PERSONAL MEMOIRS
Source:
BIOGRAPHICAL and HISTORICAL
MEMOIRS
Of
MUSKINGUM COUNTY, OHIO
Embracing an
Authentic and Comprehensive Account of the Chief Events in the
History of the County and a Record of the Lives of
Many of the Most Worthy Families and Individuals
ILLUSTRATED
Published
Chicago:
The Goodspeed Publishing Co.
1892
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B.
F. DAVIS, who comes of an old Virginia family,
was born in Muskingum county, Ohio, Sept. 17, 1841, and is of Welsh
descent, his grandparents, John and Hannah (Cornell) Davis,
being natives of that country. The grandparents were married
in Wales and emigrated to America during the Revolutionary war.
Mr. Davis was taken into the army and served during
the remainder of the war. His son, Benjamin Davis,
was born in Hardy county, Va., in 1797, October 20, and spent his
early life on a farm in that state. In 1814 he came to
Muskingum county, Ohio, with a brother, and after opening and
clearing a farm, sent for the remainder of the family in Virginia.
In Muskingum county Mr. Davis met and married Miss
Mary Cowden, who was born July 20, 1798, in Old Philadelphia,
Ireland, and their union was blessed by the birth of nine children:
Margaret, now Mrs. J. C. Taylor, of Salem township;
Hannah, was the wife of Washington Spicer, and died when
forty years of age; Sarah (deceased), was the first wife of
Washington Spicer; David, died in early
manhood; John, died when a SF`Sboy; Robert, died
young; Mary, wife of C. C. Taylor, of Salem township,
and Benjamin F. (the subject). The father of these
children was a prominent man, and took an active part in politics,
affiliating with the whig party. Mr. Davis first
settled on the farm where C. C. Taylor now lives, and at the
time of his death was worth about 300 acres of good land, and other
interests. He built the first house in New Concord. He
and wife were members of the Methodist Episcopal church. His
death occurred on the 20th of September, 1868, and the mother died
on the 19th of that month, 1887. B. F. Davis, the
subject of this sketch, became familiar with the duties of the farm
at an early age and attended school in Salem township, Muskingum
county. When twenty-one years of age he enlisted in Company E,
One Hundred and Sixtieth Ohio infantry, which served as home guards
at first, and was called out in the United States service in May,
1864. This company was attached to the eastern army, and
although Mr. Davis was in no battles, he saw some hard
service. After the war he tilled the soil, and this he has
continued up to the present time. He is a member of the G. A.
R. post at Adamsville, also a member of the grange at that place,
and a member of Lodge, F. & A. M. Mr. Davis was married
in 1861 to Miss Rosannah Winn, a native of Salem township,
Muskingum county, Ohio, born May 18, 1842, and the daughter of
James and Louisa (Shaw) Winn. She died Sept. 6, 1887,
leaving five children: Hiram H., Mary L., Etta J., Icy A. and
Pearl E. The eldest child is deceased. Mrs.
Davis was a consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal
church. Mr. Davis’ second marriage occurred in
1888 to Idella Barrett, a native of Muskingum county,
as were also her parents, Thomas and Lucinda (Gabriel) Barrett.
Mrs. Davis was born in Adams township, Aug. 15, 1867,
and was one of eight children.
Source: Biographical and Historical Memoirs
of Muskingum County, Ohio, publ. 1892 - Page 426 |
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THOMAS H. DAVIS,
Otsego, Ohio, is descended from an old pioneer Muskingum county
family, whose ancestors were from Wales. His great-grandfather
and great-grandmother died on their voyage to America and were
buried at sea. They left two children: A son, ten years old,
whose name was John W. Davis, and a daughter eight years of
age. These children, upon their arrival in America were sold
as servants to pay their passage, and thus they were separated never
to meet again. John W. Davis, the son, first settled in
Loudoun county, W. Va., where David Davis the father of the
subject of this sketch, was born. From Virginia he moved to
Ohio and settled near Zanesville. At an early day John W.
Davis was a Revolutionary soldier, and fought under Gen.
Wayne. Four brothers, with Peter and John
Bradford, also brothers-in-law, settled in Highland township,
where they all made good farms and passed the remainder of their
days. David Davis married Sarah Gordon, and to
them were born eight children who lived to be grown: John,
Robert, Milton, James, Thomas H., Elizabeth, Margaret and
Sarah J. When Mr. Davis settled in Highland
township it was an entire wilderness, and he cleared up his farm
from the heavy timber. He blazed a trail through the woods to
Otsego and thence to Marquand mills. The nearest mill before
had been at Zanesville. Mr. Davis bad a good farm of
160 acres, and was in good circumstances. His brother,
Benjamin, planted the seeds of an apple tree, which he had
brought with him, and raised over 1,000 apple trees, the apples
being all of different kinds. These trees were planted in
Highland and Salem townships. Mr. Davis died on his
farm in Highland township. He was one of our honest,
straightforward pioneer citizens. Thomas H. Davis, his
son, was born Apr. 1, 1850. He grew up in the rough school of the
pioneer, learned the shoemaker’s trade, and has worked at this trade
more or less ever since. He ran a shoemaker and harness shop
in Otsego, and was also in the mercantile business there for over
five years. He owned a large shop, doing an extensive business
and employing five or six hands. In 1882 Mr. Davis
bought a farm consisting of 113 acres, one mile north of Otsego,
upon which he resided until Apr. 1, 1892, when he purchased hotel
property in Otsego, of which he is now the proprietor. Mr.
Davis’ wife was born in this hotel and lived there until she
was thirteen years old. Both Mr. and Mrs. Davis are
members of the Baptist church, and Mr. Davis has been
Sunday-school teacher, secretary and treasurer. In politics he
is a stanch republican. Mr. Davis is one of the
honorable and industrious citizens who believes in educating his
family. He has two children: Wilbert R. and Maud L.
Wilbert R. received a good education in the common
and high school of Otsego, and then at the college at Granville.
He also received instructions in music at the the Musical institute.
He attended the high school at Plainfield and the Muskingum college
at New Concord, has taught school two terms in this county and is a
young man of intelligent mind and good character. Maud L.
has attended the common and high schools of Otsego and the high
school at Plainfield, and is a young lady of education and
refinement. Socially Mr. Davis is a member of the
Masonic lodge at Adamsville and Odd Fellows lodge at Coshocton.
He married Hannah A. Baker, daughter of Alpha Buker
[See sketch of Decatur Buker.] Alpha Buker
was born Feb. 28, 1800, at Gray Mains, and received a good
education. He learned the woolen carder’s trade, and at the
age of eighteen years, in 1818, came to Otsego. His father,
Israel Buker, and his brother Caleb were settled
in Monroe township. He married Mary A. Bainter, and to
this marriage were born nine children: Israel, John, Charles,
Jacob, Adam, Elizabeth, two who died when small and one died an
infant. Mr. Buker taught school in Muskingum and
Coshocton counties many years. He was one of the early
teachers of the county and one of the first teachers at Plainfield.
He came from a family of school teachers, and in Maine one was the
author of a spelling book, and another of a grammar. Mr.
Buker first settled in Monroe township, where his widow now
lives. His first wife died of injuries received from falling
from a horse, and Mr. Buker married Elizabeth
Straight, daughter of Abraham Straight. By
this wife he became the father of nine children: The oldest one died
an infant, Mary A. (deceased), Sarah J., Caleb H., William
R., Elijah F., Hannah A., Charity C., Louisa J. Thus
Mr. Buker was the father of eighteen children. Mrs.
Buker was a member of the Baptist church. Mr.
Buker kept a hotel in Otsego many years and in politics he was a
strong republican. He was a man of undoubted integrity and a
substantial farmer, and died at the advanced age of eighty-four
years.
Source: Biographical and Historical Memoirs
of Muskingum County, Ohio, publ. 1892 - Page 426 |
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SAMUEL DUNN,
farmer, Frazeysburg, Ohio. William Dunn,
great-grandfather of Samuel Dunn, was a Scotchman, and
emigrated to America prior to the Revolution, with a family of seven
sons, three of whom are remembered: Thomas, John and
William. They were all tall, stalwart men, and measured
about six feet three inches in hight. Mr. Dunn
settled in Fayette county, Penn., followed farming, and lived to be
quite old. His son William, the grandfather of our
subject, was born in Scotland in 1763 and came with his father to
America. He married Miss Nancy Dunn (no relation), of
Scotch-Irish descent, and they became the parents of nine children:
Robert, Thomas, Samuel, William, Caldwell, Polly, Jane, Margaret
and Nancy. Mr. Dunn came with his wife to Ohio soon after
marriage, about 1789, as nearly as can be ascertained, and was one
of the very first settlers. The country was a wilderness and
for three days and nights after coming here they camped on the land.
The wolves howled so around the wagon that they could not sleep and
Mr. Dunn went eight miles to get assistance to build a log
cabin and clear a few acres. Thus they began their humble home
in the wilderness and here they passed the closing scenes of their
lives, respected and honored. Mr. Dunn reared his large
family and by hard work and industry cleared a large farm of 300
acres, to which he gradually added until he owned 1,000 acres.
He was possessed of good business ability and sagacity and by his
management his property accumulated by easy stages without fuss or
worry and without severe economy. In fact he exhibited an
old-fashioned hospitality and his house was noted far and wide for
the ample spread of the table which in those good old days fairly
groaned under its burden of good things. He was also noted for
his honesty and integrity and held the office of justice of the
peace for twenty-one years, his idea being to prevent as much as
possible useless litigation. He was popular among the frontier
folk and united in holy matrimony many of the young people, whose
grandchildren are now useful citizens of the old Buckeye state.
He was a soldier in the War of 1812, a general in the militia, and
was called out with his command. His grandson well remembers
his uniform, sword, silver mounted pistols in their holsters and
which are now preserved as relics in the family. Squire
Dunn also served in the state legislature. He believed in the
Christian religion, gave land on which to build a church, and
contributed liberally of his means to all worthy movements. He
lived to be ninety-one years of age and left a large estate to his
children, including a great amount of personal property, which
required a three-day sale to dispose of. His real estate
amounted to about 1,500 acres of land, 600 acres being near
Columbus. In politics he was an old line whig and kept himself
well informed upon the topics of the day. His son, Thomas
Dunn, father of subject, was born in Belmont county, Ohio, on
the old homestead Jan. 9, 1803, and was well educated in the common
schools. He learned farming and when grown was united in
marriage to Miss Hannah McGinnis, daughter of Daniel
McGinnis. [See sketch.] Mr. and Mrs. Dunn
became the parents of five children: Nancy, William, Samuel,
Thomas and James D. After his marriage Mr.
Dunn settled on a farm given him by his father, in Guernsey
county, Ohio, near Middletown, and remained there until 1861, when
he came to Muskingum county and settled in Jackson township
on the farm where his son Samuel now resides. He now
resides in Licking township, this county, and although eighty- nine
years of age is still hearty and vigorous, and is a great walker.
He has been a hard worker but has been possessed of great physical
strength. He is an extensive reader, is well versed in the
Bible, and has decided views on most matters. He is an
honorable, upright man. Samuel Dunn, subject,
was born near Middletown, Guernsey county, Ohio. Mar. 31,
1835, and received but a meager education, being obliged to work at
an early age. At the age of twenty-one he began working for
himself on a farm, and received $100 for eight months’ labor.
He continued farm work until twenty-seven years of age, and then, on
Mar. 10, 1861, was married to Miss Margaret Slaughter,
daughter of Matthew and Hannah (Riley)
Slaughter. To Mr. and Mrs. Dunn were born two
children: Anna and Pauline H. Samuel
Slaughter, grandfather of Mrs. Dunn, was the son
of the original emigrant from Germany to America, and was born near
Georgetown, Va. He married Miss Margaret Jenkins, of
the Old Dominion, and the fruits of this union were Henry,
Mathias, Matthew, Sally, Stacy, Harriet,
Rachel and Sarah E. Samuel Slaughter
came to Ohio and settled in Coshocton county, where he was among the
earliest settlers. He spent the remainder of his days on a
farm. He shot the last wolf seen in Jackson township.
Rachel, then a little girl, was passing through the wood to
visit a neighbor carrying a piece of fresh pork, when the wolf
smelling the meat, pursued her. She dropped the meat and ran
home to her father, who siezed his old flint lock musket and shot
the wolf. He was a good hunter and killed much game in which
the country then abounded. He at one time killed a she bear
and her two cubs on his own farm, and had a narrow escape from the
bear. He died at the age of seventy-five and was a typical old
pioneer, frontiersman and hunter. He owned a good farm and was
a prosperous agriculturist. His wife was of Scotch-Irish
descent. His son, Matthew Slaughter, was born in
Coshocton county, Ohio, and was married at the age of twenty, or in
1836, to Miss Hannah Riley, daughter of William and
Hannah (Long) Riley. William Riley wr as
born six weeks after his parents arrived in this country from
Ireland; his birth occurring in Philadelphia. His father was
John Riley, a weaver, and kept his son William
weaving at the loom, which w'as greatly to his distaste. When
fourteen years of age the latter ran away and enlisted under
George Washington in the Revolutionary war, serving seven
years and participating in several engagements. His father
tried to get him back, but William was so anxious to remain
that Gen. Washington gave him the desired permission.
He was wounded by a shell, had his jaw bone broken, and was partly
buried with dirt. He lived to be eighty-four years of age and
received a pension from the government. His wife died at the
age of sixty-six. He was a farmer, was married in Pennsylvania
and resided at West Alexander, Ohio county, Va. , for some time.
He came to Ohio and located in Muskingum county in 1815, but died in
Cass township. He was a substantial farmer and a member of the
Presbyterian church. Matthew Slaughter and wife were
the parents of two children, Margaret and John, who
grew to maturity. Mr. Slaughter first settled in
Cass township, Muskingum county, and there resided for eleven years
when he moved to Jackson township. He there resided on the
farm now owned by his son-in-law, Samuel Dunn, until
his death at the age of forty-four, of typhoid-fever. He was
an excellent citizen and was much respected. After marriage
Mr. and Mrs. Dunn settled on the old Slaughter
homestead, and there they have since resided. Mr.
Dunn has ever taken a decided interest in the schools and has
held the office of school director for several years. He has
also been supervisor. Mrs. Dunn and daughters are
members of the Disciple church, and Mr. Dunn holds to that
faith. He and wife have carefully educated their children,
both of whom hold first-class certificates to teach. Anna
has taught fifty-four months and both are able educators.
Pauline H. married Henry P. Moore from near their home farm, and
one child, Samuel J. W., is the result. Mr. and Mrs.
Dunn are well respected in the neighborhood and are first-class
citizens.
Source: Biographical and Historical Memoirs
of Muskingum County, Ohio, publ. 1892 - Page 432 |
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WILLIAM M. DUNN
is a son of the old pioneer farmer, William Dunn, who
settled in Roseville, Muskingum county, Ohio, in 1822, when the town
was but a vast wilderness. William Dunn was born
in the state of New York, and is the son of James Dunn.
He was a wagon-maker by trade, was a young man when he settled in
this county, and here followed his trade for thirty years. He
brought his wife with him from New York city, where he was married.
The town of Roseville was then called Millford, deriving its name
from the mill and ford. William Dunn died Apr.
9, 1888, at the age of ninety-four years. He was among the
most prominent business men of Roseville, farmed early, and was for
fifty years a devout member of the Methodist Episcopal church, in
which he took a great interest. He was a whig in politics, and
later a republican, and was taken prisoner while serving in the War
of 1812. His wife was Harriet Williams, daughter
of Rev. James Williams, a Methodist Episcopal
minister of New York. She was connected with the families of
Heath, Buchlins and Stanton, all prominent;
Edward M. Stanton, ex-secretary of war, being a relative.
She died in 1854, and was the mother of eight children: Mary,
Seymour, James, Charles, William M. (subject), Harriet, Jane
and John. Of these children only John and
William M. are living. They reside in this county.
Mrs. Dunn was also a member of the Methodist Episcopal
church. William M. was born in Roseville, Mar. 27,
1828, and was educated in this town. He took up the study of
law in 1859-60, with John C. Hazlett and Judge
Stillwell, and engaged in the practice of his profession in this
town. In connection with the law he took up the real-estate
and collection agency, and has been very successful. He is prominent
in the democratic party, and has held all the offices of the town,
being justice of the peace a number of years. Mr.
Dunn has taken a great interest in educational matters, and
given his children good educations. At the age of eighteen
years Mr. Dunn married Amanda Rolph,
born in this town, and the daughter of John and Elizabeth Rolph,
early settlers of Roseville. She was the mother of one child,
Harriet, who is now the wife of John Milton, of
this neighborhood. His first wife died in 1854, and Mr.
Dunn married Grace Crooks, daughter of Jacob
Crooks, living near Fultonham, this county. To Mr. and
Mrs. Dunn were born six children: Charles A., a prominent
physician and surgeon for the C. & M. O. R. R.; Alice R., the
wife of Prof. John A. Williams; James; Katie,
the wife of James Stoneburner, of this town; Altona,
the wife of Louis Culp, of Lancaster, and William
C., a railroad man living in Columbia. Mr. and Mrs.
Dunn are members and earnest workers in the Methodist Episcopal
church, and take a great interest in the Sabbath-school.
Mr. Dunn having been a resident of the town since his birth, is
well known and esteemed by all.
Source: Biographical and Historical Memoirs
of Muskingum County, Ohio, publ. 1892 - Page 434 |
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