USA > Ohio > Darke County > History of Darke County, Ohio, from its earliest settlement to the present time, Volume II > Part 16
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On September 21, 1905, Mr. Billingsley was married to Miss Ottie Mae Hartle, a daughter of Andrew J. and Kate (Ingle) Hartle. They have two children, Richard T. and J. Rene. Mr.
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and Mrs. Billingsley are earnest members of the Presbyterian Church. In his fraternal relations he is an Elk. Politically, he is a Democrat, and while residing at Versailles was city so- licitor and a member and secretary of the municipal board of that place.
Mrs. Billingsley was born near Covington, Miami county, Ohio, and her parents, both natives of the same county, are now living at Covington. Her father was a farmer and is a veteran of the Civil war, having served in both the infantry and cavalry.
PROF. JOSEPH LEROY SELBY.
Convinced that learning is not only the handmaid of religion but also is essential to the highest type of citizenship, many young men starting out in life bend every effort to secure educational advantages and many, also, turn these advantages to account by becoming instructors themselves. Although Prof. Joseph LeRoy Selby, a well-known resident of Green- ville, Ohio, no longer devotes his time to the class room, for many years. he was numbered with the educational leaders in Darke county. He was born March 30, 1866, in Butler county, Ohio, and is a son of William and Lydia (Huffman) Selby.
The paternal grandparents of Prof. Selby settled in Butler county at a very early date, probably in the pioneer period, and there their quiet, useful lives were passed. Like other pioneers they were courageous and resourceful and they left descendants who recall them with pride and deep respect. Farming has been a family occupation for several genera. tions. Of the large family born to the paternal grandparents the record of six sons and one sister has been preserved.
William Selby, father of Joseph Leroy, was born in Butler county, Ohio, and there grew to manhood and engaged in farming near Middletown. In 1883 he moved to Darke county and settled three and one-half miles northeast of Ansonia, pur- chasing a farm of 117 acres, on which he lived until 1900, when he moved to Ansonia and there lived retired until his death in 1910, when aged about seventy-eight years. He was a man of sterling character, an excellent representative of the best class of citizenship. He married Lydia Huffman, whose peo- ple also settled early in Butler county, Ohio. Mrs. Selby re- sides at Ansonia, Ohio, being now in her seventy-sixth year.
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To William Selby and wife three children were born : Charles, who is deceased; Joseph L .; and Mary, who is the wife of Harmon Coppess, of Ansonia, Ohio.
Joseph LeRoy Selby spent his early years on his father's farm in Butler county, receiving the physical training that he has found beneficial through life. He attended the district schools and afterward National Normal University at Leb- anon, Ohio, from which institution he was graduated. Having decided to enter the educational field, in 1884 he became a teacher in the country schools of Darke county, and in 1890 came to Greenville, where he found immediate recognition, and for three years taught the eighth grade in the public schools here. He then became assistant principal of the high school, and subsequently principal, an honorable and responsible po- sition, one that he held for eleven years.
Mr. Selby became widely known in educational circles, affili- ating with the Darke County Teachers' Association, the Wes- tern Ohio Superintendents' Round Table, the State Association of County School Examiners, the State Teachers' Association, and the National Educational Association. He served two terms as a member of the executive committee of the Darke County Teachers' Association, two as vice-president and two as president. He was also secretary of the State Association of County School Examiners. He served several years as city school examiner and about five years as .county school exam- iner. He also holds a high school life certificate.
Since retiring from the teaching field he has been devoting his attention to agriculture in the management of operations on 197 acres of Darke county's fertile soil. He resides at No. 411 Central avenue, Greenville, Ohio, in the home which he erected in 1900.
On August 31, 1899, Mr. Selby was married to Miss Mabel Hershey, who was born at Greenville, Ohio, and is a daughter of John T. and Celia (Hoover) Hershey, the eldest in a family of three children: Mabel, Gertrude and Wilbur. John T. Hershey was a soldier during the Civil War, was a member of the Forty-fourth Ohio volunteer infantry, and of the Eighth Ohio cavalry, and suffered incarceration in Libby Prison. He died in 1900, at the age of fifty-five years. The mother of Mrs. Selby survives. Mr. and Mrs. Selby are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, of which he is one of the trustees. In his political views he has always been a Democrat, but has never accepted public office except in relation to educational
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matters and is now city school examiner and for five years pre- viously served as county school examiner. If Mr. Selby has noted a wonderful advance made in the efficiency of the public schools since he first came to Darke county, he may take much credit to himself, for he has contributed largely to it and con- tinues to be deeply interested in all educational affairs.
Mrs. Selby is a member of the Columbian and Sorosis clubs.
MICHAEL A. MAHER.
There may be a feeling of family pride when an individual points to lands and posessions and says, "see what my an- cestors secured and gave to me," but how much more gratify- ing it must be to realize that one is the builder of his own for- tune and that the credit belongs to himself for obstacles over- come and successful results reached. In this connection may be mentioned Michael A. Maher, one of the substantial busi- ness men of Greenville, Ohio, who is president of the Banner Lumber Company, a director in the Greenville National Bank and an extensive dealer in coal and building material at No. 139 North Broadway. Mr. Maher was born in Champaign county, Ohio, six miles north of Urbana, on May 16, 1858, and is a son of James and Catherine (Fannan) Maher.
The paternal grandparents of Michael A. Maher lived and died in Ireland, the grandfather not surviving middle life, while the grandmother, on the other hand, survived to the unusual age of ninety-six years. They had five children: James, Michael, Dennis, Catherine and Mary. The maternal grandfather was Patrick Fannan and he and wife came from Ireland to the United States in 1850 and died in the city of Cincinnati, Ohio. They had but two children : James, who died before the family reached Cincinnati, and Catherine, the wife of James Maher, and the mother of our subject.
James and Catherine Maher, parents of Michael A. Maher, were born, reared and married in Ireland. James Maher had been previously married and his first wife died leaving two children, a son and daughter. The son was named Martin, and after coming to the United States he served four years as a soldier during the Civil war. James Maher desired to be a farmer, but he found little chance or encouragement in County Tipperary, his home, and therefore decided to emigrate to
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America where many of his countrymen had found easier in- dustrial conditions. Late in 1849 or early in 1850 he secured passage for himself, wife and their five children with the two older children of his first marriage. After a tiresome voyage the family was safely landed at New Orleans and from there went to Springfield, Ohio, this being in 1850. James Maher found work for a time at day labor, afterward became a farmer and after coming to Darke county, in September, 1864, bought a farm of eighty acres situated in Greenville township, three miles north of Greenville, where he continued through life. his death occurring there in 1872, when aged fifty-five years. His widow lived until 1907, passing away when aged eighty- seven years. They were members of the Roman Catholic church. They had fifteen children, twelve of whom lived to maturity : James, who is deceased; Patrick H., who is a resi- dent of Greenville; William, who lives at Dayton, Ohio; Den- nis, who is deceased; Mary, who is the wife of John Hunt, of Greenville; Johanna, who is the widow of John J. Kelly, of Greenville; Michael A., Thomas C., who is of Greenville; Catherine, who is the wife of John Lynch, of Greenville; Sarah, who is the wife of Thomas Hannagan, of Dayton ; John B., who lives at Greenville, and Francis A., whose home is Oklahoma City, Okla.
Michael A. Maher was six years old when his parents moved to Darke county and he grew up on his father's farm, attended the public schools in the neighborhood and took a course in a commercial college. He earned his first salary as driver of a coal wagon for his brother Patrick, for whom he worked for eighteen months and with his savings was able to buy a small grocery store, one that he still owns. In September, 1882, he started in the coal and building material business, one that he has developed into a very large enterprise. For seven years he also engaged in contracting for the building of sewers. As indicated above he has other important interests of a sub- stantial character, all indicating excellent judgment, constant industry and rare business foresight.
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On March 23, 1884, Mr. Maher was united in marriage with Miss Catherine Jane Maher, who was born in Jay county, Indiana, and is a daughter of Michael and Bridget (Carter) Maher. They were born in Ireland, where their parents lived and died. As early settlers they came to Darke county, Ohio, and both died here. Of their children four survive: James, Mary, John and Catherine Jane. The following children were
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born to Mr. and Mrs. Michael A. Maher: Leo, Robert, Ber- nard, Arcadius, Leona, Henry, Raymond and Lawrence, twins, Andrew, Mary and Joseph, twins; Alfred, Mark and Cather- ine. Of this family, Leo died at the age of eighteen months; Robert died at the age of twelve years and Lawrence died at the age of six months. Bernard is in the employ of his father; Henry lives in Oklahoma City, and Arcadius married Miss Henry lives in Oklahoma City; Arcadius married Miss Roberts; Eugene and Margaret. The others live at home. The whole family belong to the Roman Catholic church and Mr. Maher has membership with the Knights of Columbus and the Brotherhood of St. Anthony. Mr. Maher has never cared for political office, but never shirks the duties of citizenship when a call is made for a display of public spirit. He votes with the Democratic party. The family residence is at No. 145 North Broadway, Greenville.
JOHN H. DUNHAM.
With the rapid introduction of automobiles and the in- creased demand for high-class machines of all kinds not only by city men, but the farming contingent as well, has developed an immense business in handling these vehicles. Darke county is a rich community and its citizens, realizing the benefits ac- cruing from a rapid and independent means of locomotion, are investing heavily in automobiles. They look to Greenville as a source of supply for this as other demands, and a concern that is doing big business in selling automobiles is the Dunham Automobile Company, under the direct charge of John H. Dunham, with offices and garage at Nos. 123-125 Martin street, Greenville, although he resides on his farming property near Woodington. Mr. Dunham was born in Greenville township, Darke county, Ohio, three miles east of Greenville, October 17, 1859, a son of Henry and Sarah Jane (Martin) Dunham, and grandson of James Dunham, and John Martin.
James Dunham and his wife became early settlers of Darke county, and at the time of his death he was conducting a tavern at Ansonia. He had several children, and was married twice. John Martin, the maternal grandfather, was born in Pennsylvania, but came of German stock. He and his wife, who was also a Pennsylvanian, came to Darke county, Ohio, at
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a day when settlers were few, and developed a fine farm in Greenville township. The grandmother died in middle life, but he lived to an advanced age. Their children were: Jack- son, Harvey, Sarah Jane, Mary Ann, John and Alanson.
Henry Dunham was born in Darke county, Ohio, but his wife was born on the same farm as her son. He was a car- penter and millwright, and operated a sawmill and water. mill on the old Miller farm. During the Civil war he enlisted for service, but contracted disease from which he never re- covered and died. His widow survived him for a number of years. They had four children: Alice A., who is the wife of Harry A. Clawson of Brown township; John H., whose name heads this review; Jennie R., who is deceased, was the wife of Harry A. Clawson, he marrying her sister Alice A., after her demise, and one who died in infancy. The mother moved to Greenville, after the father's death, and later married John Westfall. Following her second marriage, she went to a farm on the Requerth pike, and from there to one of eighty acres in Greenville township. Still later she went to a farm in Brown township, near Woodington, where she died, in 1886, aged about fifty-five years. By her second marriage she had three children: Frank, Bertha and one who died in infancy. Frank died when sixteen years old.
John H. Dunham attended school but a couple of years, as he began earning his own living when about eleven years old, working on a farm for four dollars per month. He continued to work for farmers until his marriage, when he rented prop- erty which comprised forty acres of the Miller homestead, but a year later rented eighty acres and conducted it for two years. Having been frugal, he was then able to buy forty acres in Brown township, and a little later opened a general store at Woodington, continuing it for two years. Although he was engaged in a mercantile business during this time, he con- tinued to reside on his farm. Selling his store, he bought eighty acres which continues to be his place of residence, it being located in Greenville township, and he also owns sixty- five acres in Franklin county. Both as a farmer and Dusmess man Mr. Dunham has proven his worth and is a man who en- joys the highest respect of all with whom he is brought into contact.
On August 14, 1883, Mr. Dunham was married to Miss Mary C. Mendenhall, a daughter of Samuel and Catherine (Teeter) Mendenhall. Thirteen children were born of this marriage:
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Jennie X., who married Bert Galbreath, bore her husband two children, Velna and one who died in infancy, and is now de- ceased; Berman, who is in the employ of the New York Cen- tral Railroad Company at Detroit, Mich., and Myrtle, Alanson, Gladys, Alice, Bertie, Lucile, Blanche, James, Aline, who are all at home with their parents; and two who died in infancy. Mr. and Mrs. Dunham are earnest members of the Christian church. He belongs to Ansonia Lodge No. 285, F. & A. M .; Ansonia Lodge No. 605, I. O. O. F., and the Encampment of that order. A Republican, he has appeared on his party ticket, being elected to the office of school director many times in both Brown and Greenville townships. He is a member of the Darke County Fair Association, and is a director of the Chil- dren's Orphans' Home.
Mrs. Dunham was born in Woodington, one-half mile from her present home, her parents having been early settlers of Darke county, Ohio, although now both are deceased. They had seven children : Hannah, Frank, Susan, William, Milton, Alvin and Calvin, the last two having been twins. The paternal grandfather of Mrs. Dunham was Marmaduke Mendenhall.
WELCOME JEFFERSON DULL.
The banking interests of a community are necessarily among the most important, for financial stability must be the founda- tion stone upon which all great enterprises are erected. The men who control and conserve the money of corporation or country, must possess many qualities not requisite in the ordinary citizen and among these high commercial integrity, exceptional financial ability, poise, judgment and foresight may be mentioned. Public confidence must be with them, and this fact has been again and again demonstrated in the United States, when panics that even threatened the stability of the government have been averted by the wisdom, sagacity and foresight of the men in whose hands have rested the great lines of finance. A citizen of Arcanum who is president of the Farmers' National Bank of that place, and has done much in the effective upbuilding of his community along additional lines, is Welcome Jefferson Dull. He was born in Randolph county, Indiana, March 19, 1854, a son of John and Delilah (Baker) Dull.
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W. Dull.
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THE NEW YORK PUBLICLIBRARY
ASTOR. LENOX TIDEN FOUNDATIONS
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The paternal grandparents had the following children : Nich- olas, Martin, John and a daughter. Henry Baker, the maternal grandfather, married a Miss Poe. Both were born in Penn- sylvania, coming of German descent. These grandparents came to Darke county, Ohio, at a very early day, locating in Monroe township where they improved several farms. Both died in this township after reaching an advanced age. Their children were: Elias, Joshua, Josiah, Henry, George, Julia B., Delilah, Betsy, Lydia and Mollie.
Both John Dull and his wife were born in Pennsylvania, the former being reared in Lancaster county, that State. After his marriage, he moved to Randolph county, Indiana, where he followed his trades of blacksmithing and shoemaking for several years, when he devoted all of his time to farming. His death occurred when he was sixty-six years old, his wife having died at the age of forty-six years. Both were pious members of the German Reformed church. Their children were as follows: Henry, who is now deceased; Martin, who resides at Red Key, Indiana; Elias, who died as a soldier dur- ing the Civil war; Joshua, who died in infancy; George, who lives in Michigan ; Julia Ann, who is the wife of William Bear of Jay county, Indiana; Solomon, who resides at Rock Lodge, Florida; Lydia M., who is the wife of Samuel Hinsey of Jay county, Indiana, and Harvey of Randolph county, Indiana, in addition to Welcome Jefferson, whose name heads this re- view.
Welcome Jefferson Dull lived in his native county until he was thirteen years old, when removal was made to Jay county, Indiana, and when he was sixteen years old he came to Darke county, Ohio, to work on a farm for his brother who hired him by the month. Soon after his arrival, his brother moved back to Randolph county, Indiana, and Welcome J. accompa- nied him, continuing in his employ for one summer and two winters. Returning to Darke county, Mr. Dull worked for his uncle, Josiah Baker, for a summer and winter, and then began doing contract work on his own account, digging ditches, building streets, excavating and carrying out contracts for similar jobs, thus continuing until he had built up an immense business which paid him excellent returns. Eventually he re- tired, and for the past nine years has been making his home at Arcanum and with Charles Williams is interested in operat- ing four large tobacco warehouses. He is president of the Farmers' National Bank, and owns several large farms in (12)
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Darke county, and others in Jay and Randolph counties, In- diana, so that his interests are many and varied. He is promi- nent in Masonic circles, belonging to Ithaca Lodge, F. & A. M .; Greenville Lodge No. 77, R. A. M .; Troy Commandery, and is a thirty-second degree Mason, according to the Scottish Rite. He is also a member of the Knights of Pythias. A Re- publican, he is active in the support of the principles of that party, and has demonstrated his public spirit by serving for eighteen years on the school board.
On May 7, 1874, Mr. Dull was married to Miss Mary Eliza- beth Fourman, a daughter of Joseph and Layer (Root) Four- man. Mr. and Mrs. Dull became the parents of nine children : Samuel H., who is a farmer, married Emma Shelly, and they have the following children: Vernie, Olive, Merl, Hubert, Pauline and Martin Van Buren; William, who married Cora Netzley, has one child, Byron; Sarah Ann, who married Frank Layer, has three children, Viola, Roy and Henry; Amzi, who married Mina North, has two children, Clayton and Ira ; Jesse E., who married Alva Kindle, has four children, Mildred, Mary, Merrit R. and Robert J .; Joseph, who married Mollie Klinger, has two children; Pharon, who has been married twice, has one child, Albert, by his second wife, whose maiden name was Willoughby; Clarence S., who married Mamie Buchanan, has two children, Catherine and Edith, and Emma, who died at the age of seventeen years.
Mrs. Dull was born in Van Buren township, Darke county, Ohio, her parents, both of whom are now deceased, having been early settlers of that township. They had five children who grew to maturity, namely : Noah, Joseph, Mary, Susanna and Sarah. The paternal grandfather of Mrs. Dull was John Fourman, while her maternal grandfather was Samuel Root. Mrs. Dull is consistent in her membership with the Methodist church of Arcanum.
DAVID LEWIS GASKILL.
The exponents of the law in Darke county are without ex- ception men of broad training, keen judgment, and resolute bearing, and among them none stands higher than David Lewis Gaskill of the firm of Meeker & Gaskill, with offices in the Electric building on West Fourth street, Greenville, and residence at No. 303 East Third street this same city. His
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rise in his profession has been steady, and within late years he has been connected with some of the most important juris- prudence of this part of the State. He was born at Troy, Ohio, December 11, 1862, a son of Abram and Sarah A. (Youart) Gaskill, and grandson of Abram and Elizabeth Gas- kill, and John and Jane (Youart) Youart. Abram Gaskill and his wife were both born in New Jersey, but became pioneers of Warren county, Ohio, and died in 1819, and she at an ad- vanced age, being interred at Quincy, Ohio. Abram Gaskill was the only son of his mother's first marriage, but by her second union with a Mr. Stiles, she had four children. John Youart was born at Balameda, County Antrim, Ireland, and his wife was a native of the same place. They were Scotch- Irish Presbyterians. Leaving their own country, they came to the United States, locating in Miami county, Ohio, being among its early settlers, and there he died. After his demise, his widow came to Greenville and resided in this city for fourteen years, dying when ninety-two years old. She and her husband had a large family, but Mrs. Abram Gaskill was the only one who married.
Abram Gaskill grew up in Warren county, Ohio, where he learned the wagon making trade. In 1844, he sought better opportunities at Troy, Miami county, Ohio, there embarking in the manufacture of carriages, selling this business in 1853, to engage in the production of plows. In 1864 he found a pur- chaser for this business, and coming to Darke county, pur- chased the old King farm in Greenville township, and busied himself in conducting it, living upon this property until 1888, when he retired, and moving to Greenville, died at that city in 1910, aged ninety-one years. He was twice married, his first wife being Margaret Irwin, a daughter of the Judge Advocate, William Irwin, who was one of the officers in St. Clair's defeat. William H. Gaskill was the only child born of this marriage, and he died in November, 1912, aged sixty-eight years. The first Mrs. Gaskill died in 1854. In 1860 Abram Gaskill mar- ried Sarah A. Youart, of Troy, Ohio. They had three children : Charles, who died in infancy ; David Lewis, whose name heads this article, and Jennie E., deceased, who was the wife of Ben- jamin M. Allen.
Growing up on his father's farm east of Greenville, David L. Gaskill had the advantages of both rural and urban sur- roundings, and attended the country schools, and later the Greenville high school, from which he was graduated in 1880.
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Subsequently he entered the Ohio State University at Colum- bus, Ohio, class of 1884. In 1890 he moved to Greenville and began the study of law, and the following year was admitted to the bar, and since then has carried on a general practice. In addition to his legal business, Mr. Gaskill is interested in several commercial ventures, having been the organizer of the Greenville Electric Light Company in 1895, which he has served ever since as president. He is a director in the Ross Supply Company ; was president of the Ohio Electrical Asso- ciation during 1900, and has been secretary of that organiza- tion ever since. Elected secretary of the National District Heating Association in 1909, he has held that position to this day.
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