Page:History of Richland County, Ohio.djvu/712

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��BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:

��active member, he was a firm believer in the Christian religion, a faithful and rigid observer of the Sabbath Day, and a careful and constant reader of the Scriptures; and, possessing a wonderfully retentive memory, its great and grand truths were treasured up in his mind, and often adverted to, to the edification of his family and friends. His mind dwelt much during the later months of his life on the uncertainty of earthly exist- ence ; and, upon his dying bed, although cut down by a malignant and ruthless disease, and although his mind often wandered, yet in his lucid intervals, his conversation showed to those who watched by his bed- side that his thoughts were at such times fixed upon im- mortal things. In one of those moments, while reason for a short space returned to her throne, he seemed much moved, and spoke of going home: and when asked if he meant Heaven, he replied, "Yes," and at another time he requested that a hymn be sung. He bore his sufferings with patience and resignation; not a word of complaint or murmuring escaped his lips during the progress of his fell disease. His mother, Eleanor Day, came from her home in Indiana to attend the funeral of the first-born of her twelve children ; she and her twin sister, who is also living, lack only seven years of being a century old; (heir descendants number 250; their maiden name was Thomas ; they are full sisters of the father of Gen. Thomas. Mrs. Eleanor Day was the mother of twelve children, eleven of whom attained to manhood and womanhood, and nine of them are still living, being Marcus, Clemens and Cyrus Day, of this county; Harrison Day, of DeKalb' Co., 111.; Mrs. Hon. Robert M. Lockhart and Mrs. Louisa Ensley, of De Kalb Co., Ind.; Mrs. Hon. .lohn Young and Mrs. Jacob Henry, of Sauk Co, Wis., and Mrs. Joshua Martin, of Barry Co., Mich. The old lady is still in the enjoy- ment of all her faculties unimpaired ; but says that " This world has no charms for her," and she is only waiting to be called up higher, and receive the reward of a well spent life.

DeCAMP, MOSES (deceased); was born in Washing- ton Co., Penn.,Oct. 10, 1816, and was of French Prot- estant descent. The American family from whom he sprung were among the earliest settlers of New Jersey ; some of the descendants afterward settled in Western Pennsylvania. In the fall of 1827, his father moved with his family into Ohio and located in Morrow Co, where, with the little opportunities then alforded, he soon by diligence acquired sufficient knowledge to teach while continuing his studies, and the fall of 1842 found him in charge of what was then known as the Preparatory Department of Delaware University, which embraced almost every branch, except the dead languages ; while there, greater inducements were held out to him to con- tinue his chosen vocation, which he reluctantly declined on account of poor health. He afterward removed to Mt. Vernon, Ohio, where he married Miss Almena H Winters in the fall of 1844, by whom he had four chil- dren — Gilbert Winters, Alphonse Lemartine, Herbert Cantwell and Luella Almena; all residents of Mansfield, except the second son, who is a dentist of note, in Paris, France; Dr. M. DeCamp commenced the practice of dentistry in this city in the fall of 1851, and continued to practice until a few months before his death, which occurred April 17, 1876; during his residence in

��Mansfield, he was known as a trustworthy Christian man ; for a number of years President of the American Bible Society, of this county, and of the State Dental Association, in which he held high rank on account of his professional ability ; at the time of his death, he was a member of the State Board of Dental Examiners, and a prominent Mason in the Mansfield Lodge. He was a member of the Congregational Church in Mans- field, and for several years acted as one of its Deacons.

DI(?!KSON, V. M., grocer; was born in Millsborough, Springfield Township, June 22, 1844 ; while living in that township he worked on a farm until 18 years of age, then removed to Oil City, Penn., where he re- mained two years ; in 1865, he was employed in the firm of Dickson & Byrd, grocers, in Mansfield ; in 1867, the firm name was changed to .1. and V. M. Dickson — Mr. Byrd retiring; this partnership continued until Oct. 21, 1878, when he entered into partnership with Mr. Wm. Adrain, Oct. 31, same year, under the firm name of Dickson & Adrain, now doing business on the corner of Main and Market streets, Mansfield. Mr. D. was married, April 10, 1872, to Miss Anna W. Sayles, of New York, now residents of West Third street, Mansfield.

DILL, THOMAS T., Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas. Born in Wayne Co., Ohio, May 2, 1842 ; came to Mansfield in 1853 ; at the beginning of the war, enlisted in the army under the first call for troops ; being for three months in the 16th 0. V. I.; served his time in that organization in West Virginia, was mus- tered out at the expiration of the term, and immedi- ately enlisted again in the 16th 0. V. I., as organized for three years, served through Kentucky, Tennessee, Virginia, and all the Southern States ; was taken pris- oner at Tazewell, Tenn.; served under Gen. Grant in several campaigns, including the siege of Vickshurg ; served in the Depirtment of the Gulf, in the States of Louisiana and Texas; was under Gen. Banks on his Red River expedition ; participated in a great many battles during his term of service in the 16th 0. V. I.; was discharged in November, 1864, by reason of expira- tion of term of enlistment, and immediately re-enlisted in the 1st Regiment, 1st Army Corps, an organization made up of veterans who had seen not less than two years' service; this corps was called "Hancock's Corps," and was commanded by Gen. W. S. Hancock; ISIr. Dill was commissioned a First Lieutenant by Gen. Hancock; whilst in this command did service in Vir- ginia, and was in several engagements ; when the war closed, he was retained in'the service by Gen. Hancock until the 2d day of May, 1866, at which date he was mustered out, making a little more than five years' service in the army ; since his return from the'army, he has resided in Mansfield, and was employed as a mechanic for eight years by the Aultman Taylor Co ; was elected Clerk of Court in October, 1876, for three years, served faithfully and was re-elected in October, 1879, for another term.

DOLL, MKIHAEL R., harness-maker. The subject of this sketch was born in Green Township, Richland Co., as it originally •existed, Oct. 25, 1839; came to Mansfield in 1845 with his parents, who soon after removed to an adjoining county, where he was placed in school until of sufficient age to begin his trade of har-

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