BENONI DAWSON, a retired farmer residing on Section
2, Prairie Township, is a native of Beaver County, Penn., born Nov.
1, 1812, a son of John L. and Mary (Cotton) Dawson, natives
of Maryland, who settled in Holmes County in 1810. On account
of Indian troubles they had to return to the beaver County for a
time. They reared a family of nine children, four of whom are
living. The father was thrown from a horse when our subject
was seven years of age, and was so severely injured, his hip being
broken, that he was never again able to do hard work. He died
in 1832, and his widow in 1836. Benoni, being the
eldest son (although the fourth child), was thus at an early age
obliged to assume responsibilities much beyond his years. He
worked hard to assist in the maintenance of the family, remaining
with his parents as long as they lived. His life has been one
of toil and deprivation, but he is now rewarded by having a
comfortable home for his old age, where he is surrounded by friends
and loved ones, and is last days are spent in peace and plenty.
His wife, who has been his partner in all the cares and trials of
life, for over fifty years, is still spared to him, and together
they are descending the hill of life, an example of beautiful old
age.
Mr. Dawson was married in 1835 to Ellen
Anderson, a native of Pennsylvania, born in 1811, a daughter of
William and Margaret (Huey) Anderson, former a native of
Pennsylvania, latter of New York city, both being of Irish descent.
They were among the early settlers of Holmes County, coming here in
1815. They reared a family of nine children, but two of whom
are living; their mother died in 1838, and their father in 1841.
Mr. and Mrs. Dawson have had a family of eight
children, five of whom are living, all married. John L.,
married to Mary McClellan and has five children:
Orien M., Elizabeth A., Benoni, Daisy M. and Allen B. C.;
Jane L. is the wife of Josiah Harns, of Missouri; Mary
E. is the wife of Ezra Carleton, of Missouri, and has two
children: Margaret E. and Jennie L.; Louisa,
who lives on the home farm, is the wife of William Conn, and
has three children: Anna M., Harry D. and John B.;
Rachel A. is the wife of Peter Croco, of Kansas, and has
two children: Homer C. and John L. The deceased
are Mary, Elizabeth and Margaret. In politics
Mr. Dawson has been a life long Democrat.
~ Page 775 – Commemorative Biographical Record of the counties of Wayne
and
Holmes,
Ohio, Illustrated –
Publ. Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co. 1889 |
GEORGE
DEETZ is a son of John and Magdaline (Noel) Deetz,
natives of Bedford county, Penn., natives of Bedford County, Penn.
In 1816 they came to Holmes County, Ohio, and entered one
quarter-section of land in what is now German Township. They
were prominent members of the German Reformed Church.
George Deetz was born in German Township, Holmes
County, Feb. 11, 1816, was reared in that township and obtained but
a limited education, as he had to assist in the farm duties as soon
as old enough to work. In 1837 he was united in marriage with
Miss Mary Honey, a native of Holmes County. They lived
together over forty years, and eleven children were born to their
union, nine of whom are still living, viz: John, of
Mechanic Township; Elizabeth, at home; Jacob, of
Mechanic Township; Mary, widow of Peter Weidman of
Salt Creek Township; Solomon of Mechanic Township; William
Albert, at home; Savilla Jane wife of Jacob Bupp,
of Salt Creek Township, and Lydia A. at home. After
marriage Mr. Deetz located in Mechanic Township, where his
wife died Oct. 29, 1880. He has a good farm of 240 acres, and
is engaged in raising fine stock in connection with general farming.
He takes an active part in Democratic politics, and is a trustee of
the German Reformed Church.
~ Page 727 – Commemorative Biographical Record of the counties of Wayne
and
Holmes,
Ohio, Illustrated –
Publ. Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co. 1889 |
JOHN BAPTISTE DETE,
merchant, Napoleon, Holmes County, was born in the village of
Gouhenans, Haute Saone, France, Nov. 21, 1836. His
great-grandfather Dete, who was a farmer, settled in the
above-named village, where he died at the age of eighty-seven years
and eight months, leaving considerable property to his children who
were all living at the time of his death. He had been twice
married; by his first wife he had no issue; by his second he reared
five sons - Joseph, Etienne, Francois, John Baptiste and Michael
(all of whom married except two) - and two daughters who did not
marry. None of this family, except John Baptiste,
grandfather of our subject, left any children to perpetuate the
name.
John Baptiste Dete, just referred to, entered
the French army at the age of seventeen, serving about twelve years,
and participating in many battles during the wars of the French
Revolution. After his discharge he married and engaged in
agricultural pursuits during the remainder of his life. His
wife was Francoise Devaux, a native of Abbenant, Doubs,
France, where he lived some years, and where all his children, two
sons and one daughter were born. He then returned to his
native village, Gouhenans, with his family, and here he and his wife
passed the rest of their days, both dying at the age of about
eighty-eight years. Their children were named Josette,
Etienne and Eugene Claude Francois, last named being the
father of the subject of these lines. He was also born in the
village of Abbenant, Dec. 17, 1810, and in 1834 was married to
Christine Heldstine a native of Bettlach, Haut-Rhine, France,
born July 23, 1814. She was the eldest of three sons and two
daughters, as follows: Christine, Joseph, Alexis, Mary Ann
and Cassimore who were living at the time of the parents'
deaths, Christine being then but nine years old.
EUGENE C. F. DETE in his native
land followed agricultural pursuits, chiefly cultivation of the
grape-vine, along with his father, until the age of twenty, when he
received a commission as guard on the Swiss frontier, he resumed the
duties, and after three years resigned and returned home. At
the end of a year, in the winter of 1844-45, he sold all his
property for about 8,000 francs, in 1845 he set sail, with his wife
and four children, for his country, settling in Holmes County, Ohio.
Here, in the spring of the same year, he bought a farm of eighty
acres, situated about seven miles south of Millersburgh, on the
Coshocton Road, where he lived till 1852, in which year he bought
another farm of 127 acres in Richland Township, near the village of
Napoleon, and here he resided until 1877, when he sold to his son,
Julius C., for $2,800. He and his wife of four sons and
five daughters, of whom two sons and three daughters were living at
the time of their parents' deaths, viz: Eugenie, John B.,
Julius C., Frances and Rosalie. Of these Eugenie
married Etienne Paquelet, and lives in Louisville, Stark
Co., Ohio (they have seven children); Julius C. is married,
and lives on a farm near Napoleon, this county (has nine children);
Frances is married to John Hosfeld, and lives ni
Tiffin, Seneca Co., Ohio (have five children); Rosalie is
married to Henry Davis and resides in Cleveland, Ohio (have
five children).
John B. Dete was brought up on a farm, receiving
but limited education. He labored at farm work, both for his
parents and for other, giving all his earnings to his parents until
January, 1858, when he went out into the world to carve his own
fortune, all his earthly possessions being twelve and one-half cents
in money, an ax and a little bundle of clothing. From that
time forward he found odd jobs at farming, chopping cordwood and
droving, also taking care of horses in a sale-stable in Cincinnati
until 1860, when he engaged with a party to assist in taking a
string of horses overland to California. After a tedious
passage over the plains the party arrived at Hope Valley, Cal.,
where Mr. Dete left them and walked to Lake Bigler Valley,
where he worked in a saw-mill for a few months, then moved to Genoa,
Nev., and here found various employments, but lost three fingers of
his right hand by an accident in a saw-mill, and $300 wages (owning
him by his employers) through the destruction of the latter's
saw-mill by an avalanche. Mr. Dete's next experience
was sheep-herding in the mountains, about twenty miles from his last
location. In the spring of 1864 he returned to Nenoa and
commenced hauling logs; afterward ran a saloon for a short time, and
in 1865, having collected in what money he had loaned out, less $450
in gold, which a lawyer swindled him out of, he returned by way of
Panama and New York to Ohio, after an absence in California and
Nevada of five years and five months. That same year he bought
his present store in Napoleon, Holmes County, where he has since
carried on a successful trade.
On Jan. 6, 1867, Mr. Dete married Josephine
Bresson, who was born at Bouans, Haute Saone, France, July 21,
1841, daughter of Charles and Mary (Genet) Bresson, natives,
respectively, of Bouans and Emblanc, France. To our subject
and wife have been born five children, viz.: Charles Eugene
Joseph and Mary Christine Eugenie (twins), born Sept. 23,
1867; Peter Francis and Mary Othillia (twins), born
Aug. 1, 169, former dying when two weeks old; and Francis Peter,
born June 10, 1871, died June 19, 1874. Of these, Mary
is married to John J. Starner, and they live on his own farm
four miles from Napoleon (they have one son, John F.);
Othillie is married to Joseph F. Guenther, and they live
at Warsaw, Coshocton Co., Ohio, where he is a station agent and
telegraphy operator (they have one son, Walter Phillip).
Mrs. Josephine Dete died June 3, 1874, of consumption,
after a lingering illness of about four years, and Dec. 29, same
year Mr. Dete took for his second wife Therese, a
native of Vounant, Haute Saone, France, born May 12, 1838, daughter
of Celestin and Josephine (Devaux) Trahin, both born at same
place as their daughter. By this union Mr. Dete had
five children, three sons and two daughters, of whom four are
living, viz: Josephine Eugenie, born Jan. 18, 1876;
Eugene C., Mar. 27, 1877; John Baptiste Francis, Oct. 21,
1878; Francess Hellene, Feb. 22, 1880. Mrs. Dete
is an excellent helpmate to her husband, managing the household
affairs admirably, and rearing the children in the knowledge of God,
and to love and to fear Him, and to become honest, virtuous and
useful citizens. In religion the entire family are Roman
Catholics; in politics Mr. Dete has always voted the
Democratic ticket except once; his first vote was for Stephen A.
Douglas in 1860 and his second was case, in 1864, for Abraham
Lincoln. He has held the office of township treasurer, by
appointment, for a short time, during which he bought to light a
shortage of his predecessor of $900, and has been elected school
director two terms. By an indomitable will, honesty in all
transactions, and sound judgment, Mr. Dete has acquired a
good competence; and his somewhat adventurous life is an
illustration of what can be established by a brave perseverance and
a dauntless spirit.
~ Page 637 – Commemorative Biographical Record of the counties of Wayne
and
Holmes,
Ohio, Illustrated –
Publ. Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co. 1889 |
BENJAMIN
DITMARS, a prominent farmer of Ripley Township, was born in
Prairie Township, Holmes Co., Ohio, in 1848, a son of William and
Martha (Taylor) Ditmars. William Ditmars was born in
Somerset County, N. J., and came to Ohio with his parents when
eighteen years of age, living first in Wayne County. His first
purchase of land was in Prairie Township, Holmes County, where he is
now one of the most successful farmers, owning over 500 acres of
valuable land. He has had a family of seven children, five of
whom are living: Cornelia, James, Benjamin, Ellen and
Douglas.
Benjamin spent his early life on his father's farm,
where he learned the lessons that have been of value to him in his
later life. He has lived in Ripley Township about ten years,
and his farm is one of the best in the township, his improvements
being comfortable and convenient, and his surroundings indicates a
thrifty and enterprising ower. Mr. Ditmars was married,
in 1874, to Louisa, daughter of John Graven, and they
have four children: John Wallace, Zetta N., Lulu Pearl and
Ida Fern. In politics Mr. Ditmars is a Democrat,
and has held various offices in the township.
~ Page 777 – Commemorative Biographical Record of the counties of Wayne
and
Holmes,
Ohio, Illustrated –
Publ. Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co. 1889 |
THOMAS
S. DOTY was born in Wayne County, Ohio, May 7, 1840, a son of
Thomas and Sarah Doty, the former a native of Kentucky, born
Nov. 27, 1809. They had a family of thirteen children, ten of
whom are living. The Dotys were among the first
settlers of Wayne County, the grandfather of Thomas S. being
the first to open up a farm in the county. He entered two
quarter-sections in Franklin Township, Wayne County, which are now
known as the Adam Wiker farm.
Thomas S. Doty was the third child in his
father's family. He was reared in his native county, and since
attaining manhood has given his attention to agriculture. In
1880 he bought the farm where he now lives, for which he paid
$8,000, and he has since erected a beautiful residence, besides
making many valuable improvements, and it is now one of the
pleasantest homes in Monroe Township. Mr. Doty married,
Nov. 13, 1867, Miss Susan, daughter of Joseph Wilson,
a native of Maryland, and they have had nine children: Lavinia
A., Thomas, Joseph W. (who died Mar. 17, 1887, aged seventeen
years), Almarinda, Maria, Phoebe, Homer, Lula and Ados,
all of whom are living except Joseph W. Mr. and Mrs. Doty
and the three eldest daughters are members of the Disciples Church.
Mr. Doty adheres to the princiyles of the Democratic
party.
~ Page 693 – Commemorative Biographical Record of the counties of Wayne
and
Holmes,
Ohio, Illustrated –
Publ. Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co. 1889 |
JOHN DUNCAN
(deceased) was born March 7, 1804, in Washington County, Penn.,
where he remained until 1824, when he came to Steubenville,
Jefferson Co., Ohio, and engaged with a Mr. Plumer as a
laborer. About 1826 he was entrusted by Mr. Plumer with
a flatboat of flour shipped from Steubenville for New Orleans.
When he arrived at the latter city he found an unfavorable market,
and, although having no business experience, he engaged
transportation and forwarded the consignment to Mexico, where he
sold it at a greatly advanced price from any he had been offered at
New Orleans. On returning to Steubenville, he walked a great
portion of the distance. The trip to Mexico delayed his
return, and caused some misgivings, but on informing his employer of
his successful adventure, the latter took young Duncan as an
apprentice to learn the fulling and carding industry, in which
occupation he was engaged until 1830, having accumulated and saved
up $100.
He then set out for Holmes County, and in partnership
with his brother, William, who had preceded him, purchased a
farm in Mechanic Township, upon which he built the first fulling and
carding mill in the county, operating the same by horse and
ox-power. This mill he operated until 1835, when he sold his
interest in it to his brother William, and purchased a farm
and mill-site in Coshocton County, on "Doughty's Fork," upon which
he built a saw-mill, a carding and fulling-mill and a flouring-mill,
all of which were operated by water-power. He successfully
carried on these, together with farming and general warehouse
business, hauling flour, grain, etc., to Massillon, Stark County,
and Louisville, Coshocton Co., Ohio, from his location on "Doughty's
Fork," until 1851, when he sold his property in Coshocton County,
and bought an unimproved farm, a half mile south of Millersburgh,
Holmes County, and a residence in Millersburgh, his object being to
educate his family. About 1853 he built a dwelling house and
barn on his farm, and then, about the same year, moved on the farm,
where he remained until 1874. About 1852 the C. Z. and C.
Railroad was built to Millersburgh, and then construction was
discontinued for want of funds. About 1857, in anticipation of
the extension of that road at some future time Mr. Duncan
bought the Killbuck Mills, followed by the purchase of the Joseph
Uhl farm, and soon thereafter by the purchase of the Uhlery
farm, upon which the depot of the C. A. & C. Railroad was
subsequently located, and a large portion of the village of Killbuck.
In 1874 he retired from business and moved to Killbuck, remaining
there until his death, which occurred July 12, 1878. Mr.
Duncan was, in the fullest sense of the word a self-made man.
His father, who was a native of Scotland, moved to
Washington County, Penn., while yet a young man, and there married
Jane Wiley, a sister of Dr. Wiley, of Washington
County (Penn.) University; they settled in that county. To
this union were born three sons - Adam, John and William
- and four daughters - Eliza, Isabella, Mary and Hester.
The father died in 1817, in very moderate financial
circumstances, leaving a family of seven children, the eldest,
Adam, being but fifteen years old, and they were, therefore,
thrown on their own resources while yet quite young. In course
of time Adam married Jennie Milligen, and located in
Guernsey County; William married Fanny Elliott;
Eliza married George Gray; Mary married Edward
Stevenson and located in Illinois; Hester married
Rev. James Eliott; Isabella married John Eliott,
all locating in Holmes County except Adam and Mary.
John Duncan obtained but very little schooling,
twenty-nine days in all, and his information was gathered as
circumstances indicated the necessity. He became well up in
points of law, having been justice of the peace a number of years;
was well versed in Scripture, having united with the Presbyterian
Church while yet a young man; and was well informed on general
topics, being a studious reader. He was successful in his
undertakings, and by his energy, perseverance and industry, made
life a success, accumulating a large fortune and a good general
supply of knowledge. He was a man of strong determination, one
whose opinions were formed only by a careful examination of the
subject. It was very difficult to change his mind when once
decided. As an illustration we cite the following: He
became involved in a water-wheel patent right case, and upon
examining the subject he decided that he was in no way infringing
upon the right claimed, and when the parties claiming the right and
charging the infringement offered to settle with him for $50, he
told them that he would pay them only when the courts decided that
they were entitled to their claim, and according to the decision
thereof. The case was placed in the United States District
Court at Cincinnati, where it was tried and a judgment rendered
against Mr. Duncan for $1,100. He carried it up to the
United States Supreme Court at Washington, D. C., and there
had the judgment set aside, the case being remanded back to the
district court from whence it came. His territory being
transferred to the Northern District of Ohio, court was held in
Cleveland, and the case was there tried. The plaintiff finding
he was being worsted made overtures for a settlement, but Mr.
Duncan persistently refused to consider any such proposition
except such as would fully indemnify him. The plaintiff then
fled the court, the case was dismissed at his cost, and thus ended a
suit that had been pending in the courts ten years.
In Mr. Duncan's early life he was a Democrat and
an ardent protectionist. In 1840 he voted for Gen. Harrison,
and was a supporter of the Republican party from its organization to
his death. He took an active interest in church affairs, and
contributed $600 toward building the present church edifice in
Millersburgh, of which he served as deacon. He donated $100 to
Wooster University, giving his note for same payable in twenty-five
years, not having money to spare at the time. He married
Miss Nancy, daughter of John Carey, of Loudoun County,
Va., and a settler of Killbuck Township, Holmes County. She
lives in Millersburgh, and enjoys good health at the age of
seventy-five years. Their family consisted of nine children,
viz: Sarah Jane, John C., Andrew, Hannah, George, William,
James E., Nancy Euphemia and Harriet Louisa, and their
record is as follows:
Sarah Jane was educated at Hayesville, and
married Peter Stevenson, of Coshocton, Ohio, where she now
resides.
John C., who is a builder and contractor, was
born in Coshocton County, Ohio, March 19, 1836; was educated in the
district schools, and finished at Delaware: remained on the
homestead until 1850, when he entered a mercantile store at
Millersburgh, where he remained about one year; then went to
Lawrence, Kas., where he served as a clerk in a dry goods store six
months; then returned to the home farm, where he remained until
1858, when he moved to Killbuck, and took charge of the mills there.
He remained in Killbuck until August 5, 1862, when he enlisted in
Company A, One Hundred and Second Ohio Volunteer Infantry, serving
as private for six months; was then appointed sergeant-major of the
regiment, in which capacity he served for one year, when he received
a commission as second lieutenant of Company A; was later assigned
to Company F, which he commanded for about six months; was then
detailed as adjutant of the regiment, which commission he held to
the close of the war, when he returned to Killbuck and soon
thereafter formed a partnership with his brother William,
which still exists. January 2, 1866, Mr. Duncan was
united in marriage with Miss M. P., daughter of Hon. H. G.
Saunders, and they have two children - Carrie Lenore and
Harriet Edwina. He is an ardent supporter of the
Republican party, and takes an active part in politics, also in
educational matters; he appeared before State Legislature to have
Killbuck Special District created. He is a member of Pomerene
Post No. 250, G. A. R., and was a charter member of Palladium Lodge,
No. 767, I. O. O. F. He took an active part in improving and
building up the village of Killbuck.
Andrew was born December 18, 1837; was married
to Susan French about 1862; enlisted in Company G, Sixteenth
Ohio Volunteer Infantry, served his term of enlistment, and died of
erysipelas, at the age of twenty-five years, at Killbuck, Ohio.
Hannah was born February 26, 1840, in Coshocton
County, Ohio; married Dr. James R. Bristor, of Mansfield,
Ohio, where they now reside.
George was born January 11, 1842, and died at
the age of thirteen.
William was born March 19, 1844, in
Coshocton County, Ohio, was educated in the district schools and
attended Millersburgh and Fredericksburgh Academies. In 1862
he enlisted in Company H, Eighty-eighth O. S. I., leaving school at
the time, and serving about two weeks, when he was transferred, by
permission of Gov. Tod, to the Eighty-seventh Ohio Volunteer
Infantry, to assist in the taking of Richmond; was ordered to
Harper's Ferry, Va., to do general duty along the Baltimore & Ohio
Railroad; was stationed at Harper's Ferry at the time of the
Miles surrender, and was one of the 11,000 men who surrendered
and were paroled on the filed, after being relieved of all side
arms. In August, 1863, when nineteen years old, he recruited a
squad of men in Holmes County, Ohio, and with them started for
Cincinnati to join the Second Ohio Heavy Artillery; before reaching
Cincinnati, however, a lack of confidence in the men with whom
he was to be associated prompted him to go to Camp Chase, Columbus,
Ohio, where he enlisted, together with an old comrade, George H.
Stull, in Company I, One Hundred and Twenty-fifth Ohio Volunteer
Infantry (commonly known as the "Tiger Regiment") for three years;
this company joined the regiment nine days before the battle of
Chattanooga, in which it took an active part. Mr. Duncan
was in the command upon which the first assault was made at
Harper's Ferry, the fight continuing three days; was in the siege at
Chattanooga nine days; participated in the capture of the first line
of works in front of Bragg's headquarters at Mission Ridge;
was in the charge on the second line from the first, in the advance
line, when the order to retreat was given on account of the line
being too far in advance of the general line, and was so exhausted
when the order came that he had to lie down on the line of the
advance to rest; but the fear of having enlisted without the
knowledge of exchange assisted him in his efforts to reach the
re-established lines, which he did without injury, not withstanding
he ran into the fire of his comrades and was exposed to the fire of
the enemy. He participated in the second assault upon the
second line when it was carried, and many prisoners and many pieces
of artillery were captured; and was with the body of men who were
hurriedly called together as the remnant of the One Hundred and
Twenty-fifth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, consisting of about 120 men,
to follow in advance of our line of battle, which was then pressing
forward following the fleeing enemy; the One Hundred and
Twenty-fifth was deployed as skirmishers in front of this line of
battle, and pressed the enemy until the re-formed lines of the
fleeing rebels were formed to cover their retreat. He
participated in the third assault, which resulted in the completion
of the victory of the Union Army at that battle, finished
about 8 p.m. He was with the command of Gen. Phil. Sheridan
that was ordered to raise the siege at Knoxville, Tenn., starting
the day following their return to camp in Chattanooga, after the
battle. He participated in the battle at Dandridge, East
Tenn., and returned to Loudon, Tenn., having served six months
without missing duty, for which he received a thirty-days' furlough
to return home. He was in the front line in the charge on the
rebel fort on Ricky Face Mountain, and was within a few feet of the
enemy's works when repulsed. He was then placed on detailed
service until the close of the war. He committed English
grammer to memory while in the army, and studied mathematics, and on
his return home he went into partnership with J. C. Duncan,
at Killbuck, this county, in 1866, which partnership still exists.
In 1869 he and his brother, John C., furnished the
money and constructed the Holmes County fair ground and race track,
where they held the first three fairs themselves. In 1870 the
firm donated $1,500 toward building the C. A. & C. Railroad.
In 1871, William Duncan contracted and built six miles of the
C. A. & C. Railroad, in Knox County, and a half mile in Holmes
County, employing 300 men. In 1872 he built four iles of the
Dresden Branch, in 1873 eight miles more of the same branch, and in
1887 ten miles more. He participated in the building up of
Killbuck village. In 1876 Mr. Duncan was united in
marriage with Eliza Saunders, at Washington, D. C., and they
have four children living; John, R. C. Hurd, Ada and
Frederick William. In politics Mr. Duncan is an
ardent Republican, and took an active part in the last campaign,
delivering speeches in various parts of the county.
James E.; a biographical sketch of him appears
elsewhere in his work.
Nancy Euphemia was born September 7, 1850, and
died September 19, 1855.
Harriet Louisa, born October 22, 1852, was
educated in Oberlin, Painesville and Steubenville, and is now living
with his mother in Millersburgh, this county.
The Duncan Boys served in all six terms of
enlistment in the War of the Rebellion. |
JAMES
E. DUNCAN, the youngest son of John Duncan, was born
in Coshocton County, Ohio, March 13, 1847, and came to Holmes County
when a child. He attended the district schools and
Millersburgh Academy, and in May, 1864, enlisted in Company C, One
Hundred and Sixty-sixth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, 100-day men, and
served a little over four months near Washington, D. C., when he
came home and again entered school; Jan. 28, 1865, he again enlisted
in Company C, One Hundred and Eighty-fourth Ohio Volunteer Infantry,
and served in the Western Department until the close of the war.
During the first enlistment he was put upon guard duty while
suffering from the effects of vaccination and contracted a severe
cold, from the effects of which he has never fully recovered.
After being honorably discharged at the close of the war, he
returned to Millersburgh, and again entered school. About 1869
he came to Killbuck and engaged in farming, which he has since
principally followed. For three years he was engaged in
general mercantils business with his two brothers, John C.
and William. Mr. Duncan makes a specialty of
raising blooded horses, cattle, sheep, etc. Like his brothers,
he is a strong Republican, and served as the first treasurer of
Killbuck; has also been a member of the council for the past two
years.
In 1873 he married Miss Lillie A., daughter of
James W. Way, of Killbuck Township, and they have two
children, Lola and Jessie. Mr. Duncan is
one of the oldest members of Palladium Lodge, No. 7867, I. O. O. F.,
and has filled, all the chairs of the same; also a member of
Pomerene Post, No. 250, G. A. R., of Millersburgh. His family
are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
~ Page 823
– Commemorative Biographical Record of the counties of Wayne
and
Holmes,
Ohio, Illustrated –
Publ. Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co. 1889 |
DAVID DUNN (deceased)
was born in County Antrim, Ireland, where he was reared, and in early life was
engaged in farming. He married
Miss Eleanor Akey, and in 1822 they
and three sons immigrated to America,
first locating in Salt
Creek Township,
Wayne County. They
afterward purchased land in Paint
Township,
Holmes County,
and settled on the same.
Mr. Dunn became one of the wealthy
men of Paint
Township, owning several hundred acres of land. He gave his suffrage to the
Democratic party, and was a strong supporter of the Presbyterian Church, with
which he had united in
Ireland.
He died in Paint Township,
Mar. 27, 1847, his wife surviving him until Nov. 1, 1865. Their family consisted of five
children, four of whom are dead, all being killed by accident,
Robert died Oct. 8, 1837; David, July 1,
1867; James, Sept. 25, 1877;
Elizabeth, May 20, 1837.
Mary Jane Dunn, the only surviving
member of this family, was born in Paint Township,
on the present homestead. She is a
maiden lady, and since the death of her parents has operated her farm of 200
acres, and attended to the other property which she inherited. She is a devout member of the Mount
Eaton Presbyterian Church, and is known as a Christian lady who takes pleasure
in helping the afflicted poor. She
is kind, charitable and hospitable, and has the respect and esteem of the entire
community in which she lives.
~ Page 801 – Commemorative Biographical Record of the counties of
Wayne and
Holmes, Ohio,
Illustrated – Publ. Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co. 1889 |
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