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COLUMBIANA COUNTY,
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History & Genealogy

BIOGRAPHIES
Source:
 History of the Upper Ohio Valley
with Historical Account of Columbiana County, Ohio.
A statement of the Resources, Industrial Growth and Commercial Advantages.  Family History and Biography
Vol. I & II. Illustrated
Publ. Madison, Wis. - Brant & Fuller -
1891

(Transcribed by Sharon Wick)

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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  A. M. DAVIDSON, one of the leading grocers of East Liverpool, was born in this city in the year 1840, and is the son of William Davidson, a notice of whom appears elsewhere.  He received his education in the city schools, and began work for himself on the river which he followed for about three years.  Later he spent some years working in the pottery business and other occupations, and at the age of about nineteen purchased a wharf boat, which with the draying business, he conducted until about 1861.  In that year he entered the army, enlisting in the One Hundred and Forty-third Ohio volunteer infantry, with which he served four months, and then returned to East Liverpool and engaged in the grocery business, with which he has since been identified; he has been very successful as a grocer, and although having lost heavily three times by fire he is still one of the leaders in his line in the city.  He married in 1860, Jane Till, a union blessed with the birth of six children, viz.:  William C., Joseph M., George E., Edward L., Charles H. and Etta L., all living but the last one named.  Mr. Davidson is a member of the Masonic fraternity, I. O. O. F. and G. A. R.  He is a democrat in politics, but has never been an aspirant for official honors.
 Source: History of the Upper Ohio Valley - Vol. II - Publ. Madison, Wis. - Brant & Fuller - 1891 - Page 313
  WILLIAM DAVIDSON, one of the pioneers of Columbiana county, and a well-known river man, was born in Westmoreland county, Penn., in the year 1809, and is the son of Abraham and Mary (Woods) Davidson.  Abraham Davidson was the son of John Davidson, a native of Ireland, who came to the United States about 1778, from which time until the close of the war he served as a patriot in the revolution.  His wife and child were captured by the Indians near Ft. Du Quesne during the days of border warfare, the latter being murdered while the mother succeeded in making her escape and returning to her husband.  Abraham Davidson was born on the ocean while his parents were en-route to this country, and his early youth was spent in the vicinity of Pittsburg.  Five of his brothers served in the war of 1812, two of whose deaths he had an account of, while the other three he never heard of.  He came to the present site of East Liverpool in 1812 and was one of three families who located here that year, his neighbors being John Taggert and Joseph Larwell and their respective families.  At the close of the war of 1812 he returned to his family at this place and spent the remainder of his days here in the pursuit of agriculture on land which now joins the city limits.  He died in 1853, the father of eight children, all of whom are dead but the subject of this sketch and sister, Jane Billingsly Davidson.  William Davidson received but a limited education in the old log school houses common in the days of his youth, and when quite young began running keel boats on the river, trading at different points, which he followed for a number of years.  When steam was introduced in river navigation he became engineer on one of the first boats that plied the river, viz: The William Tell, which made its first trip in 1828.  He followed the river until 1874, a period of thirty-six years.  At the breaking out of the war he entered the government service as engineer and was for some time engaged in transporting troops and stores to different places along the Ohio, Mississippi and other rivers.  He was engineer on the boat "Silver Wave" which ran the blockade at Vicksburg and Grand Gulf, which was considered the most daring feat performed by any vessel during the war of the rebellion.  In the year 1874 he retired from active life and has since that time been spending his days in the quiet, which only such as he know how to appreciate.  Mr. Davidson was married October 19, 1831, to Jane Robins of this county, who bore him eleven children, viz.: Mary H., John R., Abraham M., William, Joseph, Rebecca, Alvin Wilkins, Andrew Poe, Wilson, Hampton and Watson Clark (twins), and one died in infancy, all are living but John R. and Rebecca.  Mrs. Davidson died in 1884.  Mr. Davidson has been a supporter of the democratic party for many years and takes an active part in political affairs.  He is one of the oldest citizens of the county, which he has seen developed form a comparative wilderness state to one of the most advanced and enlightened sections of eastern Ohio.
 Source: History of the Upper Ohio Valley - Vol. II - Publ. Madison, Wis. - Brant & Fuller - 1891 - Page 314
  FERNANDO DAVIS, son of Oliver Davis, was born in Butler township, Columbiana county, June 8, 1853.  Oliver Davis, a leading blacksmith of Butler township, was born in the same about the year 1820, and departed this life in 1884.  He was early left an orphan and while quite young was bound to Mr. Galbreath with whom he learned the trade of blacksmith, which useful calling he followed until his death.  He raised a family of four sons and one daughter, the subject of this sketch being the youngest son.  The early life of Fernando Davis was passed in Butler township, in the common schools of which he received a fair education.  At the age of sixteen he went to work in his father's shop and being naturally inclined to mechanics he soon became proficient in the trade and worked with his father for about three years.  He afterward worked at various places until 1880, at which time he located at Kensington, where he has since operated a shop, making a specialty of horse shoeing, in which department of the trade he is perhaps without a superior in the county.  He is also skilled workman.  In addition to blacksmithing he carries on the tinware, glassware and notion business, in all of which lines he has a good trade.  He was united in marriage to Miss Emily M. Burt, daughter of John K. Burt.  Mrs. Davis was born Jan. 27, 1856, and has borne her husband the following children: Cora, born Aug. 10, 1874; Nellie, born Feb. 16, 1878; Edgar O., born July 25, 1881; Orville, born Nov. 3, 1883, died Aug. 11, 1886; Archie, born July 9, 1887; Harold, born Mar. 14, 1890.  Mr. Davis is a member of the S. of V., and with his wife belongs to the church of Disciples.
Source: History of the Upper Ohio Valley - Vol. II - Publ. Madison, Wis. - Brant & Fuller - 1891 - Page 262 - Hanover Twp.
  JAMES DAVIS, the treasurer of the Salem Wire Nail company, was born in Schuylkill, Delaware county, New York, Aug. 14, 1818, the son of Joseph and Elizabeth (Gee) Davis, who were also natives of Delaware county, Ohio, in 1824, where the father cleared and improved several fine farms.  In 1877, he removed to Salem, and in 1882, died while on a visit in Pennsylvania.  James Davis was educated in the pioneer schools of Mahoning county.  When twenty-one years old, he secured employment in a glue factory, and remained on a salary for three years.  In 1845, he embarked in the business for himself in Berlin, and continued in the business until 1862, when he engaged in farming for two years.  Taking up his residence in Salem, in 1864, Mr. Davis embarked in the grocery trade with F. Gee, the business being conducted under the firm name of Davis & Gee.  After two years until 1873.  From 1873 to 1883, he was a wool buyer.  He was one of the incorporators of the Salem Wire Nail company, and served in the capacity of outside superintendent of that concern for one year.  Since 1887, he has filled the office of treasurer of the company.  Besides his nail interest he owns and operates several fine farms which he superintends himself.  April, 1840, Annie, daughter of Daniel Parschall, of Milton, Mahoning county, Ohio, became his wife.  Lucy A. (Mrs. John F. Buck), and Florence E. (Mrs. Davis T. Ruth), are the issues of this marriage.  Mr. Davis is a member of the F. & A. m., and during his residence in Berlin, held the office of justice of the peace, and also served as a trustee of Perry township for several years.  He is a republican.
Source: History of the Upper Ohio Valley - Vol. I - Publ. Madison, Wis. - Brant & Fuller - 1891 - Page 207
  MILTON DAVIS, the vice-president of the Buckeye engine company, and proprietor of the Salem electric light and power company, is a native of Portage county, Ohio, having been born in Atwater township, Dec. 12, 1822.  Mr. Davis comes of an old pioneer family, his father, Isaac Davis, having come from South Carolina to Portage county in 1806.  His mother was Mary (Antrim) Davis.  These parents remained in Atwater township, Portage county, Ohio, and passed the remainder of their lives there.  They had five sons and four daughters.  The maternal grandfather, John Antrim, was a pioneer of Salem township, where he cleared and improved a large farm.  He was twice married, his first wife being Sarah Rogers, mother of Mary (Antrim) Davis, and the second, Hannah Davis, who was the mother of Isaac Davis.  Milton Davis was reared in Portage county, and there learned the carpenters' trade.  In 1847 he located in Salem, where for four years he was in the employ of T. Sharp & Brothers.  At the expiration of this time Mr. Davis became a member of the firm of Sharp, Davis & Bousall, this concern subsequently being merged into the Buckeye engine company.  From the inception of the latter company Mr. Davis has been its vice-president  The Buckeye engine company will need no mention here on account of its wide reputation.  Suffice it to say that the men who have been built it to its present position must be wise and able business men.  The Salen Electric Light and Power company was organized in 1887, by Mr. Davis and his sons, D. W. and D. L., and is now one of the most important features of Salem.  It also shows the master hand at its helm.  Mr. Davis has been twice married.  His first wife was Sarah Anthony who bore him three children: Demorest W., Delmora L., and Josephine, the latter deceased.  The second Mr. Davis was Charlotte Ney, daughter of Dr. Jacob and Mary E. (Bowman) Ney.  Mr. Davis has been honored by his fellow townsmen by being twice elected to the city council.  He is a republican.
Source: History of the Upper Ohio Valley - Vol. I - Publ. Madison, Wis. - Brant & Fuller - 1891 - Page 206
  SAMUEL DAVIS, a native of New Jersey, was among the first settlers of Salem, where he located as early as 1802, entering section 5, a part of which now lies within the city limits.  His first residence was on the lot now occupied by his granddaughter, Mrs. Smith Hiddleson.  Having cleared and improved this land he removed to another farm now occupied by Mrs. Eliza Waterworth.  His wife was Mary Killen, by whom he had the following children:  Mrs. Rebecca Schofield, who was a contracting party in the first marriage by Friend's ceremony ever solemnized in Salem Mrs. Mary Hawley, William, Mrs. Elizabeth Waterworth, Mrs. Rachel Townsend and Joshua.  On the death of her father, Mrs. Hawley succeeded to the homestead, where she resided until her death.  Her husband, Benjamin Hawley, was born in Chester county, Penn., and with his father, Caleb, settled in Middleton, Columbiana Co., in 1802.  In 1820 Benjamin settled in Salem, residing there until his death.  He was a clerk of the town twenty-one years, a justice of the peace for many years, and was engaged in various different businesses.  He laid out that portion of Salem from Garfield avenue to Union street, and was an upright, faithful citizen.  His five children were Mrs. Eliza Thomas, Mrs. Sarah Hiddleson, Samuel D., William, deceased; and Henry C.  His daughter, Mrs. Hiddleson, inherited the homestead property, and with the exception of about six years, has always resided there.
Source: History of the Upper Ohio Valley - Vol. I - Publ. Madison, Wis. - Brant & Fuller - 1891 - Page 207
  JOB H. DAWSON, junior member of the firm of Hard & Dawson, furnitures dealers, is one of twelve children born to Benoni and Sarah (Harvey) Dawson, were both natives of Pennsylvania.  He was born in Ohioville, Beaver county, Penn., in 1846,and when a young man began working in the oil regions as a well driller, which occupation he followed until the year 1874.  In that year, in partnership with his brother, Homer Dawson he erected an oil refinery at Smith's Ferry, Penn., which he sold four years later to the Standard Oil company, in the employ of which he remained about six years.  In 1888 he came to East Liverpool and purchased an interest in the furniture business which is now conducted by Hard & Dawson, at that time operated by Hard & Co.  Mr. Dawson was married in 1876, to Nancy Fisher, a native of Bridgewater,  Beaver county Penn., a native of Bridgewater, Beaver county, Penn., a union blessed with the birth of five children, viz.: Cora M., Walter S., Olen H., Sarah E. and Dwight, all living but Sarah.  Mr. and Mrs. Dawson are member of the Methodist Episcopal church.  HE is a member of the Masonic fraternity, a democrat in politics, and one of the leading business men of the city.  Benoni Dawson, the father of the subject, was born in the year 1808, and early learned the trade of harness and saddle making, which he followed until his death, n 1865.  He became a resident of Beaver county, Penn., between the years 1820 and 1830, locating at Ohioville, moved to Smith's Ferry, Penn., where he served as justice of the peace for a period of over twenty years.  Of his twelve children nine are now living, and his wife died March, 1886.
Source: History of the Upper Ohio Valley - Vol. II - Publ. Madison, Wis. - Brant & Fuller - 1891 - Page 315
  JAMES C. DEIDRICK, editor of the Daily Crisis, one of the leading publications of East Liverpool, was born in that city in the year 1864, and at the time of his taking charge of the Crisis was the youngest editor in the state.  His father, Joseph L., was for a number of years one of the leading merchants of that city.  He started in business about 1862 and continued until 1876; since that time he has been engaged in business in Pittsburg, but is still a resident of East Liverpool.  His father, George Deidrick, was one of the pioneers of Liverpool and settled there years ago, and was for many years engaged in the lumber business and was also engaged in the grocery business.  Our subject received his education in the schools of East Liverpool.  After completing his education he spent some years with his father in the store; in 1884 he was made secretary of the democratic central committee, and in that year he purchased the New Ages, then also the Gazette, and he was made business manager of this paper.  This did not run but a short time when the New Ages was re-purchased, and at that time, in company with George P. Ikirt, started the Crisis, Mr. Ikirt acting as editor-in-chief and our subject as business manager.  In February, 1885, Mr. Ikirt disposed of his interest in the paper and it has since been conducted by our subject.  Mr. Deidrick has been very successful and has worked up a large circulation.  The paper was started as a weekly, but in March, 1887, he began the publication of a daily and has since continued it, also publishing the weekly as before.  Mr. Deidrick was married in August, 1889, to Miss Lindesmith of Wellsville.  In politics he has always taken an active part and has served as chairman of the county executive committee and at present is serving his second term on state committee, and has acted as delegate to the state convention since he was nineteen years old.  In 1889 he was appointed on the committee to draft rules for conducting the campaign in Ohio; he has held many other important positions in his party.
 Source: History of the Upper Ohio Valley - Vol. II - Publ. Madison, Wis. - Brant & Fuller - 1891 - Page 316
  HAMILTON DICKEY, a very prominent and successful farmer of Elk township, was born in 1835.  He is the son of Hamilton and Elizabeth (Chaney) Dickey.  The father was born in Middleton township in 1789, son of Moses Dickey, who settled in Ohio in colonial days.  He took up land in Middleton township.  He served as a soldier in the war of 1812, and lived and died respected and beloved by all who knew him best. Hamilton Dickey, Jr., attained to the yeas of manhood on his father's farm, having obtained a good education in the common schools.  He married Miss Mary J. Armstrong in1865.  Mrs. Dickey is the daughter of William and Hannah (Chamberlain) Armstrong, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in his work.  To Mr. and Mrs. Dickey three children have been born:  Orlaw, Ira W. and George A.  The mother was born in 1836, in Columbiana county, Ohio.  Profiting by the experience of his boyhood, Mr. Dickey has made a marked success of agriculture.  His farm of 225 acres is in an advanced state of cultivation, and is undoubtedly one of the best in the county.  He is a man of much prominence in the community.
Source: History of the Upper Ohio Valley - Vol. II - Publ. Madison, Wis. - Brant & Fuller - 1891 - Page 379
  JOHN DILDINE, the great-grandfather of the subject of this biographical mention, was the first member of this family to settle in Columbiana county.  He came from Germany at an early day and first settled, as is supposed, in Pennsylvania, but very soon removed to Columbiana county, Ohio, locating near what is now called Bull creek.  Here he lived and died.  By virtue of inheritance the farm eventually came to John Dildine, the grandfather of the present generation.  He lived, married and raised a family on this place, finally dying there.  His son, Sammel, then came into possession, and another farm which had been acquired by him, was left to another son, by the name of Joseph.  Samuel passed his life on the homestead farm.  He was married in 1841, to Miss Rebecca J. Caldwell, daughter of William Caldwell, of Columbiana county.  He died in1856, leaving the following named children to mourn his loss:  John C.; William, deceased; Lizzie, deceased; Mary A., deceased; Irene, deceased, and Vinie.  He was a member of the Baptist church, and an ardent democrat.  At his death the family were joined in their grief by the community at large, for he was much beloved by all who knew him best.  The elder son, John, was born on the homestead farm, in 1842.  He passed the uneventful life of a farmer's son, until May 13, 1861, when he joined Company C, Twenty-fourth Ohio volunteer infantry, with whom he enlisted for three years.  They were organized at Camp Chase, Ohio, at Clarksburg, W. Va., then at Cheat Mountain, where they figured in several sharp skirmishes, thence to Greenbrier, where a hard battle was fought; thence, back to Cheat Mountain, and from there to Louisville, Ky., where they were encamped for some time at Camp Jonis.  From here they were ordered to Wycliffe, and later to West Point, Ky.; thence to Cairo, Miss., by river, thence to Fort Donnelson, to assist Grant on the Cumberland river, but arrived to late to be of service, and advanced to Nashville, and was the first regiment to enter that city, where they camped for some time.  From here they marched to Savannah, and from there to Shiloh, where they arrived about four o'clock in the afternoon of April 6, 1862.  It was here that the command covered itself with glory during one of the greatest battles of the rebellion.  Corinth, Miss., was their next halting place.  There is not space here to chronicle all of the movements of this brave regiment, but suffice it to say that John C. Dildine was always found at his post of duty, and was ever ready to move forward or to retreat at the word of command.  After three years of as hard fighting as any company experienced, what was left of the brave company were mustered out at Camp Chase, June 22, 1864.  Mr. Dildine soon after returned to Waterford, where he was married four years later, to Miss Essie L. Flanigan, daughter of Dennis and Mary Flanigan natives of Ireland.  In 1870 Mr. and Mrs. Dildine removed to Leetonia, where they have since resided, he being engaged in the mercantile business there.  They have had but one child, a daughter, who was born April 28, 1869, and died three years and eight months later.  Mrs. Dildine  is a member of the Presbyterian church.  Mr. Dildine is a member of the K. of P., holding the office of District Deputy Grand Chancellor, Firestone lodge, No. 47, and is also a member of the G. A. R., holding the office of Commander of Burnside post, No. 137.  Since the death of their child these estimable people have adopted a child, whom they have named Gracie M. Dildine.  Although Mr. Dildine pays but small attention to politics, he is a true and loyal democrat. 
     One of the most prominent educators of Columbiana county is G. W. Henry, superintendent of the Leetonia public schools.  Prof. Henry was born in Columbiana county, in 1856.  His parents were William and Keziah (Wiley) Henry, natives of Pennsylvania and Ohio, respectively.  G. W. Henry's early life was spent in obtaining a preparatory education.  In 1873 he entered Mount Union college, attending the same three terms in the year, and teaching during the winter season.  He graduated in 1876, taking the degree of Ph. B; has recently been honored with the degree of Ph. M., by his Alma Mater.  After graduation, he spent one year reading law with Shober & Raley, of Carrollton, Ohio.  In 1877, he was elected principal of the New Lisbon high school and held that important office for five years.  AT the expiration of this time, he was elected to fill the position of superintendent of the Leetonia public schools, and has since continued in the discharge of the duties of this responsible position.  He took Miss Olive Williams to wife in 1877.  Mrs. Henry is the daughter of Levi Williams of Madison township, Columbiana county, Ohio.  Prof. and Mrs. Henryare the parents of three children: Byron, Virginia B. and Martha C.  The father is a member of the Mason order, Leetonia Blue lodge and Salem chapter.  The family are communicants of the Disciples church.  Prof. Henry's life of probity and energetic labor has won for him the respect and esteem of a host of friends and acquaintances.  His scholarly attainments and many noble qualities have won the love and esteem of the pupils who have received their school equipment under his supervision.
 Source: History of the Upper Ohio Valley - Vol. I - Publ. Madison, Wis. - Brant & Fuller - 1891 - Page 252

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