BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES, BELMONT COUNTY, OHIO

"History of the Upper Ohio Valley" Vol. II, 1890.

Presented by Linda Fluharty from hard copies provided
by Mary Staley & Phyllis Slater.


Pages 576-577.

JAMES B. DARRAH, secretary of the Belmont Savings and Loan company,
first saw the light of day in Baltimore, Md., in 1829. His parents
were Robert and Mary A. (Milligan) Darrah, both of Irish birth.
Robert was a farmer in Ireland until 1820, when he came to this
country, first living in Baltimore, but soon moving west and locating
in Wheeling, W. Va. After remaining there but a short time he came
to Belmont county, Ohio, and lived here until 1860, when the family
removed to Jefferson county. He died in Jefferson county in 1876.
While living in Baltimore he married Mary Milligan, and they were
the parents of nine children, six of whom survive him. The mother
passed away in 1887. James attended the schools in Belmont county
for a time and then started his business career by buying and
selling produce. When twenty-one years old he began to work at
the carpenter's trade and followed this until a few years ago.
From 1855 he was engaged in contracting and building in Bellaire,
but in 1885 the Belmont Savings and Loan company was formed by J.
B. Darrah, William J. McCain, J. W. Coulson, P. Whealan, David
Darrah, J. E. Robeson, J. F. Anderson. James B. Darrah was elected
secretary of this company at that time and still fills the office,
having shown great ability in his management of the affairs of the
company. He was first married to Mary Henry in 1860, she died eight
years after, and in time, he was married to Carrie E. Meyer, a
former resident of Cambridge, Ohio. Mr. Darrah is a member of the
Masonic order, and the K. of P. In 1880 he was the democratic
candidate for sheriff of Belmont county, and desplte the fact that
his party was in the minority Mr. Darrah lacked but a few votes
of being elected. Few men in the county have made a more marked
success than he. Starting, as he did, without money and with but
few friends, he has achieved a position in the financial and social
portion of the community which any man might envy. This has been
secured only by persistent effort, and by the exercise of integrity
and ability.