Jacob DORREL, of Ohio County was born at New Richmond, Ohio, in 1801, and came with his father William DORREL, to Ohio County in 1820.  they settled on what was subsequently called the DORREL homestead, near the old Richardson farm, where they lived for some time in a log hut, without floor, door, windows or chinking, covered with brush, doing their cooking out of doors, by a log heap.  Their meat they procured in the woods, and bread from corn which they bought in Kentucky and had ground at Lawrenceburgh.    OUr subject was married to Polly ALEXANDER, and in 1830 removed to Johnston County, this State, where he accumulated considerable wealth and raised a family of fourteen children, twelve of whom reached man and womanhood and he lived to see them married.  His death occurred in 1881.

"HISTORY OF DEARBORN AND OHIO COUNTIES, INDIANA-1885"

SUBMITTED BY: Jackie DeCamp


Daniel DORREL, stock dealer, Washington Township, was born in Ohio County, November 11, 1840, where he received a common school education.  His father was born in Dayton, Ohio, July 12, 1813; mother, Rebecca (DOWMAN) DORREL, in West Virginia, March 4, 1811.  The father was a farmer and raised  a family of nine children: Cyrus, William, Isabella, Daniel, Polly, Samuel, Rebecca, Peter and Isaac.  The mother died August 22, 1882.  She lived to see twenty-three out of twenty-five of her grandchildren grow up, and the two who failed to survive her died in infancy.  Daniel has always dealt in stock.  He came to this county in 1875.  He was married, November 22, 1865, to Miss Nancy BAKER, who was born in Switzerland County, Ind., May 8, 1848.  By this union there are two bright children:  Arnold W., born December 31, 1866, Relle, born January 8, 1870.  Mr. DORREL is a very successful farmer and enjoys an excellent reputation for citizenship.

"HISTORY OF DEARBORN AND OHIO COUNTIES, INDIANA-1885"

SUBMITTED BY: Jackie DeCamp


John DOWNEY, of Rising Sun, was a native of Hagerstown, Md., born August 12, 1786.  While a child his parents removed to Washington County, Penn., and subsequently to Hamilton County, Ohio, where September 7, 1807, he was married to her who has since been his companion.  Soon after his marriage, he became identified with the Methodist Episcopal Church.  In 1818 he settled on a farm ten miles back of the village of Rising Sun, where he resided the greater part of his life until about 1850.  "As a Christian his character was marked for its uniformity. Never demonstrative - always unpretending, the consistent steadiness of his life still gave him a large influence for good wherever he was known.  His brethren appreciated his worth, and consequently, until disqualified by the disabilities of age, he constantly held official relations in the church.  At an earlier period his house was open to receive the 'weary itinerant', and often as a place of preaching.  'In this way' says his son,  'he enjoyed the society of those sainted men, Cummins, Strange, Goddard, Wright, Wiley, Jones and others.'  As a citizen he held the confidence and esteem of his fellow citizens."

"HISTORY OF DEARBORN AND OHIO COUNTIES, INDIANA-1885"

SUBMITTED BY: Jackie DeCamp


Alexander C. DOWNEY, Rising Sun, dean of DePauw University, and ex-judge of the Supreme Court of Indiana, was born in Hamilton County, Ohio, September 10, 1817.  His parents were John and Susannah (SELWOOD) DOWNEY, the former born August 12, 1786, the latter October 28, 1791.  They came to Dearborn County in 1818, and here our subject grew to manhood.  He attended the common schools of that period and obtained the rudiments of an education which he supplemented by  a course of study at Wilmington Seminary, under the able instruction of Prof. Lawrence.  In his earlier years he was engaged in the various occupations of farming, coopering and flat-boating, but these he abandoned for the study of law under the tutelage of James T. Brown, and in 1841 was admitted to the bar.  He practiced in partnership with Amos Lane for a time, also with Theodore Gazlay, moving to Rising Sun after the organization of Ohio County, in 1844.  In August, 1850, Mr. DOWNEY was appointed judge of the circuit court by Gov. Wright, and in the following winter was elected to the same office by the State Legislature under the old constitution, and by popular vote in 1852, serving till 1858 - the district first comprising the counties of Ohio, Switzerland, Jefferson and Jennings to which were subsequently added Ripley and Brown counties.  In 1854 Judge DOWNEY organized the law school at Asbury University continuing in charge of the same till 1858, the annual terms continuing from November till February.  In the fall of 1862 he was elected to the State Senate on the Union ticket and voted for the resolution adopting the thirteenth amendment. He served as senator till 1866.  Was appointed one of three commissioners constituting a board of control of a house of refuge for the correction and reformation of juvenile offenders by Gov. Baker in 1867, and also rendered valuable service in advice as to the management of the same, serving till 1870, in which year he was elected to the Supreme Court of Indiana serving six years and declining a renomination in 1876.  In 1861 Judge DOWNEY joined the Indiana Legion as private and was soon after promoted to brigadier-general by Gov. Morton.  He received the degree of LL.D. by the Asbury University in 1858 and by the Indiana University in 1871.  A member of the Methodist Episcopal Church; for many years he has officiated as trustee of Asbury University and president of the joint board of trustees and visitors. Judge DOWNEY was married April 19, 1871 to Sophia J. TAPLEY, daughter of  Daniel and Susan (CHANDLER) TAPLEY, the former a native of  Danvers, Mass.  Their eight children are named as follows: Samuel R., Daniel T., Harry S., Alexander C., George E., John C., Anna W. and Frank M.   Of these ALexander C. and John C. are deceased.  The three oldest living were educated to the law and are now engaged in the practice of that profession.  As a member of the Masonic fraternity Judge DOWNEY ranks among the most prominent of the State.  The above is a brief summary of the life work of a man who is foremost among the citizens of southeastern Indiana, and whose long official career is sufficient evidence of the merit of his character both as citizen and public servant.

"HISTORY OF DEARBORN AND OHIO COUNTIES, INDIANA-1885"

SUBMITTED BY: Jackie DeCamp


Enoch DRAKE, of Rising Sun, said to be the first white child born in what is now  Ohio County, was born August 28, 1803.  His parents were Robert and Mary (PICKETT) DRAKE, natives of North Carolina and Maryland respectively.  An account of their settlement in this county is given elsewhere in this work.  the father died in Switzerland County in 1844, his wife having preceded him three years.  Our subject grew up on the farm of his father and in 1829, married Sallie HUSTON, also a native of this county, born in 1810, a daughter of Christopher and Mary CRAWFORD, and granddaughter of Col. Crawford of Wyandot fame.  With the exception of the decade between 1836 and 1846, Mr. DRAKE has lived in this county through his long life, residing in Switzerland County during the inerval.  To the union of Mr. and Mrs. DRAKE have been born eleven children, of whom the following named five are living: Melissa, Delilah, Sarah, Belle and Allen.  Since 1846 Mr. DRAKE has resided in Rising Sun engaged as a wagon-maker.

"HISTORY OF DEARBORN AND OHIO COUNTIES, INDIANA-1885"

SUBMITTED BY: Jackie DeCamp