DAVID LEWIS GASKILL. The exponents of the law in Darke county are without ex-ception men of broad training, keen judgment, and resolute bearing, and among them none stands higher than David Lewis Gaskill of the firm of Meeker & Gaskill, with offices in the Electric building on West Fourth street, Greenville, and residence at No. 303 East Third street this same city. His rise in his profession has been steady, and within late years he has been connected with some of the most important juris- prudence of this part of the State. He was born at Troy, Ohio, December 11, 1862, a son of Abram and Sarah A. (Youart) Gaskill, and grandson of Abram and Elizabeth Gaskill, and John and Jane (Youart) Youart. Abram Gaskill and his wife were both born in New Jersey, but became pioneers of Warren county, Ohio, and died in 1819, and she at an advanced age, being interred at Quincy, Ohio. Abram Gaskill was the only son of his mother*s first marriage, but by her second union with a Mr. Stiles, she had four children. John Youart was born at Balameda, County Antrim, Ireland, and his wife was a native of the same place. They were Scotch- Irish Presbyterians. Leaving their own country, they came to the United States, locating in Miami county, Ohio, being among its early settlers, and there he died. After his demise, his widow came to Greenville and resided in this city for fourteen years, dying when ninety-two years old. She and her husband had a large family, but Mrs. Abram Gaskill was the only one who married. Abram Gaskill grew up in Warren county, Ohio, where he learned the wagon making trade. In 1844, he sought better opportunities at Troy, Miami county, Ohio, there embarking in the manufacture of carriages, selling this business in 1853, to engage in the production of plows. In 1864 he found a pur- chaser for this business, and coming to Darke county, pur- chased the old King farm in Greenville township, and busied himself in conducting it, living upon this property until 1888, when he retired, and moving to Greenville, died at that city in 1910, aged ninety-one years. He was twice married, his first wife being Margaret Irwin, a daughter of the Judge Advocate, William Irwin, who was one of the officers in St. Clair's defeat. William H. Gaskill was the only child born of this marriage, and he died in November, 1912, aged sixty-eight years. The first Mrs. Gaskill died in 1854. In 1860 Abram Gaskill mar- ried Sarah A. Youart, of Troy, Ohio. They had three children : Charles, who died in infancy ; David Lewis, whose name heads this article, and Jennie E., deceased, who was the wife of Ben- jamin M. Allen. Growing up on his father's farm east of Greenville, David L. Gaskill had the advantages of both rural and urban sur- roundings, and attended the country schools, and later the Greenville high school, from which he was graduated in 1880.
Subseqtitsntly he entered the Ohio State University at Columbus, Ohio, class of 1884. In 1890 he moved to Greenville and began the study of law, and the following year was admitted to the bar, and since then has carried on a general practice. In addition to his legal business, Mr. Gaskill is interested in several commercial ventures, having been the organizer of the Greenville Electric Light Company in 1895, which he has served ever since as president. He is a director in the Ross Supply Company ; wajs president of the Ohio Electrical Association during 1900, and has been secretary of that organiza- tion ever since. Elected secretary of the National District Heating Association in 1909, he has held that position to this day. On June 27, 1883, Mr. Gaskill married Miss Sarah E. Meeker, eldest daughter of Judge D. L. and Mary (Deardorff) Meeker, and they have four children : Helen, Mary A. Esther A. and David, all of whom are living with their father. At the time of his marriage, Mr. Gaskill established a home on a farm one mile east of Greenville, which continued his place of residence until 1890, and he still owns it. Mrs. Gaskill was a member of the Presbyterian church of Green- ville, and valued for her efficient work in its behalf. Mr. Gas- kill is quite prominent fraternally, finding relaxation as a member of Greenville Lodge No. 143, F. & A. M. ; Greenville Chapter No. 77, R. A. M. ; Matchett Council, R. & S. M. In politics he is a Republican, and was appointed by Governor Harris a trustee of Miami University, to fill the unexpired term of Judge Samuel G. Hunt in 1907, and still holds that office, having been reappointed for a term that expires in 1917. He was elected a member of the electoral college in 1896, from the Fourth district ; was a member of the board of education lor the city of Greenville for thirteen years; procured the Carnegie donation for the Carnegie library at Greenville, and had charge of that building and also the erecting of the north school building, and is ever found ready to do more than his part to forward any measures he believes will work out for the good of his city. Mrs. Gaskitt was born at Greenville, Ohio. She is a member of the prominent clubs and societies of Greenville and mem- ber of the Presbyterian church. Her sisters are Mrs. Anna LecMider, Mrs. E. Lawrence and Miss Mary Stallman, of Greenville. Her parents were born in Darke county, Ohio, and lived at Greenville for many years, there dying. Their children were; Frank D., Walter S., Mary C-, Nan E-, Virginia G,, Alice M-, Harry W. and Sarah E. Mrs. Sarah E. Gaskill died in 1905. On January 20, 1913, David L. Gaskill was married to Minnie M. Stallman, of Greenville, Ohio, Their home is at 303 East Third street.