My Genealogy Hound

G. W. STUDABAKER, attorney-at-law, Versailles. The subject of this memoir is a native of Ohio, born in Darke County, three miles south of Greenville, on the 23d day of September, 1840; spent his boyhood days on the farm, assisting his father in the cultivation of the soil; the plow, spade and ax were implements to which he was no stranger; he spent the winter months in attending the district school, where he obtained a good common-school education. On the 8th day of May, 1854, unfortunately his father died, leaving a widowed mother and five children to survive the storms of life, without the parental instructions of a father. In 1857, he became infatuated with what was then known as the “Kansas fever” —to “go West and grow up with the country;” he, in company with Jacob Rees, E. Calkins and Allen Jaqua, left on the 2d day of March for the “Far West,” and upon their arrival found the people divided on the subject of slavery, and during the Kansas trouble he became strongly opposed to the extension of slavery, and embraced the principles then advocated by the Republican party, and became a Radical in the true sense of the term, always found advocating the abolition of slavery, until the great rebellion put an end to the controversy. In 1865, he commenced the study of law, under the instructions of A. R. Calderwood, at Greenville, Ohio, and in October, 1871, passed an examination before the Supreme Court of Columbus, Ohio, after which he was regularly admitted as an attorney and counselor at law; he then opened a law office in Versailles, Ohio, where he has since lived and practiced his profession; and by his close application to his office, and strict attention to business consigned to his management, he has gained a large and lucrative practice throughout the county in which he resides, as well as abroad; and, as an advocate before a Jury, in presenting his side of the case, he has no equal; his natural ability seems to be adapted for the profession of his own solicitation; it can truly be said of him that he is a self-made man, being strictly temperate in all his habits. On the 11th day of May, 1875, he assisted A. R. Calderwood in the establishment of the Greenville Sunday Courier, a weekly newspaper which has a wide circulation. Mr. Studabaker has been identified with the county and township offices since his residence; in the spring of 1873, he was elected to the office of Mayor in Versailles, which office he held for six consecutive years, during which time the village grew and prospered; he is also the President of the School Board; in the fall of 1875, he was chosen by the Republican party as a candidate for State Senator, the district being composed of the counties of Darke, Shelby and Miami; the district gives about 1,800 Democratic majority, but he was only defeated by about 1,000, which shows his popularity throughout the district; in April, 1861, he enlisted in Co. K. 11th O. V. I., Col. J. W. Fraizell commanding the regiment.