Michael Herbert
Michael Herbert, banker, Washington, was born near the city of Limerick, Ireland, September 25, 1829. As regards his genealogy, he has learned sufficient to know that it is considerably mixed, composed of various fonts, consisting of German-English and Spanish-French blood. On his father's side the former prevails; on his mother's, the latter. He received his school education in the "Emerald Isle." With his father's family he emigrated to Canada in 1840. He was early " thrown upon his own resources." He commenced the study of the printing business at London, Canada West, in 1842. In May, 1850, he left Canada, and migrated to Cincinnati, where he remained, pursuing his studies of "the art preservative," until November, 1855. He then came to Washington, this county, and accepted the foremanship of the office of the Washington Register. He had previously, during his sojourn in Cincinnati, become intimately acquainted with the editor of that paper, Mr. Elgar B. Pearce, they having "set 'em up" on various journals during their stay in the Queen City, and at case they did labor together.
In April, 1861, he dropped "the stick and rule," and "fought, bled, and died for his country" during the three months' "sojer" campaign, as many great heroes have done in cases of similar " unpleasantness," and long afterward partook of regular rations! At the close of that ever-to-be-remembered, though brief campaign, owing to physical disability under which he then labored, he abandoned "the profession of arms," and again resumed the duties of his position on the Regisfer. During his connection with that journal in the capacity mentioned, he performed considerable dut}^ in the chair editorial—wrote for and contributed largely to its columns. In January, 1866, he commenced to act as clerk (book-keeper) in the First National Bank of Washington (which corporation became a private banking institution, styled and known as the Peoples and Drovers Bank, in April, 1878). In 1868 he was appointed teller of the bank, and at present writing (September, 1881,) still officiates in that position. He states that though he has handled millions of cash, he yet finds dollars of 1804 very scarce!
January 20, 1870, a very important episode transpired in the life of Mr. Herbert. He married! took unto himself as wife a most bells estimable lady, Mrs. Virginia B. Pearce, widow of his laugsyne friend, Mr. E. B. Pearce.
As a voyager on life's stormy sea, Mr. Herbert " pursues the even tenor of his way" in the endeavor to discharge, as best he can, and as seems to him right and proper, the various duties devolving upon iiim, feeling that "Time will make all things right," e'en though
" There's many a change on Folly's be
Quite equals mud and oyster shells."
From R. S. Dills' History of Fayette County