USA > Ohio > Allen County > History of Allen County, Ohio and Representative Citizens > Part 18
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Mr. Botkins was married October 20, 1885, to Nellie Lepsit, daughter of the late William Lepsit, who was a well and favorably known conductor on the Pennsylvania Railroad up to the time of his death in the winter of 1895.
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Two children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Bot- kins: Carrie, who graduated from the Lima High School, in the class ( f 1904, and Ruth, who is yet attending school. The family are members of Trinity Methodist Episcopal Church and take an active interest in the church work. Mr. Botkins is a member of the I. O. O. F. During the 27 years of his residence in Lima he has made a host of friends by his hon- orable and upright demeanor.
S AMUEL EAST, one of German town- ship's pioneer farmers and leading cit- izens, township trustee and school di- rector, was born in Pickaway County, Ohio, December 2, 1830, and is a son of John and Elizabeth (Hufferd) East.
Christopher East, the paternal grandfather, was a Hessian soldier in the British Army dur- ing the Revolutionary War, who later located in Pickaway County, Ohio, followed agricult- ure and died there. His son, John East, father of Samuel, was born near Harrisburg, Penn- sylvania, December 12, 1794, and later moved to Pickaway County, Ohio, and died in Allen County, September 20, 1862. On April 3, 1817, he married Elizabeth Hufferd, who was born in 1799. Their children were two daugh- ters and three sons, namely: Mary, who mar- ried Jacob S. Baker; Elizabeth, who married Samuel Clutter; Isaac, who married Barbara Burkholder; Abraham, who married Jane Mc- Millen; and Samuel, of this sketch, who is the only survivor.
Samuel East was reared on a farm and has devoted his entire life to agricultural pursuits. When prepared to take upon himself domestic responsibilities, he chose for his wife Elizabeth Mumaw, the estimable daughter of Frederick and Elenora (Loughe) Mumaw, old residents of Knox County, Ohio. These children were born to them: Marion, born September 25, 1856, deceased September 23, 1857; Monroe M., born March 13, 1858, who married Pris- cilla Alice Crider, daughter of Isaac Crider, November 1, 1877; Albert and Alfred (twins), born January 1, 1860-the former deceased February 14, 1860, and the latter, who married
Emma Kauffman, October 29, 1881, still sur- viving; Melissa Ellen, born July 23, 1861, who inarried Newton K. Ransbottom, November 29, 1877, and died May 27, 1879; Marietta, born October 16, 1862, who married Isaac D. Crider, March 25, 1880; Irene, born March 23, 1864, deceased December 3, 1872; Duley Iona, born November 15, 1865, who married S. T. Crites, September 13, 1887, and died Novem- ber 19, 1896; and Sarah Princes, born October 26, 1869, who married Henry F. Desenberg, December 7, 1889, and died March 21, 1900.
R M. TAYLOR, secretary, treasurer and manager of the Mckibben Gas En- gine Company, of Lima, stands among the city's representative busi- ness men, although scarcely yet in the prime of life. He was born in England, in April, 1881, and is a son of George Taylor.
The father of R. M. Taylor is one of Allen County's best known men. He graduated as a civil and as a mechanical engineer in England and came to America in 1886. He has served as county surveyor and is a professional civil engineer. One brother of our subject, Joe Taylor, graduated from the Lima Business Col- lege, taking the world's record in shorthand. He received the degrees of A. B. and B. S. from Lima College where he taught for a time. Later he took an A. B. degree at Wooster and still later received an A. B. at Harvard Univer- sity. He is now manager of the Uncas Paper Mills, of Norwich, Connecticut. Still another brother, George Taylor, a graduate of the Lima High School, received the degree of A. B. from the Western Reserve University, and is assistant chief draughtsman for the Penn- sylvania lines west of Pittsburg.
R. M. Taylor was five years old when his parents came to America and located at Mount Pleasant, Pennsylvania, where he lived until 1893, when he came to Lima. He attended the Lima High School when Prof. Charles C. Miller was in charge. Immediately after graduating, he entered the shops of the C., H. & D. Railway, where he remained three and a half years, gaining a thoroughly practical edu-
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cation. He next spent a short season with Charles W. Angell, in his electrical works, after which he was appointed inspector of locomo- tives for the Chicago, Cincinnati - Louisville Railroad. He performed the duties of this office for six months; when the road changed hands, Mr. Taylor bought an interest in the Mckibben Gas Engine Company. This com- pany was incorporated April 11, 1901, with a capital stock of $10,000, with C. A. Moore, president; Fred E. Herold, vice-president, and R. M. Taylor, secretary, treasurer and mana- ger. The business is the manufacturing of gasoline engines, repair work on steam and gas-engines and all kinds of boiler work. Mr. Taylor is also a stockholder in the Bower Roller Bearing Company, of Dayton, Ohio. He was made treasurer of the Lima Paper Stock Company, November 15, 1905.
For some 14 years Mr. Taylor has been a member of the Market Street Presbyterian Church of Lima. He takes an active interest in public matters and political contests, but not to the exclusion of his own business interests. He is in every way qualified for the positions he holds and is fast becoming one of the city's successful business men.
P. & J. J. HARDIN, whose exten- sive agricultural operations and large stock-raising enterprises are carried on in section 35, Perry township, are experienced men in their line of activity.
The firm which is made up of Franklin Pierce and James J. Hardin, brothers, began the raising of Chester-White hogs in 1895. It is probable that no exhibitors at fairs ever met with greater success, year in and year out, than has this firm. They have exhibited at county, State and international fairs, meeting the very best in competition, and have frequently cap- tured every first prize offered, and on all occa- sions have secured the lion's share of the hon- ors. At the St. Louis Exposition in 1904, they carried off $1,235 in prizes, and it is a remark- able and unusual fact that at all the various
fairs where they have exhibited, their prizes have been far in excess of the shipping charges and expense of exhibiting. This enviable rep- utation has been made in a period of six years and it is of so stable a character as to have brought a demand for their Chester-Whites from every section of this country and from Canada. The hogs bring fancy prices and are mainly used by buyers for breeding and exhibi- tion purposes.
The first exhibition made by the firm was in 1898, at the Ohio State Fair, and the exhibit won four first and a second prize and two sweepstakes. In this year the firm lost 92 head; so in 1899 they exhibited but two hogs and re- ceived one first and one second prize, and in 1900, three sweepstakes and four first, four second and three third prizes. At the Indiana State Fair in 1900, they were awarded five first premiums, one second, one third and one cham- pionship. In 1900 at the Illinois State Fair they were awarded 10 firsts, three seconds, one third and one sweepstake. In the same year, at St. Louis, they received 10 firsts and three thirds. In 1901, at the Pan-American Exposition they took six firsts, six seconds, three thirds, three fourths, one fifth and one sweepstake. In this same year, at the New York State Fair held at Syracuse, they received two championship,, 10 firsts out of a possible 11, and three seconds. In 1901, at the Michigan State Fair, they were awarded II firsts out of a possible 12, three sec- onds and two thirds. In 1902, at the Iowa State Fair, held at Des Moines, they received one first, five seconds and one third prize. In 1902, at the Nebraska State Fair held at Lin- coln, they received eight firsts, six seconds, four thirds and one fourth, and at the Kansas State Fair, they received II firsts and six seconds.
In 1903 they exhibited at the Ohio State Fair and were awarded II first, all they were entered in, four seconds and one third. At the Indiana State Fair held at Indianapolis, in 1903, they received eight firsts, two seconds, two thirds and one championship. In the same year, at the Kentucky State Fair held at Owensboro, they were given seven firsts, six seconds and seven thirds. At the Illinois State Fair held at Springfield in 1903, they were
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awarded six first and six seconds. At the Inter- national Fair held at Chicago, they were awarded 10 firsts, six seconds, two thirds and two championships, this remarkable record of exhibitions and successes being completed at the St. Louis Exposition, as above mentioned. Their prize winners at the St. Louis Louisiana Purchase Exposition were as follows: Junior yearling boar, first prize; senior under year boar, first and second prize; junior under year boar, first prize; aged sow, 19th and 20th prizes; senior yearling sow, second and fourth prizes; junior yearling sow, second prize; se- nior under year sow, first and fifth prizes; junior under year sow, seventh prize. At the same exposition the championships were : Champion boar under year, first and reserve; champion sow under one year, first prize; cham- pion sow, any age, first prize; get of one sire, four animals, first and fifth prizes; four ani- mals, produce of one sow, first prize; boar and three sows over one year, first prize; boar and sow under one year, first prize; best showing of Chester-White swine in class ring, first prize; best showing of Chester-White bred by exhib- itor, first prize; boar and three sows, one year and over, bred by exhibitor, first $200 prize; champion fat barren, one year and under, two first prizes ; champion barren, any age, first prize.
In addition to hog raising the firm engaged in general farming, and they feed, buy and sell cattle, horses and mules, also raise seed corn. They keep all kinds of machinery necessary for their work and include in their possession a full complement of carpenter and blacksmith tools so that they can make most of their own repairs. They also operate a sawmill on one corner of the farm. A large, handsome modern home is surrounded by all the necessary build- ings, which are made use of in the conduct of such extensive business operations.
FRANKLIN PIERCE HARDIN, the senior member of the well-known firm of F. P. & J. J. Hardin, was born February 16, 1865, in Allen County, a half mile east of South War- saw, and is a son of John and Elizabeth (Jacobs) Hardin.
Jesse Hardin, the grandfather, was born in
Pennsylvania, and was a son of John Hardin, who also was a native of the Keystone State, and moved with his family to Ohio, first set- tling in Knox County, but locating in 1837 with the pioneers in Auglaize County. Jesse Hardin married Mary Brentlinger, a native of Ohio, and a daughter of Daniel Brentlinger, also a pioneer in Auglaize County. They had the fol- lowing children : John, Martha, Louisa, Martin, Catherine, Joseph, all deceased; Lucinda, wife of S. D. Focht; Anna, deceased, who was the wife of Joseph H. Lusk, also deceased; Frank P., of Union township, Auglaize County ; Me- lissa, deceased; and Marietta, wife of Dr. Peter Van Trump.
John Hardin, father of Franklin P., was born January 31, 1840, in Auglaize County, was educated in the common schools and re- mained at home until the age of 23, when he was married on September 14, 1863, to Eliza- beth Jacobs. She was a daughter of Cadwal- lader and Sallie (Lepley) Jacobs. They had the following children : Franklin P .; James J .; Willett L., who is taking up coal leases for the Symmes Creek Coal Company; Eli B., of Lima; Baxter S., who was drowned July 19, 1902, while on a fishing excursion in British Columbia ; Charles S., who died in infancy ; and Mary Sally, who died September 7, 1900.
In 1863 John Hardin settled in section 26, Perry township, and five years later moved to section 35. He cleared and improved the larger part of this farm and resided upon it until 1894, when he went to California for a year, returning to Ohio in 1895 and settling at Lima, where he died August 20, 1900. In 1880 he embarked in the lumber business. Af- ter the discovery of oil and the necessity for oil machinery arose, he engaged in the manufact- ure of sucker rods until 1894. His sons, who compose the Hardin firm, still continue the bus- iness. Prior to this, in 1881, he engaged in tlie drain tile business with G. Jennings and D. L. Umbaugh. In 1890 he bought out his partners, and in 1896 he was in partnership with J. A. Jacobs, a brother-in-law, in the Lima Coal & Sewer Pipe Company, and still later he was interested in the sale of farm im- plements, carriages and wagons. continuing an
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ROBERT HILL
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active business man until his death. In politics he was a Democrat and on several occasions he served in township offices.
Franklin P. Hardin was three years of age when his parents came to the present farm in section 35, Perry township, on the Auglaize County line, on which he has resided for 37 years. His education was acquired in the local schools and all his interests have centered around this farm and its many possibilities. In 1890 the father formed the firm of John Hardin & Sons and in all his enterprises the sons as- sisted. After the father gave up his lumber interests, Franklin P. and James J. continued the business until 1901. Since 1901 his time has been mostly devoted to promoting the farm- ing and hog interests of the firm of F. P. & J. J. Hardin, mentioned above.
On November 1, 1894, Mr. Hardin was married to Belle Bowyer, who was born in Auglaize township, Allen County, Ohio, June 21, 1867, and is a daughter of Henry and Eme- line (Eastman) Bowyer. Her father was a son of Madison and Rachel (Largent) Bowyer. Four children have been born to this marriage, namely: Celila Lawrie, born March 6, 1896; Roena Ilo, born June 7, 1898; Avis Anil, born September 24, 1900; and Milba Hale, born Jan- uary I, 1904. Politically, Mr. Hardin is a Democrat.
As the above record has told, both Mr. and Mrs. Hardin belong to old established families of this section. Mr. Hardin is proud of these ancestral lines, as he has reason to be, and he has in his possession two pictures which will doubtless be highly valued by his descendants. These may be termed four-generation groups and those presented on one picture are his grandmother, Mrs. Mary Bentlinger Hardin, his father, John Hardin, himself and a daugh- ter. The other, more interesting, represents Mrs. Hardin, her mother, Mrs. Emeline ( East- man) Bowyer, her grandmother, Mrs. Rachel Bowyer, and her own two daughters, besides all those in the first group and the mother of our subject. There are many families who would consider these priceless treasures had their ancestors been thoughtful enough to pre- serve family pictures in this way.
R OBERT HILL, one of Lima's retired citizens, who for 22 years was one of her most active business men, was born in 1840 in Columbiana County, Ohio, and is a son of John Hill.
The father of Mr. Hill was born in Pennsyl- vania. In addition to farming he worked at the shoemaker's trade, and, being a natural me- chanic, was able to turn his hand to almost any- thing. He lived for a time in Ohio, but later returned to Pennsylvania and died there. Our subject has one sister, Mrs. Elizabeth Standi- ford, widow of John F. Standiford, who is a resident of Perry township, Allen County.
Robert Hill was reared and educated in Co- lumbiana County, Ohio, and Beaver County, Pennsylvania. In 1859 he visited Owen Coun- ty, Indiana, for a short time, coming to Lima in the spring of 1860. At the opening of the Civil War, in 1861, he enlisted in Company E, Colonel Martin's Independent Rifles, which went to Missouri, being in the Army of Gen. John C. Fremont. Later the organization be- came Company E, First Reg., Ohio Vol. Inf., which participated in the battles of Pittsburg Landing and Corinth. It participated in the campaign from Chattanooga to Atlanta, and Mr. Hill's time of enlistment expired just after the fall of the latter city, his honorable dis- charge being given at East Point, Georgia.
After the close of his army service, Mr. Hill returned to Lima and soon engaged in farming and stockraising, in which lines he con- tinued until 1872, when he located in Lima. For several succeeding years he hauled straw for the Lima Paper Company, and for 22 years was in the house-moving business. He also served one term as street commissioner. For the past few years he has devoted his time to the superintendence of his investments and to the general enjoyment of life made possible by his long previous years of industry.
In 1867 Mr. Hill was married to Lavina Crossley, who is a daughter of Ross Crossley, one of the early pioneers of Allen County. Mr. and Mrs. Hill have four children, viz: Anna- bel, who is a clerk in R. T. Gregg & Company's store in Lima; Pheba Gertrude; Charles C .; and Araminta May, who is the wife of Floyd
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Patton, of Lima. Mr. Hill belongs to Mart Armstrong Post, No. 202, G. A. R., of Lima. His portrait accompanies this sketch.
A. MOORE, retired merchant of Lima, and for many years one of its leading men of business, was born in Butler County, Ohio, a son of one of the early pioneers of this section.
Mr. Moore was a babe in arms when his parents came to Lima and he lived near this city until about seven years of age, when the family removal was made to Warren County. From the public schools he entered Ohio Wes- leyan University at Delaware and thus secured an excellent training for business. His earliest inclinations turned to merchandising and his first independent work was as a clerk in a grocery house in Cincinnati, where his salary was on the basis of $75 per annum. His in- dustry and intelligent interest in the affairs of his employer soon advanced him, and by the time he was 18 years of age he was invited into partnership with M. C. Adams, of Eaton, Ohio, in a wholesale and retail grocery busi- ness. The firm of Moore & Adams established a store on Court street, Cincinnati, and during the first year did a business of $68,000. At the end, Mr. Adams offered Mr. Moore a good bonus to sell to him, which was accepted and Mr. Moore went to Cambridge City, Indiana, where he engaged as clerk in a dry goods busi- ness for two years.
After a short time Mr. Moore returned to Lima where his early childhood had been spent, secured a partner and went into the retail gro- cery business under the firm name of Moore & Lisle, which continued three years. Then our subject turned his attention to dry goods and established himself in business on the Public Square, Lima, where for 19 years he was one of the leading dry goods merchants.
Since retiring from active business life, Mr. Moore has enjoyed the recreation of travel, and with his family, has visited most of the interesting points in the United States. He has large real estate investments which require
attention, though they do not absorb his time to such an extent as to preclude such enjoyment as ample means makes possible.
In 1856 Mr. Moore was married to Ema- line Underwood, of Allen County, and by this union there were four children, the only one surviving being Eva, wife of Walter S. Mc- Nairy, of Lima. Mrs. Moore died in 1866. In 1868 Mr. Moore was united to E. Matilda Jacobs, a daughter of Thomas K. Jacobs, an old pioneer of this county. The following chil- dren were the fruit of this marriage, viz .: T. K., a physician, of Akron, Ohio; E. K., of Lima; Annie, who has been a successful teacher in Chicago; W. Cloyd, in the office of the Chi- cago & Erie Railroad Company at Chicago; and H. Stewart, of Lima. Mr. Moore has long been a member of Trinity Methodist Episcopal Church, of Lima. His business methods have given him a high standing in the business world, and he has constantly shown his public spirit in the promotion of various civic move- ments looking to the public welfare.
J OHN E. PATTERSON, general merch- ant, at Beaver Dam, was born in Bath township, Allen County, Ohio, March 13, 1873, and is a son of John and Elizabeth (Driver) Patterson.
John Patterson, father of J. E. Patterson, was a native of Allen County. He was a farmer and for some years operated a threshing machine. In 1873 he moved with his family to Nevada, and then returned to Ohio, settled on a farm and died in 1885, aged 45 years. He married Elizabeth Driver, who died at Lima, aged 65 years. She was born in Virginia. Their children were: Mary Jane, born in 1861, deceased in 1871; Emma C., born July 26, 1867, deceased December 28, 1871; Samuel, born June 5, 1870, deceased January 14, 1872 -all three children victims of an epidemic of diphtheria; John E., our subject; Hallie (Mound), of Lima, born October 22, 1876; and Franklin D., born September 1I, 1879, de- ceased January 10, 1881.
John E. Patterson was a babe when his
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parents moved to Nevada and was two years old when they settled on a farm near Lima. He attended the country schools until he was eight years old, when his father moved to Lima, where he died when John E. was a lad of 12 years. The death of the father made changes in the family, and our subject came to Beaver Dam and worked for a cousin until he was 19 years old, and as opportunity offered attended school, passing one term at the Ohio Normal University at Ada. Then he taught one term and for some years following he was variously employed, working in a sawmill, clerking for one year and then went on the Lake Erie & Western Railroad for three years, after which he bought a grocery, which he conducted for two years, and then farmed for three years. In 1902 Mr. Patterson embarked in his present general mercantile business, one in which he has met with success.
In 1893 Mr. Patterson was married to Mina Criblez, who was born in Allen County and is a daughter of Samuel and Lucy (Curtis) Criblez, natives of Ohio. The Criblez family originated in France, in which country Mrs. Patterson's grandparents were born. Mr. and Mrs. Patterson have twin daughters, Della and Nellie, who were born March 24, 1894.
Politically Mr. Patterson is identified with the Republican party. He is one of Beaver Dam's intelligent and enterprising men and is a member of the Board of Education of the village. He belongs to the Odd Fellows and the Modern Woodmen of America.
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ONSTANTINE SCHERGER, e a well-known business citizen of Del- phos, the head of the firm of C. Scherger & Sons, marble dealers and monument workers, was born Octo- ber 1, 1842, in Germany, and is a son of Anton and Josephine Scherger.
The parents of Mr. Scherger were both born in Germany. In 1845 they came to America and settled first in Seneca County, Ohio, where the father followed agricultural pursuits for a number of years. The death of the mother at the age of 37 years, in 1851, was
occasioned by her accidentally falling into a well. Anton Scherger died in 1875 aged 73 years. Both were consistent members of the Catholic Church. Their four children were: A child that died in infancy; Anton, who lives on the old homestead; Constantine, the subject of this sketch; and John, who died at Delphos January 10, 1902. The last named was born in 1847 in Seneca County, Ohio, learned the blacksmithing business at which he worked for two years at Delphos, and then formed a part- nership with William Hankins, with whom he continued in business for four years. John Scherger then bought his partner's interest and continued until 1875, when he entered into partnership with his brother Constantine in the marble business. In 1880 he began building wagons, carriages and buggies and continued in the manufacture of all kinds of vehicles for over 10 years. After 1890 he did a large amount of repair work. In 1887 he built a two-story brick business house on Main street, Delphos, which was burned on July 4, 1891; but he rebuilt and in the same summer his property was a second time destroyed by fire. John Scherger, was married in 1872 to Eva Sorg, daughter of Peter Sorg, of Seneca, Ohio, and they had a family of 10 children. He was a member of the Church of St. John the Evan- gelist at Delphos. A self-made man, he was one who commanded the respect of all who knew him.
Constantine Scherger remained at home until 1858, and then spent a year in Hancock County, Ohio, after which he entered into a two-years' apprenticeship to the wagon-making trade at Tremont, Sandusky County, Ohio. After completing this, he worked for a short time at Lima and then located at Delphos, where he worked for a year prior to his enlist- ment in the Union Army. On June 28, 1862, he enlisted in Company A, 99th Reg., Ohio Vol. Inf., and remained in the service until the close of the war, being mustered out at Nash- ville, Tennessee, in June, 1865. After four months' service with the 99th Ohio, he became a member of the engineer corps of General Rosecrans' command and did duty in that branch of the service during the remainder of the war.
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