Gabriel Dague
The life of Gabriel C.Dague has always been one of unceasing industry and perseverance and the systematic and honorable methods he has followed have won him the unbounded confidence of his fellow men. He was born in Chippewa township, Wayne county, Ohio, January 14, 1841, the son of M. D. and Elizabeth K. (McElhaine) Dague. Both were born near Beverly, Pennsylvania, and each came to Chippewa township about 1820 with their parents, and here amid the primitive conditions of those early days they grew to maturity. M.D. Dague was educated in the early schools of Chippewa township, working on the home farm in the meantime. He naturally turned his attention to agricultural pursuits, which he followed until 1868, in which year he entered the general mercantile business in Western Star, Ohio, which lies partly in Medina and partly in Summit county. He continued in that line for five years and then sold out to his two sons, William Carman and GabrielC., the latter the subject of this sketch. These two sons and their father, also Samuel Duley, the father-in-law of William Carman Dague, then started a store in Doylestown, Ohio, in which they successfully handled dry goods, groceries and notions. During this time M. D. Dague again became part owner of his sons' stores at Western Star and Doylestown. Ten years after he entered business in Doylestown he retired and lived a quiet life until his death, at eighty-five years of age, living in Doylestown, merely looking after his agricultural interests in a general way. He was a very successful business man and was popular with all classes owing to his honesty and friendliness.
For further facts regarding the ancestry of the subject, the reader is directed to the sketch of T. J. Dague on another page of this work.
Gabriel C. Dague received his educational training in the common schools at the various places he lived when a boy and at the Western Star Academy. In September, 1862, soon after completing his education, he enlisted in the Union Army, but he was not admitted to the service until October 9th of that year. He was a member of Company G. One Hundred and Twentieth Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and served with that company until May 3, 1864, in a manner that stamped him as a gallant soldier. He was taken prisoner at Shagy Point, Louisiana, on the Red river, and he was sent to Camp Ford, Tyler, Texas, where he was held until May 27, 1865. He fought at Chickasaw Bluffs, at the siege of Vicksburg, Arkansas Post, after which he returned to Vicksburg and remained there from July 4, 1863, until the city surrendered a month later. He then went with his company to New Orleans and spent the winter at Plaquemine, Louisiana. After his release he weighed but eighty pounds. He returned to his father's farm and assisted with the work on the home place for eight years, then farmed for himself for four years, at the end of which time he purchased a half interest in his father's store at Western Star, as already indicated. Then for a period of thirty-two years he followed in a most successful manner merchandising at Western Star, Doylestown and Akron, Ohio, twenty years being spent at Western Star and twelve years at the last mentioned places; however, he was interested in all three most of the time. He seemed to take naturally to merchandising and his stores enjoyed a very liberal patronage. In 1904 he sold out his last interest and has since lived a retired life at his beautiful home in Doylestown, surrounded by plenty as the fruits of his earlier years of labor.
Mr. Dague was married in November 1865, toJennie H. Harkins, of Wooster, who passed away in 1868, and on December 30, 1869, Mr. Dague again married his last wife being Mary A Brown, a native of Stark county, Ohio, and to this union four children were born, namely; Bertha, who married Harry Baughman, is the mother of two children, Bessie and Ralph; Harmon H. married Minnie Seiberling, and they are the parents of three children, Ethel, Florence and Roy. Carman W. and Raymond Dague are both deceased.
Politically, Mr. Dague adheres to the tenets of the Democratic party. He has been school director in Doylestown, Western Star, also treasurer of the school board at Western Star. He was also postmaster at that place for fifteen years. He has always been interested in the progress of his county, politically, morally, educationally or materially, and he has an extensive acquaintance throughout this locality, bearing a reputation of honesty and industry alike.
From The History of Wayne County, Ohio, B. E. Bowen & Co., Indianapolis, 1910