OLIVER C. DARLING, a contractor and builder, Conneaut, Ohio, was born in Ashtabula county, this State, September 27, 1836.
     His parents were James and Maria (Hogle) Darling, the former a native of Massachusetts and the latter of Genesee Flats, Otsego county, New York. They were married in Rochester, where the father learned the trade of carpenter.  They came to this county about 1825 and settled in Conneaut, where he bought property and where he was engaged in work on vessels in the harbor.  Subsequently he exchanged his town property for a farm in Pierpoint township, moved there about 1833, and lived at that place until his death, in April, 1861, at the age of fifty-six years.  He was a fine workman, had a good education, and stood high in the community in which he lived. Both he and his wife were worthy members of the Congregational Church.  She died May 6, 1885, at the age of seventy-eight years. They had ten children, nine of whom are living today.  They are as follows: Mary E., wife of Alexander Marvin, of Pierpoint; James Ephraim, who married Matilda Stanton, and has three children, lives in Marysville, Missouri; Francis Marion, who died at the age of nineteen years; O. C., the subject of our sketch; Susan Alvira, wife of Orsemus Peters, lives in Winslow, Illinois, their family being composed of two children; Jane D., wife of Jonas Scramlin, of Climax, Michigan; Caroline, wife of Albert Hildum, of Warren county, Pennsylvania, has two children; Harriet P., wife of Edwin Trevit, Monroe, Wisconsin; and Esther Jane, wife of Richard Marvin, Corry, Pennsylvania; has two children.
     O. C. Darling began his trade at the work bench with his father, in this county, when a mere boy. In 1856 he went to Illinois, and from there in 1859 made a prospecting tour to Pike's Peak. On his return he stopped at Platte City, Missouri, and worked at his trade there for a time. He built a commodious residence for Colonel Burns, a wealthy planter, and while he was there the Colonel took a great fancy to him. It was about that time that secession fever arose to a white heat. Colonel Burns was an enthusiastic rebel.  He offered Mr. Darling a commission, $100 per month, and a horse and saddle, if he would enlist in the Southern cause, and when the offer was emphatically but respectfully declined, the Colonel said, " Then you must leave these parts." That night, with a colored slave as driver, and the Colonel's own family carriage and line horses, he was driven with his effects to the river, and upon their reaching the landing the negro begged him to sell the carriage and horses and take him along to " God's country," which, of course, Mr. Darling would not do.  At Quincy he enlisted in the Ninth Illinois Regiment, was drilled and stationed on the Hannibal & St. Joseph Railroad, and at the expiration of his term of enlistment came on to Ohio. From Ashtabula county he went to the oil fields of Pennsylvania, and at Titusville followed his trade until Sept. 8, 1862, when he enlisted for three years in Company D, Eighteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry.  He enlisted as wagoner, and had charge of a train of wagons until, on account of rheumatism, he was compelled to go to the hospital.  Apr. 9, 1864, he was discharged on surgeon's certificate of disability. This ended his army career.
     The war closing, he returned to Titusville, and for two years was unable to do any work. Indeed, he has never been very strong since. He was engaged in contracting and building for some time in Titusville and afterward at Corry and North East.  He came to Conneaut in March, 1889, and has since been identified with the interests of this place.  He and his son are both master workmen and are doing an extensive business here.  Many of the nice residences in which Conneaut abounds are examples of their handiwork. Mr. Darling is a generous and public spirited man, and while a resident of North East held various minor offices.
     He was married, Christmas, 1861, to Miss Elizabeth Bright, daughter of Josiah and Amy Bright, old settlers of Trumbull county, Ohio. Her parents were the first white couple ever married in Trumbull county. Mr. Bright died in Newton Falls, that county, at the age of forty-five years, his death resulting from the bite of a mad dog.  He was born Aug. 13,1805, and died Sept. 2, 1851.  Both he and his wife were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.  The latter died July 18, 1881, at the age of seventy-eight years.  Their seven children are as follows: Josiah, who died at the age of two years; Rebecca, who died at the age of sixty-two; Jonathan, a resident of Dallas, Texas; David, of Kalamazoo, Michigan; Amy, wife of A. P. Swartz, Grand Rapids, Michigan; Elizabeth, now Mrs. Darling; and Margaret, wife of Sidney Thompson, Pierpoint, Ohio.
     Marmaduke Bright, Mrs. Darling's grand­father, was born in England, Aug. 23, 1773, and his wife, nee Amy Duffield, was born in the same country, Sept. 20, 1775.  Their four children were Elijah, Josiah, William and Paul.
     Mr. and Mrs. Darling have four children, namely: Burton A., who married Bertha L. Huffleman, of Chicago.  They have one child, Lester Edwin; Ida May, wife of William Huller, of Climax, Michigan, has two children; Floyd C. and Claud; Louella A., wife of Melvin Scramlin, also of Climax, Michigan, has one child, Henry; Frank Ulysses, who married Elma Jenkins, lives in Battle Creek, Michigan.
     Mr. Darling and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church of Conneaut, of which he is a Trustee.  He is also a member of the A. O. U. W., and Custer Post, No. 9, G. A. R., of Conneaut. Mrs. Darling belongs to the W. R. C, and the Royal Templars of Temperance.  They are among the most excellent people of the city.
(Transcribed from Biographical History of Northeastern Ohio embracing Ashtabula, Lake and Geauga Counties; published in Chicago: Lewis Publ. Co., 1893 - Page 213)

M. L. DAVIS, news reporter on the Ashtabula Daily Standard, was born in Cortland county, New York, Apr. 14, 1842, a son of Julius and Matilda (Van Denschoten) Davis, who were born, reared and married in that State.  The father was engaged in farming until 1860, and in that year began operating in oil, having been one of the first men to engage in that business in western Pennsylvania.  He afterward located at Oil City, where he remained until his death, in May, 1890.  He became a member of the Baptist Church in early life, was one of three who organized the church at his home, and served as Deacon of that church from its organization until his death, at which time he willed the church a parsonage at Oil City.  Mrs. Davis now resides with her daughter, Mrs. J. H. Fulmer, aged seventy-seven years.  She has also been a life long and devout member of the Baptist church.  Mr. and Mrs. Davis had two children, and the daughter, Ellen, is now the wife of J. H. Fulmer, a contractor and oil operator.
     M. L. Davis, the subject of this sketch, received good early education advantages, and also completed an academic course.  He was afterward engaged in fruit culture in Cortland county, New York, until 1870, and from that year until 1890 followed the same occupation in Kingsville, Ashtabula county, Ohio.  In the latter year he opened a hotel in this city, which he conducted two years, and during that time was, as he now is, special reporter on the Ashtabula Daily Standard.
     In 1862, Mr. Davis was united in marriage with Miss Mary E. Boynton, a daughter of Rev. A. V. Boynton, of McLean, New York.  To this union has been born two children, - Virginia A. and Nellie A., both at home.  The eldest daughter graduated at the Alleghany College in the class of 1891, has had five years of successful teaching, and is now preceptress in the high school.  She is one of the most successful and cultured teachers of the county, and is worthy of responsible position she now holds. Nellie A. is a teacher in music, and is one of the finest contralto singers in Ashtabula county.  Mr. and Mrs. Davis and their youngest daughter are members of the Presbyterian Church, in which Mr. Davis holds the office of Treasurer.  He is also a member of the K. of P., and has been Commander of the G. A. R. Post for the past three years.  He is one of the progressive and public-spirited citizens of his township, and stands abreast in all enterprises that favor the welfare of of his vicinity.   (Transcribed from Biographical History of Northeastern Ohio embracing Ashtabula, Lake and Geauga Counties; published in Chicago: Lewis Publ. Co., 1893 - Page 982)

C. P. De HART, decorator and paper hanger, Conneaut, Ohio, was born in this town, April 3, 1847. His parents, Dr. Hiram H. and Charlotte De Hart, natives of Pennsylvania, are now residents of Detroit, Michigan. Dr. De Hart practiced medicine in Conneaut years ago, and as a skilled physician was well known all over the county. He and his wife are each about seventy years of age. The subject of our sketch and a brother and sister are the only ones living of. their family of eight children. The sister, Mabel, is the wife of Frank O. Dunwell, of Ludington, Michigan, and the brother, Harry, is a traveling salesman for Macauley, a Detroit wholesale milliner.
     Mr. De Hart received his education in Conneaut and Cleveland, completing his schooling with a commercial course. With the exception of two years spent in Detroit, he has been engaged in his present occupation in Conneaut since 1873, employing from seven to ten men as assistants during the summer months.
     Mr. De Hart has a wife and family of bright children, and his comfortable and attractive home is located on one of the beautiful streets of Conneaut. He was married February 9,1874, to Emma Blakeley, daughter of Henry Blakeley, an honored pioneer of Ashtabula county. They have had four children, namely: Sherman, who died in infancy, and Sarah Wade, Charlotte Blakeley and Daphne Louise.
(Transcribed from Biographical History of Northeastern Ohio embracing Ashtabula, Lake and Geauga Counties; published in Chicago: Lewis Publ. Co., 1893 - Page 230)

MILES DORMAN, dealer in real estate at Conneaut, Ohio, was born in Erie county, Pennsylvania, July 1, v 1837, son of Edwin and Sarah (Brown) Dorman, natives respectively of Canada and Vermont.
     Edwin Dorman came from Canada to the United States with his parents when quite young, and for some thirty years was engaged in farming in Pennsylvania. About 1874 he came to Conneaut. Here he dealt in agricultural machinery the rest of his life. He died in July, 1888, at about the age of seventy-nine years. He was a man of excellent business ability and was well known and highly respected. His wife Sarah died about 1853, aged forty-five. Her father, Steven Brown, was a wealthy farmer in Pennsylvania, and, moving to Ohio, settled on a farm about two miles from Conneaut - the property now owned by Frank Blood. Mrs. Dorman was member of the Christian Church. The nine children composing the family of Edwin and Sarah Dorman are as follows: Austin, who went to California in 1850, was for many years a wealthy rancher; Salina, wife of George Moe, resides in Ashtabula county; Dorence, the third born, is a resident of California, where he was for some years engaged in mining; Miles was the fourth born; Isaac, a member of the One Hundred and Forty-fifth Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, was the tallest man in his company, and was flag-bearer; he was killed at the battle of Gettysburg; Lucy, wife of Myron Hall, resides in California; Sarah, wife of F. A. Majors, is also a resident of California; Thomas B. married Emma Putney and lives in this county; and Sidney died at the age of two years.
     Mr. Dorman was married the second time about 1858, being then united to Mrs. Sarah McKee, who is now living at Conneaut in her eighty-seventh year. She has been one of the kindest of foster-mothers, devoted to her step-children, by whom she is held in most tender and loving regard.
     Miles Dorman was reared on the farm and educated in the common schools. In 1861 he engaged in the livery business in Titusville, Pennsylvania, continuing the enterprise four years. Then for a short time he was in the mercantile business in the same place, turning from that to hotel life. He was proprietor of a hotel at Petroleum Center, where he did a successful business. From the hotel he went onto a farm which he bought on the lake shore, and where he lived two years, selling out at a good advantage at the end of that time. He came to Conneaut in the spring of 1871, and for two years kept the Central House. This hotel he traded for the Commercial, which he conducted nineteen years, and which he still owns. In the mean time he engaged in the livery business, running a bus line in connection with it. For twenty-four years, all told, he was engaged in the livery business. Since 1891, Mr. Dorman has devoted his at­tention to real-estate transactions, in which he has met with good success. Indeed, his whole business career has been characterized by prosperity. He served as Councilman of Conneaut eight successive years, from 1878 to 1886.
     Mr. Dorman was married in the spring of 1861 to Miss Elizabeth Armstrong, daughter of Thomas Armstrong, of Conneaut. Their children are Elmer A. and Edwin T. Elmer A. is successor to his father in the livery business. He married Nellie Brandle, and has one child, Edwin Miles. Edwin T. is engaged in the clothing business at Conneaut, being in partnership with S. J. Smith, and doing business under the firm name of E. T. Dorman & Co. His wife, Lois, is the only daughter of S. J. Smith.
     Mr. Dorman affiliates with the Republican party and takes a lively interest in political matters. He is a man of more than ordinary business ability, is enterprising and public spirited, and is a favorite with his many acquaintances.
(Transcribed from Biographical History of Northeastern Ohio embracing Ashtabula, Lake and Geauga Counties; published in Chicago: Lewis Publ. Co., 1893 - Page 281)

P. B. DOTY, a real estate dealer of Conneaut, Ohio, was born in Delaware county, New York, Nov. 21, 1814.
     His parents, William and Lucinda (Clapman) Doty, were natives of New York and Connecticut respectively.  William Doty was a hotel proprietor and was also interested in the lumber business, owning fulling and saw mills, and rafting lumber on the Susquehanna and other streams.  He died about 1852, aged sixty-eight years.  His wife passed away in 1845, at the age of sixty-six.  She was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and he was a Universalist.  They had a family of eleven children, four of whom are still living.
     Early in life the subject of this sketch learned the mason’s trade, which he followed seven years in New York.  Afterward he was engaged in the lumber business, manufacturing and buying and selling.  He came to Conneaut in 1848, and enlarged his business operations, manufacturing and dealing in lumber very extensively and shipping by water to Albany.  This he continued until 1854, when he turned his attention to the refining of petroleum oil, being thus engaged until 1862.  That year he returned to New York, and until 1865 was engaged in street and other speculations.  He then came back to Conneaut.  He owned a large tract of land here, and upon his return engaged in the real estate business, in which he has since continued, being very successful in his operations.  He takes a commendable interest in political matters, but has always declined to accept office.
     Mr. Doty was first married in 1840, in New York, to Miss Ann Cook, daughter of Barnabas Cook, who died July 29, 1856, at the age of thirty-six years.  They had six children, as follows: Wallace W., manager of the hotel, The Grand, at Pueblo, Colorado, is married and has four children: Callie, Wallace, Maurice and Leona; Celinda Ann, wife of a Mr. Waldo, and a resident of Chicago, was first married to D. Knight Carter, by whom she has one child, Clara Cordelia; Lucinda A., born Dec. 20, 1845, died Apr. 16, 1887; Mary A., born Jan. 6, 1848, died Apr. 3, 1851; Frances E., widow of George Erambert, and a resident of Conneaut, has two children:  George D. and Maude E.; and De Ette E., born Oct. 11, 1853, died May 28, 1866.  In 1857 Mr. Doty married Miss Caroline E. Beach, his present companion.
     He is one of the old settlers of the town, is widely and favorably known as a quiet, unobtrusive and most worthy citizen, and commands the respect and good will of all who knew him.
(Transcribed from Biographical History of Northeastern Ohio embracing Ashtabula, Lake and Geauga Counties; published in Chicago: Lewis Publ. Co., 1893 - Page 320)