J. I. DAVIS, M. D.   Among the medical practitioners of Perry county is numbered Dr. J. I. Davis, of Shawnee, whose practice here is quite extensive for one whose connection with the profession covers but seven years.  He was born in Brookfield, Trumbull county, Ohio, in 1874, and came to Perry county with his parents, William E. and Elizabeth (Morris) Davis.  His father was a native of South Wales and became identified with industrial interests in Perry county, Ohio.  Here he became engaged in contracting and operating in iron ore, coal and clay, carrying on business on a very extensive scale.  He died in June, 1900, at the age of sixty-eight years, and his wife passed away in 1898 at the age of sixty-three years.  She was a native of Wales of both were of the highest respectability.  They became the parents of twenty-one children, eleven of whom are yet living and are residents of Shawnee.  In the family were Edward, who is engaged in contracting in Shawnee; William W., a coal operator; Philip, who died at the age of twenty-four years; the Doctor; Gomer and Morgan, who are engaged in the clay and brick business; Ebenezer, who died at the age of twenty-one years; George A., who is superintendent of the store of the Congo Coal Company, at Modoc, Ohio; Thomas, who is in the clay and brick business; Margaret, the wife of Herbert Davis; Elizabeth, the wife of Alexander Humphrey; Abigail, the wife of Hays Parker (Packer)*; Ellen, the deceased wife of Frank Clark; and Ruth, the deceased wife of Jacob Scheuster.
     Dr. Davis, of this review, pursued his preliminary education in the public schools of Ohio and afterward continued his studies in the Ohio State University at Columbus.  When he had acquired a good literary education to serve as the foundation upon which to rear the superstructure of professional knowledge he began preparation for the practice of medicine and entered the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Chicago, and later was graduated at the Ohio Medical University, at Columbus, in the class of 1894.  He was in the Protestant Hospital on the house staff for one year and since 1895 he has lived in Shawnee, where he has built up a good practice. He has pursued a post-graduate course in Chicago at the West Side Post-Graduate College and in the New York Polyclinic.  He is continually reading and studying in order to advance in his chosen profession, and his proficiency is now widely acknowledged, as is indicated by the liberal patronage accorded him.
Source: A Biographical Record of Fairfield and Perry Counties, Ohio - Publ. New York and Chicago: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Co - 1902 ~ Page 443
(*SHARON WICK'S NOTE:  Per email from Abbie Davis, Hays Parker's real name was Hays Packer)

JUDGE MAURICE H. DONAHUE.  The legal profession demands not only a high order of ability but a rare combination of talent, learning, tact, patience and industry. The successful lawyer and the competent, judge must be a man of well balanced intellect, thoroughly familiar with the law and practice, of comprehensive general information, possessed of an analytical mind and a self control that will enable him to lose his individuality, his personal feelings, his prejudices and his peculiarities of disposition in the dignity, impartiality and equity of the office to which 'life, property right and liberty must look for protection. Possessing these qualities. Judge Maurice H. Donahue merits the high honor which was conferred upon him by his election to the circuit court of the fifth Ohio circuit.
     The Judge was born in Monroe township, this county, on the 10th of May, 1863. His paternal grandfather was a son of Maurice Donahue, who owned a large estate in Canicknacurra, Ireland.  Herbert Donahue, his eldest son, involved this estate and the grandfather of our subject came to America with his family owing to these reverses. The family name was originally O'Donoghue and the old estate had been in possession of the family for many generations. Maurice Donahue, the father of our subject, was born at Carricknacurra, Ireland. He was a stone mason and contractor and with his brother John had most of the stone contracts on the Muskingum river improvements.  He married Miss Louisa O'Neill, a daughter of Patrick O'Neill, who married Christina Austenberg, a member of a wealthy German family and a native of the fatherland. On completing her education Mrs. O'Neill went with her brother, who was the owner and captain of a vessel, upon a voyage around the world. In New York she met Patrick O'Neill, who had just come from Ireland. It was almost a case of love at first sight, and the young people plighting their troth were married. Mrs. O'Neill accompanied her husband to his home in Philadelphia, where he became a very prosperous and prominent man. He owned extensive coal mines at Nelsonville, but after successfully operating his mines for a time he met with reverses in the east and came to Perry county, Ohio, locating upon a farm in Monroe township. After her father had met with financial reverses, Mrs. Donahue, his daughter, engaged in teaching school in Monroe township. She had acquired a superior education in Philadelphia and was therefore well prepared for such a work. Mr. Donahue, the father of our subject, died March 10, 1863, and his wife passed away February 4, 1902. They left one son besides our subject, namely, Charles A. Donahue, who was educated in the schools of this county and is now a member of the firm of Donahue & Spencer; and one daughter. Mary, who is married and resides in Kansas. Two children, Laurence and Tena, died shortly after reaching maturity.
     Judge Donahue, of this review, has spent his entire life in Perry county and pursued his literary education in the public schools. At the age of sixteen years he began teaching school, which profession he followed for five years, being superintendent of the Corning public schools two years of that time. When seventeen years of age he took up the study of law under the tutorship of A. H. Wiard, formerly of Perry county. Having been admitted to the bar at Columbus in 1884 he located for practice in Corning, this county, and in 1887 was elected prosecuting attorney of the county, filling the position so capably that he was re-elected in 1890. He then removed to New Lexington, where he discharged the duties of the office in addition to the superintendence of a large private practice. He became a member of the firm of Donahue & Donahue, and later Donahue, Spencer & Donahue, the partners being Charles A. and Maurice H. Donahue and Judge C. E. Spencer. Since the elevation of our subject to the circuit bench the firm is Donahue & Spencer. In 1900 our subject was elected judge of the circuit court and is now serving on the bench.
     In 1889 was celebrated the marriage of Judge Donahue and Miss Martina Johnson, a daughter of J. J. Johnson, president of the Perry County Bank, of New Lexington, who has also been quite prominent in public affairs, serving for two terms as county sheriff and for a similar period as county treasurer. Unto the Judge and his wife were born two children: Zita and Pauline, but the latter died at the age of eleven-months.
     In connection with his practice Judge Donahue has also been active in the control of important enterprises in this portion of the state. He is now the president of The Coyle Coal Company, operating mines at Nugentville, Ohio, and is also president of The Bear Run Coal Company. He is likewise president of the Board of Trade of New Lexington. In politics he is a Democrat and is a member of the Catholic church. The practice of law has been his real life work and at the bar as well as on the bench he has won marked distinction. A man of unimpeachable character, of unusual intellectual endowments, with a thorough understanding of the law, patience, urbanity and industry.  Judge Donahue took to the bench the very highest qualifications for the most responsible office of the state government and his record as a judge has been in harmony with his record as a man and a lawyer, distinguished by unswerving' integrity and a masterful grasp of every problem which has presented itself for solution.
Source: A Biographical Record of Fairfield and Perry Counties, Ohio - Publ. New York and Chicago: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Co - 1902 ~ Page 464

GEORGE T. DRAKE, who is now acceptably and capably serving as postmaster of Corning, has for a number of years been in the public service and has ever been found reliable, prompt and faithful.  He is a native of Morgan county, Ohio, his birth having occurred in Pennsville.  He is a representative of one of the pioneer families of the state.  His paternal grandfather, James Watts Drake, was a native of Virginia and in the year 1812 emigrated westward, taking up his residence in Belmont county, Ohio, whence he removed to Morgan county in 1832.  His remaining days were spent in this state, and in 1895, at the advanced age of eighty-nine years, he was called to his final rest.
     Francis W. Drake, the father of our subject, was born Jan. 20, 1833, upon the old family homestead in Morgan county and was a resident of his native county until 1881, when he came to Corning, where she still resides.  He was a contractor and builder, but abandoned that pursuit to enter upon the duties of postmaster, to which position he was appointed by President Harrison.  He is now engaged in the grocery business and is one of the enterprising and successful merchants of this place.  He has led an active and useful life, and has not only successfully conducted his business affairs but has been a prominent factor in public life in his locality.  For many years he ahs served on the city council and put forth strong effort to advance the welfare and substantial upbuilding of his town.  He married Adeline Holt, a daughter of Joab and Elizabeth Holt, who removed from Harper' Ferry, Virginia, to Morgan county, Ohio, in 1850.  Mrs. Drake died May 9, 1884.  She was a native of Harpers Ferry.
     George T. Drake began his education in the public schools and is a graduate of the high schools and is a graduate of the high school of Corning of the class of 1890.  In April of that year, one month prior to his graduation, he took the civil service examination for railroad mail clerk and of the many who took the examination at the same time he stood highest.  During the following August he entered upon his duties as substitute clerk on the route from Corning to Columbus.  He also substituted on various other runs and was in the Columbus postoffice for a time until he was permanently appointed on the limited mail run between Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, and St. Louis, Missouri.  In April, 1893, he resigned from the service and until 1897 was engaged in teaching school in the Corning special district.  While teaching he took a prominent part in educational matters, being at that time a member of the county executive committee, and has ever since been interested in educational affairs.
     Since 1894 Mr. Drake has been a prominent factor in his county's politics and from 1896 has been on the stump in various campaigns.  As a debater and speech maker he has an enviable record.  From 1895 until 1897 he served as clerk of Monroe township.  In the latter year he was appointed postmaster of Corning by President McKinley and was re-appointed by President Roosevelt, so that he is now serving his second term and the affairs of the 9ffice are ably conducted under his capable management.  In the fall of 1897 he established a newspaper, the Breeze, in partnership with LaBert Davie, but sold his interest to Mr. Davie in 1901.  He has long been a prominent Republican of Perry County, doing all in his power to secure political successes along that line.  He has served on the county executive committee and is now serving as a member of the congressional committee of the eleventh Ohio district.
Source: A Biographical Record of Fairfield and Perry Counties, Ohio - Publ. New York and Chicago: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Co - 1902 ~ Page 409