USA > Ohio > Allen County > History of Allen County, Ohio and Representative Citizens > Part 24
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has spent a large amount of money in making improvements. The comfortable residence and substantial farm buildings give a pleasant air of thrift and prosperity, and all the surround- ings give evidence of the owner's care and attention. Mr. Beutner has made a specialty of raising driving and draft horses. He feeds a great deal of stock on the farm, deeming this a more profitable plan than to haul his grain and hay away. Mr. Beutner has put down two drains of 16-inch tile on the farm, draining each side separately.
In 1898 Mr. Beutner, who is serving his third term, was elected by the Democratic party a justice of the peace, and is probably one of the most popular officials in his section of the county. He has his office in his home, and gives a great deal of his time to performing his important duties. During all the time of his incumbency he has never had a decision re- versed and some of his cases have gone to the Supreme Court. He is a friend of arbitration and his efforts at settling disputes, without invoking the machinery of the law beyond his own office, have been remarkably successful.
Mr. Beutner was married first, on March I, 1882, to Rose Poe, of Attica, Indiana, who died March, 1900, leaving four children, viz : Poe, Lilian, Frederick and Harold. His second marriage was to Katie Huijsman, of Putnam County, on November 25, 1900, and they have two bright little daughters,-Marcella and Cornelia.
B. HALL, of the well-known mercan- tile firm of Grosjean & Hall, shoe dealers, at No. 55 Public Square, Lima, is a native of Canada, his birth occurring in 1871, just across the river from Port Huron. He was reared and educated in the Dominion, and graduated from a business college there in 1886.
Mr. Hall has been connected with the shoe business during almost his entire commercial life. In 1891, after a training in this line for several years in Canada, he went to Cincinnati, Ohio, and became associated with the firm of Mabley & Carew. He remained with them for
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three years in their stores at Cincinnati and De- troit, and then located in Lima. After being employed for three years in the shoe store of H. J. Jacobson, he returned to Cincinnati and for one year was associated with The Smith, Kasson Company of that city. He was then recalled to Lima by Mr. Jacobson, of the Columbia Shoe Company, with whom he remained for two years, when he resumed his former connections in Cincinnati. From The Smith, Kasson Company he entered the service of I. L. Fuldheim for a short period. In the meantime Mr. Netzory had purchased the Columbian Shoe Store at Lima and secured the services of Mr. Hall in whom he had great confidence as a practical shoeman. Mr. Hall again returned to Lima and continued with Mr. Netzory for two years, then establishing an independent business by forming a partnership with Mr. Grosjean. The firm has a favorable location and carries a complete and carefully selected assortment of foot-wear, conducting probably one of the larg- est establishments in Northwestern Ohio.
In January, 1899, Mr. Hall was married to Helen Mumford, who is a daughter of A. W. Mumford, a prominent citizen of Lima, who for a number of years has been connected with the oil industry. They have one child, James R.
Mr. Hall is connected with Lima Lodge of Elks. Both members of the firm are identified with the Lima Progressive Association.
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ENRY M. DILLE, of the F. B. Hover Shoe Company, of Lima, was born in 1865, near the village of Kenton, Hardin County, Ohio. His father, J. M. Dille, now deceased, settled in that locality about 1830, and was one of the fore- most agriculturists of the county and a soldier of the Civil War.
H. M. Dille, of this article, was reared and educated in Hardin County, and then went to Oberlin, where he took a course in telegraphy. For the following nine years he was engaged as operator for the C. & E. Railroad, coming
to Lima, in 1893, to take charge of the office at this point, and resigned the position six years later to become associated with the F. B. Hover Shoe Company. This firm conducts one of the finest shoe stores in Lima, and controls an extensive business.
Mr. Dille was married, in 1899, to May Hover, daughter of William U. Hover, a high- ly esteemed pioneer of this county. They have two children-Mary and Joseph. Mr. Dille is in affiliation with the Knights of Pythias, and is a consistent member of Trinity Methodist Episcopal Church, of Lima. .
C A. COLLINS, one of Lima's prominent citizens, a member of the City Council and one of the leading insurance men, was born at Troy, Miami County, Ohio, August 6, 1862, and is a son of John and Margaret (Irvin) Collins.
The late John Collins was a valued em- ployee of the C., H. & D. Railway for a quarter of a century. He was a man of superior men- tal attainments, being a thorough English and classical scholar. His death took place at Sid- ney, Ohio, on February 22, 1898, at the age of 86 years. His wife, whose maiden name was Margaret Irvin, still survives him at the age of 70 years, and resides with her son, John Collins, a well-known dry goods merchant, of Wapakoneta.
During his boyhood the parents of Mr. Col- lins removed from Miami to Shelby County, locating in the vicinity of Sidney, and there our subject was reared. He obtained his education in the parochial school connected with Holy Angels Church, and also took advantage of the public night schools. His entrance into busi- ness was with the Wagner Hardware Com- pany ; after three years of clerking he became a passenger brakeman on the C., H. & D. Rail- way, later being promoted to the position of freight conductor. After five years of railroad work, he resigned and accepted a position in the postal service at Lima, under Postmaster R. W. Meily, during the administration of President Cleveland. He was continued in
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this position for nearly four years, resigning to become associated with The Times-Demo- crat Publishing Company. He continled with this corporation as circulation manager for 15 years and five months, resigning the position January 1, 1905, for a desirable connection with the O'Conner Brothers Company, with which he is still connected.
Mr. Collins has ever been one of the active and intelligent promoters of good government in Lima and has consistently supported Demo- cratic candidates. In the fall of 1905 he was elected councilman from the Second Ward, and has frequently proven his value as a mem- ber of that civic body.
In September, 1883, Mr. Collins was mar- ried to Margaret E. O'Conner, who is a daugh- ter of the late much lamented and highly re- spected John O'Conner, one of Lima's sub- stantial citizens. They have one daughter, Carrie. Mr. Collins and his wife are members of St. Rose Catholic Church. He is associated with various organizations; is treasurer of Lima Council No. 436, Knights of Columbus, and president of Branch No. 64, Catholic Mut- ual Benefit Association.
EORGE L. BREESE, one of the well- known farmers and successful stock- raisers of Shawnee township, was born December 8, 1851, on what is known as the old Frederick Goodwin farm, in section 4, Shawnee township, and is a son of David M. and Mary (Valentine) Breese.
The great-grandfather of Mr. Breese was born in Wales and died in Hardin County, Ohio. His grandparents, Griffith and Mary (Mowen) Breese, were born respectively in Wales and Pennsylvania. They were the founders of the family in Allen County, coming here from Butler County, Ohio, in 1832.
David M. Breese, father of George L., was born in Butler. County, Ohio, February 27, 1825, and was seven years of age when his parents settled in Shawnee township, where he lived until his marriage and then settled in sec- tion 3, Shawnee township, on the Spencerville road. In 1863 he removed to his present farm
in section 10. He was a soldier during the Civil War and has always been identified with the Republican party. He married in 1849 a daughter and a granddaughter of pioneers in Ohio. She was Mary Valentine, who was born in Champaign County, Ohio, March 23, 1827, and still survives. Her father, Crane Valen- tine, came to Allen County, in 1832 and settled on Elm street, Lima, at a time when that sec- tion was still so much of a wilderness that wild animals came out of the forest at night and in- vaded it. The children of David M. and Mary Breese were: Mary E., wife of Thomas Malt- bie, of Lima; George L., of this sketch, and Emmet, who died aged seven years.
George L. Breese was educated in the Shawnee township schools and assisted his father on the farm until his marriage, which occurred in 1876. He then took up agricul- tural pursuits on his present finely improved farm in sections 9 and 10. In addition to gen- eral farming, Mr. Breese has been an extensive stock-raiser, making a preference of Guernsey cattle and Duroc-Jersey hogs.
On September 6, 1876, Mr. Breese was married to Susan Nye, who was born in Shaw- nee township, and was a daughter of Jacob and Catherine Nye. Mrs. Breese died in 1896, leaving two children, viz : Clarence Nye, born December 13, 1877; and Mabel Kerr, born March 13, 1880. Clarence N. Breese is now deputy county clerk. In 1905 he married Mabel M. Kerr, daughter of George S. Kerr, of Lima.
Politically George L. Breese is a strong Republican. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He is one of the active and enterprising men of Shawnee township, interested in its agricultural development and ready at all times to advance its various inter- ests.
W. MOWEN, United States referee in bankruptcy for the district compris- ing Putnam, Allen and Auglaize counties, with offices in the Holland Block, Lima, was born in this city in 1865, and is a son of the late Jacob R. Mowen, who was a prominent contractor and builder
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at Lima and one of the early settlers in the county.
J. W. Mowen was reared and educated at Lima, and after graduating from the High School entered the University of Michigan, where in 1888 he completed the course in law. In the following year he became a member of the firm of Cunningham, Mead & Mowen, at Lima, which combination continued until 1895, when it was dissolved and the new firm of Mead & Mowen was organized, which is still in active practice. Mr. Mowen is serving his second term as a justice of the peace.
On January 2, 1905, Mr. Mowen was ap- pointed by United States District Judge Swing, as United States referee in bankruptcy for two years, to succeed S. S. Wheeler. The appoint- ment has given general satisfaction, as Mr. Mowen is recognized as a very able member. of his profession and especially well equipped for the duties of this office.
In 1902 Mr. Mowen was married at Lima to Ethel Hoover, who is a daughter of J. G. Hoover, of Lima.
Fraternally Mr. Mowen belongs to the Im- proved Order of Red Men and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, being very prominent in the latter organization. During 1901 and 1902 he was district deputy grand exalted ruler for Northwestern Ohio, said dis- trict embracing some 25 Elk lodges.
6 EORGE S. KERR, a well-known gen- eral contractor and reliable business man of Lima, was born in 1855 in Iowa, and is a son of Frank Kerr, who died in Kansas in 1885. In the Civil War the father of our subject served as a member of an Iowa regiment.
George S. Kerr was about nine years old when his parents removed to Knox County, Ohio, from Iowa, and he was reared and edu- cated there. He assisted his father in farming until he was 22 years old and then learned the carpenter's trade which he has continued to fol- low almost ever since. During two years he operated a wagon and carriage shop at Vanda- lia, Missouri, but for the past 17 years he has been in a general contracting business and has
resided at Lima since 1881. He has built a number of the most substantial buildings in this city ; the following is a partial list : Fitzgerald Block ; Funk Block; Hotel Harrod; 16 houses for Henry Frueh, Thomas Duffield's residence and many other residences of the city. Mr. Kerr has had other important interests in this section, having been connected with oil pro- duction and with the Lima Creamery & Cold Storage Comuany.
In 1878 Mr. Kerr was married to Jennie Harrod, who is a daughter of Elijah Harrod, formerly one of the leading men of Knox County, of which he was recorder for 15 years. Mr. and Mrs. Kerr have three children, viz. : Mabel M., who is the wife of Clarence N. Breese, deputy county clerk of Allen County ; Fred, who is a student in the Lima High School; and Robert. Mr. Kerr and family re- side at No. 769 West Wayne street, Lima. They are members of the Presbyterian Church.
n OAH B. YANT, who was born April 27, 1827, in Rose township, Carroll County, Ohio, has been an honored resident of Allen County since 1864, when he purchased his present farm of 102 acres in section 32, Monroe township. His parents were Henry, and Margaret (Stoody) Yant, both of whom were natives of Pennsylvania and were of German descent. They came to Ohio in 1812 and located at first in Tuscarawas County, later moving to Car- roll County where the father was killed by a horse at the age of 49 years. The grand- father of our subject was John Yant, who came to Ohio from Pennsylvania in the early days of this state and here entered land for each of his children. The ancestors of our subject were all remarkable for longevity, John Yant reaching his 93rd year, his mother passing her 96th year, and his maternal grandfather, who was a native of Germany, also reaching the ripeness of age. A sister of our subject, Mrs. Mary Redman, who resides at Canton, Ohio, is in her 85th year and her hair in which gray threads have not yet appeared retains all the luster of youth.' There were 12 children in the
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family, II of whom reached maturity. Our subject, one brother and two sisters are the only ones now living.
Noah B. Yant lived in the corner of Carroll and Stark counties until September, 1864, when he came to Allen County. Before he came here he had rented a farm and later bought land; but this was a rough, stony piece, poorly adapted to tilling and he disposed of it before moving to this county. His present farm con- tains 102 acres, but the railroad cuts off some, leaving about 98 acres of available land. He has built two houses on this property, one of them being occupied by a son. Mr. Yant is a good manager and an excellent farmer, devot- ing his entire time to this employment.
Mr. Yant was married September 11, 1851, to Druzilla Miller, of Carroll County, Ohio, by whom he has a family of seven children, viz : Samantha Ann, wife of Louis Lawrence, of Lima; Sarah Rachel, wife of Joseph Waltz, of Michigan; James M., who lives in his father's house on the farm; William H., who has been superintendent of the schools of Paulding, Ohio, for several years; Hugh M., a dry goods merchant, of Toledo; Jonathan K., who is em- ployed in the Lima Postoffice; and Frank, who died at the age of five years. On November I, 1897, Mr. Yant was married to Mrs. Margaret Cline, widow of Tobias Cline and daughter of Charles Banks. Mr. Yant is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church and has been trustee of the same for a number of years. He is now and has been for many years a Republi- can. He was a member of the Know Nothing party during its short life and cast his first Republican vote for John C. Fremont.
e LARENCE N. BREESE, deputy county clerk of Allen County, and one of the enterprising and success- ful young business men of Lima, was born in Shawnee township, Allen County, Ohio, December 13, 1877, and is a son of George L. Breese, and grandson of David M. Breese, of whom sketches appear is another part of this work.
Clarence N. Breese obtained his elemen-
tary education in the schools of Shawnee town- ship and then spent three years in the Ohio State University at Columbus. Prior to this he had taught school for several years. Imme- diately after leaving college he entered into business. For eight months he capably man- aged a large creamery located at Lithopolis, Ohio, and then was connected for six months with the Lima Creamery & Cold Storage Com- pany, to which business he and his father suc- ceeded, his father being a practical dairyman. They increased the plant's capacity and con- tinued associated in the business until our sub- ject was appointed deputy county clerk. He is a young man of business enterprise and has numerous important interests in Allen County.
In 1905 Mr. Breese was married to Mabel M. Kerr, who is a daughter of George S. Kerr, one of the leading general contractors of Lima.
For eight years Mr. Breese was a member of Company C, Second Regiment, Ohio Na- tional Guard, and during the Spanish-Ameri- can War was in service with his company for 10 months-in camp at Chickamauga and Knoxville, and later at Macon, Georgia, being mustered out as a corporal of his company, on February 10, 1898. Upon the reorganization of the company after the war, Mr. Breese was appointed Ist sergeant. He is a member of the United Spanish War Veterans, of the Elks and of the Knights of Pythias, at present hold- ing the position of representative of the K. of P. lodge to the Grand Lodge, having formerly been chancellor commander. During his uni- versity life he joined the Alpha Zeta Greek-let- ter fraternity.
HRISTIAN LEHMAN, deceased, who died on his farm of 240 acres, situated partly in German and part- ly in Sugar Creek township, on March 31, 1901, was one of the honorable and prominent farmers of this local- ity for a number of years, a man who was re- spected by all who knew him. He was born May 27, 1828, in Franklin County, Pennsylva- nia, and was a son of Joseph and Catherine Lehman.
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IRA P. CARNES
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The parents of Christian Lehman came to Ohio and settled in Columbiana County, when he was eight years old, and in 1849 the family came to Allen County and settled on a farm of 160 acres in section 23, German township. To this was later added a tract of 40 acres sit- uated in section 3, Sugar Creek township and, still later, 40 acres more in German township, the aggregate being 240 acres of excellent land. The parents passed away on this farm and were laid to rest in the Sugar Creek Men- nonite Cemetery.
Christian Lehman learned the carpenter's trade in his youth and worked at the same for some 20 years and then turned his attention to farming. He resided on the homestead, which he acquired, until the close of his life.
Christian Lehman married Susanna Leh- man, a daughter of Christian and Elizabeth ( Bookwater) Lehman, who came from Cum- berland County, Pennsylvania, to Richland County, Ohio, and settled in Allen County in 1848. Mrs. Lehman was born November 16, 1830. Although she is the mother of 13 chil- dren, she retains her health and activity and takes an interested part in household affairs and in church work. The children were: Simon, who died aged five years; Joseph, who works as a carpenter in Lima; Elizabeth, who married John Barnes, resides in Kansas and has one daughter, Lydia Belle; Adeline, who married Peter Zuercher, lives in Sugar Creek township and has these children-Eno, Salome, Leroy, Christian and Cora; Hosanna, who died at the age of 33 years; Elzina, who died aged 21 years; Rachel, who married Christopher Good, formerly of Kansas, but now of Sugar. Creew township, and has these children-lda, Irvin, Jesse and Susanna; Daniel, who superin- tends the work on the home farm and in season operates a steam thresher, work in which he has been engaged for six years past; Lydia, Isa- bella and Henry, who reside at home; Kate, who died at the age of 30 years; and George, who resides at Pandora, Ohio.
The family belong to the Mennonite Church, in which Mr. Lehman was a deacon for many years. His life was one of quiet use- fulness and he is recalled with feelings of affec- tion and esteem.
I RA P. CARNES, vice-president of The Lima Locomotive & Machine Com- pany and vice-president of the Lima Pork Packing Company, is one of the city's representative business men. He was born at East Barre, Washington Coun- ty, Vermont, in 1850, and is the eldest son of John and Mary ( Baldwin) Carnes.
Mr. Carnes was a child of three years when his parents moved to Sycamore, Ohio, and shortly after to Upper Sandusky, where his father was the owner of a foundry and machine shop. He attended school in both these cities, always be- ing considered a very apt student, especially in mathematics. Like his father and grand- father, he early showed a mechanical talent and from boyhood took an interest in machinery ; after 1869, when his parents settled at Lima, he was constantly employed in the shop of Carnes, Agerter & Company. The father, as related in a sketch which will be found in this volume, was the founder of the Lima Locomo- tive Works, which succeeded the firm of Carnes, Agerter & Company. When this re- organization took place, Ira P. Carnes became a member of the firm and since then he has been one of the important factors in shaping the business course of this immense concern. In addition to the important duties pertaining to this office, he has other interests, one of these being the vice-presidency of the Lima Pork Packing Company, another institution of which Lima is justly proud. He has also been con- nected with the Lima Home & Savings Asso- ciation since its organization. In all that con- cerns the welfare of the city he takes an intelli- gent and public spirited interest and is num- bered with the most progressive as well as most popular men of the city. He is a member of the Presbyterian Church.
In 1880 Mr. Carnes was married to Louisa Wuichet, of Dayton, Ohio, and to them were born two children-Sabine and Walter. Mrs. Carnes died in January, 1885. Mr. Carnes was again married, in 1889, to Anna Robb, sister of Hon. Theodore D. Robb, mayor of Lima. They have one child, John, who is named for his grandfather, John Carnes. A portrait of Ira P. Carnes accompanies this sketch.
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E G. CONNER, a member of the whole- sale and retail millinery firm of Light & Conner, of Lima, is one of the city's prominent and substantial citizens. He is a native of Perry County, Ohio, born in 1871, and is a son of Rev. William H. Conner, who is the pastor of the First Congre- gational Church, at Portland, Indiana.
E. G. Conner was seven years old when his parents settled in Elida, Ohio, and his educa- tion was all secured in the schools of Allen County. When but a youth he learned the printing business and for some 10 years worked on various newspapers in Ohio and In- diana. In April, 1901, he returned to Lima, and in the July following became a member of the firm of Light & Conner. The house does an immense business, both wholesale and re- tail, and is recognized throughout the State as absolutely reliable.
In 1895 Mr. Conner was married to Irene C. Light, who is a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Franklin Light, who have been residents of Lima for the past 14 years and are the senior members of the millinery firm of Light & Con- ner. Mr. and Mrs. Conner have two children -Helen Isabel and Eugene Frantz. The former is a talented child, a remarkable elocu- tionist for one of her age.
Mr. and Mrs. Conner are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Conner being a member of the board of trustees and a steward in Trinity Church, Lima. Fraternally he is a member of the Knights of the Mac- cabees.
J L. ANDREWS has been a resident of Lima for almost 20 years and during the entire period has been a powerful factor in pushing the various indus- trial enterprises of the city and, by his own example in kindling the interest and enthusiasm of others until success was assured. Although a careful business man he is, at the same time, progressive and enterprising, and his name may be found among the stockholders of many of Lima's leading institutions. Mr. Andrews was born in July, 1849, in Pittsfield,
Warren County, Pennsylvania, and was there educated and developed into manhood. At an early age he engaged in the production of oil in his native State, and continued in business there until 1887.
At that time the industry was in its infancy in this county, and Mr. Andrews soon took ad- vantage of the situation by removing to Lima and contracting for the production of oil. He located here in November, 1887, and the oil industry at once began to assume activity, con- tinuing to increase until it has reached its pres- ent importance. Mr. Andrews is now operat- ing in the Indiana oil field, but his business in- terests have extended until they embrace shares in the East Iron & Machine Company, First National Bank, A. B. Klay Company (of which he is director ), The National Roofing Tile Company, and a number of other enter- prises.
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