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Clair County MO Homepage
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St. Clair County Missouri Biographies
SECTION D
DANIEL, Franz
Powell
source: 1883 History
of St. Clair County MO, National Historical Co., pg: 1079
--- FRANZ POWELL DANIEL, harness and saddle manufacturer, was born in Poland,
Prussia, February 19, 1836, his parents being John and Hannah W. Daniel. He
learned the harness trade, commencing when fourteen years of age, and in
October, 1857, he enlisted in the German army, in the cavalry service, and was
detailed as saddlemaker of the regiment. June 28, 1866, he emigrated to
America, and settled in Chicago, Illinois, where he worked at his trade. He
came to Osceola, Missouri, December 28, 1868, and in April of the next year he
opened a harness shop, and is now proprietor of the oldest establishment in
town, and he is having a prosperous trade. Mr. Daniel married Miss Antonia
Dierfield, of Germany, in January, 1863. She died in Chicago June, 1867,
leaving one son, Powell. His second wife was Bertha Dierfield (sister of his
first wife). By this marriage they have four children: George, Agatha, Tell and
Anna. Mr. D., politically, is a Democrat, and he is also a member of the A. O.
U. W. and Masonic fraternity.
DAVIDSON, A. C.
source: 1883 History
of St. Clair County MO, National Historical Co., pg: 1213
--- DR. A. C. DAVIDSON, a prominent physician and surgeon at Taberville. His
father, Alfred Davidson, was a native of Kentucky, as was also his mother,
whose maiden name was Mary J. Adams. A. C. was born in Warren County, Kentucky,
October 22, 1848. In August, 1857, he moved with his parents to Shawnee County,
Kansas, where they located on a farm and lived till the fall of 1865. Coming to
Missouri they settled in Hickory County, and in 1874 our subject located in
Taberville. In 1878 he began the study of medicine under Dr. J. H. Newman, and
in 1874 commenced his practice, and has since been very successful. He was also
engaged in the drug business from 1874 till September 28, 1882, when his store
was burned. Since living in this county he has been county coroner several
terms. Dr. Davidson was married November 12, 1876, to Miss Ida L. Baker, who
was born in Cooper County. Missouri, March 18, 1861. She died August 19, 1880.
He was married again April 9, 1882, to Miss Rosa Ayers, a native of Saline
County, Missouri, born August 19, 1862. The doctor is a member of the Masonic
fraternity and of the I. O. O. F.
DAVIS, Morris
S.
source: 1883 History
of St. Clair County MO, National Historical Co., pg: 1106
--- MORRIS S. DAVIS was born in Yates County, New York, January 16, 1816. His
father, Malachi Davis, was a native of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and his
mother, formerly Catherine Kress, was born in the same state. They reared eight
children, Morris being the second. When he was eight years old the family
removed to Allegany County, New York, where he grew up, and from his fifteenth
year he was engaged at the trade of cabinet maker, which he continued three
years. For the following three years he worked at the millwright trade, and
then gave his attention to carpentering and farming till 1869. Moving to Bates
County, Missouri, remained till October, 1870, then coming to Appleton City,
where he embarked in the hardware business, opening the first store of the kind
in this city. He received the first bill of goods which entered the place,
obtaining them before the town was named. After two years of mercantile life he
disposed of his stock. In 1872 he was appointed justice of the peace, and in
1873 was elected to the same position, and served by re-election nine years.
During that time he was a notary public and still holds this position. He is
now a member of the city council. Mr. Davis was married June 16, 1839, to Miss
Hester Ketchum, of Allegany County, New York. They have three children: Freeman
I., Latanius M. and Lavina M., the latter two being twins.
DAVIS, S. G.
source: 1883 History
of St. Clair County MO, National Historical Co., pg: 1207
--- S. G. DAVIS, farmer and plasterer, section 16, was born in Cole County,
Missouri, July 20, 1842, and is a son of Peter E. and Catherine (McKinsey)
Davis who were natives of Kentucky. The subject of this sketch was reared to
the occupation of farming and the trade of plastering, which his father also
followed. In 1859 they moved to Benton County, Missouri, where S. G. followed
his present business till 1875. He then went to Polk County, Missouri, and one
year later came to St. Clair County, where he has since resided. He now has a
farm of 160 acres. February 1, 1860, Mr. Davis was married to Miss Eliza J.
Bowman, who was born in Benton County, Missouri, September 16, 1843. She died
June 19, 1881, leaving six children: Eugenia, Peter, Jasper, Charley, Ella M.
and Preston. Mr. D. is a member of the Missionary Baptist Church.
DAWSON, John
source: 1883 History
of St. Clair County MO, National Historical Co., pg: 1190
--- JOHN DAWSON, owes his nativity to Patrick County, Virginia, where he was
born March 30, 1822. His father, Elijah Dawson, originally from Maryland, married
Miss Henrietta Coble, of North Carolina, and a niece of the Hon. Howell Coble,
of Georgia. They came to Missouri in 1832, and settled in Crawford County. They
reared a family of seven children, of whom John was the third in number. His
education was obtained at home and he taught school and also clerked in a store
for several years, coming to this county in 1848. He afterwards taught at
Pierce City for eight months. Mr. D. early made claims of land lying on
Weaubleau Creek, and after improving it sold the property and bought elsewhere,
and in this he was very successful. Finally selling out he came to Roscoe and
engaged in clerking. In 1861 he enlisted in the six months' service under
Captain J, J. Tulley's Twenty-seventh Missouri Mounted Infantry, and on
December 18, 1861, he entered Company A, Eighth Regiment, Missouri State
Militia Cavalry, Captain David Stockton, commanding. On May 7, 1863, he was
honorably discharged to accept the appointment of county clerk for St. Clair
County, and this position he held for one year, then resigning. In November,
1864, he was appointed county treasurer, and served as such by appointment and
re-election for six years. During his official term he was also occupied in
selling goods, having the office of treasurer in his store. Purchasing a farm
he still continued business in the city, but in 1876 moved upon this place,
which is in section 3, containing 350 acres of excellent land. Mr. Dawson was
married December 22, 1848, to Miss Edna Cole, of this county, who died October
11, 1866, leaving one child, Henrietta Ruth, now the wife of W. O. Mead. His
second wife was Miss Narcissus E. Devin, to whom he was married February 24,
1867. Her father was Judge W. R. Devin, of Polk County, Virginia, and also of
Tennessee. There is one child living by this marriage, Vista Lucetta, born
January 4, 1872. One son, Thomas W. died August 26, 1871. This wife died August
30, 1874. Mr. D. was married the third time May 17, 1875, to Mary Ann Josephine
George, of Polk County. Politically he is a Republican. He is a member of the
Masonic fraternity. In all positions of life, Mr. Dawson has proven himself a
competent and honest man, both in and out of official positions.
DELOZIER, James
Madison
source: 1883 History
of St. Clair County MO, National Historical Co., pg: 1168
--- JAMES MADISON DELOZIER owes his nativity to South Carolina, where he was
born in 1813. Edward H. Delozier, his father, born in Maryland in 1779, was
married in 1812 to Miss Frances Dyre, a Virginian by birth, who was born in
1784. James M. Delozier is recognized as being one of the earliest settlers of
this county, having come here while it was in its unimproved state, and after
years of toil and privations, encountering many difficulties, has succeeded in
securing a landed estate of 140 acres on King's Prairie, situated out of the
line of bluffs bordering Weaubleau Creek. In 1847 he was married to Melissa
Jane Todd, daughter of John B. Todd, of this county. They have had fourteen
children: George W., Joseph J., Mary C., James E., William J., Martha J.,
Rebecca F., John A., Francis M., Henry, Robert, John W., Margaret and Lucy A.
Politically, he is a Republican of the strongest type. During the late war he
served in the Eighth Missouri under Colonel McClurg.
DISNEY, Charles
C.
source: 1883 History
of St. Clair County MO, National Historical Co., pg: 1130
--- CHARLES C. DISNEY, a prominent contractor and builder at Johnson City, was
born in Anderson County, Tennessee, November 3, 1851, and is a son of Judge
Elias and Tabitha (Lovely) Disney, also natives of Tennessee. In 1856 the
family moved to Missouri and located in Gasconade County, where they resided
about two years, coming thence to St. Clair County in the spring of 1859. Elias
Disney has since been elected and served as county. He was also a lieutenant of
a militia company during the late war. Charles C. was the third child of a
family of three sons and one daughter. He spent his youth on a farm and
received a good education in the English branches, and after completing his
studies he engaged in teaching in the public schools, and now ranks as one of
the best instructors in the county. He has taught the last three years in
Johnson City. He has also learned the carpenter's trade, and when not occupied
in teaching follows the business of contractor and builder. He has worked at
this during the summer seasons for the last four years. Mr. Disney was married
December 22, 1872, to Miss Macy Herndon, of Ozark County, Missouri, and a
daughter of Henry W. and Martha A. C. Herndon. They have four children: Walter
Eugene, Estella Rose, Elva Eveline and Edgar E. They lost one child, Minnie
Belle, who died in February, 1879.
DITTY, Abram C.
source: 1883 History
of St. Clair County MO, National Historical Co., pg: 1107
--- ABRAM C. DITTY, section 26. One of the oldest settlers of St. Clair County,
is he whose name heads this sketch. Mr. Ditty has lived in this county nearly
half a century, having been brought here in 1838, when but one year old. He was
born in the adjoining county of Henry on November 3, 1837, his father
subsequently settling on the farm, upon which the son now lives. The senior
Ditty dying in 1847, the remainder of the family returned to Tennessee, where
Abram lived with his grandfather until sixteen years old, when he again came to
St. Clair County. In 1862 he served a short time in Company E, Sixteenth
Regiment, and in 1864 in Company A, Wood's Battalion of Price's army, and was
with the forces at the surrender at Shreveport in May, 1865. Spending a few
months in Saline County, he then came back to St. Clair in August of the same
year, and on the 22d of the following February was married to Miss Fannie
Yonce, daughter of Andrew Yonce. She was born in St. Clair County October 11,
1840. Seven children have been born to them: William F., Robert E., James M.,
Ollie N., Charles A., Wade H. and Edna E. Mr. Ditty's farm contains 140 acres,
well improved, upon which, at a cost of several hundred dollars, he has built a
commodious house. He is prominent in the educational matters of this district.
DITTY, James
source: 1883 History
of St. Clair County MO, National Historical Co., pg: 1107
--- JAMES DITTY, section 35. Prominent among the pioneer settlers of this
county is James Ditty, who was born June 27, 1817, in Wythe County, West
Virginia. His parents were Abraham and Jennie (Ferguson) Ditty and while he was
yet in his infancy they removed to Tennessee and settled in what is now Putnam
County. In 1839 James Ditty came to St. Clair County and settled where he now
resides. He has been married three times, first to Miss Charlotte Fergus,
December 8, 1842. She died in the following November and April 14, 1850, he
married Miss Elizabeth Burke, who died October 26. 1862, leaving four children:
John B., Samuel H., Frances J. and James A. His present wife was Miss Susan
Sproul, a native of Missouri. They were married November 5, 1864, and have five
children: Francis R., Pike M., Dilly A., Nora and Elizabeth. Mr. Ditty has a
farm of 335 acres, 300 of which are well improved. He is one of the leading
farmers of his section of the county and has done much in developing the
interests of St. Clair County.
DODGE, Josiah
source: 1883 History
of St. Clair County MO, National Historical Co., pg: 1108
--- JOSIAH DODGE was born in Washington County, Tennessee, November 19 1827. He
was there reared till seventeen years of age, when he settled in Pulaski
County, Missouri, engaging in farming. In 1846 he enlisted in the Mexican war
under Captain Stein at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, and served in Company D. First
Dragoons of Kentucky, till September 28, 1848. During his service he was
wounded with a lance in the thigh, and at Tucker's Bayou was thrown from his
horse, which disabled him for some time. In 1848 he returned to Pulaski County,
Missouri, where he remained till 1850. Emigrating to California, he mined and
dealt in stock till September, 1879, when he came to St. Clair County,
Missouri. He has a fine farm of 200 acres under cultivation. Mr. Dodge was
married September 8, 1853, to Miss Lucy Willoughby. They had six children, four
of whom are living: Ellen, Charles, Jefferson and William. Mrs. Dodge's death
occurred in January, 1863. He was again married January 18, 1864, to Miss
Margaret Underwood, of Jackson County, Missouri. They had one child, Josiah B.
His second wife died in August, 1866, and he was subsequently married to
Elizabeth Eames September 28, 1868. His present wife was formerly Betty Kirby,
a native of Tennessee. They have had five children: Kirby, Lydia, Lucy, Jeriel
and Jessie.
DOOLEY, William
Henry
source: 1883 History
of St. Clair County MO, National Historical Co., pg: 1207
--- WILLIAM HENRY DOOLEY, farmer and stock raiser, is the owner of 120 acres of
land on section 20. He was born in Polk County, Missouri, in January, 1838, being
a son of Henry E. Dooley, of Georgia, who was born in 1800. His mother's maiden
name was Jane Cornelius, of South Carolina. They came to Missouri in 1830, and
settled in Greene County, near Springfield, arriving here before the Indian
title became extinct. They were forced to return to the eastern part of the
state, remaining there until 1832, when they again came back and once more
located near Springfield. In 1836 he moved to Polk County and settled in
Bolivar, building the first house, which was afterwards used for a court house
for some years. In 1843 they went into Greene Township, Hickory County, where
Mr. D. bought several hundred acres of land and made extensive improvements. He
died in 1849. Mrs. Dooly is yet living in Hickory County, and is eighty-six
years old. They had seven children, of whom Wm. H. was the youngest. He resided
with the family in Hickory County until 1873, when he purchased a farm in
Speedwell Township, where he now resides. He married Amanda E. Nance in 1869.
She was the daughter of Saunders Nance, who came here in 1835, from Virginia.
They have five children: John L., Leanna, Azalin, Henry Emmet, and Ezra.
DOWERS, Newton
source: 1883 History
of St. Clair County MO, National Historical Co., pg: 1180
--- NEWTON DOWERS, section 17, was born in Ripley County, Indiana, December 29,
1843, his parents being Alexander and Kisiah (Lacock) Dowers, natives of
Indiana. Newton was reared in his native county, and was there educated in the
common schools. About the year 1861 he went to Edgar County, Illinois, where he
was employed in farming until 1878. Then he came to St. Clair County, Missouri.
He owns a farm of eighty acres. Mr. D. is a member of the M. E. Church, and
also belongs to the I. O. O. F. order. December 22, 1864, he married Miss
Caroline Gilkey, a native of Illinois. She died February 13, 1878, leaving five
children: Allen A., John O., Erie A., Emma and Ira B. August 21, 1879, he was
again married to Mrs. Katie Penrodd, of Texas. They have three children: George
W., Nellie and Charles W.
DUDLEY, William
source: 1883 History
of St. Clair County MO, National Historical Co., pg: 1191
--- WILLIAM DUDLEY, a native of Lancaster County, Virginia, was born February
2, 1811, being the son of Landron and Mary Dudley, nee Rivier, also Virginians
by birth, and the former served in the war of 1812, and was killed in service.
They had six children, three of whom are living, two sons and one daughter.
Mrs. D. died in 1813 in Virginia. Leaving the state of his birth at the age of
eighteen years, William Dudley moved to Lincoln County, Missouri, purchased
eighty acres of land and remained upon it for one year. In 1833 he married Miss
Almeda Jemmerson, of Lincoln County, who died there, leaving one son, David L.
He died during the late war. His second marriage occurred to Miss Nancy
Stevens, also of Lincoln County. To them were born three sons and two daughters
of whom only Almeda (wife of William J. Horn of this township) and Mary A.
(wife of Samuel J. Hurst, of Cedar County) are living. In 1848, Mr. Dudley came
to St. Clair County and has since lived in Doyal Township. He first purchased a
half section of land and in 1861 owned 1,000 acres, but after dividing much
among his children only has now 440 acres. He deals quite extensively in cattle
and other stock and his farm is among the best in the township. Mr. D. was one
of the constituent members of the Christian Church at Pleasant Hill, this
county, and has been connected with the Christian Church for half a century.
His wife and three daughters belong to the same church. In his political views
he is a Greenbacker.