James W. Gensel
James W. Gensel, assistant secretary of the South Side Building & Loan Association, of Lima, was reared and educated in Lafayette, Allen County. He was born in Jackson Township in 1863, and is a son of John F. Gensel, who enlisted in Company I, 46th Reg. Ohio Vol. Inf., and died in a hospital in Chattanooga, Tennessee, in 1864.
James W. Gensel taught school in this county about three years prior to coming to Lima to accept the position of bookkeeper in the Golly & Finley Iron Works. He remained with the company 10 years and left them only to take the office of county treasurer, to which he had been elected in the fall of 1899. Two years later he was re-elected to the office and, at the expiration of his second term accepted his present position with the South Side Building & Loan Association.
In 1888 Mr. Gensel was married to Mary Custer, who has borne him five children, viz; Ferne Y., Harold F., Ralph C., Mildred L. and Richard W. Mrs. Gensel is a daughter of Jacob Custer, who formerly operated the stone quarries in Bath township, but is now living in retirement in Lima. He is one of the oldest residents of the county, having been born and reared here. Mr. Gensel is an active Democrat and was formerly a member of the Democratic County Central Committee. He is a member of Lima Lodge, No. 581, I. O. O. F. , and served as secretary for two terms.