Bios: D Surnames: Gresham and Wiley, 1889: Biographical & Portrait Cyclopedia, Fayette Co, PA Contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Marta Burns. marta43@juno.com USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: Printing this file within by non-commercial individuals and libraries is encouraged, as long as all notices and submitter information is included. Any other use, including copying files to other sites requires permission from the submitters PRIOR to uploading to any other sites. We encourage links to the state and county table of contents. http://www.usgwarchives.net/ ______________________________________________________________________ Biographical and Portrait Cyclopedia of Fayette County, Pennsylvania editorially managed by John M. Gresham assisted in the compilation by Samuel T. Wiley, A Citizen of the County Compiled and Published by John M. Gresham & Co. Chicago: 1889 http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/fayette/gresham.htm Table of Contents. ______________________________________________________________________ NOTE: "Brnv & Bdgpt" stands for "Brownsville and Bridgeport" NAME LOCATION PAGE David, J S, Prof Nicholson 498 Davidson, Thomas R Miscellaneous 589 Connellsville Davidson, Wm, Hon Connellsville 485 Dawson, E B Uniontown 157 Dawson, John L Uniontown 158 Dearth, J W Luzerne 544 DeLaney, Daniel Brnv & Bdgpt 266 DeMuth, P R Connellsville 428 Denny, H B Menallen 330 DeSaulles, A B, Maj Miscellaneous 598 Dunbar Detwiler, J S Bullskin 545 Deyarman, Alexander Georges 495 Divvens, Nathan Uniontown 159 Dolan, James Dunbar 429 Doonan, F P Dunbar 429 Doran, James R Uniontown 160 Douglas, John S Uniontown 160 Downer, Daniel Uniontown 163 Downey, John Georges 498 Downs, A F Uniontown 164 Downs, David Nicholson 492 Downs, W B Uniontown 167 Duncan, A C Dunbar 430 Duncan, Thomas, Judge Miscellaneous 593 Bridgeport Duncan, W S, Dr Brnv & Bdgpt 264 Dunham, T C Springhill 267 Dunn, Justus Georges 500 Dunn, Thomas Miscellaneous 601 Franklin DuShane, J M, Capt Connellsville 433 Duvall, C B Luzerne 545 p498 Prof JOHN S DAVID, one of Fayette county's prominent teachers and principal of the Uniontown public schools, is a son of Joseph M David and Mary Ann Kildow David, and was born at Fairchance, Fayette county, Penna, October 21, 1850. His great grandfather, Enoch David, was a native of Wales, emigrated to Philadelphia, and subsequently removed to Woodbridgetown, this county. His fourth and last wife, Elizabeth Harrison, was a cousin to President William Henry Harrison. One of his sons, G W David, grandfather, was born in Philadelphia, came to Springhill furnace, lived in Wharton township for many years, and died in German township at ninety two years of age. His maternal grandfather, John Kildow, was of German descent and born near Martinsburg, West Virginia. He lived near Brownsville and was a millwright. His father, Joseph David, was born in Wharton township and was the youngest of a family of thirteen children; was a farmer; removed to Georges township and subsequently settled in Nicholson township. He reared a family of six children: Wells E David, a teacher, enlisted in the Eighty fifth Pennsylvania Volunteers, and died in McClellan's campaign before Richmond; James N David, principal of Bridgeport schools, served in the Twenty second Pennsylvania Cavalry, and was county superintendent of Harrison county, West Virginia, for two terms; Jesse E David, a farmer and stockraiser of Oregon, previously a teacher and photographer; Sarah E David; John S David; William O David, a pleasant experienced teacher and principal of Dunlap's Creek Academy. Prof J S David was educated in Georges Creek Academy. At eighteen years he began teaching and has taught nineteen terms of school. For the last five years he has been principal of the public schools of Uniontown and has rendered a good satisfaction. He is a republican and takes an active interest in the affairs of his party. He is a member of the Presbyterian church and has been Sabbath school superintendent since 1875. For several years he had the superintendence of two Sabbath schools. Prof David is persistent, active, thorough and successful in school work. Although unassuming and undemonstrative, yet he is abreast of the times, and well conversant with the educational ideas of the present age. p589 THOMAS R DAVIDSON. Among the distinguished men of Fayette county who have passed away, stood eminent in professional and social life, Thomas R Davidson, who was born in Connellsville, October 6, 1814, the son of William Davidson and Sarah Rogers Davidson, both of Scotch Irish descent. William Davidson, father, was an old iron master, State senator and a man of great mental vigor. Thomas R Davidson received his education at home and at Kenyon College, Ohio, and after being admitted to the bar, practiced law for some years in Uniontown where he married Isabella Austin, daughter of John M Austin, then one of the leaders of the bar in his section of the State. Of this union were two children: Mary D Davidson, now wife of P S Newmyer of Connellsville, and William A Davidson, at present practicing law at Cincinnati, Ohio. Shortly after his marriage he located in Connellsville, his old home, where he continued during the remainder of his life in the duties of his profession, and engaged in various enterprises for the advancement of the community in which he was interested. He was very cautious and reticent in business pursuits, but was quite successful and accumulated a handsome estate. He had no desire for political advancement, preferring the more congenial walks of private life, though he at once accepted the honorary office of presidential elector. Mr Davidson died November 3, 1875. p485 Hon WILLIAM DAVIDSON, deceased. The late Hon William Davidson was a distinguished citizen of Fayette county. A man of fine intellect, he was born in Carlisle, Cumberland county, Penna, February 14, 1783, and died at Connellsville, March 2, 1867, aged eighty four years. He was descended from a Davidson who was a native of the north of Ireland and was a resident of Londonderry during its celebrated siege. William Davidson was a surveyor in Cumberland county, came to Connellsville in 1808 where he remained during his long and useful life; was engaged in farming, merchandising and the iron business. Mr Davidson was manager of Laurel Iron Works and afterwards proprietor of Breakneck Furnace. In the War of 1812 he was taken prisoner at the disgraced surrender of Detroit. He served several years in the legislature of Pennsylvania, was speaker of the house in 1818, and afterwards served acceptably in the State senate. On December 19, 1813, he was married to Mrs Sarah Rogers Blackstone, a woman of great talent and wonderful energy. They had five children: Thomas R Davidson, a prominent lawyer of Western Pennsylvania, married Isabella Austin, and died November 3, 1875; William H Davidson; John R Davidson, dead; Colonel Daniel R Davidson, dead; and Sarah Davidson, wife of Baldwin Norton of Ohio, and dead. Mrs Sarah Davidson died November 21, 1856, aged seventy two years. William Davidson read the Bible through twice before he was nine years of age, and master the Latin, Greek and Hebrew languages without a teacher. He was over six feet in height and of the fine personal address. He was an "Old Line Whig" and a member of the Disciple church, a fluent talker and a perfect gentleman. The late Col Daniel Rogers Davidson, fourth son of Hon William Davidson, was born at Connellsville, January 12, 1820. He attended school, gave no heed to his lessons but seemed to acquire knowledge by intuition. At sixteen he was placed in charge of a farm, and his wonderful management of the land and stock gave him promise of a future successful career. In 1846 he was married to Miss M C Johnston. Col Davidson was the master-spirit, acting quietly but all-powerfully, in the successful development of Fayette county's wonderful mineral resources. To him Fayette county principally owes her connection with the outside world by railways. Against great opposition, he was largely instrumental in securing a railroad from Pittsburgh to Connellsville, the present Pittsburgh division of the B & O R R. He was the principal promoter of the Fayette County Railroad, and was the originator of the project for building the Southwest Pennsylvania Railroad. In 1884 Col Davidson repaired to Hot Springs, Arkansas, on account of his health, and where he died on March 18th the same year. His remains were brought home and interred in the Connellsville cemetery. He always took great interest in the history of Fayette county. He liked politics intensely for the field it opened for the play of his forces, but he did not care for office. Sensible persons never questioned Col Davidson's judgment, his prognostic powers, his great capacity and energy. The history of Fayette county will be searched in vain for one native born the superior to Col Davidson in all that goes to make great manhood. p157 ELLIS BAILY DAWSON. One of the old and well-established families of Fayette county is the Dawson family, founded in North Union township in the pioneer era of privation and bloodshed, by Nicholas Dawson; and among the many worthy and honorable descendants of that daring old pioneer and Revolutionary here is Ellis Baily Dawson, one of the most upright and public spirited citizens of Fayette county; and is a son of Judge John Dawson and Ann Baily Dawson, and was born at Uniontown, Fayette county, Penna, October 29, 1820. Nicholas Dawson was born near the site of Washington City and came with his father, George Dawson, to near the site of Youngstown coke works in 1768 and settled there. They were planters and brought their slaves with them. Nicholas Dawson was with Washington in 1764 and served with him during the Revolutionary War. He was in Crawford's defeat and barely escaped capture that he might save a bewildered soldier from being captured by the Indians. His wife was Violet Littleton of Fairfax county, Virginia. He removed to the "pan handle" of West Virginia where his son, Judge John Dawson, was born July 13, 1788; and at twenty years of age John Dawson removed to Uniontown, read law with Gen Thomas Meason and Judge John Kennedy, and was admitted to the Fayette county bar, August 17, 1813. He practiced law most successfully for over thirty years, and was appointed associate judge in 1851, and died January 16, 1875. He was a sound lawyer, a safe counselor, an agreeable companion and a popular judge. He married Miss Ann Baily, the only daughter of Ellis Baily. Ellis Baily Dawson was reared in Uniontown, attended the excellent schools and Madison College of the same place, and was graduated from Washington College in the class of 1839. He studied law with his father, and was admitted to the practice of law in the courts of Fayette county, June 6, 1843, and in the Supreme Court of the State in 1846. E B Dawson pursued the practice of his profession successfully for several years, but subsequently had to abandon professional work on account of his business interests that required his personal attention. Although retired from active practice, he has not given up his interests in legal affairs or his participation in matters of general interest, or in State and national politics. In all that has concerned the advancement and prosperity of his native place and county, he has always taken a lively interest and an active part. Thought he never sought public office, yet in 1862 upon solicitation by Governor Curtin, he accepted "commissioner of the draft" for Fayette county. It was an arduous and delicate post as matters then stood, but he fulfilled the trust with impartiality and success, and the full quote of Fayette county's 2,500 men were added to the State troops for national service. He has always been studious and his leisure time has always been occupied with the perusal of history, biography and literature. Within the last year he has evinced anew his interest in his native place by donating five acres or more of highly valuable ground for the erection of a large glass works, which establishment is now completed and in successful operation. Mr Dawson stands high as a citizen and gentleman. Hopeful and ever alert for the material and mental development of his native county, he is always ready to aid any enterprise calculated to attain either or both of these objects. p158 Hon JOHN LITTLETON DAWSON was the son of George Dawson and Mary Kennedy Dawson, and was born at Uniontown, Fayette county, Penna, February 7, 1813. When quite young he removed to Brownsville which was his residence during the greater part of his subsequent life. He was educated in Washington College, Penna, and immediately after being graduated from that institution began to read law with his uncle, John Dawson at Uniontown. He was admitted to the Fayette county bar, September 9, 1835, and immediately entered upon the active practice of the law. He was a good lawyer, an able counsellor and a brilliant pleader before a jury. Having carefully studied the science of government and the great political issues of Jackson's and Van Buren's administration, at an early age he entered the political arena; his ample and comprehensive mind grasped the bearings of the great public issues that divided the political parties of the day. Specially fitted by nature, observation and study, no wonder that the young and rising democratic attorney soon passed to a respectable position in the political affairs of Western Pennsylvania. The first office he filled was that of deputy attorney general for Fayette county. His faithful and able discharge of the duties of this office commended him as possessing unusual elements of successful leadership. United with this he had a gift of eloquence which made his name a fireside recollection in the homes of Western Pennsylvania. President Polk in 1845 appointed him United States district attorney for the western district of Pennsylvania, and he held the office during the whole of Polk's administration. He discharged the duties of this important office in a most satisfactory manner to the president and to the people of the district. John L Dawson was not long in being recognized as one of the ablest and most talented leaders of Pennsylvania democracy. In 1848 he was put forth as the democratic nominee for member of congress in the district composed of Fayette, Washington, Greene and Somerset counties, but was defeated. He was renominated in 1850 and was elected. At the end of his second term, he declined a renomination, but in 1862 allowed the use of his name and was triumphantly elected, and re-elected in 1864, the last time from the district composed of Fayette, Westmoreland and Indiana counties. Mr Dawson signaled his entrance into congress and engaged the thoughts of our people by is resurrection and re-introduction of the Homestead bill, which had been previously introduced and defeated. Originating and adding several important provisions to this celebrated bill, he eloquently and ably advocated it until it became a law of the land, opening millions of homes upon the broad prairies of the West to actual settlers, and wonderfully accelerating the progress of the country in her many Western fields of wealth and promise. This one act of his political career entitles him to rank as an able statesman and a public benefactor. Mr Dawson married Miss Mary Clark of Brownsville, daughter of Robert Clark, merchant of Brownsville. Unto this union were born four children, three daughters and one son: Sarah Dawson married Charles Spears of Pittsburgh, Penna; Mary Dawson married Hon Chauncey Forward Black, son of Judge Jere Black, ex-Lieutenant Governor of Pennsylvania. John L Dawson retired from public life in 1867 after four terms of honorable and distinguished service in the interest of his country. From 1867 he resided with his family on the estate known as "Friendship Hill," the former residence of Albert Gallatin, until his death September 18, 1870, in the 58th year of his age... p544 JOHN W DEARTH, a leading and progressive farmer of Luzerne township, is a son of Larkins S Dearth and Mary Williams Dearth, and was born in the house in which he now resides in Luzerne township, Fayette county, Penna, November 3, 1833. His great grandfather, James Dearth, was born in 1720 in England and died in 1797 in Luzerne township. He came to Maryland, bought slaves in 1777 and removed to Luzerne township, and ten years later patented 300 acres of land. His second wife was Miss Sophia Simmons, and a son of his, George Dearth, was born April 23, 1762, and died October, 1846, on the home farm. In 1796 he was commissioned by governor Thomas Mifflin, major of the First Battalion of the First Fayette County Brigade of the militia of Pennsylvania for the term of seven years. In 1800 he was commissioned by governor Thomas McKean, major of the First Battalion in the Ninety first Regiment of Pennsylvania, composed of the militia of Bedford, Fayette and Somerset counties for seven years. He was a contemporary in the Pennsylvania legislature of Andrew Stewart in 1816 and 1817 and was a democrat. He married Elizabeth Mills. They had five daughters and two sons: John Dearth of Ohio; and Larkins S Dearth, father of John W Dearth. Larkins S Dearth was born October 5, 1797, and died in June, 1850. He was by occupation a farmer, in politics a democrat, and was married to Miss Mary Williams. To them were born three daughters and one son. John W Dearth had the advantages of a good common school education; leaving school he has since been engaged in farming and stock raising. April 21, 1869, he was married to Miss Bertha Virginia Miller, daughter of Samuel Miller. They have three children: Walter L Dearth; William M Dearth, and Louise E Dearth. Mrs Dearth is a member of the Central Presbyterian church at Hopewell. She is an amateur astronomer, owns a good telescope and takes deep interest in tracing the constellations of the northern heavens. Mr Dearth is a democrat and owns a farm of 250 acres of valuable land. The farm is known as "Trail Hill" on account of an Indian war trail that passed over it in early times. In the old graveyard on the farm sleep his paternal great grandparents, grandfather and wife, his father, mother, and one sister. Mr Dearth is one of Luzerne's leading farmers. p266 DANIEL De LANEY, a courteous gentleman and a fine musician, was born in Leeds, Yorkshire, England, July 7th 1833. His is a son of Daniel and Ann De Laney, was raised in Leeds, where he attended the pay schools of that place, and received musical instruction from a professor of some note. He learned the trade of a baker; not pleased with this business, he entered a machine shop and learned the trade of a machinist. In June, 1853, he came to Brownsville and, as soon as the legal machinery of the court could act, he became a citizen of the United States. He engaged in the machine shop of John Snowden for a short time, when he accepted a position with John Herbertson, which he held for ten years. In 1865 he formed a partnership with his brothers, Henry De Laney and Samuel Delaney and Henry Drum under the firm name of Drum & De Laneys. They engaged in the manufacture of oil tools for the oil wells, and did a good business during the oil excitement in the Monongahela Valley from 1865 to 1866. In 1867 they admitted Thomas Fall to the firm, and the firm became Fall, Drum & De Laneys. This firm leased the old Faulls Foundry and machine shops in Bridgeport, and engaged in all kinds of work pertaining to a foundry or machine shop. They built several steam saw mill machinery, and did all kinds of work in their line of business. In 1872 the firm dissolved and Mr De Laney again engaged and is now employed on journey work for John Herbertson & sons. He and his sons own a one eighth interest in the Eclipse Flouring Mill. He was married to Miss Berthia Redman of Wheeling, West Virginia, November 1st, 1860. They are the parents of seven children, five sons and two daughters: Benjamin E De Laney, who died at Martin's Ferry, Ohio, July 1st, 1889, aged twenty eight years; John H Delaney; William W De Laney; Edward S De Laney; Charles De Laney; Mary M Delaney; and Ellen Elizabeth De Laney. Mr De Laney is a republican and has served as councilman, burgess, and as school director for fourteen years successively. In England he connected himself with the Episcopal church, and in that faith he grew to manhood. At Brownsville he has been warden of the Episcopal church and superintendent of the Sabbath school. He is a member of Brownsville Lodge No 51, I O O F, member of Redstone Encampment No 70 of the same order, has been for over twenty years order secretary of the former and scribe of the latter. Mr De Laney is a fine violin player; he has been an instructor of the Brownsville and other brass bands, and has always led the Brownsville orchestra. His children are all expert musicians; his daughters are excellent pianists and his sons play on almost every musical instrument in use. Mr De Laney is a skilled workman in his line of business, and industrious citizen, and stands high in his community as a neighbor and a gentleman. p428 PETER R DeMUTH, farmer, gardener and florist of Connellsville, is a son of Joseph A DeMuth and Jane Riste DeMuth, and was born on the farm he resides on near Connellsville, Fayette county, Penna, September 23, 1833. Joseph A DeMuth was born in Lancaster county, Penna, in 1800, came to Fayette county in 1825, and was principally engaged in farming for a livelihood. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and died in 1878. His wife was Miss Jane Riste, born in 1795 and died May 5, 1886. She was one of the early members of the Methodist Episcopal church. Her father, John Riste, was born in Lancaster county, came to Fayette county, and engaged for many years in manufacturing linseed oil and operating a hemp mill. Peter DeMuth was raised on a farm in the manner than farmers' boys are reared, and received his education in the common schools. Leaving school he engaged in his present business of farming and gardening. A few years ago he embarked in the greenhouse business and has been very successful. In 1868 he was married to Miss Annie Beidler, daughter of Joseph Beidler, a farmer of Bullskin township. They have five children: Charles E DeMuth; Albert N DeMuth; Lizzie B DeMuth; Joseph A DeMuth, and Ida May DeMuth. Peter R DeMuth owns the old homestead of fifty five acres which is one mile north of Connellsville. He is a strong republican, and has served as school director. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and is a member of the board of stewards of his church. Mr DeMuth is always prompt in his business, and has now complete his preparations to enlarge and extensively stock his greenhouses with everything desirable in that line of business. He will locate his florist office at Connellsville and keep constantly on hand at that place the finest and most beautiful of cut flowers, to accommodate the flattering and substantial patronage that he is receiving. He is highly deserving of credit for the manner in which he has made his life a success, and for the hard labor and close attention that he gives to every detail of business entrusted to his care. p330 HENRY B DENNY was born January 2, 1817, at Uniontown, Fayette county, Penna, and was educated in old William Beggs' school. At seventeen years of age he began to work at quarrying rock on the National road for James Snyder, continuing to work for him for three years when he learned the carpenter trade with John Mustard and Daniel Sharpnack, and worked at that business until the spring of 1888. On November 29, 1857, he was married to Miss Salina Park of New Geneva, a daughter of Andrew Park, who served in the War of 1812, was pensioned for service in that war and died in 1859. They have nine living children: Ellen Potter Denny, born January 30, 1859, married William Elliott of Uniontown; N Ewing Denny, March 17, 1860, a carpenter; B Wade Denny, July 6, 1861; Taylor Denny, October 17, 1863, married Margaret Storkey, and has one child living; Lizzie Denny, born September 11, 1864, a schoolteacher; Davie P Denny, June 9, 1865; George Denny, September 8, 1867; Ettie Denny, February 1, 1872; Harry Denny, March 25, 1874. He is quite strong and in good health at the age of seventy two and one half years. He voted for General William H Harrison in 1840, was a whig and is now a republican. John Denny, the father of Henry B Denny, was born in 1789 and raised by Judge Minor of Greene county, Penna. He learned the trade of a miller, and married a daughter of Judge Minor, whose wife died, and he then removed to Fayette county, and ran Boyd's mill. In this county he married Miss Susannah Poundstone, afterwards removed to Uniontown and managed Beeson's mill. James Denny, the grandfather of Henry B Denny, was born in Ireland and came to America with two of his brothers, and was sold for his passage money. He enlisted in the army under Captain Cluggage, and served through the entire War of the Revolution. He was at Yorktown and saw Lord Cornwallis give his sword to General Washington by the hand of General O'Hara. He was also at the battle of Brandywine, and was with Washington in his flight through New Jersey. He was a fine scholar and taught schools throughout a great part of western Pennsylvania in his day. He removed to Greene county after the war was over, settled near Dunkard's Creek, and died at an advanced age. He is buried near New Geneva. He drew a pension for his services in the War of the Revolution from 1828, and received it up till the time of his death. His two brothers came to Pittsburgh, and it is likely that the Dennys of that city are their descendants. Henry B Denny's mother was the daughter of George Poundstone, whose father George Poundstone Sr was a driver on the "Old Road" before the pike was made and the government took charge of it. He hauled goods from Baltimore to points in the West. Her mother was a sister of Isaac Messmore and George Messmore. p598 Major ARTHUR B DeSAULLES of Dunbar, the vice president of the Dunbar Iron Company and superintendent of its iron works, is the son of an English gentleman, Louis De Saulles, who is of French descent, and Armide Longer De Saulles, a Louisianian by birth and like her husband of French lineage. Major De Saulles was born in New Orleans, January 8, 1840, and was instructed at home by a private tutor until ten years of age when he was placed in a German school at West Newton, Massachusetts, and carefully trained in the German language as well as other studies for two years. The period of educational discipline was followed immediately by two years at Bolmar's French-English Institute at West Chester, Penna, and the latter period by a course of study at Cambridge, Massachusetts, in preparation for an advanced course of scientific studies, which he made at the Rennselaer Polytechnic School at Troy, New York, from which institution he graduated in June, 1859. During his connection with the Polytechnic School he was engaged for five months as assistant in the geological survey in Arkansas. After his graduation, Major De Saulles' father sent him on a tour of inspection through the state of Pennsylvania to examine mining and metallurgical operations therein, and to make report thereof to him, after which experience and report he sent him to Europe in December, 1859, and in January, 1860, De Saulles entered the Ecole des Mines, Paris, where he remained till September, 1861, when he returned to New Orleans and three days after his arrival there entered the Confederate service, and was placed on the staff of Major Lovell in the engineer corps, and was put in charge of the construction of fortifications on Lake Pontchartrain and on Plaine Chalmette, south of New Orleans. With the Confederate forces he remained on active duty (with the exception of a short time when furloughed on account of a wound received in a skirmish) until the surrender of the Army of Tennessee in North Carolina, at which time he was its chief engineer. During this period of service he was mainly employed in the construction of fortifications at various points, and in the building of pontoon trains for the Army of Tennessee to which he was most of the time attached, and wherein he acted as major from the fall of 1864 till the time of his surrender. Soon after the war he went to Europe where he remained till April, 1866, when he returned to America, took the position of engineer of the New York and Schuylkill Coal Company's works, after a year being placed in charge, and remaining with the company till it sold out to the Philadelphia and Reading Coal and Iron Company in October, 1871, whereupon he moved to New York City and engaged in professional pursuits till March, 1876, when he became connected with Dunbar Furnace Works. Aside from his connection with these works, he is manager of the Percy Mining Company and one of the executive committee of the Fayette Coke and Furnace Company at Oliphant which works in all employ about a thousand hands. He was one of the seven organizers in 1868 of the American Institute of Mining which now embraces about one thousand members and associates, and also one of the original members of the Society of Mechanical Engineers, and is a member of the American Meteorological Society, In politics he is a "good old fashioned democrat" and in religion not a "communicant" but takes interest in the little Episcopal church which his wife built and presented to the parish at Dunbar Furnace in 1880. August 19, 1869, he married Miss Catherine Heckscher, daughter of Charles A Heckscher of New York City, by whom he had three sons and two daughters. p545 JOHN S DETWILER, a miller and extensive farmer of Bullskin township was born in the same township, Fayette county, Penna, February 24, 1831, and is a son of Henry Detwiler and Susan Stauffer Detwiler, daughter of Henry Stauffer of Bucks county, Penna. Henry Detwiler is a son of Samuel Detwiler and is of Swiss extraction. He emigrated from Bucks county to Westmoreland county, thence to Perryopolis, and from there removed to Detwiler's Mill in Bullskin township, where he for many years followed milling. John S Detwiler was married to Catherine Atkinson, a daughter of Jesse Atkinson of Bullskin township, July 20, 1854. To their union have been born eight boys, all born in Bullskin township, Fayette county, Penna: George A Detwiler, Judson B Detwiler, Jacob C Detwiler, Grant L Detwiler, John W G Detwiler, Samuel A Detwiler, Henry W Detwiler and Charles A Detwiler. John S Detwiler has held various local offices of his township; he is a member of the "Knights of the Mystic Chain" at Moyer, and is a consistent member of the Baptist church at Pennsville. Besides owning valuable mill property in Bullskin, he owns several well-improved farms in the same township. He is a good businessman, is well fixed in life and is a republican. p495 ALEXANDER DEYARMAN, a retired farmer of Georges township, and ex director of the Fayette county poor, is a son of Hugh Deyarman and Isabella Spratt Deyarman, and was born in Georges township, Fayette county, Penna, October 12, 1801. Hugh Deyarman was a native of County Down, Ireland, and emigrated at about the beginning of the present century to Georges township, where he engaged for a short time at Oliphant's Furnace as a common laborer. In 1812 he purchased a farm and engaged in farming. He married Isabella Spratt and their union was blessed with fifteen children. Alexander Deyarman was reared on a farm and enjoyed the subscription school privileges of his boyhood days. To the tiller of the soil he gave his active lifetime's interest and labor. He purchased the farm of his father, to which he has subsequently added until he now owns a farm of 135 acres of good, well-improved land. He is a democrat of the old school, has always taken an active part in politics, and has served his party in various official capacities. He was also director of the poor for three years. Alexander Deyarman has been married three times. His first wife was Phoebe Hadden of Georges township. They had seven children: Hugh Deyarman, Louisa Deyarman, Isabella Deyarman, Ann Deyarman, Mary J Deyarman and two that died in infancy. His second marriage was with Nancy Greenlee. The second union was blessed with the following children: William G Deyarman, Alexander Deyarman and Robert Deyarman; John Deyarman entered the Civil War and served six months, was taken sick at Cumberland and mustered out of the service; Ewing Deyarman was also in the Federal service, and was captured by Mosby and held prisoner at Andersonville for six months; Julia Deyarman and Fannie Deyarman. Mr Deyarman was married a third time to Martha Watt, a daughter of Samuel Watt. He has been a member of the Presbyterian church for about fifty years, and has served for many years as elder. He is straightforward in business, and fearless and plainspoken in expressing his opinion. p159 NATHAN DIVVENS, a soldier in the War of the Rebellion, was born in Westmoreland county, Pa, March 1, 1841, reared and educated in Pittsburgh, where his parents removed when he was but seven years of age. Leaving school he learned the trade of tobacco manufacturer, working at his trade up to the breaking out of the war. August 7, 1862, he volunteered as a private in the One Hundred and Thirty Ninth Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers, with Judge Collier of Pittsburgh, colonel of the Regiment. Mr Divvens was in the Battles of Bull Run, Gettysburg, three fights at Fredericksburg and numerous other battles. At the Battle of Spotsylvania-on the 12th day of May, 1864-he was wounded and lost his right arm and was discharged from the service at Pittsburgh, March 16, 1865. In April, 1867, he came to Uniontown, and engaged in the manufacture of cigars, and has continued successfully in this business ever since. He has built up a large and extensive business, making a specialty of the manufacture and sale of the Toby cigar. In 1866 he was married to Miss Susan E Emerick, of Sharpsburg, Pa, daughter of John Emerick, the latter killed in the war; and they are the parents of five children, two boys and three girls, Lillie Divvens, Nathan Divvens, Pearl Divvens, Herbert Divvens, and Edna Divvens. Nathan Divvens' parents Jacob Divvens and Elizabeth R Miller Divvens were natives of Bedford county, Pa. His father died in 1884 at his home in Pittsburgh, and his mother died in 1865 at the age of fifty seven years. p429 JAMES DOLAN, the accommodating proprietor of the "Central Hotel" at Vanderbilt, was born at Brandy Gap Tunnel, near Clarksburg, West Virginia, November 9, 1853, and is a son of Micheal Dolan and Mary Burk Dolan. Micheal Dolan Sr, grandfather, came from Ireland to Clarksburg, West Virginia, about 1846 and died at Grafton aged seventy six years. His wife was Mary Cummings, who died before he left Ireland. Micheal Dolan, father, was a native of Ireland; he came with his father in 1846 to Virginia, now West Virginia, where he married Miss Mary Burk, daughter of Patrick Burk and Mary Barry Burk, natives of Ireland who are now living in Buckhannon, West Virginia, he in the ninety sixth year of his age, and she in the ninety third. James Dolan was educated in the primary schools of Virginia and the academy at Clarksburg; in 1870 was crippled in an explosion at Brooks Tunnel in Somerset county, Penna. The first regular business that he engaged in was keeping a grocery store at Clarksburg in 1871. In 1874 when able to resume work, he removed to Hill Farm Coke Works in Fayette county, and engaged as a contractor at the mines. He next became proprietor for two years of a grocery store at Dunbar, and then removed in 1883 to Braddock's Fields where he opened at conducted for eighteen months the Central Hotel. US Steel's Edger Thompson Plant stands on the site of Braddock's Field. Disposing of his Braddock's Fields property in 1885, he returned to Fayette county, opened the Central Hotel at Vanderbilt, and has continued to run it successfully up to the present time. In 1879 he married Miss Mary Elizabeth Thornton Rogan, a native of Ireland. The father died at Clarksburg, West Virginia, in 1887. To their union were born four children: William Francis Dolan, James Edward Dolan, Arthur Augustus Dolan, and Mary Ellen Dolan. Mrs Dolan died August 5, 1888. p429 FRANCIS P DOONAN is of Irish descent and was born January 13, 1854, near Kingwood, Preston county, West Virginia, then Virginia. He is a son of John Doonan and Bridget Kenney Doonan, both natives of County Longford, Ireland. John Doonan, father, emigrated to America in 1837 and resided at Mt Savage, Allegany county, Maryland, for some time when he removed to Preston county, Virginia, and died at Wheeling in 1860. He had six children: James Doonan; Francis P Doonan; John Doonan, dead; Mary E Doonan, now Mrs Laffey of Mineral county, West Virginia; Anna D Doonan; Elizabeth Doonan, now Mrs Locke of Uniontown. Francis P Doonan was educated in the free schools, and Catholic schools of Clarksburg, West Virginia, and the Normal schools of Somerset, Pennsylvania. He taught six terms of school, two in Mineral county, West Virginia, two in Somerset county, Pennsylvania, and two in this county. Intelligent, quick and energetic, as a boy he naturally attracted observation, and was in governmental employ at Clarksburg, West Virginia, when only fourteen years of age. Being of good business tact and talent, his services have often been in demand in that line, he has successfully clerked at Clarksburg, kept time on the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad, and been an efficient bookkeeper at Lemont Furnace. Specifically qualified by this varied commercial experience, he embarked in the general mercantile and drug business at Dunbar in 1882; has built up and is energetically conducting a very successful business. Mr Doonan was married in September, 1887, to Miss Ellen Cray, daughter of James Cray, a successful businessman of Dunbar. In 1886 and in 1888 he was the regular nominee of the democratic party of Fayette county as one of their candidates for the legislature, but at both elections republicans were elected. Having determined upon the law as a profession, he pursued the study for one year (1885-86) in the law department of Georgetown University. Having successfully passed the preliminary examination in Fayette county, is now a registered student of law at Uniontown. He is intelligent, active and reliable and gives promise of making his mark in the future. p160 JAMES R DORAN, a popular liveryman and proprietor of the Keystone livery stable of Uniontown, is a son of William Doran and Louisa Hyde Doran, and was born at Uniontown, Fayette county, Penna, July 31, 1854. William Doran is a carpenter, and was born near Uniontown in 1819. He has been engaged at his trade for nearly fifty years in Uniontown and has served as councilman. He is a republican and married Miss Louisa Hyde, born in 1824, and her death occurred in 1884. Mrs Doran's father, Edward Hyde, was a native of Birmingham, England, emigrated in early life to Uniontown, was a bricklayer and contractor on brickwork. James R Doran attended Uniontown public schools until fifteen years of age. He learned the trade of carpenter with his father, pursued it for twelve years, and then engaged as warehouseman at the Baltimore & Ohio depot for some time. In 1883 he bought a few teams and engaged in the express business, which he followed for two years. In November, 1885, he engaged in his present livery business. In 1875 he was married to Miss Amanda Cupp, daughter of Frederick Cupp. They have five living children: Charlie Cupp, Nellie Cupp, Jessie Cupp, Helen Cupp and Ollie Cupp. James R Doran is a member of the Odd Fellows, Knights of Pythias, and Haptasophs. His keystone livery stables are substantially constructed and advantageously located near the Southwest depot. He has a splendidly selected assortment of handsome carriages and buggies and a large stock of excellent and carefully chosen saddle and harness horses. Mr Doran gives careful attention to the wants of his numerous patrons, is a popular liveryman and a man of good business ability. p160 JOHN S DOUGLAS, an energetic young businessman of Uniontown, was born in West Newton, Westmoreland county, Penna, February 11, 1856, and is a son of Robert Douglas and Harriet Wimer Douglas. His grandfather, Robert Douglas, was one of seven brothers that came from Scotland and located near what is now Douglas Station on the Pittsburgh and McKeesport railroad. He was the father of Robert Douglas, a teamster on the old National Road, and was afterwards a farmer. Robert Douglas was a prominent member of the Salem Baptist church in Westmoreland county. His wife was a daughter of David Wimer. John S Douglas was educated in the common schools of Westmoreland county. His first employment after starting in life for himself, was the management of his father's farm. In the spring of 1882 he came to Uniontown and engaged in the agricultural implement business until 1887, when in that year he became a traveling salesman for William Deering and Company of Chicago, with whom he remained for two years. In the spring of 1889, he associated himself with Captain J S Horn in the insurance business in Uniontown. October 14, 1880, he was married to Miss Lulu Norcross, daughter of William Norcross and Rachel Masters Norcross, of near Brownsville. In politics he has always adhered to the principles of the democratic party, being an active worker in that organization, and is always anxious for his party's civil supremacy and complete success. His devotion t his party's interest has won him a host of friends. He is a Heptasoph and a member of the Royal Arcanum. Mr Douglas is a member of the Uniontown Baptist church, and is president of its board of trustees, and has also been treasurer of the same church for several years. He is an honest, capable, and is one of the thoroughly business young men of the county. p163 DANIEL DOWNER. One of the solid and substantial families of Fayette county, distinguished for over a century for moral standing and business ability, is the Downer family of Uniontown; and one of its highly respected representative members is Daniel Downer, a gentleman of stainless character, and a good lawyer of reputable standing at the Uniontown bar. Daniel Downer was born in the house he now resides in, at Uniontown, Fayette county, Penna, November 27, 1820, and is a son of Levi Downer and Elizabeth Hall Downer. His great grandfather, Jacob Downer, was a native of Germany, where he married Elizabeth Starner and in 1778 came to Lancaster county, Penna. Two years later he removed to Fayette county; leaving his family here, he went to seek a permanent home in Kentucky where it is supposed he was killed by Indians, as he never returned or was heard of afterwards. His wife and family removed to Uniontown, where she lived to be 105 years of age. One of the sons, Jonathan Downer, was born in 1754 and died at seventy nine years of age, a highly respected citizen of the county. He erected and successfully conducted a larger tannery, married Miss Drusilla Springer and reared a family of thirteen children, of whom Levi Downer was one, the father of Daniel Downer. The former (Levi Downer) was born November 11, 1788, reared at Uniontown, and died there October 2, 1854. He was a quiet, industrious, and successful businessman, and one of the well and favorably known citizens of his native town, where he successfully operated the celebrated Downer Tannery. He married Miss Elizabeth Hall. Her father, Hugh Hall, was a native of Berkeley Springs, Virginia, and owned and resided on the Rankin farm in North Union township near Uniontown previous to 1812. Mr and Mrs Downer reared one of the most remarkable families in the history of the county. Ten children were born; none died under fifty years of age; all lived honorable, upright lives; and none of them were ever married. Daniel Downer, Carolina A Downer and Eliza M Downer reside at Uniontown. Major James P Downer served under Scott in Mexico, and was a commissioned officer of a Kansas regiment for four years during the late war, served two terms in the state legislature, and now resides in Colorado. David Downer resides in Colorado, and has been editor or proprietor of over thirteen newspapers. J Allen Downer died at Uniontown, July 24, 1882. William H Downer died at Uniontown, May 12, 1885. Lieutenant George W Downer served through the Civil War and was drowned at Brookville, Penna, September 21, 1885. Dr Hugh H Downer of California died at Uniontown in 1888, and Jacob Downer, a Uniontown merchant, died February 22, 1888. Mrs Downer, of Scotch-Irish descent, was born February 24, 1792, and died April 5, 1868. Daniel Downer was reared at Uniontown, attended Madison College, and was so well prepared for college that on entering Jefferson College in 1839, he was immediately promoted to the sophomore class, and was graduated from this renowned old institution of learning in 1842. While at Jefferson he was a member of the celebrated Philo Literary Society and was one of its most enthusiastic members. He read law with Judge John Dawson (then a prominent attorney of the Fayette county bar) and was admitted to the practice of law in the courts of Fayette county, September 2, 1845. Immediately after admission to the bar, he opened an office at Uniontown, and has continued successfully in the practice of law up to the present time-a period of over forty years. Daniel Downer is attentive to all business matters entrusted to his care, and is always prompt in having them receive proper attention. His clients' interest are his own, and are carefully looked after while he is in charge. He is a careful, learned and successful lawyer, and has enjoyed a large and remunerative practice. For the past two years, however, he has virtually retired from active practice. He is not, and never was, a politician always preferring to give attention to the duties of his profession rather than to enter the field of politics. He is a gentleman of pleasing manner, strict integrity and unquestionable business ability, and enjoys the confidence and respect of the whole public and of his numerous acquaintances. p498 JOHN DOWNEY was born in Monongalia county, West Virginia, January 9, 1832; came with his parents, Darby Downey and Lydia Stafford Downey, to Springhill township, Fayette county, Penna, in the spring of 1836; is of Welsh, German and English lineage. His grandfather, John Downey, was born near Woodstock in the Shenandoah Valley, Virginia, in 1778. On arriving at his majority he came to Monongalia county, now West Virginia, and engaged extensively in the business of flat-boat building at the mouth of Scott's Run on Cheat river on what is now known as the Costello farm. The premises were then in the possession of a young widow, Gillespie, whose husband was a brother to the mother of the Hon J G Blaine. The widow's maiden name was Llewellyn. John Downey was married to her in 1799. Of this union there were born three children: Nancy Downey, intermarried with William Scott; Darby Downey, and Delilah Downey. The elder John Downey was a man of excellent mechanical skill and well endowed mentally. He possessed indomitable push and energy, and but for the immoderate use of whiskey would have been an eminent man in his day. He died at the age of fifty, leaving his widow, by improvidence in strained circumstances. John Downey's father, Darby Downey, was born in 1802 in Monongalia county, West Virginia, was unlettered in the severest sense, was a man of fine presence, possessed of extraordinary mechanical ability and endowed with a good memory. In 1827 he was married to Miss Lydia Stafford, daughter of John Stafford, a woman of more than ordinary intellectual capacity, and endowed in an eminent degree with motherly qualities. Of this union there were born five children: Mary Jane Downey, intermarried with George Robinson; Abagail Downey; John Downey; James Downey, and Nancy Downey, all of whom are living and comfortably fixed in life. Lydia, the mother, died in February, 1838. Darby Downey remained a widower two years when he married Orpha Harvey. Of this union there were born three more children: Francis M Downey, intermarried with Matilda Blosser; William Downey and Elizabeth Downey, all of whom died of consumption after reaching man and womanhood. Orpha Downey died in 1858 and Darby Downey in 1863. John Downey, after the death of his mother, lived with Captain James M Oliphant with whom he remained thirteen years. He attended the common schools a few months in the winter season and obtained only a rudimentary education. In the twentieth year of his age he engaged with the Rev Lewis Sammons to learn the cooper trade at Smithfield. Having a natural aptitude for the mechanical arts, in less than one year he became proficient in the business and commenced to work as a journeyman. He remained with Rev Sammons two years and carefully husbanded his earnings. He then went to Iowa, remained one year working at his trade, returned to Smithfield, bought the property of his old boss, together with the shop, tools and good will of the trade and commenced what subsequently proved to be a lucrative business. On the 12th day of May, 1859, he was married by Rev Jesse Hull to Miss Harriet R Linton, daughter of Zetus Linton of Masontown, Penna. Of this union there were born four children: Ewing L Downey; Harriet A Downey, intermarried with C D Crow; Wallace M Downey, and Edward Downey, the last named died in infancy. Mrs Downey died September 5, 1874. John Downey remained a widower two years when he married Mrs Jane Sutton with whom he still lives. He is a republican in politics, was elected commissioner of Fayette county in 1884, discharged the duties of the office very acceptably to the people. He is a member of the Order of Ancient York Masons and a charter member of Gallatin Lodge 517, I O O F, he is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church at Smithfield, and adorns his profession by a correct and orderly life. He is well informed on the current topics of the day, has accumulated considerable property, is highly esteemed by his fellow citizens, lives comfortably and enjoys the society of his friends and neighbors. Ten years ago he commenced in addition to his other business, the sale of all kinds of agricultural implements, has a large and commodious salesroom, and supplies an extensive trade. p164 ASHBEL FAIRCHILD DOWNS, an active young attorney of the Uniontown bar and at present the efficient treasurer of Fayette county, was born at New Geneva, Fayette county, Penna, September 7, 1854, and is a son of David Downs, whose biography appears in this volume. His mother's maiden name was Eleanor Thompson, born in County Down, Ireland. A F Downs attended the public schools of his native county, and at the age of seventeen years he entered the State university of West Virginia at Morgantown, and was a student there for three years. While at college he displayed marked ability in literature and oratory, taking three prizes, the last of which was the Regents' prize for the best declaimer. Afterward he taught several school terms and in 1876 he entered the Philadelphia school of elocution and oratory, and was graduated from there with class honors in 1877. (It may be well to remember that this is the only chartered school of its kind in the United States.) He has given many readings from Shakespeare and other poets, and has taken high rank as a recitationist. The late professor J W Shoemaker has over his own signature, spoken in most unbounded praise of Mr Downs' talent as a delineator of the passions. A F Downs became a student at law in the office of the Honorable C E Boyle, and was admitted to the bar of Fayette county in August, 1880, and has been successfully practicing in the courts of the county much of the time ever since. A F Downs has always adhered to the long established doctrines and principles of the democratic party, and has been most active and zealous in the support of that organization, particularly in the way of public address, having earned the deserved reputation of being one of the best political speakers in Western Pennsylvania. He showed exceptional moral courage during the great coke strike of 1886, boldly taking the platform and presenting through the region the grievances and demands of the strikers, while other, with calculating shrewdness, were watching the direction of the wind. And he is credited with having done more to achieve the victory won by the workingmen than any other one man, and when the passions of the hour had subsided, his moderation and fairness and his great influence in preventing disorder were greatly acknowledged. In 1886 Mr Downs received 2,171 votes at the democratic primaries for the nomination of district attorney, receiving next to the highest vote. The nomination to the same office at the next election was conceded to him, but he became the candidate on the regular Democratic ticket in 1887 for county treasurer, and was elected in a hotly contested campaign, in which most of the candidates on the same ticket were defeated. He has executed the duties of his office with all fidelity to the State and county, enforcing claims due in a way that to some seems severe, but which was demanded by his oath of office. In obedience to that oath, Mr Downs knows no fear, favor, sect or party, and those of a domineering, dictatorial, scheming or greedy spirit have found him a rock in their pathway. They have at times vented their spleen and disappointment in harsh criticism, but have not injured him among honest and right thinking men. He displayed a talent for literary work early in life, which he has since cultivated, and at one time was offered a place in the list of lecturers in a leading lyceum bureau. His forthcoming book entitled "Heroes and Heroic Deeds or Uncrowned Kings," now in the hands of his publishers, the Franklin Printing Company of Philadelphia, will in addition to a new matter, include some of her former productions: Notably his "Robert Emmet," which has been highly recommended by such men as the Hon James G Blaine and the Hon Chauncey Black. Mr Downs is a married man whose family consists of a wife and two boys. p492 DAVID DOWNS, one of the old and highly respected citizens of New Geneva, was born in Redstone township, Fayette county, Penna, September 9, 1812, and is a son of Jonathan Downs and Mary Miller Downs. Jonathan Downs was a son of Jeremiah Downs, an early settler and well-to-do farmer of Redstone township. Jonathan Downs was reared and educated in his native township, where he purchased a farm of 150 acres of desirable land and worked at his trade of a carpenter. He married Miss Mary Miller, daughter of Peter Miller, a farmer and early settler of Redstone township. They had ten children: Lucinda Downs, David Downs, Margaret Downs (dead), Joseph M Downs, Alexander C Downs, William B Downs, Jonathan Downs, Caleb B Downs, Isaac N Downs, and Mary Downs. Mr Downs was a whig, an exemplary citizen and a worthy member of the Baptist church. He died September 3, 1844, and was buried at Uniontown. David Downs was reared on a farm, educated in the subscription schools and learned the trade of carpenter. In 1836 he located at Brownsville in the manufacture of threshing machines. Two years later he removed to New Geneva, purchased a lot, erected a dwelling house, and continued in the threshing machine business until 1863, when he in company with Mr James Davenport, a very respectable merchant of New Geneva, bought the Mellier Flouring Mill in that year, and operated it with his other business until 1885 when the partnership was dissolved. On December 21, 1836, he married Miss Anna Harford, who died August 15, 1844. His second wife was Miss Sarah Campbell, to whom he was married November 2, 1845. She died September 9, 1850, leaving two children: Anna Downs, wife of Mathias Hartley, now living in Illinois; Caroline Downs (now dead). He was married March 18, 1852, to Miss Ellen Thompson, and to this third union were born two children: Mary Downs, wife of John A Simpson, DD of Washington, Penna; and Ashabel F Downs, an attorney at law and treasurer of Fayette county. Mrs Downs died September 6, 1855, and he was remarried April 16, 1862, to Miss Mary A Way, daughter of Mr Gideon, an early settler of this county, who died in 1866 in his eightieth year. David Downs has been over fifty years a prudent, economical, straightforward, and successful business man. He was a member of the Sons of Temperance, and is a republican. He is a substantial member of the Baptist church at Greensboro, Greene county, Penna, of which is wife is also a member. Mr Downs has lately retired from the cares of active business life. He stands high, wherever known, as an honest business man and a Christian gentleman. p167 WILLIAM BROWNFIELD DOWNS was born in Redstone township, Fayette county, Penna, May 27, 1824, and is the son of Jonathan Downs and Mary Miller Downs. Jonathan Downs was born in Redstone township in 1788, was a farmed and died in 1844, aged fifty six years. He was in active membership in the old regular Baptist church and was a republican. The grandfather of W B Downs, Jeremiah Downs, was a native of England, and came to this country in the latter part of the last century and settled in Redstone township. Mary Miller, the mother of William B Downs, was the daughter of Peter Miller of Jefferson township; she was born in 1790 and died June 4, 1855, in the sixty fifth year of her age. Jonathan and Mary Downs had ten children: Lucinda Downs married to Thomas Stephens of Washington township; David Downs lives at New Geneva and is the father of A F Downs, county treasurer; Margaret Miller Downs married to John Master of Washington township; Joseph Miller Downs lives in Know county, Illinois; Alex Campbell Downs lives in Pike county, Ohio; William B Downs; Jonathan Downs resides in Noble county, Ohio; Caleb Bracken Downs lives at Granville, Fairfield county, Ohio, and is a Presbyterian minister; Isaac Newton Downs lives at West Newton, Westmoreland county, Penna, and Mary Downs is matron in the Newsboys' Home, Columbus, Ohio. William B Downs was reared on the farm and has been a farmer all of his life. He was educated in the subscription schools of Redstone township, and is a republican in politics. On March 24, 1848, he was married to Miss Rebecca M Wells by Rev Thomas Martin. She was born August 12, 1828, and was the daughter of Joseph Wells, the latter for many years a worthy citizen of the county. They have two living children: John Allen Downs, born March 12, 1853, married to Miss Alice Rittenhouse and lives in Franklin township, and they have two children. Mary T Downs born October 12, 1862, married to James Reid of Uniontown. Mr Downs and wife are both members of the Presbyterian church of Uniontown. p430 ALEXANDER C DUNCAN was born in Butler county, Penna, January 25, 1846. His maternal grandfather, Enos Graham, was a native of Scotland, came to America at the beginning of the eighteenth century and settled in Butler county, Penna. His paternal grandfather, Samuel Duncan, was of Scotch descent, born in Allegheny county near Pittsburgh, and was married to Nancy Smith, a native also of Allegheny county, Penna. A C Duncan's father, Robert Duncan, was born in Butler county, Penna, in 1813 and was a farmer. He married Miss Julia A Graham and had nine children: William Duncan; Enos G Duncan, a resident of Greenfield, Iowa; Isaiah M Duncan, a farmer of Butler county, Penna; Beriah M Duncan, president of the board of county commissioners of Butler county; Alexander C Duncan; Pressly Duncan, a plasterer, and a resident of Mars, Butler county; Robert Duncan, a farmer of Butler county; Nancy Duncan, married to John W McCaw of Allegheny county, Penna; and Julia A Duncan, married to John A Wilson, a coal merchant of Allegheny City. Alexander C Duncan is the fifth son of his parents; he was educated in the common schools of Butler county, and with four of his brothers he served in the army during the Civil War. Enos G Duncan, Isaiah N Duncan and Beriah Duncan were volunteers in Company G, One Hundred and Thirty Fourth Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteers, enlisting in 1862 and serving for nine months. At the end of that time they enlisted as veterans in Company G, Fourth Pennsylvania Cavalry and served till the close of the war. William Duncan volunteered in the spring of 1864 in the Seventy Eighth Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteers. Alexander C Duncan volunteered in the summer of 1864 in Company B, One Hundred and Ninety Third Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteers. He took part in a skirmish in York county, Penna, and was in some others. After the war he returned home and lived with his parents till 1871. In 1871 he was married to Miss Mary C Graham, daughter of William J Graham, a native of Butler county. They had the following children: Clara E Duncan, a telephone operator in the employ of the B & O R R Co at Uniontown; Nancy E Duncan and Allen Ward Duncan. His wife died October 31, 1879. He was the second time married in June, 1881, to Emma Stroud, daughter of William Stroud of Dunbar. Two children were born by this wife: Alexander R Duncan and Edna W Duncan. Alexander C Duncan left the farm and engaged in the mercantile business at Ogle, Butler county, in 1875 and continued till 1879. Shortly after this time he came to Dunbar and entered into the general merchandising business under the firm name of Duncan & Beers, and continued for about one year. After this he engaged as business manager with various coke firms, working for the Pittsburgh Manufacturing, Mining & Supply Company and others. A C Duncan was elected burgess and justice of the peace for the borough of Dunbar in the spring of 1889. He is a member of the Royal Arcanum, Jr O U A M, and of the Grand Army of the Republic. He is a vice regent in the lodge of Royal Arcanum. p593 Judge THOMAS DUNCAN. Among the venerable men of Bridgeport, highly esteemed by all who knew him and identified with the interests of that borough and its twin sister, Brownsville, by over half a century's residence and active business life within their limits, and participating in the best measures, well performing the duties and dignifiedly bearing the responsibilities of good citizenship therein, watchful ever for the weal and social good order of the place where has so long been his home is Judge Thomas Duncan. He is of Scotch Irish extraction. His father, Arthur Duncan, emigrated from County Donegal, Ireland, to American and found his way to Fayette county as a soldier in the service of the United States among the troops sent hither by the government to suppress the Whiskey Insurrection. After the troops were disbanded he settled in Franklin township near Upper Middletown, then known as Plumsock, Menallen township, and married Sophia Wharton, daughter of Arthur Wharton of Franklin township, but a native of England who held a large tract of land in that township and was a man of strong individuality. Mr and Mrs Arthur Duncan passed the greater portion of their lives in Upper Middletown, but Mrs Duncan died about 1845 in Pittsburgh, to which place the family had removed, and Mr Duncan about 1850 in Moundsville, Virginia, at the residence of one of his daughters, Mrs Nancy Duncan Rosell. Mr and Mrs Duncan were the parents of ten children, the second in number of whom is Judge Thomas Duncan, who was born in Franklin township, August 22, 1807. He received his early education in the Thorn Bottom schoolhouse, in those days often pompously or ironically dubbed "The Thorn Bottom Seminary" on Buck Run in his native township. During his boyhood he wrought more or less in the Plumsock Rolling Mill, and at eighteen years of age was apprenticed to cabinet maker Thomas Hatfield, an expert mechanic, with whom he remained three years as an apprentice and three more as a partner. He then removed to Bridgeport, where he has ever since resided carrying on as his principal business that in which he first engaged. Judge Duncan has always taken an active part in public affairs. He was a member of the first board of school directors in Bridgeport chose under the present law organizing the common schools, and earnestly advocated the enactment of the law long before it was made. He has frequently been a member of the common council, and several times burgess of Bridgeport. He has also taken a prominent part as a democrat in the politics of the county, was county commissioner from 1841 to 1843, both inclusive, and was elected in 1851 associate judge of Fayette county for a period of five years, and re-elected in the fall of 1856 for a like term, and fulfilled the duties of his office throughout both terms. In 1837 Judge Duncan joined the Masonic order, uniting with Brownsville Lodge No 60, and has filled all the offices of the lodge and is a member of Brownsville Chapter. He is also a member of St Omer's Commandery, No 7, of Brownsville, and has been a member of Brownsville Lodge No 51 of the Order of Odd Fellows since 1834. Judge Duncan has been a member of the Methodist Episcopal church since the last named year. In May, 1829, he married Priscilla Stevens, daughter of Dr Benjamin Stevens of Uniontown, who came to Fayette county from Maryland, was also a physician. Mrs Duncan died in February, 1873, at the age of sixty six years. Judge and Mrs Duncan became the parents of five children, three of whom are living: Mrs Elizabeth Duncan Worrell, Dr W S Duncan, both of Bridgeport; and Thomas J Duncan, a lawyer practicing his profession in Washington, Penna. p264 Dr WILLIAM STEVENS DUNCAN of Bridgeport, a widely known and highly esteemed physician and surgeon, was born in Brownsville, May 24, 1834. He is a son of Judge Thomas Duncan and Priscilla Stevens Duncan. Dr Duncan's great grandfather, Thomas Duncan, and his wife emigrated from Scotland to County Donegal, Ireland, in 1775. They had four children, all born in Scotland: George Duncan, John Duncan, Arthur Duncan, and a daughter whose name there is a doubt about whether it was Jane or Nancy Duncan. Arthur Duncan, when twenty years of age, engaged in the Irish rebellion of 1792 and immediately after its suppression sought safety in flight from the English authorities. He was placed in a cask, which was filled with straw, the head replaced thus was smuggled on board a vessel bound for the United States and landed at Philadelphia, January 10, 1793. In 1795 he joined Washington's troops that were sent out from the Capitol to suppress the Whiskey Insurrection. After his discharge, he settled near Plumsock, now Upper Middletown, in September, 1802, and took out his naturalization papers. He married Sophia Wharton, a daughter of Arthur Wharton of Franklin township. Arthur Duncan died at Moundsville, Virginia, in 1850, and his wife in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in 1845. They had ten children: Thomas Duncan, George Duncan, Arthur Duncan, James Duncan, Benjamin Duncan, Enos Duncan, Mary Ann Duncan, Jane Duncan, Elizabeth Duncan, and Nancy Duncan. Judge Thomas Duncan was born in Franklin township, August 22, 1807, and received his early education in the Thorn Bottom School. He engaged in the Plumsock Rolling Mill for a time, but at eighteen years of age made arrangements to learn the trade of cabinet maker. He engaged with an expert mechanic, Thomas Hatfield, with whom he remained three years as an apprentice, and afterwards three years more as a partner. He then removed to Bridgeport, and has continued successfully in the same business. Judge Duncan was married in May, 1829, to Miss Priscilla Stevens, daughter of Dr Benjamin Stevens of Uniontown. Her father, Dr Benjamin Stevens, was born in Maryland, February 20, 1737, read medicine with his father, Dr Benjamin Stevens, and graduated at Annapolis Medical School, Maryland. He came to Plumsock, engaged in the practice of medicine where he also owned and operated an iron forge and slitting mill till his death in 1813. Judge Duncan has held the important offices of Bridgeport. He is a prominent democrat and takes an active part in public affairs. He served as county commissioner from 1843 to 1845. In 1851 he was elected associate judge of Fayette county for a term of five years, and was re-elected in 1856. He has been a bank director, and since 1834 has belonged to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He stands high in the Masonic Order of which he has been a member for thirty seven years; is now a Knight Templar of St Omer's Commandery No 7, and has been a member of the Methodist Episcopal church for forty eight years. Judge Duncan and wife have five children, three of whom are living: Mrs Elizabeth Duncan Worrell; Dr W C Duncan, both of Bridgeport; and Thomas J Duncan, a practicing attorney at Washington, Penna. Judge Duncan assisted his father, Arthur Duncan, in 1822 in manufacturing the first coke made in this county, and no man has been more honorably prominent in Fayette county than Judge Duncan. He is now an octogenarian in years, and is in good health. Mrs Duncan died in February, 1873, aged sixty six years. Dr William Stevens Duncan received a thorough literary education in Mt Union College, Ohio, read medicine with Dr M O Jones, then of Brownsville, but now a resident of Pittsburgh. He attended two full courses of lectures in the University of Pennsylvania, and was graduated from there in the spring of 1858 with the degree of MD. In June, 1858, he formed a copartnership with his preceptor in the practice, the partnership ending in 1861 by the removal of Dr Jones to Pittsburgh. From 1861 to the present time, Dr Duncan has occupied the office in which he wrote his first prescription. March 21st, 1861, Dr Duncan married Miss Amanda Leonard, daughter of Benjamin Leonard and Mary Berry Leonard. They have one child, a daughter Helen Duncan, a pupil in Lenna Female College in Pittsburgh. He is a public spirited citizen and is always interested in the material welfare of his community. He has been a director of the Brownsville Dollar Savings Bank and was director of the Brownsville Railway Company, which he assisted to organize. Dr Duncan is a member of the Fayette County Medical Association, the American Medical Association, the Rocky Mountain Medical Society, and an honorary member of the California State Medical Society. He owns one of the largest medical libraries in the State. He is a hard student and has contributed many able papers to the leading medical journals of the day, among which are: "Belladonna as an Antidote to Opium Poisoning," (1962); "Medical Delusions," (a pamphlet, 1869); "Iliac Aneurism Cured by Electrolysis," (1875); and the "Physiology of Death." He has in his practice skillfully treated difficult cases, as well as ably described such in the medical journals of the day. In surgery he has performed many important operations: for tracheotomy a number of times and trephining skull repeatedly, and excision of the head of the humerus and the lower half of the radius. He served as a volunteer surgeon at the battle of Gettysburg, and was take prisoner by the Confederates. Dr Duncan has but few equals, is well read, and a skillful physician and surgeon. As a medical author, he is broad and liberal in his treatment of subjects. As a citizen he is justly entitled to the high esteem in which he is held. p267 THOMAS COUSER DUNHAM was born in Springhill township, Fayette county, Penna, May 30, 1829, and is of Irish Descent. His parents were Jonas Dunham and Elizabeth Couser Dunham, both natives of Fayette county, Penna. Thomas C Dunham was raised in a rural district, and received but little schooling, as he had no opportunity to attend any schools except the indifferent subscription schools then in existence in the State. Leaving school at nineteen years of age, he engaged in farming on a rented farm of his own of forty five acres. Mr Dunham was married October 19, 1849, to Miss Sarah O'Neil, daughter of Henry O'Neil, a native of this county and a miller by trade. Nine children were born to them: Henry Dunham, Francis V Dunham, Elizabeth Dunham, Emma Dunham, James Dunham, John R Dunham, William J Dunham, Zachariah T Dunham, and Minnie S Dunham, of whom six are living. His wife died March 1, 1882, and was a very estimable woman. Soon after his wife's death he sold his farm and purchased a house, and a couple of acres of good ground, where he now lives. He is a worthy member of the Presbyterian church at Mt Moriah. As a boy he was industrious and dutiful to his parents. As a man he has always been industrious and frugal. He has by his own hard work accumulated some property, and raised a large family of very respectable children. p500 JUSTUS DUNN, an ex-county treasurer of Fayette county and a prominent businessman of Georges township, was born in Erie city, Erie county, Penna, June 8, 1817, and is a son of Simeon Dunn and Martha Lewis Dunn. His grandfather, Justus Dunn, emigrated in 1797 from New Brunswick, New Jersey, to Crawford county, Penna. His grandmother was a sister of Sir Francis Drake, the great navigator. He was a slave holder and raised a family of six sons and two daughters. One of the daughters, Rachel Dunn, lived to be one hundred years of age. His father, Simeon Dunn, was a native of New Jersey and died in Erie, Penna. He was a dispatch carrier in the War of 1812, and was the first to carry the news of Perry's victory to Buffalo. He married Miss Martha Lewis. They had seven children. Justus Dunn was educated in the subscription schools of Erie. His first employment was in a brickyard. He next went to Iowa and Illinois and worked as a common laborer. In 1844 he came to Georges township where he cut cordwood at twenty five cents per cord, and in a few years by hard labor acquired enough to purchase his present farm of 175 acres. In 1864 he began dealing in stock and has continued in that business until the present time. He was married to Miss Mary Ann Zearley, who was born February 12, 1825, and is a daughter of Samuel Zearley and Sarah Griffith Zearley. Mr and Mrs Dunn have eleven children: Elizabeth C Dunn, born June 18, 1854, wife of Solomon Johnson, stock dealer; Martha L Dunn, born February 23, 1857, married Moses Hustead of near Uniontown; Sarah J Dunn, September 4, 1858, wife of D R Anderson, merchant, Dunbar; Annie E Dunn, November 3, 1860; Emma L Dunn, August 15, 1862, wife of John Davis; Mary E Dunn, June 27, 1864, married Jefferson Smiley; Alice E Dunn, born November 27, 1866, wife of Frank Sangston; Charles J Dunn, March 14, 1869, married Amy Kyle and lives at Smithfield; Helen K Dunn, January 4, 1872; George J Dunn, November 29, 1874; and John R Dunn, born November 18, 1877. At one time Mr Dunn was the largest shipper of cattle in western Pennsylvania and engaged extensively in the huckstering business. He is a democrat and in 1875 was appointed treasurer of Fayette county to serve out two and one half years of the unexpired term of Mr McDonald, deceased. The Dunn family has been noted for its longevity. Oliver Dunn, an uncle at ninety four years of age, traveled six hundred miles to get married, and died aged ninety eight years. For hospitality and generosity, Mr Dunn has been noted; is just in all his dealings and no man has a fairer character among his neighbors for honesty and integrity that Justus Dunn. p601 THOMAS DUNN of Franklin township was born April 7, 1824, of Scotch Irish stock and was educated in the common schools. He was married February 4, 1844, to Eleanor Scott of German township. They have ten living children and have lost one. Thomas Dunn wsa born in the house in which he lives, and which was built by his grandfather in 1796. His entire life has been spent upon the farm on which he now resides. He, his wife, and nearly all of his children are members of the United Presbyterian church. The children are: John A Dunn, married to Mary Junk; Agnes R Dunn, married to John Junk; Thomas S Dunn, married to Jennie Murphy; Mary C Dunn married to Bryson Gilchrist; Samuel W Dunn, married first to Ellen Stoner, and again to Clarissa Hanshaw; Annie E Dunn married to Jacob Cooper; William C Dunn, married to Mary E McClure; Harriet Dunn, deceased, unmarried; Robert C Dunn; Major E Dunn, Harry G Dunn. Thomas Dunn's father, John Dunn, first married Mary Smith in 1815. She died June 5, 1835. His second wife was Mary Oldham. She died in 1843. In 1844 he married Catherine Scott, who still survives him, an active woman of eighty two years. He was a farmer and lived upon the farm now occupied by Thomas. He was also a soldier in the War of 1812. They had eight children; Thomas Dunn was the fourth. John Dunn died October 21, 1861. Thomas Dunn, grandfather of the subject of this biography, was an Irish man. He married a Scotch woman, Mary Caldwell. They came to Fayette county about 1772. Thomas patented the farm on which his grandson Thomas now lives. He was a Revolutionary soldier, and had twelve children, each of whom raised a family. They are scattered all over the United States. Thomas Dunn Sr died in 1799, aged fifty five. Mary Caldwell Dunn was born January 20, 1746, and died in 1824. Mr Thomas Dunn is held in high esteem by his neighbors--an honest, genial man; and it may properly be added that the Dunn family are noted for their frankness and general good nature or affability. Mr Dunn raised a large family in a commendable manner, and like himself they are good citizens. p433 Captain JOSHUA MILTON DuSHANE, who nobly fought in defense of the Union during the darkest days of the Nation's history, and whose life has been one of activity and energy, was born Christmas day, 1827, in Westmoreland county, Penna, and is a son of Joshua DuShane and Mary McCormick DuShane. Joshua DuShane was born near Gettysburg, Adams county, Penna, in 1797. He was a fine teacher in his day, proficient in the languages and was a good surveyor. He married Mary McCormick, daughter of James McCormick; the latter came from Ireland to Broad Ford in about 1790. He and his eldest son James McCormick served in the War of 1812. James McCormick Sr had the following children: James McCormick Jr, John McCormick, William McCormick and Mary McCormick. Captain DuShane's paternal grandfather, Andrew DuShane, was a French Huguenot who fled from his native land on account of religious persecution, brought with him his father, two sisters, Rachel DuShane and Sarah DuShane, and located in New Castle county, Delaware. When the War of the Revolution broke out, Andrew and his father joined the patriot band, fought in many battles, and the father died while in the service. They both belonged to the "Delaware Blues." Andrew DuShane married Elizabeth Davis of near the battlefield of Brandywine, Delaware county. They had born to them four children: Isaac DuShane, Joshua DuShane, Elizabeth DuShane and Rachel DuShane. Joshua DuShane died in April, 1878. Captain J M DuShane was one of ten children born to his parents: Francis DuShane, Elizabeth DuShane, Samuel DuShane, Nancy DuShane, Margaret DuShane, Joshua M DuShane, Robert DuShane, Jane DuShane, Newton DuShane and Martha DuShane. He was married December, 1850, to Jane Collins, daughter of James Collins and sister to Colonel John Collins. To them have been born five children: James D DuShane, Mary DuShane, Eliza DuShane, Samuel H DuShane and Anna DuShane. He received his education in the common schools of New Alexandria, Westmoreland county, Penna, and there learned the tinner's trade. In 1850 he removed to Connellsville and opened a hardware and tinning establishment, conducted the same for eight years when he removed to Somerset county, Penna, where he remained until 1862. In that year he returned to Connellsville and recruited Company H, the only Fayette county company in the One Hundred and Forty-second Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers, and was commissioned its captain. The regiment became part of the First Brigade, Third Division, First Corps, which was terribly slaughtered at the battle of Fredericksburg and again at Gettysburg. At the battle of Gettysburg, in the evening of the first day's fight, Captain DuShane was twice wounded, and with most of his company taken prisoner by the Confederates; was confined in Libby prison from July, 1863, to July, 1864, when he was removed and kept in a stockade, Macon, Georgia, until July 28; was then taken to Charleston, placed under the fire of the Union guns that were playing around South Carolina's metropolis. This ordeal he passed in safety, and was next taken to Columbus, South Carolina, thence to Wilmington, and with several hundred other officers exchanged, arrived in Annapolis, March 1, 1865. While at Richmond, he was captured and searched by the Confederates, but they failed to find $500 he had secreted. With this money, from time to time he purchased small quantities of provisions for himself and comrades, and thus survived through a long and terrible captivity and escaped death from starvation. On his return home he entered the revenue service and served six years as a gauger in the twenty first district. In 1872 he assisted in organizing the Youghiogeny Bank at Connellsville, and in 1873 was elected its president, holding the position for eight years. He is now a stockholder in the same bank. In 1878 he became a member of the firm Boyts, Porter & Company, founders and machinists of Connellsville. He owns a beautiful farm near Connellsville, is also engaged in farming and stock raising, speculates in real estate, and is now the president of the Building and Loan Association at Connellsville. For two terms he served as burgess of Connellsville; has been a member of the council and school director. He is a P G in the Odd Fellows, a member of W F Kurtz Post, No 104, G A R and has been twice commissioned major of the National Guards of Pennsylvania. The J M DuShane Camp, No 77, is named for him. He has attended many republican state conventions. He was at LaFayette Hall, Pittsburgh, at the convention of 1856, and witnessed the birth of the republican party. Reared a Covenanter, but being a Presbyterian in belief, he united with that church in 1874. Captain DuShane has lead a busy life, and has been of great benefit to the community in which he lives. He was a gallant soldier, and as a gentleman, is held in the highest esteem by all who know him. p 545 CALEB B DUVALL, one of Luzerne townships steady and reliable farmers, is a son of Eli and Elizabeth Richey Duvall, and was born in Luzerne township, Fayette county, Pa, February 17, 1831. His grandfather, Alexander Duvall, was a native of Fayette county and lived during the latter part of the eighteenth century. He was a hardworking farmer and resided on the Monongahela river below Brownsville. His father, Eli Duvall, was born in Redstone township, reared on a farm and made farming his life-business. He was a whig and afterwards a republican. His family consisted of five boys and three girls: John Duvall, Eli Duvall, Caleb Duvall, Eliza Duvall, Robert Duvall, Harrison Duvall, Abigail Duvall and Rachel Duvall. Caleb B Duval was trained to farming when a boy, and attended subscription schools in the last years of their existence, ere they were succeeded by the common schools. He engaged in farming and stock raising and has continued successfully in that business ever since leaving school. January 22, 1857, he was married Miss Elizabeth, a daughter of Andrew Porter. They have had four children: George Duvall (dead); Eli C Duvall, a school teacher and clerk; Jennie Duvall; Maggie Duvall, wife of John Harne, a clerk in Kansas; Haddie Duvall, Osie Duvall, and Leona Duvall. Caleb B Duvall is a republican in political affairs, and has served acceptably as school director of Luzerne township. He owns a valuable farm and employs his time in its cultivation and improvement and stock raising.