History of Coshocton, (Coshocton County) Ohio United States of America

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Biographies:

William H. Daily, educator, was born in Coshocton, Ohio, in 1812. His parents removed to Franklin county, Ind., shortly after his birth and settled on a farm near Brookville. He began to teach in a district school when fifteen years old and at sixteen was a "boy preacher" in the Methodist church. He joined the conference in 1831, was ordained a deacon in 1833, and an eider in 1835. He was pastor at Bloomington, Ind., 1835-36, and a student at Indiana university, where he was graduated in 1836 and received his A.M. degree in course. He was at St. Louis, Mo., as pastor and professor in St. Charles college, 1838-10; at Madison, Ind., 1843-44; chaplain of the U.S. house of representatives, 1844-45: agent of the Indiana Asbury (De Pauw) university, 1845-52, and third president of Indiana university, 1853-59. He was hospital chaplain at St. Louis, 1862-65; mail agent in Louisiana, 1865-69; and a member of the Louisiana Methodist Episcopal conference, 1869-77. He received the degree of A.M. from Augusta college, Ky., and that of D.D. from Indiana university, in 1851; and that of LL.D. from the University of Louisville. He died in New Orleans, La., in 1877.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

French W. Thornhill, Judge of the Probate Court, in Coshocton, Ohio, is a Virginian by birth, having been born in Culpepper county, in that State, on the 21st of September, 1804. He is of Irish-English descent, although his parents were both native Virginians. His general education was received at Harrisonburg, Virginia. He attended school there until he was sixteen years of age; then he left school and began the reading of law with Colonel Hall. After pursuing this course of reading for a time he abandoned the law temporarily and commenced the study of medicine. This profession seems not to have found favor with him, for when he was seventeen years of age he gave it up and went to learn the gunsmith's trade with McGilvary, of Buckingham. He remained with him, working at this trade, for a period of ten years. Then, in the year 1830, he went to Coshocton county, Ohio, and there engaged with his brother in the manufacture of brick. This occupied him for about two years, when ill health interfered with his business. For several years his health remained in an impaired condition. When it permitted him to resume business he removed to West Carlisle, Coshocton county, and there engaged in mercantile pursuits; from there he removed to West Bedford, and thence to East Union. For over thirty years he was engaged in mercantile business in these places. At length he removed to Coshocton, and in May, 1875, he was appointed by the Governor to the position of Probate Judge. In the fall of that year he was elected, without opposition, to fill the office for a term of three years. Judicial honors followed magisterial honors in his case; for, before taking his seat on the bench, he had held the position of Justice of the Peace for over twenty years. Politically, he is a Democrat, and he belongs distinctively to the "Hard money" school. He has represented his party in the State Legislature at various times. In 1836 he was elected to the House of Representatives for Coshocton and Holmes, and served through one term. In the year 1844 he was elected to the State Senate for Coshocton and Guernsey, and served in that body two sessions. He was again elected to the House of Representatives in 1863, and continued to sit in the House until 1870. In 1868 he was elected Speaker pro tempore of the House by the unanimous vote of the members. He has been twice married. On the 22d of November, 1828, he married Sarah Wolfenbarger, of Pocahontas county, Virginia. She died in August, 1844. In November, 1844, he married for his second wife Mrs. Ellen Wright, daughter of William Renfrew, an early settler of Coshocton, who is still living.

From: The Biographical Encyclopedia of Ohio of the Nineteenth Century. Columbus, OH, USA: Galaxy Publishing Co., 1876.