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ALLEN COUNTY, OHIO
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BIOGRAPHIES

Source:  
A Standard History of Allen County, Ohio
Vol. II

by Wm. Rusler - Publ.
1921

A B C D E F G H I J K L M
N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

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  FRANK H, DOWNING, a prominent Lima lawyer, represents one of the pioneer families of Monroe township in Allen county.
     His grandparents, Adam and Sarah (Laughlin) Downing, were natives of Stark county, Ohio, and left that comparatively well settled community to establish a new home in Allen county, driving overland and cutting their way through the woods to reach their land in Monroe township.  Adam Downing acquired a section and a half of wild timber land, and cleared and improved a portion of it during his lifetime.  The maternal grandparents of the Lima lawyer were Hugh and Jane Hughes, natives of Wales, who after their marriage came to America and settled in Putnam county, Ohio.  They lived with Indians as neighbors and got their flour from Upper Sandusky.  About 1835, while he was on his way to the grist mill, he was attacked by Indians with the purpose of robbing him of his meal, but assistance arrived fortunately in time to drive the marauders away. 
     Frank H. Downing was born on the old homestead in Monroe township July 27, 1870, son of Hugh L. and Mary Ann (Hughes) Downing.  His father was born in Stark county in 1833 and his mother in Putnam county.  After their marriage they settled on eighty acres of the old homestead, where the mother died in 1881.  He continued to keep house their five years and then removed to Columbus Grove and died in 1908, at the age of seventy-six.  Frank H. Downing is the oldest of three children.  At the age of sixteen he taught a term of district school and for eight years that was his regular occupation.  For two years of that time he was connected with the schools of Pandora.  Mr. Downing was admitted to the bar Oct. 17, 1899, and has been in practice of Lima for over twenty years.  He is a partner of Benjamin Welty, and they have one of the oldest law partnerships in Allen county.  Mr. Downing completed his education in the Ohio Northern University at Ada.  For four years he served as president of the Lima Civil Service Commission, and is still a member.  He was chairman of the Allen County Executive Committee and for twenty years has been a delegate to nearly every Republican State Convention.  He is affiliated with Lima Lodge of Elks and has filled various offices in that order.  In August, 1908, he married Maud M. McQuirk of Michigan.  They have one son, Franklin Judd, at home.
Source:  A Standard History of Allen County, Ohio - Vol. II - Publ. Chicago: Warner i.e. Warner, Beers & Co., 1921 - Page 146
  PERRY M. DRIVER.  The importance of insurance is becoming more and more recognized by the general public,  not only as a safeguard for the family in case of death of the bread-earner, but also as a sound investment, and consequently the services of men of ability and reliability are enlisted to take care of the interests of the various companies writing these risks.  One of the men who is finding congenial employment as general agent for the National Life Insurance Company of Montpelier, Vermont, is Perry Marcus Driver of 212 West Market Street, Lima, Ohio.
     Perry Marcus Driver wa born in Rockingham County, Virginia, on June 13, 1862, a son of Benjamin and Lucinda (Allen) Driver, natives of Singers' Glen and Dry River, Rockingham County, Virginia, respectively.  The paternal grandparents were Peter and Dorothy (Myers) Driver, natives of Pennsylvania.  Benjamin Driver, with his brother, Dr. Jacob Driver, in company with a party of neighbors, drove overland to Allen County, Ohio, at an early day, and Doctor Driver secured land and built one of the first brick houses northeast of Lima, and it is still standing, so substantially was it constructed.  Benjamin Driver subsequently returned to Virginia and remained there until his death.  He an his wife had the following children: Mary E., a teacher in public schools of Virginia twenty-nine years, and Samuel, who are both residents of Lima, Ohio, Samuel being a Dunkard minister, also serving as elder of the church for forty years; Barbara, who is Mrs. James H. Stover, of Allen County; A. J., who is also a resident of Lima, an auctioneer; Sina, who is Mrs. C. H.  Long, a widow and a resident of Lima; Hattie, who is Mrs. W. J. Carpenter, wife of a Methodist minister, of St. Petersburg, Florida; B. F. who is deceased, having passed away when fifty-five years old; Perry Marcus, of whom we write; and C. W., who is a resident of Citra, Florida.
     Perry Marcus Driver was reared in Virginia, but in 1884 he came to Lima, Ohio, and began working for his brother, A. J. Driver, on a farm owned by the latter, remaining with him for a year, when he went to Warren County, Illinois, for a short period.  In five months Mr. Driver returned to Lima and spent three months.  He then went back to his home in Virginia, took charge of the homestead and conducted it until after the death of his father, which took place on April 12, 1895.  When the estate was settled Mr. Driver decided to continue to conduct the farm, and did so until 1901, when he took the general agency for the National Life Insurance Company of Montpelier, Vermont, having as his territories the counties of Allen and Auglaize under contract.  Aside from this he is given control of Logan, Mercer, Van Wert, Harden and Putnam counties.  He has since been occupied with the duties pertaining to this responsible position.  In 1915 he bought a farm of fifty acres of land at Beaver Dam, Ohio, which he rents, and he also owns one acre of land and a house of seven rooms that he rents.  His offices are conveniently located at 212 West Market street, as before stated.
     On Oct. 28, 1908, Mr. Driver was united in marriage with Ada Romshe, born in Auglaize County, Ohio, a daughter of John and Frances (Sellers) Romshe, natives of Auglaize and Allen counties, respectively, and grand-daughter of George and Mary (McClintoch) Romshe, natives of Germany and Ireland, and John and Susan (Remley) Sellers, natives of Pennsylvania.  Mr. and Mrs. Driver have one daughter, Phyllis, who was born July 17, 1917.  Mr. Driver belongs to Trinity Methodist Church.  In politics he is a democrat and he is a member of the Elks Lodge of Lima, Ohio.  While still a resident of Virginia he held the office of constable, being elected in Linville District.  His name was only used as a fill-in on the ticket, there not having been a democrat elected in that district for twenty years, so overwhelmingly republican it was.  To the surprise of all he carried by a majority of thirty-two, having made no contention for that place.  Mr. Driver is a man of unusual fitness for his work, and has been able to form some very desirable connections for his company in the counties over which he has jurisdiction, and at the same time educate the people to take a proper view of the obligation of providing during their most productive years, by making in small annual payments through the medium of life insurance for old age and to secure the comfort and well being of those held dearest.  As both a man and a citizen he stands very high in public esteem and has every reason to feel satisfied with the results of his life work.
Source:  A Standard History of Allen County, Ohio - Vol. II - Publ. Chicago: Warner i.e. Warner, Beers & Co., 1921 - Page 224

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