Richard M. Gebhart

As printed in 1909

RICHARD M. GEBHART.

Richard M. Gebhart, who is at present capable serving as county commissioner of Montgomery county, owns and operates a fine farm of eighteen acres on the Dayton and Lebanon pike. His birth occurred on the old family homestead in Miami township, Montgomery county, on the 22d of September, 1849, his parents being John A. and Mary Anna (Gebhart) Gebhart. The paternal grandparents were Andrew and Elizabeth (Miller) Gebhart, the grandfather coming to this state from Lancaster county, Pennsylvania. He drove across the mountains and took up his above on the farm on which the birth of our subject occurred, first clearing the land of the timber. He also engaged in business as a contractor and was awarded a contract for the construction of a certain portion of the Erie canal. The work was completed within the allotted time and has proven of a most excellent and durable character, the banks being in good condition at the present day. He was widely recognized as one of the most prominent and respected pioneer settlers of the community and lived to attain the venerable age of ninety-two years. His wife was one year his junior.

John A. Gebhart, the father of Richard M. Gebhart, was also born in Miami township on the farm which the grandfather had cleared on coming to this county. In early manhood he drove a stage coach from Dayton to Cincinnati but subsequently returned to the home farm and through the careful conduct of his agricultural interests gained a gratifying measure of prosperity and became a landowner. His success was due entirely to his own well directed labor and industry and throughout this county, in which his entire life was passed, he was well known as a most substantial and public-spirited citizen. He was twice married and by his first wife had seven children, namely: John A.; Richard M., of this review; Frank E.; Augustus A., who is deceased; Arthur A.; Clarence; and George G., who has also passed away. Subsequent to the death of his first wife John A. Gebhart was again married, his second union being with Anna Skiles, by whom he had one child, Lillie May.

Richard M. Gebhart was brought to Van Buren township when but four years of age and here obtained his education, the school being about three miles distant from his home. He supplemented his early mental training by a course at St. Mary’s Institute and subsequently went to Lebanon, where he completed his education. After the death of his mother the care of the younger children devolved upon him and he continued to look after their interests until the time of his father’s second marriage. He is now the owner of a valuable and well improved tract of land of eighteen acres in Van Buren township and has been very successful in his farming and stock-raising interests, having long been numbered among the progressive and enterprising citizens and business men of the community. In 1904 he erected his present residence — a modern and attractive dwelling containing eight rooms— and also has a new barn which is considered one of the best in the county.

On the 2 ist of December, 1869, Mr. Gebhart was united in marriage to Miss Catharine G. Lamme, a daughter of James and Susan (Otey) Lamme. The father, a native of Miami township, was one of the county’s most prominent and prosperous agriculturists. His parents were Robert and Catharine (Ridgley) Lamme, the former, who came from Maryland, being the first representative of the name in this county.

In his political views Mr. Gebhart is a stalwart democrat and is an active worker in the local ranks of the party. He served as pike commissioner of Miami township for three terms and also acted in that position in Van Buren township for a similar period. For three terms he was a member of the fair board and is now assessor, which position he has held for four or five years. That his services in this office have proven entirely satisfactory to all concerned is indicated by the fact that at the last election he was chosen by a handsome majority. Fraternally he is identified with the Knights of Pythias at Dayton. Both Mr. and Mrs. Gebhart have an extensive circle of friends throughout the county in which they have always resided and are worthy representatives of two of the prominent and honored pioneer families whose labors contributed to the early development and upbuilding of this section of the state.

As printed in History of the city of Dayton and Montgomery County, Ohio (1909). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.