel Els- worth, who died in Cincinnati in 1858; three sons born to them are also deceased. Mr. Smith was again married in the year 1861 ; this time to Cor- nelia Tarlton, of Chillicothe; they have no chil- dren. His parents are natives of Ohio, the father, James S. Smith, having been born in 1804, at College Hill, Hamilton Co .; the mother, in 1805, in Clark Co .; the former was a minister of the Protestant Methodist Church, having joined the church at the age of 20, and ordained to the min- istry about ten years later. The greater portion of his life was spent in preaching in Clark and ad- joining counties.

GEORGE STOKES, farmer; P. O. Dela- ware; is a son of Thomas and Elizabeth Stokes, natives of Somersetshire, England; Thomas Stokes was a farmer, maltster and brewer, and for some years devoted a portion of his time to the cheese trade; George Stokes was born in his father's native shire Nov. 24, 1829, remaining with his parents until Aug. 8, 1849. He became the hus- band of Annie, daughter of George and Elizabeth Hill, also of Somersetshire, where she was born Oct. 16, 1832 ; shortly after their marriage, they located in London, he as weighmaster in the com- mission house of his cousin, where he remained until April, 1854, when he sailed for America, coming to Ohio the same year and locating in New California, Union Co., as a merchant, where he re- mained until 1861, five years of which time he was Postmaster of the place. In 1860, he visited his people in England, leaving his wife and a Mr. Allen in charge of his business; in 1861, he re- turned. A steamer that Mr. Stokes had intended to take passage on for his return went down, and all on board were lost, and he reported among the number. He, however, took passage on the Nova Scotia, informing his family by a previously writ- ten letter that he should do so; she was ten days overdue and reported lost with all on board, his name appearing among the number. The first paper he saw on his arrival had an account of his loss with the rest, his family supposing him dead until the joyous re-union upon his arrival home; soon after this, he sold his business in New Cali- fornia, and accepted the position of steward at the White Sulphur Springs Hotel of this township, then run by a Mr. Wilson, and acted as such for

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six years; a Mr. Ferry then took the place of Mr. Wilson, when Mr. Stokes took charge of the livery stables, continuing in this capacity for over three years ; during this time, he purchased sixty- nine acres of his present place, which now con- tains 155 acres. In 1869, the springs became the property of the State, and the Girls' Industrial Home was established there ; Mr. Stokes ac- cepted the position of farmer for the institu- tion, and continued in this capacity until June, 1879, his wife being housekeeper for the home during this time. Seven children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Stokes, five of whom died when quite small ; the two living are Sarah A., born Jan. 14, 1851, in London, England, and Thomas M., May 22, 1857, in Union Co .; the former at- tended school in Delaware in 1867-68 ; in 1873, Thomas entered the high school at Piqua, Mi- ami Co., which he attended for two years, at the same time utilizing his evenings by taking a course in a business college. He is a member of Powell Lodge, No. 465, I. O. O. F. This son and the daughter ran the farm for the past two years, and now they all live together on the place, the father and mother both having given up their positions at the home. Mr. Stokes has been a member of the School Board for years.

SAMUEL W. WHYTE, physician and sur- geon, was born April 20, 1815, in Chesterfield Co., Va .; is a son of Samnel and Amy Whyte. At his birth, his parents were in slavery ; his mother being owned by one McCray; his father arranged with his owner for his time by paying therefor, at the rate of $150 per year. By hard work and the closest economy, he succeeded, by the time young Whyte was 2 years old, in sav- ing sufficient money with which to buy from slav- ery the son and mother, paying for. the former $300, and for the latter $500; two years later, his master died, and he was sold; he eventually succeeded in buying his own freedom for $1,220 ; then, with a free family, he moved to Manchester, Va., where he engaged in shipping cotton and tobac- co, from 1819 until 1836, when he came to Ohio, buying and improving the farm of 100 acres, where the Doctor now lives, for which he paid $1,120; here he remained until his death, Aug. 2, 1852, his wife having died before him; both had been earnest Christians. The Doctor re- ceived a liberal education, passing three years at Brown's High School, and three college years at McKennon's University, from which he graduated. He soon commenced the reading of medicine, in

the office of Dr. Rolin, of Lynchburg, Va .; com- pleting these studies, he practiced in his profes- sion for a short time, then returned to Ohio, where he turned his attention to farming and blacksmith- ing. Since 1860, however, the Doctor has de- voted himself to his profession. Oct. 22, 1836, he was married to Miss Louisa Robingood, who was born July 8, 1812 ; they have had thirteen children, of whom Addie L. V., Thomas A., Oscar B., Jeredemia F., William S. and Georgiana H. are still living. Those deceased are Archy, Amy E., Margaret R., Samucl J. Q. A., Samlyn C., Clarkson W. and Maud Elberta. Miss Georgi- ana is a graduate of Wilbermer College, and is now engaged as a teacher in a university, at St. Louis, Mo. The Doctor has, at three different times, been a delegate to State conventions. He is the owner of a nice little farm, one-half mile south of the Girls' Industrial Home. Besides his office at his residence, on the farm, he maintains one in Delaware. He is one of only three colored doc- tors in Ohio.

THOMAS A. WHYTE, farmer and black- smith ; P. O. Jerome, Union Co .; is a son of Dr. Samuel W. Whyte, and was born April 19, 1845, in Concord Township, where he remained with his father, working at blacksmithing and attending school, until 22 years of age. After leaving home, he attended school in Delaware two terms, and from that time until in the year 1873, he traveled and worked at his trade in the following places : Columbus, Grove City, Indianapolis and Richmond, Ind .; Springfield and Bates, Ill .; Marys- ville, Springfield, Xenia and Flint Station, Ohio. June 5, 1873, he was married to Miss Lucinda Depp, daughter of Abraham Depp, who, at his death, was the wealthiest colored man in the county. They have three children-John Q. A., Erena K., Rilla L. After his marriage, Mr. Whyte located in Jerome, Union Co., and opened a blacksmith-shop, where he has a good business ; in addition to this, he owns a good farm, in Con- cord Township, of 112 acres. In 1876, he visited some of the Eastern cities. Mr. Whyte is a zeal- ous Sunday-school worker, and is now an official in two Sunday schools. Himself and wife are members of the M. E. Church.

GEORGE W. WILLISON, carpenter ; was born July 18, 1841, in Shelby Co., Ohio, and is a son of Elisha Willison, who died in Missouri in 1849, while in the regular army ; George was then in his 8th year ; he was then bound out to one J. B. Douvil, of Franklin Co., with whom he

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remained until he was 19 years old, in the mean time working on the farm, and receiving some school privileges ; he then went to work on his own responsibility. Aug. 2, 1862, he enlisted in Co. H, 18th U. S. I., serving for three years, be- ing with his command in all the battles in which it was engaged, among which were those of Chicka- mauga, Mission Ridge, Resaca, Dallas, Kenesaw Mountain, New Hope Church and Atlanta. Mr. Willison was discharged at Lookout Mountain at the expiration of his term of service, and returned

to his former home, and followed farming until 1867 ; he then went to work at carpentering ; in 1871, he came to Liberty Township, and in the spring of 1879, he was appointed as carpenter at the Girl's Industrial Home, which position he still fills. Dec. 23, 1874, Mr. Willison was married to Miss Rachel Boxton, who was born Feb. 11, 1837, in Union Co., Ohio; they have two children- James H. and George F. Mr. Willison is a mem- ber of the M. E. Church.

RADNOR TOWNSHIP.

JOHN A. CONE, lawyer, Radnor. The sub- ject of this biography was born in Delaware Co., Ohio, Jan. 17, 1836. He is the third of a family of thirteen children (twelve of whom are now liv- ing) of John W. and Mary (Williams) Cone, ap- propriate mention of whom is made in the history of Thompson Township, of this work. Our sub- ject's early youth and manhood was passed in assisting his father in his woolen and saw mills, on the Scioto River, in Thompson Township; he at- tended the common schools of the neighborhood until 22 years of age, when he entered the O. W. U., of Delaware, Ohio, where he remained for nearly two years ; at the expiration of that time, he began the study of law under the instructions of Reid & Eaton, attorneys, of Delaware; at the end of four years, he passed examination and was admitted to the bar. During the time of his study, he enlisted in the home guards and went out to intercept the course of the famous rebel General, Stonewall Jackson ; after an absence of some three months, he returned to his home in Ohio ; in 1864, he went as a First Lieutenant in O. N. G., Co. E, to assist in defense of Washington, D. C. Mr. Cone was a practitioner of law for some years, and in connection with that he was Principal of the schools of Radnor. Was united in marriage with Mary E. George Nov. 29, 1864 ; she was born in Delaware Co., Ohio, Sept. 15, 1841; she is the daughter of Rev. Elias George, a Baptist minister and one of the first settlers of Central Ohio; from this marriage they have one child-Stella G., born Aug. 1, 1872. Mr. Cone has held the offices of Justice of the Peace, Township Clerk, etc. Mr. Cone is a Democrat, and is respected and esteemed by all who know him.

THOMAS W. COX, stock-raiser and farmer P. O. Delaware. The subject of this biography was born in Delaware Co., Ohio, July 19, 1827. He is son of John N. and Elizabeth (Gallant) Cox. The father, when a young married man, and while preparing to emigrate to the United States from England, his native country, lost by death his young wife; he arrived in the United States in 1818, and soon after came to Delaware Co., Ohio. From his marriage with Miss Gallant, there were . nine children, four of whom are now living. He died May 12, 1862 ; he was a man of considerable culture, and held, in an early day, many positions of honor and trust; his widow is still living, and resides in the village of Radnor. Our subject was brought up on a farm ; he received about such education as the schools of that early day afforded ; when 21 years of age, he began for himself as a farmer; beginning as he did (without any means), he is deserving of much credit, for he has by close attention to business, combined with industry and economy, secured to himself and family a goodly share of this world's goods ; he owns a nicely im- proved farm of 100 acres, nearly all of which is under a high state of cultivation. He was united in marriage with Margaret Penry March 9, 1848, she is daughter of David Penry, the well-known pio- neer of Radnor Township ; she was born in Dela- ware Co., Ohio, July 16, 1827; from this union there were five children, four of whom are now living-John N., Mary E., Chester and Walter ; the one deceased was named Jessie E. Mr. Cox has held nearly all the township offices in the gift of the people; he is a man of much culture and refinement ; a Republican politically, and one of the self-made men of the county.

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CHARLES CURTISS, wool-grower and farm- er ; P. O. Radnor ; son of Marcus and Katie (Newell) Curtiss, and is one of a family of eight children, four of whom are yet living. The father came to Ohio in 1808. John Curtiss, grandfather of Charles, was a man of great and decided intel- lect, and was a commissioned officer, in the war of independence, and young Curtiss' mother's father was one of the select band of troops that so nobly fought for the great boon of liberty in the war of the Revolution. Marcus Curtiss, father of our subject, was in the war of 1812 as a private. When 20 years of age, Charles commenced doing business for himself, although still living with his parents ; the father's death occurred Dec. 1, 1868, and the mother's September, 1870; these people were among the early settlers in Ohio. Our sub- ject was married, Jan. 22, 1845, to Martha P. Higley, of Massachusetts ; the result of this union was five children-Ardelia L., Marcus, Augustus H., Katie A. and Gains. The mother died Sept. 9, 1873. Mr. Curtiss married again, his second wife being Maria Downing, to whom he was mar- ried Oct. 29, 1877. Mr. Curtiss is a Republican, and a Presbyterian. Owns 138 acres of land in Radnor Township, and 72 acres in Genoa Town- ship; his occupation is that of farming and wool- growing. Mr. Curtiss has a valuable collection of ancient manuscripts, among which is his grand- father's commission as ensign in the war of inde- pendence. He keeps thoroughly posted on county and township matters of public interest, and is said to be among the most successful farmers of Radnor Township.

WILLIAM DUNLAP, farmer ; P. O. Dela- ware; was born in the city of Lancaster, Fairfield Co., Ohio, May 29, 1822 ; his parents, Robert and Susan (Jones) Dunlap, moved from Rockingham Co., Va., to Fairfield Co., Ohio, in 1818 ; the fa- ther was a hatter by trade, a business he engaged in soon after coming to Ohio; he had been a soldier in the war of 1812, and was a man much respected by all who knew him; he died soon after his coming to the State, and was followed by his wife an 1831. Our subject received the rudiments of a common-school education ; soon after his father's death, he went to live with an uncle in Licking Co .; he remained with his uncle until 15 years of age, at which time he entered a flouring- mill in Licking Co., where he remained several years, working in the mill and hauling flour from the mill to Mt: Vernon, Newark, and other places ; while working in this mill and during his stay in

1 Licking Co., William Rosecrans (who afterward became the famous Gen. Rosecrans) was his con- stant companion, and together with him did nearly all the teaming for the mill; after leaving the mill, our subject for some years ran on the canal and drove stage. He was united in marriage with Elizabeth Seever Oct. 14, 1847; she was born in Fairfield Co., Ohio, May 9, 1825; her father, Peter Seever, came from Virginia to Fairfield Co. in 1807. From our subject's marriage to Miss Seever there were five children-Susan and Han- nah (living), Martha A., Mary C. and Oliver P. (deceased). Mr. Dunlap has held a number of township offices, in all of which he was a popular and efficient officer. He is a Republican. He owns a nicely improved farm of seventy-five acres, which has obtained by his own hard work.

WILLIAM DAVIS, farmer; P. O. Radnor ; was born in Delaware Co., Ohio, Feb. 9, 1836 ; is the son of John and Margaret (Thomas) Davis, natives of Wales, and is one of twins, his brother Robert being the other. The parents came to this country at an early day and settled in Troy Township, Delaware Co., Ohio. The father was industrious and hard-working, and owned a saw- mill near Delaware ; he died when William was a child. After his death, the mother married Mr. Jenkins ; she died in July, 1875. Our subject worked by the month on a farm, had no euuca- tional advantages and was misused by his step- father, but managed in eight years to save $1,400, which he afterward lost.

He was married to Catharine Penry Feb. 2, 1860, who was born in Radnor Township Dec. 5, 1824; her parents were William and Mary Penry, both natives of Wales, who came to the United States in 1819 ; they were the parents of nine children, two of whom are yet living. There were four children in William's family, and two are yet living -- Stephen and John W .; the other two died in in- fancy. All the family are Republicans, and all belong to the Congregational Church. The family is well known and universally respected.

VALENTINE DILDINE, farmer and stock- dealer ; P. O. Radnor ; was born in Radnor Town- ship, Delaware Co., Ohio, Aug. 22, 1821; is a son of Ralph and Effie (Minter) Dildine. The father was a native of New Jersey, where he was married and remained until about 40 years of age, when he came to Ohio, locating in Montgomery Co. Soon after their arrival in that county, his wife died, leaving five small children to his care. During the war of 1812, he served his country

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under Gen. Harrison; in 1812, he came to Dela- ware Co., where for the most part he remained until his death, in 1855. The mother of our subject (the father's second wife, and mother of five chil- dren) departed this life in 1859. The parents, for a number of years previous to their decease, resided with Valentine and his brother William, upon the farm they first located upon, and which the two brothers now own; it consists of 175 acres of nicely improved land. Valentine was united in marriage with Miss Mary A. Thompson, of Delaware Co., Ohio; from this union there were eight children, five of whom are now living, viz .: William H., Mary J., Charles, Newton and Har- riet ; deceased, Lucretia, Rebecca A. and John B. Mrs. Dildine was born May 30, 1831; she died April 25, 1870. Mr. Dildine was again married Oct. 16, 1872; this wife, Miss Maria Shoemaker, was born in Ashley, Delaware Co., Ohio, July 12, 1836 ; by this marriage there is one child, Ralph. Both Mr. Dildine and his brother William are stanch Republicans, and consistent members of the M. E. Church; they take an active part in all public improvements, and are men of much more than ordinary ability. Our subject has done much to improve the roads of the county ; he held for some years the responsi- ble position of President of the first turnpike road built in Radnor Township.

DAVID S. DAVIS, stock-raiser and farmer ; P. O. Delaware. The parents of our subject, James and Mary (Jones) Davis, were natives of Brecon- shire, Wales, where they remained until 1842, when they emigrated to the United States, and located in Radnor Township, Delaware Co., where they have since resided; they are the parents of eight children ; the father was always engaged in agricultural pursuits ; he has for a number of years been a confirmed invalid, but has borne his misfortune with a degree of patience only pos- sible to those who have ever lived exemplary lives and who have a full assurance of peace and rest hereafter. Our subject was brought up on a farm, receiving a good common-school education. Dur- ing the late war, he served his country three years and eight months in Co. E, 66th O. V. I., partic- ipating in the battles of Gettysburg, Chancellors- ville, Port Republic, and a number of lesser engagements; after his return home, he began farming, a business he has since followed. He was married, Feb. 8, 1866, to Miss Mary Williams ; she was born in Delaware Co., Ohio, July 28, 1843 ; four children are the result of this union-James L.,

Ann N., Perry R. and William F. Our subject has for a number of years had sole charge of his father's nicely improved farm of 142 acres; politi- cally he is an uncompromising Republican, and, to use his own expression, "believes in voting as he shot."

JOSEPH H. DUNLAP, stock-dealer and farmer ; P. O. Delaware. The grandfather of Joseph Dunlap was a soldier of the " war of 1812." It was while in the army he saw for the first time the beautiful valley of the Scioto; in 1813, he quit the army and came to Delaware Co., Ohio, and entered a large tract of land, upon which he moved the following year. Col. John F. and Martha C. (McKinnie) Dunlap, the parents of our subject, were both natives of Franklin Co., Penn., and the parents of five children, four of whom are now living ; Col. Dunlap was a surveyor, and a great portion of the lands in Radnor and adjoining townships were surveyed by him; he was one of the most energetic and learned men of that day ; held the offices of County Treasurer and Auditor at an early day, and was for a number of years Colonel of the State militia ; he departed this life in 1857 ; the wife died in 1873 at an advanced age; one of their sons, John N., died at Vicks- burg, Miss., while in the service of his country ; he was a commissioned officer in the 69th O. V. I. The mother's father, Judge Josiah Mckinney, came from Franklin Co., Penn., to Marietta, Ohio, in 1800, and from there to Liberty Township, Delaware Co., Ohio, in 1803, where he remained until his death ; he was one of the first white men to locate permanently in Central Ohio. Our sub- ject's youth was passed on a farm ; his father removed to the city of Delaware when he was quite a lad ; there young Dunlap had the advan- tages for obtaining a good education, which he was not slow to improve; he soon became a profi- cient scholar ; after the parents' return to the farm, the father dealt largely in horses, cattle and sheep. Our subject when quite young was intrusted with droves of horses, cattle and sheep, and went with them overland to the principal markets in the East. It was at this time he conceived a great liking for the stock business, and the greater portion of his life has been spent buying and ship- ping stock ; his experience when young has been of great advantage to him, as can be attested, for he is one among the few successful stock-dealers of the county. Mr. Dunlap and Thomas Watkins have together greatly improved the horses of Rad- nor and adjoining townships by importing and

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keeping some of the best Clydesdale horses ever owned in the county. Mr. Dunlap was united in marriage with Josephine Latimer Oct. 2, 1873 ; she is daughter of Sylvester Latimer, a native of Connecticut, and one of the early settlers of Delaware Co .; he was united in marriage with Miss Harriet, daughter of Col. Forrest Meeker, of Stratford Township, this county ; from our subject's union with Miss Latimer there are two daughters, Grace and Martha L. Mr. Dunlap owns 120 acres of well-improved land, is a stanch Republi- can, and one of the prominent and influential men of the county in which he lives.

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History of Delaware County and Ohio, Part 131

Author: O. L. Baskin & Co; Perrin, William Henry, d. 1892? Publication date: 1880 Publisher: Chicago, O.L. Baskin & Co. Number of Pages: 818

Author: O. L. Baskin & Co; Perrin, William Henry, d. 1892?
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Chicago, O.L. Baskin & Co.
Number of Pages: 818