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History of Johnson County, Iowa D Unless otherwise noted, biographies submitted by Mary Hitchcock. John Danzell, farmer, post-office, Windham; was born in Cumberland Co. PA May 21, 1820. He spent the greater part of his early life in Washington Co. PA; followed wagoning for a number of years—this being before the railroads, and all produce had to be hauled to market, sometimes hundreds of miles, and goods brought back in exchange. In 1840 his parents, George and Mary Danzell, came to Burlington, but did not like the country, and returned to PA. He was a wagoner in the war of 1812. In 1854 they came to JOHNSON Co. IA and settled on the farm now owned by John, the subject of our sketch, and for a number of years kept a hotel known as “The Farmer’s Home.” Mr. Danzell remained a bachelor and lived with his parents until their death, then was married November 12, 1868, to Mrs. M.A.D. Armington, her maiden name being Myers, a native of Knox Co., OH and a daughter of Peter Myers, who came to Iowa Co. November 1853. She was first married to Joseph Armington, who was killed by the explosion of gas in an oil-can July 29, 1862. Mr. Danzell has a fine farm of 178 acres and a fine farm residence, and give his attention to farming and raising stock. John Davis, farmer, Union township, post-office, Iowa City; was born in 1816, at Wells' Park, England; came to America in 1823; landed in New York, and moved to Utica, New York; remained there 12 years, then came to Johnson County, and settled in Union township. He was married in 1852 to Miss Anna Griffith; has five children living: Peter D., Thomas D., David, Dewey, Ella May, and Elizabeth B., 7 years; William 5 years; Eliza H., 6 years, and John, age 9 years, are dead. In politics he is a republican. John Davis, Coralville; was born in Franklin County, Massachusetts, Sept. 25, 1834. In 1841, he emigrated with his parents to Putman County, IL, where he spent his early life and learned the machinist trade. He was in the Government employ at Cairo, IL, during the war. He came to Johnson County in 1864 and engaged with Borland & Clark, afterwards with the Iowa City Bale Rope Manufacturing Co. In 1869 he built the planning mill at Coralville and in 1871 the saw mill, which he still owns. He was married twice; first Dec 25, 1856 to Miss Martha A. Stilley, a native of IL, and the second time to Mary A. Stilley, July 4, 1865. There are three children by the first marriage: John, William and Alice; and four by the last: Emma, Leora, Otis and Harry. He is a member of No.44, I.O.O.F. L. Davis, a resident of Tiffin, was born Oct. 26, 1823, in Windham County, Connecticut. He came to Johnson County, and settled in Clear Creek township in the fall of 1855. He was married June 18, 1843 to Miss Elizabeth Ewers, of Knox county Ohio. He was a soldier in the Federal Army, in Co. F., 14 th Regiment Iowa Infantry, and was taken prisoner at Shiloh, TN. He is a member of the Christian Church in Tiffin. He has had charge of Plymesser & Douglass' Grain Elevator and Lumber business at Tiffin for four years. Is a republican in politics; he has held the office of township trustee and justice of the peace for two years. Thomas D. Davis, farmer residing in Sharon township, post-office, Iowa City ; was born Nov. 20, 1849, in Cambria County, PA. Came to Iowa and settled in Sharon township in 1845. He was married March 31, 1869 to Miss Maggie Roberts of Pennsylvania. They have six children: Hattie, Emma, Lizzie, Irene, Mattie, Maggie. Member of the Congregational (Welch) church in Sharon township. Member of the A.O.U.W. of Iowa City. Republican in politics and has held several township offices and has been elected the third time for justice of the peace for Sharon township. He is president of the stock company that owns the Sharon cheese factory, and one of its directors. He has a good farm well stocked, and is a successful businessman. Isaac V. Dennis, a farmer residing in West Lucas township, post-office, Iowa City; Was born Nov. 11, 1822, at Batavia, Clermont County, OH. He left there and settled in Iowa with his mother and family in 1838, May the first, where he now lives on section six. When they crossed the Iowa River they took the wagon apart and shipped it over in a canoe and swam the oxen. His residence was for two years the farthest west of any building in Johnson County, the very picket outpost of civilization. In 1840 William Dunn brought some printing material to Iowa City and Mr. Dennis did the first type setting ever done in Johnson County, and got out a paper called the Iowa City Standard, of Whig politics; this was some time early in 1840, and the Iowa City Republican of today is the continuation of that first paper. Later in the same year, Mr. Dennis started the Iowa City Argus, a democratic paper. Afterwards worked some years at type setting on State work (see Chapter on newspapers of the county.) He was married Dec. 31, 1843 to Miss Elizabeth Fellows of what was then called Iowa City township. They have six children: Emily, George, Lucien I., William Delos, Samuel Kirkwood and Grant. He built the first frame house in Iowa City. J. B. Denison, farmer, post-office North Liberty ; the oldest resident of this township; was born Dec. 1, 1815, in Muskingdon County OH. His parents, Gerdon and Etherlinda Denison, were natives of Massachusetts. They moved to Ohio where J.B. was born and raised on a farm. At the age of twenty-three he left Ohio to come to Illinois, where he had two brothers. [see History.] He was then a single man. After arriving here he entered 320 acres of land in section one, where he still resides. He boarded with his brother G.S., and followed braking prairie for a number of years, renting his farm. On the 10 th day of April, 1853, he was married to Miss Elizabeth Diggins of this county, formerly from PA. To them were born five children, four living: Mariah, Julia A., Matilda P. and David Ely. His wife died Nov. 5, 1875. By his industry, he has accumulated considerable property; he owns 540 acres of land. He has long been a member of the M.W. Church, a Republican in politics, and temperance man in every sense of the term. Isaac N. DeSellem, farmer, Pleasant Valley township, post-office Iowa City; was born in Jefferson Co. OH February 7, 1820. Came to Johnson Co. and settled on a farm in Pleasant Valley in 1854. He was married October 29, 1846 to Miss Margaret J. Mahan of Jefferson Co. OH. They are the parents of the following children: Hannah E., George B. and John L., who died in 1859, aged eight years. He is a republican in politics, and voted for the prohibitory constitutional amendment. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Church. He was a soldier in the late civil war in company I 22d Iowa Infantry; entered in the summer of 1862 and was discharged at Vicksburg on account of disability in 1863. He died in September 1882, since this sketch was written. George B. DeSellem, a farmer, resideing in Pleasant Valley, post-office address, Iowa City; was born February 22, 1849 in Jefferson Co. OH. He settled in Pleasant Valley township, Johnson Co. in the fall of 1858, and resides on section 26. He acquired his education in Iowa City and was a graduate of the law school of the class of 1877. He was married October 24, 1873, to Miss Mary Guant, the daughter of William Guant of Pleasant Valley. They have two children: Zou, five years of age, and Annie. He is a republican in politics. A member of the I.O.O.F. of Iowa City, also a member of the A.O.U.W. and Legion of Honor. Strawder Devault, farmer, post-office, Solon; was born in Ross County, OH, February 4, 1818. When about eight years of age, his parents moved to the northern part of OH, where they lived eight years, then removed to Indiana. In 1839, the subject of our sketch emigrated to Iowa and settled in Johnson County, and bought a claim where he now resides, paying seventy dollars therefore. In the spring of 1850 he went to CA, and returned in 1851; with that exception he has always remained in this county. He now owns 750 acres of land, and is one of the most wealthy men in the northern part of the county. He was married in July, 1848, to Hannah Stiles a native of New York State, daughter of Warren Stiles, who came to this county in 1837; she dying June 12, 1881. They had six children: Jasper N., Stephen A., Ellen, LaFayette, Seneth and David. S. J. Devoe, farmer, Lone Tree; was born in Cortland County, NY, Feb. 5, 1821. His father moved to Onondaga County when he was seven years of age, where the subject of our sketch spent his early life and got a common school education. He came to Iowa City January 1, 1856, on the first train that came into the city on the C.R.I. & P.R.R. The following spring he came to Fremont township, where he bought 160 acres of land, where he now lives and at present owns 240 acres, all well improved, and has a fine home. He was married June 26, 1845, to Elvira Williams, a native of NY; she dying September 14, 1860. He was again married, September 4, 1861, to Mrs. Margaret Lutz (formerly Huskins), daughter of Richard Huskins, of Lone Tree; she coming to this county in 1856, from PA. There were five children by the first marriage, four still living: Allen S., Sarah L., now Mrs. Wm. Draubaugh, Ellen E., now Mrs. Z. T. Baker, Flora E. and Mosier J., deceased; and by the second marriage they have had eight children, five now living: Richard H., Elizabeth E., George A., Charlotte H. and Maggie M., and Mary A., Juliette R. and an infant, deceased. Mrs. Devoe first married Dr. John Lutz, a native of PA, July 9, 1851; he dying April 22, 1858, leaving four children: James C., now deceased; Georgiana, William F. and John. Mr. Devoe and family are members of the Reform Church. Joseph Dickenson, farmer and stock-raiser, Graham township; son of Joseph and Anna Dickenson, deceased; was born in 1860 in Johnson County. He was married, July 4, 1881, to Miss Amelia Wentz, daughter of Paul Wentz, of Johnson County, IA. They have one child, a boy, named Joseph. John Dilatush, farmer and stock-raiser, post-office, Downey, Cedar County; was born November 28, 1828, in Essex County, NJ; went to Ohio in 1838, and lived in Warren County until 1859, and then came to Johnson County and settled in Pleasant Valley in the fall of that year, now Lincoln township, and has resided there ever since. He was married November 30, 1853 to Miss Rachel Hunt, of Harveysburg, OH, Warren County. They have but one child, an only daughter, Mary F., wife of James S. Watson. He makes a specialty of Jersey cattle and fine horses, roadsters; he is the owner of the celebrated stallion Marshal Ney, record, 2:35. He is a Republican in politics; has held the office of justice of the peace for sixteen years; was member of the board of supervisors for Johnson County for seven years, and was the Republican candidate for Representative in 1881, but was defeated by a small majority. Mr. D. is one of the Johnson County successful farmers. L. B. Dille, farmer and stock-raiser, Scott township, in section 22; post-office, Iowa City ; was born February 26, 1821, in Cuyahoga County, OH. At 21 years of age he began the practice of dentistry, which he followed 22 years. In 1846 he moved to Kent County, MI, remaining there 10 years, and returned to his native state; he came to Johnson County in 1868. He was married in OH in 1846 to Miss Rohannah White, of Erie County NY. Their family consists of four children: Ell, wife of James K. Serney, of Clinton, IA, and Eva are living, and Hudson and Darwin are dead. Mr. Dille has been a member of the Christain Church for 41 years; was justice of the peace in Michigan for four years, and held the office of trustee in that State. D. M. Dixon, farmer, Graham township; residing in section 35, post-office, Oasis; was born in Butler County, PA, August 7, 1829; settled in Johnson County, IA, October 9, 1852. He was married April 13, 1854, to Miss Mary Douglass. This union has been blessed by two children: Naomi, wife of John T. Stevenson, of Atlantic, IA and Miss Belle. He is a republican in politics, and a member of the Presbyterian Church at Fairview ; has been superintendent of the Sunday School fifteen years; he has been school director nearly ever since he has been in Graham township, township trustee and justice of the peace for four years. He is one of Graham township's successful farmers, and a highly respected citizen. J. Dondore, a resident of Iowa City; was born October 11, 1830, in Berks County, PA; came to Iowa City in 1856; he is a blacksmith by trade, and opened a shop when he first settled in Iowa City, and now has a wagon, carriage and repair shop in connection, with his blacksmith shop on the corner of College ad Dubuque Streets. He was married September 16, 1859 to Miss Dorotha Landry, of Iowa City ; she died in June, 1874. They had two children: Frank and Clinton. He is a member of the M. E. Church of Iowa City; a member of No. 6. I.O.O.F. and V.A.S., of Iowa City. He was married in June, 1875 to Miss Julia Hetzel, of Windam, Hardin township; he is a republican in politics. George W. Dodder, a resident of Iowa City ; was born May 11, 1815, in Sussex county, NJ. He was married March 18, 1837, to Miss Effie J. Predmore, of Stillwater, NJ. He settled in Iowa City, July 14, 1855 ; and filled the office of justice of the peace for seventeen years, and has been in the insurance business twenty-one years. On the 8 th day of June 1869, was duly empaneled on the jury of colored citizens in the United States, and the justice says they did equal and exact justice to the plaintiff and defendant, both of whom were “American Citizens of African descent”; he is democrat in politics and was elected justice of the peace again in 1882. Michael Donohoe, farmer and stock-raiser; residing on section one in Graham township, post-office, Morse; was born 1833, in Ireland, a son of James and Mary Donohoe; came to America in 1853, landed in New Orleans; went to Ohio, and from there to Illinois, and finally in the fall of 1854 settled in Clear Creek township, Johnson county, IA; lived there three years and moved to Iowa City, and in 1859 settled in Graham township. He was married in 1856 to Miss Ellen Peters, of Iowa City. This union is blessed with ten children: two boys, and eight girls. The family are members of the St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church. He is a democrat in politics. Patrick Donohoe, farmer and stock-raiser, residing in Graham township, on section 1, post-office address Morse; was born in March 1825 in Ireland; came to America in 1849, and landed in Mobile, Alabama, and lived a short time in New Orleans; moved to Ohio in 1850; remained there nine months, and moved to Warren county IL; lived there until 1852, and that year settled in Iowa City, and made that his home until 1855, and finally settled in Graham township. He was married in 1855, to Miss Catherine Peters of Johnson County IA. They have four children, three boys and one girl. The family are members of the St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church. He is a democrat in politics. Patrick O. Donavan, farmer and stock-raiser residing in Graham township, post-office address Morse; was born in County Cork, Ireland, in 1827 and came to New York in 1852; lived there two years, and came to Iowa City; lived there ten years, and then came to Graham township. He was married in Iowa City in 1853 to Miss Ellen Maher. They have eight children. Mr. and Mrs. Donavan are members of the Catholic Church. Ebenezer Douglass submitted by Dick Barton In the last of May, 1839, Ebenezer Douglass, wife and family from Ohio, settled on a claim adjoining this township line on the west, now constituting the farm owned by Hezekiah Hamilton, whose wife is a daughter of Ebenezer Douglass. Mr. Douglass died............18, and was buried in Tiffin cemetery. His wife, "aunt Sarah," as she is affectionately called by the neighbors, many of whom have known and loved her during her sojourn of forty-three years in this vicinity, is still living in an honored old age, making her home with her son, J. M. Douglass and family. J. M. Douglass, a farmer residing near Tiffin, and the senior member of the firm of Douglass & Plymesser, grain merchants and agricultural dealers at Tiffin; was born November 12, 1834, in Richland county, Ohio; came to Iowa in 1839. He was married march 18, 1856, to Miss Susan B. Frazee of Johnson county, Iowa. They have eight children: Rosie, wife of L. T. Nipher; Edward E., J. William, Jesse B., Myra, Burton, Clinton A., and Addie. A greenbacker in politics; was formerly a republican, and was elected assessor on the greenback ticket; has been justice of the peace, and trustee of Clear Creek township. He is one of the enterprising men of Clear Creek township. James H. Douglass, farmer, section 26, post-office, Oxford; was born in this township February 5, 1841, and is a son of James Douglass, the first settler in what is now Oxford township. His father died in 1854. He staid at home and assisted his mother in the hotel, as his father had kept public house for several years in section 24. In January, 1856, he enlisted in company F, Twenty-second Iowa, and since the war has been engaged in the carpenter trade, furniture business and farming, and owns 100 acres of land. He was married October 15, 1866, to Mary Rose, a native of New York city, and a daughter of Bernard Rose, a German, who was bandmaster of the fifth New York regiment in the Mexican war, and took his family, which consisted of wife and daughter Mary, with him, Mary then being only two years of age. She was with her father five years in the army. After the war they went back to New York, and came to Johnson county in 1857. Mr. Rose died in 1869. Mr. and Mrs. Douglass have six children: Charlie L., Rosa A., Albert B., Mary A., John S., and William M. James Douglass came from Ohio in 1839; settled in Oxford township, just west of the township line, where he resided until he died, and was buried in Tiffin cemetery. His wife survived him a number of years, living on the same farm till a short time before her death. She moved to Oxford, where she died, and was buried beside her husband in Tiffin cemetery. William A. Douglass, farmer, post-office, Oxford; was born in this township August 10, 1847; is a son of James and Fannie Douglass. He has followed farming and the carpenter trade. He was married December 25, 1866, to Mary E. Brenneman. They had two children: Mary E. and Fannie. He was again married to Margaret House January 7, 1878. They have one child, Mary, born October 7, 1881. He is now living on the old Douglass homestead, the first settled farm in the township. Mary W. Drake submitted by Darrell Manrique David Draubaugh, farmer, post-office, Lone Tree; was born in Cumberland County, PA, May 30, 1818, where he spent his early life and worked on a farm, and in his father's distillery until 1852, when he came to Johnson County, and settled where he now lives and owns 195 acres of land. He has been twice married; first to Eliza Steel, May 15, 1840 she dying March 1, 1871, leaving six children: Armstrong, Theophilas, Melinda, Emaline, Albert T. and Ellsworth. He was again married November 20, 1873 to Sarah A. Michael, a native of Mifflin County, PA. They have two children: Minne M. and Annie J. V. Michael Duffy, the subject of this sketch, was born in Ireland in 1810; came to America and to Iowa City in March, 1840. He was married June 14, 1841, to Miss Helen Burns. They raised a large family of children, and he lived to see them all matured and well settled in life and able to take care of themselves. He died in March, 1882, on his old homestead in section 35, township 79, universally respected by all who came in contact with the influence of his good natured ways. He made his claim on Old Man's creek, in the Ricord settlement in 1843. He often spoke of possessing the honor of having worked on the foundation of the old capitol building, and the great pride he felt in being the man selected to throw the first shovel of dirt in breading ground for the foundation. Frank Dunkel, a resident of Iowa City ; born August 8, 1854, in Iowa City. He was married April 11, 1876 ; has two children: Charlie, born October 8, 1877 ; Frankie, born April 11, 1878. His father is still living at the ripe old age of seventy-three; his mother died in Iowa City in 1855. Kasper Dunkel, a resident of Iowa City ; was born September 18, 1809 in Bavaria Germany. Came to America in July 1836, landed in New York ; finally settled in Iowa City in July 1840. He was married in September 1837 in Boston to Miss Mary A Alnier. She died of cholera in Iowa City in August 1855. They had three children; William J., Henry and Frank. The family are members of the St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church of Iowa City. He was one of the original members of this church, and is the oldest member living of the original members. William J. Dunkel, a resident of Iowa City ; and a merchant, doing business on Linn Street near the St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church; was born October 9, 1840 in Iowa City, and was the first male child born in Iowa City. He was married April 6, 1875 to Miss Rosa Lutter, of Richmond Iowa. They have three children living: Eugene W., George K., and Willie B. The family are members of the St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church of Iowa City. He was the first child baptized in Iowa City by this church. He is a democrat in politics. R. L. Dunlap, a resident of Iowa City, and dealer in all kinds of heavy farm machinery, threshing machines and agricultural implements; was born June 6, 1823 in Cherry Valley, NY; came to Iowa City in 1858; bought grain a short time, and then engaged in his present business in 1863; office on Washington Street, near the new city hall. He was married June 15, 1847, to Miss Alma L. Willey. She died December 5, 1858. They had two children, Fanny H., wife of M. A. Lumbard, of Des Moines, IA ; Meracus F., married and lives at O'Falan, MO. He was married April 23, 1866, to Mrs. Orlando S. Cole of Iowa City. They have two children: Robert O. and Ralph L. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, of Iowa City. A Republican in politics. He has the agency of many valuable inventions, and his ware-rooms contain a large assortment of agricultural implements and farm machinery. He is recognized as one of the substantial business men of Iowa City. Edward Dupont, son of Henry F. Dupont, one of the early settlers of Monroe township, was born July 8, 1861 at the old homestead in Monroe township. His father received injuries from his team running away about a year before he died. His system received a severe shock, and he died July 2, 1874. His mother is still living in Kansas. This young man is a student in Iowa City. His father had accumulated a fine fortune, and left it unimpaired to his children. Mr. Dupont is a democrat in politics, and an industrious young man of good habits. Jacob Durst, a farmer, residing in Sharon township; was born May 20, 1827, in Bavaria; came to America in 1855; landed in New York City, and came to Johnson County and settled in Sharon township in May of the same year. He was married Jan. 19, 1858 to Miss Catharine Stahl, of Bavaria. They have five children: Barbara, wife of Abraham Deckendar; Lena, Charlie, Jacob C. and Henry. He is a democrat in politics, and is one of the trustees of Sharon township at present, and has been for five years. He has made a specialty of raising amber cane and making syrup; made 500 gallons from his own raising, and cooked for others 1,200 gallons in 1882; he has been in the business twelve years, and has made a success of it; he has a fine farm and plenty of good stock; has an orchard of about three acres, and for seventeen years has never failed to raise all the apples he needed and more every year. The large orchard is of young trees, part beginning to bear.
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