History of Montgomery County Ohio United States of America

Our database does not include an historic photo for Montgomery County Ohio, do you have one you would like to contribute? Contact Us!

Biographies:

Dennis Dwyer, Lawyer, Judge of the Probate Court of Montgomery county, Ohio, and Founder of the Order of the Irish Catholic Benevolent Union, was born in the parish of Fethard county, Tipperary, Ireland, February 2d, 1830. His parents were Cornelius Dwyer and Bridget (Burns) Dwyer, people in moderate circumstances, who followed the vocation of farming. While in his tenth year he lost his father, and from his seventh until his thirteenth year of age, he attended an excellent national school located in the vicinity of his home, and there acquired a substantial English and mathematical education, with some knowledge of Latin and German. He subsequently went to Clonmell to live with an uncle, a man of notable mechanical genius and unusual scientific attainments. With him he learned the trade of clock and watch making, and at the same time improved his education by attending school and also through his acquaintance with a circle of scientific and scholastic disputants who were often guests at the house of his relative. Having witnessed the destitution and horrible suffering attendant on the famine, his spirit naturally revolted against that tyrannous system of repression of Irish commerce and Irish manufactures, which was, in a measure, responsible for the calamitous visitation. His uncle was a member of the O'Connell Petitioning Law and Order Party, and looked to a calm and steady policy for a final redress of grievances. He, however, was less circumspect. Fired with an enthusiastic patriotism more creditable to his heart than his judgment, he broke away from the restraining influence of his uncle, and fled to Slievenamon Mountain, to join O'Brien, Meagher, Dahoney, and the army of "Young Irelanders" gathered on the mountain, and armed with pikes and clubs. Opposed by the strong power of the government, the bubble of rebellion shone for a few days, then burst, and the insurgent forces were scattered like chaff before the winds. To avoid arrest he then fled to America, and in December, 1848, landed in New Orleans, Louisiana. In the ensuing spring, he found himself in Ohio, in very straitened circumstances, and, during that year, worked as a farm laborer in Miami county. His misery was then increased by an attack of ague, and he decided to remove to Dayton, where he served a regular apprenticeship at the trade of cabinet-making, and afterwards worked at pattern-making, and made the patterns for the first steam-engine used in United Brethren printing establishment in Dayton, while engaging at the same time in the study of law. Pursuing his legal studies under the direction of an attorney, while working assiduously at his mechanical occupation, he was admitted to the bar in 1857. He continued, however, to work at his trade until 1860, from which time until 1863 he acted as Recording Clerk in the County Clerk's office. He was afterwards engaged as a bookkeeper in Dayton until his election in 1866 to the office of Probate Judge of the county. He was re-elected to the same position in 1869, and again in 1872, and, besides, served for four years as a member of the Board of Education in Dayton, introducing many improvements into the public schools. He possesses many qualities which fit him peculiarly for public life--a genial temper, an ardent nature balanced by the wisdom of varied experience, extensive general reading, and an easy and graceful address. On all subjects his opinions are his convictions, and while he firmly upholds them, he has the utmost respect for the opinions of those with whom he may differ. He is endowed also with the executive ability to control and harmonize large numbers, a natural gift which brought him prominently before the public in 1869, when he organized at Dayton the Irish Catholic Benevolent Union, an association whose ramifications now extend over nearly every State in the Union, and into Canada, embracing among its members many thousands of the most active and intelligent Irish Catholics in America. He enjoyed the friendship and confidence of the late Hon. C. L. Vallandigham, and was associated with him in the management of the Dayton Herald and Empire, from 1868 to 1870. In politics he has always been attached to the Democratic party, and frequently has acted as Chairman of the Democratic Committees, and been also the representative of his party at the various conventions. At the present time he officiates as President of the National Board of Immigration of the Irish Catholic Benevolent Union. He was married May 9th, 1855, to Annie A. Childs, daughter of John Childs and Mary (Bingham) Childs, formerly of Richmond, Virginia. She died October 18th, 1870, leaving issue of five children--three sons and two daughters; two other children having died in infancy. Judge Dwyer is now in the meridian of his manhood, and with his acknowledged energy, ability and popularity, we bespeak for him a distinguished future.

From: The Biographical Encyclopedia of Ohio of the Nineteenth Century. Columbus, OH, USA: Galaxy Publishing Co., 1876.

William A. Mays, County Auditor, was born in Montgomery county, Ohio, June 7th, 1842. He received a common school education. When eighteen years old he started in active life as a clerk in a country store, remaining thus engaged three years. He served as a clerk in the Treasurer's office of Montgomery county, Ohio, during the years 1870 and 1871, and during the succeeding two years was engaged as bookkeeper for the banking house of Harshman & Co., Dayton, Ohio. In 1873 he was elected Auditor of Montgomery County on the Democratic ticket.

From: The Biographical Encyclopedia of Ohio of the Nineteenth Century. Columbus, OH, USA: Galaxy Publishing Co., 1876.

History of Montgomery County Ohio

Biographies:

Local History and Genealogy Links: