In the book's own words, not ours, with obvious scanning errors fixed. Families often supplied these stories to the publisher, so check key dates.
Born 1846, Madison township
From Centennial portrait and biographical record of the city of Dayton and of Montgomery County, Ohio, containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, together with the biographi (1897)
OSEPH W. SHANK, president of the First National bank, of Germantown, Montgomery county, Ohio, is a native of Maryland and he first saw the light October 8, 1816.
Adam Shank, his father, was also a native of Maryland, born in 1778, was a blacksmith by trade, and shortly after reaching his majority married Miss Catherine Doup, by whom he became the father of a family of children, numbering twelve, of which family the following named grew to maturity: Samuel, Joseph W., Joshua, Lydia (wife of Ezra Kemp), John, Elias and Mary (Mrs. Noah Myers). While Adam Shank was a blacksmith by trade, he drifted into farming, and for a few years followed that vocation in his native state. In 1836 he came to Ohio and settled in Madison township, Montgomery county, where he purchased a farm of 240 acres, on which he resided, prospering year by year, until he was enabled, in 1850, to retire to Germantown, where he ended his days in 1856, honored by all who knew him.
Joseph W. Shank was reared and educated in his native state until twenty years of age, when he came with his parents to Ohio. His start in life, on his individual account, was at the age of twenty years, when he began work as a carpenter, and traveled through the country, working at this trade and finding employment in various other lines of business, twice visiting California. From 1841 to 1871 he engaged in farming in German township, where he owned at one time a farm of 400 acres. But in the meantime, being a man of natural executive ability, and ripened by travel and experience, he assisted in organizing the First
National bank, of Germantown, in 1863, and is now the only survivor of the original stockholders in that financial enterprise, and has been its president since 1881.
The marriage of Joseph W. Shank took place, in 1841, with Maria Brunner, daughter of John and Catherine (Harp) Brunner, of Jackson township, Montgomery county, Ohio, to which union ten children have been born, of whom seven are still living, viz: John A., Seabury F., Mary (Mrs. George Bechtold), Ida (Mrs. Charles Cosier), Emma (Mrs. George Francis), Jabez and Maria. The family are members of the United Brethren church, of which Mr. Shank has himself, for the past forty-five years, been a communicant. In politics he is a republican, but he has never had a desire for public office. His long life has been one of probity and industry, and is well worthy of emulation.
John A. Shank, son of Joseph W. and Maria (Brunner) Shank, was born in Madison township, Montgomery county, Ohio, September 26, 1846. He was, however, reared in German township and educated in its common schools. Brought up a farmer, he now owns and occupies the old Shank homestead, and is one of the well-to-do and prosperous farmers of the neighborhood. He was married, February 2, 1871, to Miss Martha J. Eby, a daughter of Adam S. and Elizabeth (Bertels) Eby, of Madison township, and is now the happy father of three sons, viz: Orion L., Arthur M. and Herbert A. Mr. Shank and his family are members of the United Brethren church, and in politics he is a republican.
As printed in Centennial portrait and biographical record of the city of Dayton and of Montgomery County, Ohio, containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, together with the biographi (1897). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
The printed record stops around 1897. We trace your line from there down to you, with every source cited.