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Ashland County, Ohio

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BIOGRAPHIES
(Transcribed by Sharon Wick)

Source:
History of Ashland County, Ohio
with Illustrations and Biographical Sketches,
by George William Hill, M.D. -
Published by Williams Bros.
-1880 -

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  DR. DAVIDSON arrived about the year 1829, and continued in practice until 1833, when he removed to Canton, Illinois.  He is represented as a gentleman of good social bearing and fair medial attainments.  His Christian name is not remembered.
Source: History of Ashland County, Ohio with Illustrations and Biographical Sketches, by George William Hill, M.D. - Published by Williams Bros. 1880. -
Page 169
  HUGH DAVIS was born in Franklin county, Pennsylvania, June 23, 1802, and died in Ashland, Ohio, June 13, 1876, aged seventy-four years.
     Martha S. Davis was born in Franklin county, Pennsylvania, December 12, 1803, and died at Ashland, Ohio, April 8, 1870, aged sixty-six years, three months, and twenty-four days.
     Hugh Davis came to Knox county, Ohio, about 1820 and returned to Pennsylvania in 1821, where he completed the trade of tanner, after which he married Martha S. Morrow, in 1829, and returned to Mount Vernon, Knox county, Ohio, and lived some months, working for James Loverage and Samuel Trimble, at the tanning business, and about 1829, located in Ashland upon the property now owned by Justus W. Davis, his son.  He erected and carried on a tan house upon this lot, commencing business about 1830.  Himself and the late George Swineford were the only tanners in the village.   Mr. Swineford had purchased the property of George Croft, where the machine works of D. Whiting are now located, and carried on business, while Mr. Davis as a rival, erected property on the east end of Main street.
     The family of Mr. Davis consisted of Morrow H. Lester Finley, Justus Wilson, Sylvester Curtis, Josephine Agnes, Ilgar Vanleer, and Martha Estelle.  The two girls are dead.  The boys are all living and married.
     Justus W. was born April 13, 1833, in Ashland county and married Miss Catharine Jane Trimble, of Carlisle, Pennsylvania, daughter of Thomas Trimble, Nov. 11, 1857, at Mount Vernon, Ohio.  Their children are: Horace Urie, Thomas Trimble and Mary Ellen.
     Mr. and Mrs. Davis
were originally members of the old Hopewell Presbyterian church, and, upon its sale and transfer to the Catholics, never united with the First church.
Source: History of Ashland County, Ohio with Illustrations and Biographical Sketches, by George William Hill, M.D. - Published by Williams Bros. 1880. -
Page 222
  ISAAC DAVIS was born in New Holland, Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, August 10, 1802.  When quite young he was apprenticed to learn the art of weaving.  In consequence, his education was neglected, and he could neither read nor write.  At the age of nineteen years he went to Juniata county, where he remained some years working at his trade.  In the year 1823 he married Miss Fanny Stoner,, of that county.  That lady survived until 1876, when she deceased, aged about eighty years.  In 1834 Mr. Davis came to Mifflin township, then in Richland county, and purchased a farm of eighty acres in section one, of Benjamin Hershey.  The land at that time was ready all in its native forest.  He and his sons in after years cleared the land and reduced it to a state of excellent culture.  Mr. Davis made weaving a business for many years.  In this respect he was a useful citizen.  He was a good weaver, and by his industry and skill made sufficient to support and educate his sons and pay for his farm.  When he arrived at Mifflin township he found John Hewey, William Hewey, Henry Roland, Peter Brubaker, John Brubaker, Solomon Wertman, Abraham Doty, James Andrews, Leonard Croninger, Benjamin Hershey, and Father Gongwer, who had preceded him as pioneers.  Nearly half a century has passed since he arrived.  Great changes have taken place.  Nearly all these pioneers have paid the debt of nature.  Only one or two of his old neighbors yet live.  For several months the health of Mr. Davis has been gradually failing, and finally terminated in consumption of the lungs.  In his prime he weighed about three hundred pounds.  He became greatly emaciated before death.  He was a member of the River Brethren church, about thirty-five years, and was an exemplary Christian.  He died on Friday evening, Dec. 18, 1879, and was buried at the Mennonite church, in Mifflin township, on Saturday, December 20th.
     The family of Mr. Davis consisted of nine children - Susannah, single; Samuel, married to Catharine Roland; Mary, wife of Dillman Switzer; George, single; John, married to Margaret C. Day; Isaac, married to Sarah Hilburn; Abraham, married to Mary Kagey; William married to Rebecca Sechrist, who is deceased, and again to Barbara Callen; Fanny, married to Jacob Hetler, Mr. Davis had forty-four grandchildren, and nine great-grandchildren.
Source: History of Ashland County, Ohio with Illustrations and Biographical Sketches, by George William Hill, M.D. - Published by Williams Bros. 1880. - Page 257
  Vermillion Twp. -
WILLIAM DAVIS was born in Mifflin township, Aug. 28, 1836.  He is a son of Isaac and Francis Davis, who are among Ashland county's early settlers, a sketch of whose lives will be found elsewhere in this work.  The subject of this sketch remained with his parents and worked on the farm until he was eighteen years of age, when he left home to learn the carriage making trade with Ames & Leach in Ashland.  Here he remained about two years and a half, when he, in company with John Burnett, went to Iowa and worked at his trade and on a farm, and in about eighteen months returned to Ohio and worked at his trade some three years and a half, when he enlisted Aug. 14, 1862, as a private soldier in the First Ohio independent battery, and remained and served his country until the close of the war, and was discharged on the twenty-sixth day of June, 1865.  He was faithful in the discharge of a soldier's duties, as he was only excused from service about two weeks during the whole term.  At Cloid mountain and many other places he saw hard fighting, and engaged on severe raids and hard marches, and with many others of his comrades withstood the necessary privations and hardships of a private soldier.  On Oct. 5, 1865, he was married to Miss Rebecca Sechrist, of Richland county, Ohio.  He remained one year with his father, when they moved to Vermillion township and commenced life for themselves.  They have ever since made this their home, his whole time being given to the steam saw-mill, at what is known as Steam Corner, in the northwest corner of Vermillion township.  They have three children - two daughters and one son.  Mrs. Davis died May 14, 1874, and on the nineteenth day of November, 1874, he married Mrs. Barbara Callin, widow of Hugh Callin, of Montgomery township.  They have no children.
Source: History of Ashland County, Ohio with Illustrations and Biographical Sketches, by George William Hill, M.D. - Published by Williams Bros. 1880. - Page 301
  DR. WILLIAM N. DEMING, from Medina county, Ohio, is believed to have been the third physician of Ashland.  He arrived about the winter of 1826.  He continued in an active practice until 1837, when he located in the village of Orange, where his brother, Charles, was engaged in the mercantile business.  He resided in Orange about two years, when he became a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, during a revival, and prepared to enter the ministry.  He attended conference, and was assigned to a circuit.  Upon returning home he was taken suddenly very sick, and died, after a brief illness.  The doctor is represented as having been an excellent physician, and a man of many accomplishments.  His untimely demise was much lamented.
Source: History of Ashland County, Ohio with Illustrations and Biographical Sketches, by George William Hill, M.D. - Published by Williams Bros. 1880. - Page 169

John Donley
Sarah A. Donley

JOHN DONLEY was born near Orange village, Ashland county, March 20, 1817.  His parents, Thomas and Susan Donley, came to Ohio from Washington county, Pennsylvania, in Feb. 1817, and when he was two weeks of age, located on the farm where they passed the remainder of their lives, and where the subject of this sketch lived and died.  John Donley attended the first subscription school in the township, which was taught by Elijah Banning, in a log cabin situated on a corner of the Donley farm, in early life partaking of the hardships of pioneer life, and lived to see fruitful farms take the place of the rugged forests of his boyhood days.
     March 11, 1845, he was married to Miss Sarah A. Alberson, and soon after marriage removed to Nashville, Holmes county, where they remained one year, when they returned to Ashland county, and for the four succeeding years lived on a farm at that time owned by Major George W. Urie.  In 1850 Mr. and Mrs. Donley removed to the old home farm in Orange township, where they ever after lived, where he died June 26, 1880, of general debility, at the age of sixty-three years, three months and six days.
     A family of eight children was the result of this union of whom seven are now living, as follows:  Calvin, Susan, Edward, Jennie, Rachel, Lizzie and Carrie Frances died when a small child.
     John Donely was a man of strict integrity, and one who lived his family well.  No one with whom he had business or friendly association ever had cause to charge him with double dealing.  He was honest to a fault and scorned deception.  He was widely known as a man of more than ordinary ability and intelligence, with strong likes and dislikes, but when apologies were offered, was ever ready to forgive.  His life ws that of a Christian, and he died with a Christian's hope.  For many years he had been a leading member of the Orange Presbyterian church, and for the past fourteen years held the responsible office of ruling elder.  Through storm and shine he went to hsi beloved church, and never faltered in his support.  In the course of his life he amassed a comfortable competence, which was acquired by his own hard labor, seconded by that of his wife, who has proved for him a helpment indeed.  The greatest prize he left his family was that of a pure character, an unblemished reputation and an unsullied record.  These by his family are more prized than all else.
     Thomas and Fannie Campbell Alberson, the parents of Mrs. John Donley, were born in Pennsylvania - he in the city of Philadelphia, and his wife, Fannie Campbell, in Westmoreland county.  The Campbell family removed to Harrison county, Ohio, in 1817, and about the same time Mr. Alberson came to the same place, where they were married in 1819They moved to Ashland county in 1837, and settled in Orange township, where they passed the remainder of their lives.  Mr. Alberson was a ruling elder of the Presbyterian church, and by occupation was a farmer.
     Sarah A. Alberson was born in Archer township, Harrison county, Feb. 12, 1825, and was married to John Donley, March 11, 1845.  She became a member of the Presbyterian church of Orange in 1853, and has since remained in its communion.  Since the death of her husband, she has occupied their old home with her five daughters and son, William Edward.  Another son Thomas C., is married, and lives on the adjoining farm.

-----

JOHN DONLEY was born in Orange township, Mar. 20, 1817, on the old Wertz farm, and married Miss Sarah A. Alberson, Mar. 11, 1845.  Hen then removed to near Nashville, Holmes county, where he remained one year and came back to Ashland County.  He moved to his present home in 1850, and has resided there ever since - thirty years.  He was the father of eight children.  Seven of them, Calvin, Susan, Edward, Jennie, Rachel, Lizzie and Clara are living.  Francis died when but a small child.
     In 1830 the school-house was built in Donley's district, and he and his brother Thomas were the first scholars; Elijah Banning the first teacher.
     The principal old citizens in the district were the McConnells, the Clarks, the Flukes, the Hesters, the Murphys, the Mackerels, Robert Mickey, Peter Biddinger, William McConnell, Thomas McConnell, John Burge, Isaac Mickey, Daniel Summers, Thomas Donley, Robert Culberson, John Bishop and Jacob Hiffner.
     Mr. Donley
died June 26, 1880.  He was a man of strict integrity, and a man who lived his family.  No man, with whom he associated, ever had cause to charge him with double-dealing.  He was honest to a fault, and scorned deception.  He was widely known, for he was a man of more than ordinary ability and intelligence.  He had strong likes and dislikes, but when apologies were made none forgave more quickly.  His life was that of a Christian.  For many years he had been a leading member of the Orange Presbyterian Church,, and for the past fourteen years has been a ruling elder.  Through storm and shine he went to his beloved church, and never faltered in its support.  He amassed a good competency by his own hard work.  But the greatest prize he left was that of a pure character, an unblemished reputation and an unsullied record.  These to his sorrowing wife and children, are farm more prized than all else.  He was followed to his last resting place by all his neighbors and friends, who thus testified their appreciation for his goodness and worth.  Funeral services were conducted by Rev. Kelly, of Savannah assisted by Revs. Cummings and Jones. Peace to his ashes.
Source: History of Ashland County, Ohio with Illustrations and Biographical Sketches, by George William Hill, M.D. - Published by Williams Bros. 1880. - Page 255

PORTRAIT THOMAS DONLEY  was born in Washington county, Pennsylvania, in 1780, and deceased, on his homestead in Orange Township, Ashland county, Ohio, Oct. 21, 1850.  He came to the township in 1817, and resided there until his decease.  His first wife died before he did, when he married, in 1844, Miss Mary McKinney, of Milton township, who still survives at an advanced age, supposed to be near one hundred years, there being no record of her birth.  Her health is good, and she retains a good memory of the past.  Her sight and hearing are gradually failing.  Her father, Patrick McKinney, died when she was young, in Cumberland county, Pennsylvania.  She emigrated with her mother and Ross McKinney to Milton township, 1816, and resided near the old Hopewell churchy, where she deceased and was buried many years ago.
Source: History of Ashland County, Ohio with Illustrations and Biographical Sketches, by George William Hill, M.D. - Published by Williams Bros. 1880. - Page 255
  HON. JOHN DOUGHERTY was born in Washington county, Pennsylvania, October 10, 1819.  His father, Daniel Dougherty, was born in Ireland and emigrated to the United States in 1806, and landed at Baltimore, and thence removed to Washington county, Pennsylvania.  He emigrated with his family to Milton township, now Ashland county, in 1822, where he died.  Mrs. Dougherty and her children removed to Vermillion township in 1832.  Here John grew to manhood, attending the schools of the neighborhood.  At an early age, he took an active part in politics, and being a fluent speaker, he was regarded as the leader in his township.  He voted with the Democracy.  He rarely asked official promotion for himself.  When the gold fever of 1850 spread over the land, he joined in the search of the hidden treasure in California.  His venture proved a success, and he returned in 1854.  In 1858 he again visited the Pacific slopes, and remained until 1863.  He prospected in the mines of Idaho, Washington and British Columbia with success, and returned to his old home in Ashland county.  In 1861, prior to his return, he was elected a member of the California legislature, and served one session, and resigned.  Having visited nearly all the mines of the Pacific slopes, he is of opinion there is plenty of gold in the Black Hills, which fact is being concealed by the Indian ring and other speculators.  In 1872 he again returned to California, in the hope of restoring his declining health, and remained eleven months, to no advantage.  His malady is chronic rheumatism, with which he has been tortured for several years.  He now resides near Jeromeville.  He has been twice married.  He is an exemplary member of the Catholic church.  He is a high-toned gentleman. (Mr. Doughterty died in 1878)
Source: History of Ashland County, Ohio with Illustrations and Biographical Sketches, by George William Hill, M.D. - Published by Williams Bros. 1880. - Page 176
  THOMAS DUNLAP was born in the north of Ireland in 1772, and in infancy came with his father's family to Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, about the beginning of the war of the Revolution. Upon reaching manhood, he married Margaret Blair, and in the spring of 1809, removed to Tallmadge, Portage county, Ohio. He remained there until November, 1830, when he located in Ruggles township, Huron (now Ashland,) county. When he entered the township he found the following settlers, who had preceded him some years: Daniel Beach, Bradford Sturtevant, John Jameson, Aldrich Carver, Harvey Sacket, Justus Barnes, Norman Carter, Reuben Fox, Salmon Weston, Taylor Peck, G. Ferrier, Mr. Murphy, Andrew Clark, James Poag, Enoch Taylor, Benjamin Green, Joshua Frost, Samuel Monroe, David Blair, John Hall, Samuel Monroe, David Blair, and Enoch Taylor were shoemakers, and Benjamin Green and Joshua Frost, blacksmiths.
     John Dunlap, oldest son of Thomas Dunlap, came on the worked for Daniel Beach, prior to the removal of the Dunlap family, and died at the cabin of Mr. Beach.
     Thomas Dunlap
died in 1847, aged seventy-five years, and his wife in August, 1872, aged eighty-six.  The family were:  John, who died at the cabin of Mr. Beach, William, Thomas, Nancy, wife of W. McMeekin, Alexander, David, SAmuel, Solomon, Amos, James, Joseph, and John F.  All are now dead except David, William and JamesDavid resides in Wood county, Ohio; William in Michigan; and James in Sullivan, Ashland county, Ohio.  He has been commissioner of Ashland county six years, and is at present conducting a hotel.  He married Minerva Myers, daughter of Jacob Myers, of Clearcreek.  He has four boys and four girls.
     The Dunlap family was noted for tremendous physical power.  All the sons, but two, were full six feet in height, and averaged about one hundred and eighty pounds in weight.  As axe-men, log rollers, and pioneer delvers in the forest, it would be difficult to find another equally vigorous class of brothers.  Like their Scotch-Irish ancestors, they were all frank and generous.
Source: History of Ashland County, Ohio with Illustrations and Biographical Sketches, by George William Hill, M.D. - Published by Williams Bros. 1880. - Page 181

NOTES:

 

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