Daniel Babst

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

I: In I.J /In:,;u 11 If - I tea riitT.-nil;. >.d Uxtfi in rrmoTivna liil ini

[This passage is too damaged in the scanned book to reproduce. See the original book.]

Always an independent thinker, Mr. Bahst left his party in 1896, supporting lion. William P. Bryan on the financial issues that then became uppermost in American politics. He has since acted with the Democratic party. In 1906 he was nominated and elected to the Common Pleas bench of the Second Sub-division of the Tenth District, an office which he still holds. In accepting the position of judge, Mr. Bahst had but one ambition. This was to merit the reputation of a just judge. Though a man of strong feelings, of ardent likes and dislikes, on the bench lie knows neither friend nor foe. His knowledge of the law is broad and profound, and in practice he wras brilliant and able. On the bench all of this talent is given to careful and just interpretation of the law, always hearing in mind also that a Court is a seat of equity as well as law. While, like all judges, he is compelled at times to render decisions which some of the parties do not like, they are almost uniformly sustained by the higher courts, thus demonstrating that the law has been faithfully and impartially applied, judge Bahst from his long practice realized the many evils that had crept into court procedure, and these he has striven to correct, with admirable success. The rules have been simplified and so arranged that all could understand and conform to them. Promptness has characterized the work of the court and the docket has been more nearly cleaned up than for many years. The great work that Judge Bahst has accomplished is recognized by those most competent to pronounce an opinion, and he bids fair to realize his ambition of making a record as a model judge of a trial court, the most difficult position in our judicial system.

But it is not alone in his professional and official work that Judge Bahst has achieved success in life. As a citizen he has been always active and public spirited. Without entering into elaborate details it may he noted that he was a leading factor in the establishment of the Schill Bros.’ factory at ('restline. He promoted and established the works now occupied by the Burch Plow Company. He drafted and procured the passage of the law which made possible the beginning of road improvement in Jackson township, and which has since been ol inestimable value to communities throughout the state, lie was a promoter of the Crestline Building and Loan Association, and promoted and established the First National Bank of that city. It was he also who promoted and brought to Crestline the interurban electric road, now the C. & S. W.

Judge Babst’s experience in business affairs has been wide and his judgment sound. He was a partner in the Bahst Banking House with his brother Jacob for a number of years, and was his father’s assistant in many important matters. He w'as a few years ago appointed receiver of the N. Y. & P. & O. Railway by Judge Caleb H. Norris and has had many other trusts confided to his hands, vital in importance, and always executed with the most scrupulous and painstaking fidelity. His acquaintance with public men is broad and his knowledge of affairs is of wide scope. His erudition and culture, his experience and travels at home and abroad, combined with a genial nature and broad and catholic sympathies, make him a welcome addition to every circle into which he can be induced to enter. He is a Mason of high degree and an Elk.

[This passage is too damaged in the scanned book to reproduce. See the original book.]

1 u Ic-i-iiryu- ('"ni,)i; x>i ji <j:,;r(i t-if bui. r: ni wk* jk ( Mfinq (f lo * fbi it f; 1 !

fh >(d l-.9nl-.lsi e yjur o': M 5 m ' 'v j. ved).9>" v/fil i!.iui!> aii-i:

, his hearers, whether of the bar or laity, in social gathering or before the general public. Sincerity, eloquence and literary polish mark legal opinions as well as public speech, and have helped to give him the good will as well as the confidence of all.

[This passage is too damaged in the scanned book to reproduce. See the original book.]

Happy in his home and family, honoring the work in which lie engaged and honored by his fellow men, Judge Babst pursues the even tenor of his way through the afternoon of life — a life whose activities and usefulness will not cease until the lengthening twilight shadows have been merged into the night, to be the herald of a new dawn upon a brighter day.

As printed in History of Crawford County, Ohio, and representative citizens (1912). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.