William Davisson

As printed in 1881

WILLIAM DAVISSON, retired farmer; P. O. South Charleston; one of the respected pioneers who are still living in Madison Township, is the man whose name heads this sketch. He is so well-known throughout this vicinity that his name is familiar to all, and his life has been of that energetic sort that was characteristic of the first settlers who have contributed the best years of their lives to the development of this country. His parents, Isaac and Sarah Davisson, were natives of Virginia, he being born May 9, 1790, and his wife, Oct. 18 in the same year; they came to Ohio at an early day, locating on “Todd’s Fork," in Warren Co., where they were married Oct. 4, 1808. About 1810, they came to what is now Madison Township, Clark Co., and entered a quarter-section of land north of the Little Miami River, on which they settled; and here they suffered the privations and hardships incident to pioneer life, Indians being numerous and troublesome at that time. To Isaac and Sarah Davisson were born fourteen children, viz., William, Obediah, Lemuel, Mary, Elizabeth, Daniel, Nancy, Lucinda, Sarah I., Margaret, Julianna, Maria, James G. and Daniel D., all growing to maturity except Daniel and Sarah I., and seven of whom are still living. Isaac Davisson and wife were energetic, economical people, who, by dint of hard labor, coupled with frugality, converted the forest into well-cultivated fields, and added much to their possessions. He was a soldier in the war of 1812, and was identified with the principal township officers, although never seeking preferment. He was a prominent member of the M. E. Church, and for many years his house was the regular place for preaching. He died full of honors, Aug. 29, 1851. His widow is still living, and although her 90th birthday was celebrated by her children and friends, on 18th of last October, she yet enjoys good health, and frequently walks a half-mile to church, from her son's home, with whom she resides, into South Charleston. “Aunt Sallie,” as she is familiarly known, has been for many years an earnest worker in the M. E. Church, and her ardent zeal is yet unabated; known far and wide for her simple, unaffected piety, her good offices have been constantly sought, and she is looked up to as “a mother in the house of Israel.” May her life and character, as a striking example of motherly love, be imitated and followed by the budding womanhood of this and future generations. The subject of this sketch was the eldest in the family, and was born in Warren Co., Ohio, Sept. 15, 1809, and was reared a farmer. He was married March 8, 1832, to Emmerine Adams, daughter of Eliand Elizabeth (Beaks) Adams, he a native of Maryland, and she of Virginia. Mrs. Davisson was born in Greene Co., Ohio, May 12, 1813; and three children are the fruits of this union, viz., James Cu Sarah E. and Eli A., all of whom are living. Mr. Davisson, although retired from active farm life, is yet in partnership with his son in the stock business, the latter having charge of the farm. Politically, a *dyed-in-the-wool " Republican, he was a firm opholder of the rebellion, and, for forty years, he and his wife have been members of the M. E. Church, and every public measure found in him a hearty supporter. He is one of the oldest settlers living to-day in his township, and is honest and upright in all his affairs, and is trusted and respected by aii who know him.

DAVID W. DeLAY, Principal of the South Charleston Union Schools. The subject of this sketch was born April 12, 1835, about one mile east of the town of Jackton, the county seat of Jackson County, and when about five years old, his father moved into the village where he resided one or two years, and from thence the family moved onto a farm about six miles from Jackson, on the road leading to McArthur, Ohio. His father's name was James. the eldest son of the Rev. Jacob DeLay, who was extensively known as one of the early pioneer preachers of the M. E. Church, and who was remarkable for great decision of character, as well as for his forcible and positive manner of preaching the Gospel. He was the father of eleven sons and one daughter, and as Methodist preachers were not generally noted for their abundant wealth of this world’s goods, James, the father of D. W., received but little as his share of the estate, and, as a consequence, was not able to give his children the best advantages of a good education. David was the fourth in a family of six children; his mother was an excellently good and hopeful woman, who made the impress of her own character upon those of her children, when they were very young, and to her early pious training, they all, no doubt, owe much of whatever success they may have had in life; for if any one is destitute of a moral training, he can lay claim to but little of success in life. While living on the farm before referred to, and on another farm to which his father afterward moved, in the same vicinity, he received his first rudiments of an education while availing himself of the advantages offered by the district school; these advantages were meager indeed—far inferior to those enjoyed by the youth of these later days. The old log schoolhouse, which all have so often heard described and read about, was the kind in which he received his first schooling. The length of the term was generally from three to four months in the winter season, taught by male teachers, who usually received about $15 per month; though these advantages were poor, they were sufficient to create a desire for something higher in the way of an education. In early life, he was particularly fond of reading biographies of great and good men; these had a good influence, and created in him an ambition to arise to something honorable, and at the same time to do good in the world. At the age of twenty, having acquired a little money by his own exertions, he entered the preparatory department of the Ohio University, at Athens, Ohio; this department was at that time taught by Prof. W. H. Young, a very excellent teacher; Dr. Solomon Howard was President of the college, supported by an able corps of teachers; here Mr. DeLay continued to prosecute a course of study, occasionally dropping out to teach a district school, to recruit his finances; at one time while in college, a vacancy occurred in the principalship of the Ewington Academy, in Gallia County, Ohio, and application was made to the Vice President of the college to send them a suitable man to take charge of this institution; Mr. DeLay was recommended and employed; here he taught for a number of terms very successfully. In June, 1863, he assisted in recruiting a company for the ist Ohio Heavy Artillery, and entered that regiment as a Second Lieutenant in August of that year; a few months later, he was appointed as Aid-de-Camp and Quartermaster on the staff of Gen. Jacob Ammen, who was commanding the 4th Division, 23d Army Corps, with headquarters at Knoxville, Tenn., with whom he served till the spring of 1865, when, Gen. Ammen resiening, Mr. DeLay returned to his regiment and remained with it till mustered out at the close of the war. On June 3, 1862, about one year before entering the army, he was married to Miss Cynthia Rowley, whose parents lived at Porter, Gallia Co., Ohio. Immediately on arriving at home after the close of the war, his services were sought in a high school near Gallipolis, Ohio, where he taught successfully several terms; but a vacancy occur ring in the principalship of the Ewington Academy. where he taught before the war, the Trustees again applied to him to take charge of this institution: he accepted the position, and taught here another year. during this vear. the attendance was unusually good. and the school flourished as it had not done for many years, at the close of this year, Mr. DeLay was elected to the principalship of the South Charleston Union School; he took charge of this school in September, 1869. as Principal and Teacher of the High School, which petition he has filled until the present time, being now engaged in his twelfth year. I: should have been said before. that at the close of the war, Mr. DeLay sought and obtained the privilege of finishing his course of study in the Ohio University, at Athens, Ohio, which he did, passing the required examinations and graduating with the class of 1868, receiving the degree of A. B. and the degree of A. M. four years afterward; he also holds a State certificate, which was granted him after a thorough examination by John Hancock, A. J. Rickoff and T. C. Mendenhall, whose names his certificate bears. He is still, as he always has been, a diligent student, constantly seeking to give his pupils all the benefit of diligent research, and the thorough preparation which he makes previous to hearing his classes recite. Since his connection with the schools of South Charleston, forty-one pupils have graduated from the High School; of this number several have engaged in teaching, generally with good success; several of these have, from time to time, been employed in our public schools; a number of the young men have gone to college and finished a classical course, after graduating in the High School. Mr. DeLay is now in the prime of life, and bids fair to do good work for many years to come.

As printed in The History of Clark County Ohio, (1881). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.