Joseph W. Shank
Joseph W. Shank, President of the First National Bank, Germantown, is a son of Adam Shank, who was born in Maryland in the year 1778. When at suitable age, he entered in the blacksmith trade. This vocation commanded his attention in Fredericktown for some time, but afterward he purchased a farm, and for a few years in his native State was a tiller of the soil. In 1836, he removed to Montgomery County, Ohio, locating in Madison Township, where he purchased 240 acres of land. His marriage was celebrated in his, as well as his wife's native State, prior to his removal to Ohio, her maiden name being Catherine Doup. The issue of their union was seven children, two daughters and five sons. By the time Adam had his farm in Montgomery County under good cultivation, time had bent his once strong and rugged frame, and death followed about 1856 in Germantown, where he located about 1850, both he and wife leaving the record of an upright, practical, useful and Christianlike life for imitation. Joseph W., whose name heads this sketch, was born October 8, 1816, in the same State as his father. His education was obtained at subscription schools, and, through his own exertions, laboring on his father's farm until 1838, when he, of his own natural adaptability, commenced the coopering trade, which he conducted one year, thence embarked for St. Louis, via Cincinnati, locating in St. Clair County, Ill., where he thought great advantages were offered to young men; there engaged as an inexperienced hand at the carpenter trade. Subsequently, became the owner of a horse, which he rode to Hagerstown, Ind., and traded for town property. This he held thirty-nine years, depreciating in value 25 per cent. About 1840, he engaged to the contractor to assist in erecting the Third street river bridge across the Great Miami at Dayton. Soon after the completion of the bridge, he formed a partnership with his brother Samuel, who was a contractor and builder; while thus engaged, on March 16, 1843, he married Mariah Bruner, who was then nineteen years of age, and a native of Montgomery County, Ohio. To this union were given ten children. Mr. Shank followed carpentering until 1847, when he resumed the vocation of farming on his father's farm; subsequently became the owner of a fine farm, from whence he removed to Germantown. He has been for years one of the Directors of the First National Bank of that place, of which he is now President. Mr. and Mrs. Shank have been for twenty-five years valuable members of the U. B. Church.
From History of Montgomery County, Ohio, W. H. Beers & Co., Chicago, 1882