BIOGRAPHIES
* Source #1: History of
Fayette County, Ohio
Indianapolis, Ind. : B.F. Bowen & Co., 1914
†
Source #2 - History of Fayette County,
Ohio & State of Ohio
By R. S. Dills - Publ. Odell & Meyer Publishers, Dayton, Ohio -
1881
(Unless otherwise noted)
NOTE: If there is a
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PROF.
WILLIAM WALTER DAVIES. Not too often can be
repeated the life story of one who has lived so honorable
and useful a life and attained to such notable distinction
has has he whose name appears at the head of this sketch,
one of Ohio's successful and distinguished educators and
writers. His character has been one of signal
exaltation and purity of purpose. Well disciplined in
mind, maintaining a vantage point from which life has
presented itself in correct proportions, simple and
unostentatious in his self-respecting, tolerant
individuality, such a man could not prove other than a force
for good in whatever relation of life he may have been
placed. His character is the positive expression of
strong nature and his strength is as the number of his days.
His career has been a long, busy and useful one, and his
name is revered by all who have had occasion to come into
contact with him. His life has been one of
consecration to his calling, and well does he merit a place
of honor in every history touching upon the lives and deeds
of those who have given the best of their powers and talents
for the aiding and betterment of their kind.
William W. Davies was born on the 10th day of
May, 1838, in Llangybi, Cardiganshire, South Wales, and is
the son of David and Mary Davies, both of whom are deceased.
In young manhood William Davies came to the United States
and, having completed his public school training, he became
a student in Ohio Wesleyan University, where he was
graduated in 1872, with the degree of Bachelor of Arts, and
receiving his Master's degree from the same institution in
1875. In 1874 he graduated from Drew Theological
Seminary, receiving the degree of Bachelor of Divinity.
In 1877 he was given the degree of Doctor of Philosophy from
the Universith of Halle, Faculte Libre, Lausanne,
Switzerland, and the Sorbonne, Paris. In 1878 Doctor
Davies was ordained to the ministry of the Methodist
Episcopal church and during the following two years was
pastor of the church at Dover, Ohio; from 1879 to 1883 he
was instructor of Hebrew and modern languages in Ohio
Wesleyan University; adjunct professor, 1883-4, and then
became professor of Hebrew and German. He devoted
himself indefatigably to his labors and for many years he
has been numbered among the leading educators of the state
which he has honored by his citizenship. Doctor
Davies has done considerable original research work
and has done much writing. In 1894 he became and is
still editor of the department of Archaeology and Biblical
Resesarch in the Methodist Review; wrote the Critical
Notes in the Sunday School Teachers' Journal, 1895-7;
contributor to Modern Languages, Notes, and to various
religious journals. He is a member of the Society of
Biblical Archaeology, the Victoria Institute, Authors' Club
(London), Phi Kappa Psi and Phi Beta Kappa. He is
author of the "Universal Bible Encyclopedia," two volumes,
1903; "The Codes of Hamurabi and Moses," 1905.
Professor Davies has twice been married.
On December 25, 1879, he married Mary E. Chase, of
Auburn, Maine, whose death occurred on September 2, 1909.
On the 27th of June, 1911, he was married to Madeline B.
Sharp, widow of the late Morris Sharp, of
Washington C. H., and who is referred to at length elsewhere
in this work. Professor Davies is a man of
genial and kindly impulses, who, because of his splendid
ability and high personal character, ahs won a host of warm
personal friends.
(pg 383) |
JOHN
MARTIN DEER, (Concord Township) farmer and stock
raiser, is a son of Abraham and Elizabeth Deer, who
were natives of Virginia. They came to Ohio about
1830, and settled on the waters of Rattlesnake Creek, in
Highland County. Here the father died about 1865.
The mother is still living, and is more than seventy years
of age. They were the parents of seven children, four
sons and three daughters: William died when
quite young; Mary married, and lives in Ross County,
this state; Henry married, and lives in Ross
County, this state; Henry married, and resides in the
State of Indiana; David S. died in his twenty-second
year, and was unmarried; Anna A. married Mr. Patch,
and lives near Washington; the mother is living with her;
one child died in infancy.
John M., our subject,
was born in Highland County, Ohio, November 22, 1837.
He married Anna E. McCleland, December 23, 1858.
They have had six children, four sons and two daughters.
The daughters both died in infancy. James W.,
Edmund L., Rufus L., and Cary O., are at
home with their parents, working on the farm. Mr.
Deer and wife entered upon their married life with but
little of this world's goods; but by real industry and
frugality, rigidly adhering to his one legitimate business,
and the blessing of a kind Providence, they are the
possessors of some two hundred and fifty-two acres of most
excellent land, located a short distance west of Sugar
Creek, on the Snow Hill pike, where they reside in a
magnificent brick house, built by John Cox, Esq., a
few years since.
(Source: History of Fayette County - 1881) |
ANDREW
DEWITT, raiser of fine stock, Washington, was born in
Fayette County, August 23, 1813. He is a son of John and
Polly Do Witt, the former a native of Kentucky, and the
latter of Pennsylvania. The father came to Ohio about the
year 1808, and the mother about the same time. They had a
family of twelve children, ten of whom arc living.
Andrew, our subject, was married April 19, 1842,
to Miss Elizabeth Hire, daughter of George and
Catharine Hire, of Ross County, this state. Twelve
children, all living, is the result of this union: Mary
C, Samantha, Thomas H., Harvey, Elizabeth E., Joan, John,
Hannah B., Martin L., Jennie, Almeda, and George C.
Mr. DeWitt is a member of the Methodist
Episcopal Church. He received his education in Washington
and in Ross County, and has spent his whole life in this
county. For thirty-five years lie has been engaged in
raising the Rose of Sharon, Young Mary's, Filicies, Jantha's,
and Flora stock of cattle. He is the owner of the horse that
produced Ben Hamilton. He is from Alexander Norman and a
Denmark marc.
Mr. DeWitt's farm consists of eight
hundred and fifty-six acres, and he is one of the most
extensive stock raisers in Ohio. In the pioneer days many
wild animals, especially the black bear, inhabited the
forests, and on one occasion when on his way home from the
Pock Mills, in August, 1822, Mr. DeWitt treed
two bears in one tree.
(Source: History of Fayette Co., Ohio - Dayton, Ohio:
Odell & Mayer, 1881) |
JOHN DEWITT,
who was one of the first settlers, was born in Clark County, Kentucky. Accompanied by his
uncle, Fredrick Bray, and his brothers, Henry and Gabriel, he left his native soil and came to this
state, settling in Ross County ; this was in the year 1806. The party traveled the entire distance on
foot; all Kentuckians were great hunters and therefore good travelers. It is said that
Henry Dewitt
frequently walked seventy-five miles in a single day. Dewitt remained in Ross County two years
and while there entered into the bonds of matrimony with Miss Polly
Barker. Soon after the
marriage the young couple removed to Fayette County, settling on land located four miles
southeast of Washington. Jesse, the youngest son, is at present living on the original homestead.
He purchased a small farm at first but added to the same and finally owned several thousand
acres. This land was originally owned by Baron Steuben, McKay,
Duncan McArthur and others,
and is situated in Wayne Township. In 1812 Mr. Dewitt volunteered to assist in defending the
Americans against the British and their allies, the Indians, and was stationed at Upper Sandusky,
where he remained until peace was declared. He was one of the first constables, was then elected
justice of the peace and held the position for many years. He was considered one of the best
hunters, hunting being a favorite pastime with him. When the first court was established in this
county, the legal talent of Chillicothe were in the habit of leaving their homes on the day
preceding the opening of court, travel to the house of Dewitt and remain over night; there they
were always accorded a warm reception. Governors McArthur, Allen and
Thurman, were
frequent guests at his house. Ministers of all denominations made his house their headquarters, meetings being held there. He was a
member of the Baptist church, always voted the Democratic ticket, and enjoyed good health until
a short time prior to his death. His union with Miss Barker was blessed with eleven children:
Eveline, intermarried with William Orr (now dead);
Jane, wife of James Allen, at present
residing in Missouri; Anderson, living at Washington, C. H., in this county;
Darlington, now a
resident of Iowa ; Decatur, died at the age of 30; Rachel, married Wesley
Prior, now living in
Missouri; Peter G., on part of the homestead ; John, occupies a portion of the homestead;
Jesse,
residing in the old house; Candice, intermarried with Dr. Goldsberry, of Washington, this county;
one child died in infancy.
(Source: History of Fayette Co., Ohio - Dayton, Ohio:
Odell & Mayer, 1881) |
ALFRED
DUN, farmer and stock raiser, was born in
Chillicothe, Ohio, June 24, 1848. He is the only surviving
son of John Dun, who was a native of Scotland,
his father being a Presbyterian minister in Glasgow. John
came to Chillicothe in 1816; remained a short time, when he
went to Philadelphia, and engaged in the commission business
with his brother George, which proved a financial
success. In 1837 he married Amanda W. Long. With her
he returned to Chillicothe soon after their marriage, and
remained there until his death. Mr. Dun was born June
25, 1794, and died April 4, 1881, in the eighty-seventh year
of his age. His wife is twenty years his junior, and lives
in the old homestead. Mr. Dun proved himself
to be a good financier, and amassed quite a fortune, lie was
the owner of some seventy-five hundred acres of the best
lands of Ohio, situated in Ross, Fayette, Clinton, Madison,
Franklin and Logan counties. At his death, he left an estate
valued at more than half a million of dollars. Mr. and
Mrs. Dun were the parents of six children, three
sons and three daughters: Elizabeth married Mr.
Kilvert, of Chillicothe, and lives in the city.
Jean married Thomas McKell, son of
William McKell, and resides in Chillicothe.
William died in infancy. Helen is single, and
remains at home with her mother. George W. was
drowned in Paint Creek, at the age of twelve. Alfred,
our subject, spent his boyhood days with his parents, in
Chillicothe, attending school much of the time. After he
grew to manhood, he spent some two years with relatives on
the farm in Madison County. He also spent some five years in
California. In May, 1870, he married Miss Marietta
Fort, of Chillicothe. In the fall of 1878, he built a
fine residence on his father's farm in this township,
situated on the Greenfield and Sabina pike, four miles south
of Sabina. In June, 1879, the family moved from the city to
this residence, where they still remain.
This is a farm consisting of fourteen hundred acres.
Originally it was two farms; one situated in Clinton County,
known as the Quin farm; the other on the Fayette
County side of the line, known as the Hays farm.
These lands were purchased by Mr. Dun's father
many years since, at a low price, but are now very valuable.
Though originally two farms, they join each other, making
one of the most magnificent farms in the country.
Mr. and Mrs. Dun have five
children, two sons and three daughters: Harry Alfred,
Lulu, George William, Marie, and
the youngest, a daughter, unnamed. In politics he is a
Democrat. He inherits a large fortune. Mr. Dun is a
cousin of R. G. Dun, of the mercantile agency of
R. G. Dun & Co.
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RAFE
DURHAM, though not an early resident of this county, has lived in its immediate vicinity for more than
sixty years. A native of Berkshire County, Virginia, he immigrated to this state with his family
and aged father in 1816, locating at New Holland, in Pickaway County. He removed to his
present place (survey No. 8119, Marion Township) in 1835-6. The vicinity was then but thinly
settled, every one living in peace and quietude. Property was considered safe, and locks and keys
were comparatively unknown. He was well acquainted with the participants in the great
Funk
fight, being a member of the rifle company commanded by Captain James
Mills, and pressed into
service on that occasion. Prior to his departure from Virginia, he entered the bonds of matrimony
with Elizabeth Elliott, with whom he lived happily for sixty-seven years. The pair were not
separated from each other for more than ten days at any one time, until death parted them for the
time being. She was aged eighty-seven at the time of her death (August, 1880), being several
months older than her husband, who lives quietly in the old home, realizing that his days are
numbered, and that he will soon be reunited to the companion of his youth.
(Source: History of Fayette Co.., Ohio - Dayton, Ohio:
Odell & Mayer, 1881) |
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