Biographies
(Transcribed by Sharon Wick)

Source:
HISTORY OF MERCER COUNTY, OHIO
and Representative Citizens
Edited and compiled by Hon. S. S. Scranton, Celina, Ohio
Published by Biographical Publishing Co.
Chicago, Illinois
1907

< CLICK HERE to RETURN to 1907 BIOGRAPHICAL INDEX >
< CLICK HERE to GO to List of BIOGRAPHICAL INDEXES Indexes and TABLES of CONTENTS >

	FRANK LUDWIG DABBELT, a prosperous farmer and well-known citizen of Franklin township, who owns a well-improved farm of 140 acres, which has been in the family since the grandfather's time, was born here on April 18, 1867.  He is a son of Hubert and Rosina (Lindhaus) Dabbelt.      The grandfather of Mr. Dabbelt, Barney Dabbelt, was born in Germany, where he was twice married.  He settled in Franklin township, Mercer County, on the farm above mentioned, and upon it passed the rest of his life.  The children of his first marriage were:  Gerhard, Hubert and Anna, the latter of whom married John Beauchamp, and all are now deceased.  The children of the second marriage were:  Ignatz, August and Mollie, the latter of whom is Mrs. Henry Dorston.      Hubert Dabbelt was about 15 years of age when he accompanied his father to Mercer County, and he remained all his life on the home farm, where he died Jan. 5, 1906.  At St. Sebastian's Catholic Church, at Sebastian, Mercer County, he was married to Rosina Lindhaus, who was born in Ohio, but is of German extraction.  Of her three brothers, Henry, Barney and Joseph, the first named is dead.  Of her sisters, Mary, Elizabeth, Caroline, Catherine and Lena, Catherine is deceased.  Mrs. Dabbelt still survives and resides at the home of the subject of this sketch.      The children of Hubert Dabbelt and wife were:  Barney John, who married Mary Hanfelder and resides on a farm near Montezuma; Henry, who married Christina Heyne, and lives at Dayton; Catherine, who married Casper Clune and is now deceased; Frank Ludwig, of this sketch; John and Caroline, who died young; and Aloys, who married Agnes Schwietermann and lives on a Franklin township farm.      Frank Ludwib Dabbelt has always followed farming.  In 1898 he purchased his present farm, which included a comfortable, 10-room frame house and good barn.  Mr. Dabbelt has made many improvements here and has a very valuable property.  In 1892 he had experiments made to determine whether gas existed and the conclusions were so favorable that he had a well drilled from which gas still issues, which is utilized for heating and lighting.      On Oct. 20, 1898, Mr. Dabbelt was united in marriage with Mary Schwietermann, a daughter of Joseph Schwietermann, a prominent citizen of Franklin township, and they have three children, namely: Hubert, born July 26, 1901; Alfred, born August 30, 1903; and Ferdinand, born April 24, 1905.  Both Mr. Dabbelt and wife are members of St. Sebastian's Catholic Church at Sebastian. Source: History of Mercer County, Ohio and Representative Citizens - Edited and compiled by Hon. S. S. Scranton, Celina, Ohio - Publ. by Biographical Publishing Co., Chicago, Illinois - 1907 - Page 462
	HENRY FRED DAMMEYER, who owns a fine farm of 121 acres situated in section 25, Franklin township, was born September 17, 1840, at New Bremen, Auglaize County, Ohio, and is a son of Henry and Margaret (Meyer) Dammeyer.      Henry Dammeyer and his wife, both of whom were natives of Germany, came to this country and settled in Auglaize County, Ohio, where they purchased a farm of 40 acres near New Bremen. Mr. Dammeyer's brother Christopher came to America with him and died shortly afterwards. Henry Dammeyer was the father of two children: Sophia, who married Fred Frey; and lives in Hillsboro, Illinois; and Henry Fred, the subject of this sketch. Mr. Dammeyer died near New Bremen' at the age of 62 years. After his death his wife sold the farm and with the family moved to Franklin-township, settling on a farm which her son, Henry Fred Dammeyer,- bought from Morris Kelly, where Gustav Dammeyer, our subject's son, now lives. Mrs. Dammeyer died on the farm in 1888 at the age of 82 years.      Henry Fred Dammeyer was reared on his father's farm and has always devoted himself to agricultural pursuits. After his marriage he continued to live on the farm purchased from Morris Kelly. Finally he sold this farm to his son Gustav, and in 1892 bought his present farm, which was the Myles Lane farm. Mr. Dammeyer has one of the most highly developed farms in Franklin township; the beautiful hedge fence, on each side of the driveway leading to the house, adds much to the attractiveness of the place.      Mr. Dammeyer was married January 24, 1867, to Auguste Thieman, a daughter of Harmon H. and Margaret (Stapelberg) Thieman, natives of Germany. Upon coming to this country, Mr. and Mrs. Thieman located at Cincinnati, Ohio, where they remained for two years, and then moved to New Bremen. They were the parents of four children : Frank; Christopher; Gustav; and Auguste.  Mrs. Dammeyer was born in Germany, November 16, 1850, and was two years old when the family came to the United States. She was reared and educated at New Bremen, Ohio. Her father died in 1855, and her mother, August 31, 1893. Mr. and Mrs. Dammeyer have had 11 children, namely: Julius, who married Rosina Tontrup, and has three children; Gustav, who married Christina Rump and has five children; Theodore, who married Lora Huenke and has three children; Edward, who died at the age of 23 years; William, who married Ida Kammon, and has one child; Amanda, who married Leo Huenke and has one child; Levi; Otto; Adelia; Oscar and Frieda. Mr. Dammeyer and his wife are members of the Lutheran Church at New Bremen.      Portraits of Julius, Gustav and Theodore Dammeyer and views of the residence and barn of Henry Fred Dammeyer accompany this sketch. Source: History of Mercer County, Ohio and Representative Citizens - Edited and compiled by Hon. S. S. Scranton, Celina, Ohio - Publ. by Biographical Publishing Co., Chicago, Illinois - 1907 - Pages 607 & 608 ( Portraits will be added on request ~ Sharon Wick)
	E. H. DAVIS, a representative agriculturist of Liberty township, where he owns a farm of 65 acres in section 7, on which he located in the fall of 1900, was born in Blackford County, Indiana, October 21, 1866, and is a son of Hugh and Charlotte (Robbins) Davis.      Our subject was reared on his father's farm in Blackford County. His parents were old residents there and their remains rest in that county. His education was obtained in the schools of Jackson township, Blackford County, where he engaged in farming until 1900, when he came to his present farm in Liberty township, Mercer County. His farm consists of 95 acres, as he owns a 30-acre tract in Adams County, Indiana, adjoining his 65 acres in Liberty township.      Mr. Davis was married (first) to Clara Fuqua, who was born in Blackford County, Indiana. She was survived by three children, namely: Cecil and Esta, the latter of whom is the wife of Frederick Kessler of Blackford County; and Clarence M., who died aged two months. Mr. Davis was married (second), December 19, 1900, to Mrs. Laura Gothrup, also of Blackford County, Indiana.      In 1903 the Darby Oil Company began operating for oil and gas on the farm of our subject, and both oil and gas have been found and further development will probably bring Mr. Davis very satisfying returns. Politically Mr. Davis is a Democrat. Source: History of Mercer County, Ohio and Representative Citizens - Edited and compiled by Hon. S. S. Scranton, Celina, Ohio - Publ. by Biographical Publishing Co., Chicago, Illinois - 1907 - Page 626
	HON. JAMES H. DAY, president of the First National Bank of Celina, for 25 consecutive years as judge of the Common Please and Circuit courts, in Mercer County, displayed on the bench those qualities that an intelligent, law-abiding community approved and has still other claims to distinction of his native state.  A surviving officer of the great Civil War, since his retirement from military life a prominent member of both bench and bar, he has also been a very important factor in business and social life.  Judge Day was born Feb. 10, 1840, near Findlay, Ohio, and is a son of Ezekiel P. and Margaret (Barr) Day.      The Day family originated in England and the Barr family was of Scotch-Irish extraction.  The Days settled at an early date in New Jersey and the Barrs at an equally early period in Pennsylvania.  The father of Judge Day was born in Morris county, New Jersey, Apr. 10, 1798, and the mother, in Chester County, Pennsylvania, July 24, 17898.  Ezekiel P. Day died October 11, 1849.  He was survived many years by his widow and by a number of his 10 children.      James H. Day was educated in the public schools of Hancock and Van Wert counties, remaining at his books until 16 years of age, when he went to Van Wert and two years later entered upon the study of the law in the office of Edson & DePuy, a reputable law firm there, where he continued for 21 months.  In 1861 he embarked in a mercantile business at Celina, but in July of the following year he gave up his business prospects in order to enter the Union Army in his country's defense.  He was commissioned major of the 99th Regiment, Ohio Vol. Inf., and served with efficiency until impaired health made his resignation necessary.  After a short time in the business field at Celina, he resumed his law studies and was admitted to the bar on Aug. 20, 1869.  His evident ability in the profession was immediately recognized and during the succeeding decade he was more or less prominently identified with the important litigation engaging the attention of the courts of Mercer County.      The qualities displayed by Judge Day in his private practice emphasized his fitness for a position on the bench and in Oct. 1870 he was elected judge of the Court of Common Pleas in the First Sub-Division of the Third Judicial District.  This comprised Allen, Auglaize, Mercer, Shelby and Van Wert counties.  Judge Day entered upon the duties of this office on Feb. 9, 1880, and was subsequently re-elected twice, serving 13 consecutive years.  He retired from this position only to accept one on the circuit bench, to which he was subsequently re-elected.  It did not take long for his fellow-citizens to realize that  Judge Day, in an official position, deserved their profound respect.  He proved himself impartial, consistent, learned and fearless and retired from judicial life with his robes untarnished.      On June 10, 1863, Judge Day was united in marriage with Francis O. Small, a daughter of Richard W. and Elizabeth Small, of Celina, Ohio.  Their four daughters are:  Margaret R., who married Andrew G. Briggs, a prominent oil producer, banker and merchant at Geneva, Indiana; Annie L., who married John W. Loree, a prominent attorney at Celina; Elizabeth S., who married Hon. William E. Tou Velle, one of Celina's prominent lawyers, now representing this district in Congress; and Frances Edna.      Judge Day is a Democrat and has been an active member of his party.  He has always advocated an effective public school system and has served as a member of the Celina Board of Education.  Fraternally he is a Mason.   Portraits of Judge and Mrs. Day are shown on nearby pages. (SHARON'S NOTE:  They will be displayed upon request.) Source: History of Mercer County, Ohio and Representative Citizens - Edited and compiled by Hon. S. S. Scranton, Celina, Ohio - Publ. by Biographical Publishing Co., Chicago, Illinois - 1907 - Page 283
	PHILIP DeHAYS, who owns 100 acres of land, 80 acres being located in section 5, Recovery township, and the remaining 20 acres lying in section 7, Washington township, was born on his present farm, in Recovery township, Oct. 29, 1851, and is a son of Isaac and Margaret (Snyder) DeHays, and a grandson of William DeHays.      William DeHays was born in Pennsylvania, where he was reared and educated.  After his marriage, he moved to Ohio and settled in Preble County, subsequently locating in Jay County, Indiana.  He had four sons, three by his first marriage and one by his second, namely: Samuel, Briggs, Isaac and Joseph, who is now a resident of Findlay, Ohio.      Isaac DeHays was born at Eaton, Preble County, Ohio, Apr. 7, 1822, and was reared on his father's farm.  In young manhood he entered 80 acres of land in Mercer County, paying $1.25 per acre.  This land, which is now owned by our subject, was then covered with timber.  He cleared all this land and built a log cabin, in which he lived alone for a number of years.  He was married in 1850 to Margaret Snyder, who was born May 12, 1832, in Champaign County, Ohio, and is a daughter of Jesse Snyder, a resident of Adams County.  Mr. and Mrs. DeHays became the parents of five children, namely: Elmira who married John Isenhart, a leading liveryman at Fort Recovery; Mary, who married Adam Nearon of Fort Recovery; Catherine, wife of David Money, of Montpelier, Indiana; Jesse, who married Birdie Robinson, of Van Wert, Ohio, and has one child, Georgia; and Philip.  Mr. DeHays spent the remainder of his life on his farm in Mercer County, his death occurring Apr. 11, 1890.  His wife is still living and makes her home with her son, the subject of this sketch.      Philip DeHays has spent all his life on his present farm.  He has made many improvements on the place, and in 1884 built a fine large barn.  The house in which he resides was raised in 1861 on the day Abraham Lincoln was inaugurated President of the United States.  Mr. DeHays is engaged in general farming, raising principally wheat, corn and oats.  He has never been elected on the Democratic ticket.  He retired from the office in January, 1905.  He also served one year on the School Board. Source: History of Mercer County, Ohio and Representative Citizens - Edited and compiled by Hon. S. S. Scranton, Celina, Ohio - Publ. by Biographical Publishing Co., Chicago, Illinois - 1907 - Page 675
	EDWARD A. DIBBLE, a representative citizen of Center Township, was born December 1, 1831, in Essex County, New York, and is a son of Lyman and Eliza Jane (Smart) Dibble.      Lyman Dibble was born Mar. 2, 1804, and was a son of Levi Dibble, a native of Vermont, whose parents had immigrated from France in the 18th century and settled in New England.  Lyman Dibble was reared and educated in New York, but in 1837 he moved to Champaign County, Ohio, where he engaged in farming for eight years.  He then came to Mercer County and lived for several years in Jefferson township, and then moved to Center township, where he purchased 80 acres of farm land from his brother Luman, who had made the original entry.  To this he added 40 acres and built a log cabin on the place, which was later replaced by another, which was built by his son Charles, in 1850, who still resides there.  Lyman Dibble remained on this farm until his death, which occurred July 24, 1869, at the age of 65 years.  On Feb. 17, 1831, he married Eliza Jane Smart, who was a native of Vermont, born Feb. 7, 1813, and died Aug. 6, 1898, at the age of 85 years.  They were the parents of the following children:  Edward A.; Charles F.; Rebecca, who married James F. Moore of Mendon; and Frances Ann.  Mr. Dibble was a life-long Democrat.  He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.      Mr. Dibble grew to manhood on the home farm in Center Township, he being about 15 years old when his parents moved to Ohio.  In 1862 he enlisted in Company F, 56th Reg., Ohio Vol. Inf., at Celina, Ohio, and served until Aug. 4, 1863.  He participated in the battles at Port Gibson, Champion Hills and the siege of Vicksburg, receiving no injuries In battle, but contracting rheumatism and scurvy, from which diseases he has suffered more or less ever since.  His monthly pension of $8 was increased there years since to $12.      Mr. Dibble was married Nov. 30, 1854, to Mary Kumpf, a daughter of George and Catherine Kumpf.  The former was of German and the latter of French ancestry.  Mr. and Mrs. Dibble have had the following children: Alton, who lives at home; Annie, who resides at home; Susan Jane, who died while her father was in the army; Levi, deceased; George S., residing at St. Marys, who married Jane Springer, and has four children - Hazel V., Flossie B., Artie Belle, and Harold;  Ida Belle, who lives in Lima, Ohio; William Henry, residing at Celina, who married Ida Belle Steel, and has three children - Donald Steele, Glendale and Opal; an infant, deceased, unnamed; Leroy S., an employe in the L. E. & W. R. R. offices, at Lima, who married Ida Mathilda Hays; and Catherine, who died aged about eight years.      Mr. Dibble has always been an active Democrat.  He was a member of the Board of Infirmary Directors for six years, served also as township trustee, supervisor, and school director, and was a member of the Board of Education.  As an infirmary director, his record shows the faithfulness of his services and the economical manner in which he guarded the interests of the county.  He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church and was class leader for several years.  Formerly he was a member of the Neptune Post, G. A. R., in which he filled all the offices but quartermaster and chaplain; and when that post passed out of existence, he joined Kiesler Post, No. 83, at St. Marys. Source: History of Mercer County, Ohio and Representative Citizens - Edited and compiled by Hon. S. S. Scranton, Celina, Ohio - Publ. by Biographical Publishing Co., Chicago, Illinois - 1907 - Page 389
	ENOS NICHOLAS DRAKE, a representative citizen of Union township, residing on a well-developed farm in section 8, was born on the Enos Allen farm in Dublin township, where his mother was visiting her parents at the time  of his birth; the home of his parents at the time was located in section 8, Union township.  He is a son of John and Phoebe (Allen) Drake.      Joseph Drake was born in England, near Liverpool, and resided for many years near Liverpool and also in the vicinity of London.  He later moved with his parents to Canada, where his father died.  Mr. Drake is about 83 years of age; the date of his birth is not known exactly, as the home of his parents, with the record of births, was destroyed by fire.  He was married to Phoebe Allen while still a resident of Canada, and later moved to Mercer County, Ohio, settling in 1856, in Union township, on an unimproved and uncleared farm of 45 acres adjoining the farm of 35 acres where he now resides; as he is still the owner of the first mentioned property, his present farm consists of 80 acres.  Six children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Drake, namely: Jane, who married Murray Heath and resides on a farm in Union township; Enos Nicholas; Sarah, who resides at home with her father; Hannah, deceased; Alexander, a blacksmith by trade, living at Mendon, who married Alice Protzman; and Edward J., a dealer in agricultural implements at Mendon, who married Lizzie Martin.  Mrs. Drake's death occurred in 1899 in her 63rd year.      Enos N. Drake was reared in Union township and attended the district schools.  In 1879 he took trip overland to Kansas, driving through in a covered wagon and being accompanied by his father and family.  They settled in Osborne County, near the county seat, Osborne.  On account of hot winds and failure of crops, they only remained one year.  While there the oldest child, Osborne Kansas, was born.  Mr. Drake has lived on his present 80-acre farm since 1881.  He also owns a 60-acre farm one mile and a half west of where he resides.  In 1901 he built a fine modern barn on his present farm and one year later erected one on the other farm.  His fine now residence which was erected in 1905 in one of the most modern and up-to-date homes in the township, supplied with all the modern conveniences.      Mr. Drake was married June 30, 1878, to Elizabeth Youngblutt, a daughter of Charles and Lydia (Young) Youngblutt, of Van Wert County, Ohio.  Nine children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Drake, namely: Osborne Kansas, who married Irene Wharton, a daughter of Jesse Wharton, of Mendon; Otto, Gertrude, Elmer, ,Cora, Ray, Earl, Ora Belle (deceased), and Elry.  Mr. Drake is a Republican in politics.  He has served on the School Board of Union township for 12 years.  He is a member of Mendon Lodge, No. 750, I. O. O. F. Source: History of Mercer County, Ohio and Representative Citizens - Edited and compiled by Hon. S. S. Scranton, Celina, Ohio - Publ. by Biographical Publishing Co., Chicago, Illinois - 1907 - Page 490
	BARNEY DUES, a prominent farmer and extensive raiser of fine cattle and stock, resides on his valuable farm of 162 acres, situated in section 4, Butler township.  He was born Apr. 18, 1853, at Cincinnati, Ohio, and is a son of George and Elizabeth Dues.      The parents of Mr. Dues were born in Germany but were married in America, the father being 28 years of age when he emigrated from the old country.  He located in Butler township, Mercer County, Ohio, when our subject was one year old.  In the same year his wife died and he then returned to Cincinnati, where he had previously lived, and where he remained for two years longer, returning then to Butler township, having been married a second time while residing in Cincinnati.      Barney Dues was reared from childhood in Butler township and attended the district schools.  He always engaged in agricultural pursuits and has the reputation of being one of the township's most successful farmers.  In 1890 he added to his activity by embarking in a sawmill business, erecting a large mill  on his own farm, and for a number of seasons he has run two threshing machines.  He has been one of the leading stockmen in this section, paying a great deal of attention to raising Red Polled cattle and thorough-bred hogs.  He has a substantial residence and excellent farm buildings of all kinds and his farm presents every evidence of thrift and prosperity.      Mr. Dues was married in early manhood to Elizabeth Windker, who is a daughter of Henry Windker, and they have 10 children, all of whom are living, making a large and happy circle of kindred, as follows:  George and Kate, both of whom live at home; Rose, who married Joseph P. Brown and has one child; and Bernard, Herman, Joseph, August, Pauline, Conrad, and Helen  All have enjoyed good educational advantages and are numbered with the respected and popular members of the society of their neighborhood.      Mr. Dues is one of the leading members of St. Mary's Catholic Church at Philothea and was formerly one of the board of directors.  He is a good, intelligent, enterprising citizen, who is awake to the business advantages of his section and takes an interest in adding to its importance.  He has served on the School Board. Source: History of Mercer County, Ohio and Representative Citizens - Edited and compiled by Hon. S. S. Scranton, Celina, Ohio - Publ. by Biographical Publishing Co., Chicago, Illinois - 1907 - Page  426
	GEORGE H. DUES, a prominent farmer and stock-raiser of Butler township, resides on his farm of 76 acres in section 4, and also owns a farm of 90 acres which is situated one and a half miles west of his home far, making a total of 166 acres of valuable land.  Mr. Dues was born at Cincinnati, Ohio, Jan. 8, 1852, and is a son of George and Elizabeth Dues.  Further mention of the parents of our subject will be found in the sketch of Barney Dues in this volume.      George Dues, our subject's father, came to Mercer County with his parents in 1854.  His mother died shortly after they settled in Butler township, and the father, with is children, returned to Cincinnati where he remained two years, returning then to Butler township, where he located permanently, had his business interests here.  He owns property which is favorably located for general farming and stock-raising and belongs to the substantial farming class of Butler township.      After reaching manhood Mr. Dues was married to Kate Hagedorn and they have had eight children, as follows: Henry, Mary, wife of August Fisher; Edward, Leo, Anthony, Clara and Gregory, all at home; and Frances, the third child, who died aged on year and nine months.      Mr. Dues, like other members of his family, belongs to the Catholic Church.  He is a citizen who is held in esteem for his many sterling traits of character.  The family is a numerous and leading one in this section. Source: History of Mercer County, Ohio and Representative Citizens - Edited and compiled by Hon. S. S. Scranton, Celina, Ohio - Publ. by Biographical Publishing Co., Chicago, Illinois - 1907 - Page 410 & 413

NOTES: