The Babst Family of Crawford County, Ohio

DANIEL BABST, Sr., banker, Crestline; was born near Strasboiu-g, France, in 1810.

Came to this country in 1832, and lived in New York for three years, and came to Stark Co., Ohio, in 1834. From there he went to Canal Fulton, and lived there xmtil 1852, when he came to Crestline, and has resided there ever since; was married to Catharine Arter in 1832; was manner again to Margaret Yost in 1841; they have seven child-en by last man'iage — Emeline, born August 20, 1842; Caroline, born Feb. 26, 1844, died May 20, 1845; Jacob, born Feb. 11, 1846; Daniel Jr., Oct. 19, 1847; Louise, Aug. 28, 1849; Thomas, Oct. 23, 1853; Willis H., June 5, 1858. Mr. Babst entered into the hotel business on coming to Crestline, as proprietor of the old American House, afterward known as Franklin House, and remained in the hotel business about four years. In 1871, he built and established Babst's Banking House. Mr. Babst retired from all active business in 1878, and was succeeded in the banking business by his sons, Jacob and Daniel, Jr. Mr.

As printed in the source². Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

JACOB BABST, sole proprietor and cashier of the Babst Banking House, at Crestline, O., is one of the prominent and progressive men of this city, his intimate connection with the banking interests of this part of the state, making-him influential in financial affairs, while, additionally he is identified with all those movements which contribute to the substantial advancement of this section along other lines. He was born at Canal Fulton, in Stark county, O., Feb. 11, 1846, and is a son of Daniel Babst, who founded the Babst Banking House, in May, 1871.

Jacob Babst came to Crestline with his parents, in 1853 and has resided here ever since. After his school days were over he learned the trade of a tinner, and as a journeyman traveled all over several states. In 1862 he was with the Pennsylvania Railroad Company and at the end of 12 months w'as offered an engine but declined the promotion, by the advice of his parents and continued work at his trade until January, 1887. In January, 1868, he went into the stove and tinning business and was thus occupied for three years. ITe then in May, 187:, became connected with his father’s banking house. The father conducted the business for seven years, with Jacob Babst as cashier and in 1878, Jacob and Daniel Babst, Jr., took charge of the bank, Jacob continuing as cashier, and they operated it together until 1886, when he became sole proprietor, retaining the old name and signing, Jacob Babst, Banker. Mr. Babst has many additional business interests. He is president of the Burch Plow Works, started in 1887 and incorporated in 1897; president of the Crestline Telephone Company, since its incorporation in 1902; treasurer of the Crestline Building & Loan Association since its incorporation in 1891, treasurer of the Crestline Manufacturing Company, an enterprise eight years old; a director of the Crestline Publishing Company for many years; and a director and member of the executive committee of the Ohio Slate Life Insurance Company, of Columbus, ( which has

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HISTORY or CRAWFORD COUNTY resources amounting to half a million dollars. In politics, Mr. Babst is a Republican and is a member of the Crawford County Executive Committee and many times has been a delegate to important conventions. He has taken an active part in shaping public sentiment when the welfare of the city has been at state, and is a representative of the best type of citizen.

Mr. Babst has been identified with the Masonic order since 1868 and also belongs to the Order of Elks. He has long been a member and trustee of the Presbyterian church. He is a thorough master of every detail of his many business interests and yet finds time to keep in touch with the life of the outside world, doing his part and bearing his share of responsibility in making life better and of fuller meaning than the ordinary individual who works only for selfish ends ever understands.

Mrs. Jacob Babst was a daughter of George Frederick and Caroline Stoll the seventh of a family of twelve children, being born at Upper Sandusky, March 20, 1848 and christened Mathilcle Caroline Stoll. He father and mother were natives of Germany and came to America in 1832, after three months’ sailing voyages. From New York they drove over the mountains to Pittsburgh, Pa., where they remained a short time before again taking up their migration to Ohio, which they did in 1838, finally settling with other members of the Stoll family at Upper Sandusky.

Her father was a man of prominence among the pioneers of Wyandot and Crawford counties, not only as the builder of the earliest public buildings, but as a leader in public and religious affairs. lie was an accomplished musician and possessed one of the few collections of books among the pioneers of the thirties. During the earlier years of Mrs. Babst’s childhood at Upper Sandusky, some of the Wyandot Indians were still a part of the community life. Her father’s home, with its own large family, was the center of a still larger family circle long prominent in both counties.

Such was the childhood and girlhood surroundings of Mrs. Babst, much of which she passed in the companionship of her father, who inspired her with a desire for reading and education, which may be said to be the dominant purpose which influenced her entire life. Her own education was obtained in the Bucyrus union schools, where she became a teacher, as well as later teaching in the district schools of the county. Upon the death of her father in 1867 she became a teacher in the Crestline union schools, resigning her place to marry Jacob Babst of Crestline, on April 22, 1869.

Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Babst resided in Crestline continuously, with the exception of the year 1872, when they were residents of Berea, Ohio, where Mr. Babst went to found the first bank of that town. Mrs. Babst died at Crestline on April 30, 1912, survived by her husband and their three children — Earl D., Jessie B. and Bertha S. Earl D. Babst, born July 6, 1870, graduated in law at Ann Arbor, Mich., in the class of 1894, and is now general counsel for the National Biscuit Company, of New York. He married Edwina Uhl, daughter of Edward F. Uhl, a prominent citizen of Grand Rapids, Mich., who was ambassador to Germany under President Cleveland's administration. Mr. and Mrs. Earl D. Babst have two children — - Catherine De Gormo and Alice Edw ina.

Jesse B. Babst, born March 2, 1871, is the wife of Harry IT. Cockley, formerly Secretary of the Shelby Tube Company, of Shelby, Ohio, but who is now engaged in the orange growing industry at Nordhoff, California. They have three children— Harriet B., Edith P. and Clayton B.

Bertha S. Babst, born December 6, 1878, was educated at Detroit, Mich. She married Henry E. Freeman, who is secretary and treasurer of the American Trust and Banking Company of Springfield, Ohio, and now resides in that city.

Mrs. Babst never tired of her kindly interest in young people and, in addition to maintaining a generous hospitality for the wide circle of personal and family friends, always found opportunity for stimulating others, especially young people, with an interest in literary and historical subjects. Her own children, under her immediate supervision, received their education in the Crestline public schools, and afterwards in the University of Michigan, for her son, mid in the best girls’ boarding schools of the larger cities for her daughters, supplemented by European travel.

As a member of the Presbyterian church of Crestline, she took an active interest in the

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As the constant companion and advisor of her husband through forty-three years of married life, in which he was the recognized leader in Crestline financial and commercial enterprises, she won wide respect and admiration, worthy of her inheritance, in the remembrance of her high ideals, her work for church and missions, her devotion to family and friends, there is an inspiration and example, which will long stimulate all who knew her forceful and commanding character. So high was the affection and esteem in which she was held that on the day of her funeral, for the only time in the history of Crestline, every business house was closed out of respect to her memory.

As printed in the source³. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

HON. DANIEL BABST. Among the conditions which determine the characters of men, their mental and physical qualities and their ultimate destiny in life, none are more powerful than environment and heredity. The Babst family was nurtured beneath the shadows of the blue Alsatian Mountains. Living near the city of Strasburg, in that Rhinish borderland so many centuries the scene of contest between the (germans and the French, they were of necessity lovers of liberty, strong of limb and sturdy of body, keen of intellect, waters of oppression, upright in character, and ready and willing at all times to fight their own battles in life.

Of such parentage and country was Daniel Babst, Sr., who was born in 1810. His father w'as an officer in the French army, and the son retained until his death vivid recollections of Napoleon’s last campaign, and especially of the straggling army returning from the disastrous battle of Waterloo. He remained in his native country until 1832, when he came to America. He spent three years in New York city and then came to Ohio, locating in Stark county, first at Massillon and later at Canal Fulton. At the latter place in 1841 lie w'as married to Margaret Yost, whose family were also natives of Alsace-Lorraine, and shared the sturdy characteristics of her husband’s family.

It was at Canal Fulton that Daniel Babst was born, on Oct. 19, 1847. He was still but a lad when, in 1852, his father removed with his family to Crestline, a town brought into existence by the building of new railroads, and having the promise of a brilliant future. He received his public school training in the Crestline schools, and from 1864 to 1867 was a student in Oberlin College. Leaving college he began the study of law under the tutelage of Nathan Jones, Fsq., of Crestline, and in 1872 was admitted to the bar. His practice from that time w'as uninterrupted until his election to the Common Pleas bench in 1906.

During his career in the legal profession, in which Judge Babst soon attained a leading rank his services have always been at the command of the poor and needy, the altruistic spirit being among the most marked traits of the man. The native talent which he inherited W'as accompanied by the genius for hard work which is at the bottom ol" every great success in life. To whatever task he applies himself is given the best effort of which he is capable.

A natural leader of men, he has been called to many positions of usefulness and honor. His antecedents made him naturally a Republican, but he was appointed solicitor by a Democratic council, serving from 1877 to 1879, when he was appointed mayor by the same body. Later he was elected to that office, serving for seven years at that time. lie was again elected mayor in 1804 and served two terms. His service to his home town also included ten years as a member of the Board of Education and Board of School Examiners, a service which he justly regarded as the most useful and important that a man can give. To it he brought the benefit of his legal knowledge and his literary training, making it a service of rare value.

In 1 88 1 Mr. Babst was the Republican nominee lor Congress in this district, and although his opponent was elected it was by so greatly reduced a majority as to be really a

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As printed in the source³. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

DANIEL BABST, Jr., lawyer, Crestline; was born Oct. 19, 1847, in Canal Fulton, Ohio, and came to Crestline with his parents in 1852. and has always resided there. He read law with M. Jones, Esq., of Crestline, and was admitted to the bar in 1870, and commenced practice in 1872. Was elected Solicitor for the corporation of Crestline in 1878, appointed Mayor in 1879, and elected in 18S0. Mi-. Bal)st is also a member of the Board of Examiners. The subject of this sketch is a young man of great energy and ability, and is also very popular. In politics, IVIi-. Babst is an Indejicnihnt Republican.

As printed in the source². Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected.

CARL M. BABST,* attorney at law and an active member of the bar at Crestline since 1901, was born in this city, Feb. 19, 1875, and is a son of Hon. Daniel Babst, the well known jurist.

After graduating from the Crestline High School, Carl M. Babst spent two terms at Oberlin College and two years at Kenyon College, and after returning to Crestline, read law in his father's office and at the same time engaged in civil engineering work, being chief engineer for the Street Railway Company between Mansfield and Galion. Since being admitted to the bar he has somewhat divided his time. He was elected a justice of the peace for a term of three years but resigned after serving for a time in order to accept engineering work with a construction company in the West, and since resuming practice is serving in his second term as city solicitor.

He is a prominent factor in Democratic politics and for ten years has served as a delegate to Congressional conventions, and at present holds position in county, city and ward.

In 1 90 1, at Crestline, Mr. Babst was married to Miss Effie A. Harworth, a daughter of Albert Harworth, of Crestline. Mr. and Mrs. Babst are members of the Episcopal church. He is a member of the Blue Lodge, F. & A. M. and Chapter at Lima, O., and the Commandery at Mansfield, the Elks at Bucyrus and the Eagles at Crestline. He has retained membership also with his Greek letter fraternity at Kenyon College.

As printed in the source³. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.