David Davis, one of the early settlers of Sedgwick county, Kansas, is a native of Indiana, where he was born in Jackson county on July 14, 1848. His parents were James and Nancy C. (Cummings), both natives of Indiana. The elder Davis was a farmer and spent his life in Jackson county. He and his wife were the parents of five children, viz.: Mrs. Margaret Ball, of Oklahoma; Drury, who died while in the army during the Civil War; David, of Ninnescah township, Kansas; James H., of Jackson county, Indiana, and Mrs. Sarah C. Nolte, of Oklahoma.
The father of David Davis died when the latter was about ten years old, and the latter at that tender age commenced work for his living. He remained in Indiana until January, 1876, when he came to Sedgwick county, and preempted 160 acres of land in Section 32, Ninnescah township. He has since added to this until he now owns 240 acres. In December, 1871, Mr. Davis, was married to Miss Hannah Finley, who was born in Indiana. They have seven children, viz.: Effie, Mrs. Eva Chapter, of Missouri; William, of Ninnescah township; Lawrence, of Montana; James Andrew, of Sumner county, Kansas; Otto, of Kansas City, and Jesse, of Milan, Kan. Mrs. Davis is deceased. Mr. Davis has conducted general farming and stock raising on his place. Fraternally he is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. Politically, he votes for the best man in local affairs, but is a Democrat in national affairs. He is a member of the Baptist church. (History of Wichita and Sedgwick County, Kansas: past and present, including an account of the cities, towns and villages of the county; Chicago: C.F. Cooper & Co., 1910, Pages 759-760)
John D. Davis, attorney at law, with offices at No. 209 North Main street, Wichita, Kan., is a native of Pennsylvania. He was born at Minersville on July 25, 1857, and was reared at Ashland, Pa. His father was David Davis, a coal miner, who was killed in a mine accident in the anthracite coal fields in 1869. His mother was Ann Williams, both the parents being natives of Wales. Mr. Davis' mother is also dead. He entered the State Normal School at Bloomburg, Pa., and took a course at the Lock Haven (Pa.) State Normal, from which he was graduated in the class of 1880. He then took a two years' course at Hopkins Preparatory, New Haven, Conn. He studied law and was admitted to practice in the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania in April, 1885, and in May of the same year came to Wichita and began practice. and has since been a strong and worthy member of the Sedgwick county bar. Mr. Davis has practiced alone with the exception of seven years, when he was associated with Judge Dyer. He served as county attorney during the years 1895 and 1897. Mr. Davis is a member of the Sedgwick County Bar Association; of the Masonic order, and has been loyal and done faithfully his part in the promoting of all matters pertaining to the welfare of Wichita. He was married in 1885 to Miss M. Alice Hain, of Reading, Pa. From this union two children have been born- Winnifred, a graduate of Fairmount College, and now a teacher in the city schools of Wichita, and Grace. (History of Wichita and Sedgwick County, Kansas: past and present, including an account of the cities, towns and villages of the county; Chicago: C.F. Cooper & Co., 1910, Pages 760-761)
William E. Davis, general merchant, of Wichita, Kan., is a native of Edgar county, Illinois, where he was born on December 6, 1864. He is a son of William and Lydia (Gossett) Davis, natives of southern Ohio, who, after their marriage, removed, in 1864, to Edgar county, Illinois, and engaged in farming. In 1865 the parents removed to Champaign county, Illinois, and remained there until February, 1877, when they moved to Kansas, locating on a farm in Valley Center township, Sedgwick county, where they resided until January, 1893, when they removed to Montreal, Mo. In 1898 they moved to Wichita, where they have since resided. Mr. Davis, Sr., is retired. He has been active in politics. William E. Davis is the fourth child of a family of six, four of whom are living. He was educated in the public schools of Sedgwick county, remaining on the home farm until he was twenty-one. He taught six terms in the public schools of Sedgwick county, and engaged in farming in Valley Center and Waco townships, Sedgwick county. In December, 1891, he moved to Wichita, where he has since resided. He first attended the Southwestern Business College and afterward began clerking in a general store, August 1, 1893, and continued until August 7, 1907, when he organized his present store, general merchandise, on the west side, which he has since conducted successfully at No. 1005 West Douglas avenue. Mr. Davis is a member of the West Side Commercial League. Fraternally he is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Encampment Modern Woodmen of America, and the Rebekas. March 20, 1889, Mr. Davis was married to Miss Mary C. Sweney, daughter of Samuel and Margaret (Garrison) Sweney, of Sedgwick county. Four children have been born of this union, viz.: Lawrence L., Ethel N., Warren M. and Glenn H. (History of Wichita and Sedgwick County, Kansas: past and present, including an account of the cities, towns and villages of the county; Chicago: C.F. Cooper & Co., 1910, Page 761)
John A. Davison, president of the Commercial Bank of Wichita (Kan.), is a native of Iowa, where he was born, at Wappelo, on September 18, 1850. He is a son of Mark and Eliza (Linton) Davison, his father being a native of England and his mother of Pennsylvania. His parents went to Iowa in the '40s, where the elder Davison was engaged in the merchandising and banking business for nearly half a century. John A. Davison was educated in the public schools of his native town, after leaving which he attended the Wesleyan University, of Mt. Pleasant, la., graduating in the class of 1873. He first began commercial life in the retail lumber business and later went to Texas, where he engaged in railroad contracting. It was in 1887 that he came to Wichita and became interested in the old West Side National Bank, continuing with the bank until the change came in 1890, when he secured the fixtures and opened the West Side Bank in the same room. This he continued as a private bank until 1895, when he removed the bank to No. 145 North Main street, and renamed the institution the Commercial Bank, under which name it has since continued business successfully, with Mr. Davison as president. He purchased the building occupied by the bank in 1895. This is one of the six private banks doing business in the state of Kansas. Mr. Davison was married in 1875 to Miss Blanche L. Myers, daughter of S. D. Myers, of Burlington, la. Of this union two children have been born, E. L. and G. M. Davison. (History of Wichita and Sedgwick County, Kansas: past and present, including an account of the cities, towns and villages of the county; Chicago: C.F. Cooper & Co., 1910, Pages 761-762)
Alvin A. Dewey, general merchant, of Cheney, Kan., is a native of Illinois, where he was born, in Adams county, on May 6, 1856. His parents were L. D. and Amanda (Fletcher) Dewey, natives of New York and of Ohio, respectively. The remote ancestors on the paternal side were French and on the maternal side German. The father of Alvin A. moved from New York to Clermont county, Ohio. He was a miller boy by occupation and this industry he followed for a number of years. He was the father of seven children, four of whom are living, viz.: William F., Jesse B., Alvin A. and James Arthur. Alvin A. was the third child born. The elder Dewey moved with his family from Ohio to Adams county, Illinois, where he engaged in farming and milling. After a residence of several years there, in 1884 the family moved to Cheney, Kan., where the father engaged in the mercantile business, under the firm name of L. D. Dewey & Son. Mr. Dewey, Sr., died in 1892; his widow is still living, in good health. Alvin A. Dewey obtained his early education in the public and high schools of his native state, and then took a business course in the Gem City Business College, of Quincy, 111., graduating from that institution when he was just twenty-one years old. He had learned the milling business in Illinois, which he followed until the firm of L. D. Dewey & Son began the mercantile business. Before the death of his father he bought the latter's interest in the store and continued the business alone for about three years, when he sold out and purchased the flour mill in Cheney in partnership with J. B. Miller, which partnership continued for five years, when Mr. Miller bought the interest of Mr. Dewey. In 1899 Mr. Dewey entered the mercantile business again under his own name, and in 1907 his store and contents were destroyed by fire with a net loss of $9,000. Mr. Dewey rebuilt and took in as a partner C. J. Hessel, and the firm is now Dewey & Hessel, which is doing an extensive merchandise business, having the largest general store in Cheney. Mr. Dewey is a Mason, being a member of Morton Lodge, No. 258, A. F. and' A. M., and is also a member of Wichita Consistory, No. 2. He has filled all the chairs of the Blue Lodge. He is also a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Modern "Woodmen of America. Mr. Dewey and his wife are also members of the Christian church of Cheney. Mr. Dewey was a member of the city council of Cheney for one year and a member of the school board for three years. He is a public spirited citizen and intensely proud of his town and county. He was married on February 21, 1882, to Miss Eva C. Bagly, daughter of George Bagly, at Kirkville, Mo. One child, a daughter, Alta N., has been born of this union, who is married to C. J. Hessel, Mr. Dewey's partner. They have two children, a boy and a girl. Politically Mr. Dewey is known as a Jeffersonian Democrat. (History of Wichita and Sedgwick County, Kansas: past and present, including an account of the cities, towns and villages of the county; Chicago: C.F. Cooper & Co., 1910, Pages 762-763)
Jeremiah W. Dice is one of the enterprising businessmen of Wichita, Kan. He is a native of Franklin county, Pennsylvania, and was born in 1877, to Benjamin F. and Susan (Wineman) Dice, the latter of whom died in 1883. The father moved to Dickinson county, Kansas, in 1884, and engaged in farming two years, after which he entered the ministry of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and at the present time-1910-has charge of a church at Alma, Kan. Our subject acquired a good preliminary education, attending various schools, and in 1898 was graduated from Baker University, at Baldwin, Kan. After leaving school he entered the employ of the Fourth National Bank of Wichita as a bookkeeper. He occupied various positions in the bank ten years, and in 1908 resigned as discount clerk to accept his present office as cashier of the Merchants' State Bank, located at the corner of Douglas and Emporia avenues, Wichita. Mr. Dice is recognized as a man of high business and social standing and is an active member and steward of St. Paul's Methodist Episcopal church. In 1904 he married Miss Maybelle P. Hall, daughter of E. W. Hall, one of the early bankers at Sedgwick, Kan. Mr. and Mrs. Dice have two children, named, respectively, Robert and Marsden, and have a beautiful home at No. 1035-North Emporia avenue, Wichita. (History of Wichita and Sedgwick County, Kansas: past and present, including an account of the cities, towns and villages of the county; Chicago: C.F. Cooper & Co., 1910, Pages 763-764)
John E. Diehl, of Waco, Sedgwick county, Kansas, is not only its leading merchant but has taken a prominent part in the affairs of the town. Mr. Diehl was born in Oakland county, Michigan, on July 21, 1864. His parents were Adam and Charlotte (Openo) Diehl. His father was born in Germany, August 5, 1827, while his mother was born under the British flag, on the ocean, while her parents were coming to this country, in 1829. The elder Diehl came to America when seventeen years. old and settled in Ohio. The Openo family went to Illinois and settled at Fort Dearborn, where Chicago is now located. They remained at Fort Dearborn but a short time, going from there to Detroit, Mich., and from there to Sandusky, O. The family remained at Sandusky until 1849, when they moved to Oakland county, Michigan, where Joseph E. Openo, the head of the family, was the first bona fide settler to negotiate for the purchase of his land from the Indians. Settlers were few and far between in those days, and it was necessary for the family to pack all its supplies from Detroit, thirty-six miles away. Mr. Openo lived there the remainder of his life, as did his wife. In Sandusky, O., in 1849, Adam Diehl married Charlotte Openo, moving with her parents to Oakland county. While living in Sandusky Mrs. Diehl taught school for two years, and after going to Oakland county taught for a number of years. Mr. Diehl bought 240 acres of land in Oakland county, where his family of eight children were born and raised. These children are Mrs. Frank Chase; Mrs. J. G. Hurlbutt, wife of a Methodist Episcopal minister; Mrs. William Lott, of Eaton Rapids, Mich.; Charles P., of Milford, Mich.; John E., of Salem township, Kansas; Rev. W. W. Diehl, a Methodist Episcopal minister, now located at Sterling, 111.; Mrs. S. L. Holmes, of Grand Rapids, Mich., and Miss C. M. Diehl, of Chicago, 111. The mother of this family died May 7, 1891, the father April 26, 1907. John E. Diehl remained at home until twenty-one years old, when he moved to Finney county, Kansas, and preempted 160 acres of land, and where he lived three years. During this time he served one year as county surveyor, and in that capacity surveyed Gar-field county and took the vote which established the county seat. In 1888 he sold his claim and came to Waco, Salem township, Kansas. After moving to Waco, Mr. Diehl worked on the farm one summer and then was employed in the flouring mill in the town for a year. He was then engaged by the Union Cooperative Association to manage the general store at Waco, which he did for four years, after which he bought the business, and still. conducts it. He was postmaster at Waco for sixteen years and has been justice of the peace for six years. Mr. Diehl has been twice married, the first time in 1892, to Miss Cora E. Kriebel, of Waterloo, la., a daughter of George D. and Susan Kriebel, who came to Sedgwick county when their daughter was about two years old. Three children were born of this union: Paul A., Oscar J. and Clifford K. Mrs. Diehl died May 7, 1899, and August 26, 1901, Mr. Diehl married Miss Emma Kriebel, a sister of his first wife. Mr. Diehl is a member of the Presbyterian Church, and the only fraternal order to which he belongs is that of the Modern Woodmen. In politics he has always been a Republican. (History of Wichita and Sedgwick County, Kansas: past and present, including an account of the cities, towns and villages of the county; Chicago: C.F. Cooper & Co., 1910, Pages 764-765)
Dr. William E. Dixon, one of the well-known physicians of Sedgwick county, Kansas, is a native of the Empire state, where he was born at Hemlock Lake on June 23, 1860. His parents were Adam and Ann (Lightfoot) Dixon, both natives of the north of England. The father of William E. was born in 1822 and his mother in 1826. They were married in England and then came to the United States and settled in New York, where the mother died in 1866. There were six children born of this marriage, three of whom are living, viz.: J. K., John L., and Dr. William E. By a second marriage, there was one son, Robert V. William E. Dixon received his medical education in the Omaha Medical college, graduating in the class of 1892. He practiced at Mead, Saunders county, Nebraska, until 1894, when he came to Derby, Sedgwick county, where he is still in practice. On December 5, 1888, Mr. Dixon was married to Miss Catherine Morton, who was l)orn in Michigan on August 21, 1869, a daughter of Max and Fannie (Sprague) Morton. Dr. and Mrs. Dixon have three daughters, viz.: Maud M., born April 10, 1893; Mary M., born March 26, 1895, and Madge, born January 23, 1898. Dr. Dixon is a member of the Nebraska State Medical Society. Fraternally he is a member of Mulvane Lodge, No. 201, A. F. and A. M., and Consistory, No. 2. He is a Republican in polities and a member of the Presbyterian church. (History of Wichita and Sedgwick County, Kansas: past and present, including an account of the cities, towns and villages of the county; Chicago: C.F. Cooper & Co., 1910, Page 765)
Copyright © 2007 to Kansas Genealogy Trails' Sedgwick County host & all Contributors
All rights reserved
