USA > Ohio > Allen County > History of Allen County, Ohio, and representative citizens, Part Two > Part 16
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contract, he has been engaged in the same line for himself. He has resided in the same home, at No. 325 West Wayne street, since May 5, 1865.
On December 21, 1864, Mr. Osborn was married to Frances A. Barber, a daughter of the late John and Nancy (Ferguson) Barber, who was born in Pennsylvania and were early settlers in Bath township, Allen County, com- ing here in 1829. Mr. and Mrs. Osborn have two sons-Grant C. and Clifton A. The former is manager of the Cleveland-Berea Stone Company, for the Western States, with headquarters at Chicago, and the latter is as- sociated with F. E. Harman, of Lima. Mr. Osborn and his wife are members of the Dis- ciples' Church. Politically he is a Republican and has frequently served as a delegate to con- ventions. He is a member of Mart Armstrong Post, No. 202, G. A. R.
REDERIC ALTSTAETTER, one of the prominent farmers of Monroe township, whose 200 acres of well- improved land are situated in section 29, was born in this township, Jan- uary 26, 1838, and is a son of Jacob and Cath- erine (Bucher) Altstaetter.
The father of our subject was born in Hessen-Darmstadt, Germany, February 21, 1811, and came to the United States in 1832. He spent a year in Maryland, where he fol- lowed his trade of cabinet-making at Fred- ericktown, and then removed to Dayton, Ohio, in 1833. In 1835 he came to Monroe town- ship, Allen County, where a long, busy and useful life was spent. He owned a very large body of land at one time, but prior to his death he gave his children all but 200 acres. He learned to speak the English language intelli- gently, but the German tongue was the one usually heard in the home. He was a stanch supporter of the Democratic party but never cared for political office. He was a man of in- tegrity of character and was one of the leading Germans of his locality. It was through his efforts and generosity that the German Evan- gelical Church was founded in Monroe town-
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ship. At Dayton, Ohio, he was married to Catherine Bucher, who was born in Montgom- ery County, Ohio, October 26, 1816, and died in Monroe township, in December, 1903. On the paternal side her people came from Switzer- land and settled first in Pennsylvania.
Our subject is one of 13 children, namely : Elizabeth, deceased; Frederic; John, deceased ; Susannah (Haas), of Lima; Sarah (Zulinger), of Lima; George L., of Monroe township, whose sketch appears elsewhere in this work; Michael, of Lima; Mary (Rummel), of Mon- roe township; Louisa, Catherine and Bertha, deceased; Philip Jacob, living on the old home- stead, whose sketch is given elsewhere in this work; and Abigail, deceased.
In 1866 our subject was married to Eliza- beth Krouse and they resided on her father's farm in Putnam County for 12 years. Then Mr. Altstaetter bought his present well-im- proved farm, where he has carried on general farming and stock-raising ever since.
Mrs. Altstaetter was born in Richland County, Ohio, August 18, 1847, and was 20 years of age when she accompanied her parents to Putnam County. They were John and Mar- garet (Stein) Krouse, natives of Germany, but both of them had come as children to America. Mr. and Mrs. Altstaetter have three sons, viz. : John, a merchant at Cairo; Charles, who oper- ates the home farm; and George F., who farms in Monroe township. Mr. Altstaetter and wife are members of the German Reformed Church. Politically, he. is a Democrat.
B. CRAIG, manager of The Crystal Ice & Coal Company, of Lima, Ohio, was born in Sidney, this State, and is a son of Samuel R. Craig, who for more than 35 years has been an engineer for the C., H. & D. Rail- way. Samuel R. Craig was born about 1847 in Butler County, Pennsylvania, but came to Lima with his parents when a lad of five years. The grandfather of our subject, Milton C. Craig, now deceased, was also well known in railroad circles, as he assisted in the building of the Pennsylvania road from Allegheny City
to Fort Wayne, Indiana, and held a responsible position with the company for 15 years. Later he was identified with the C., H. & D. road for 18 years, when he retired from active work. He served two terms on the board of directors of the Lima Water-Works and was a man well liked by everyone.
W. B. Craig has spent the greater part of his life in Lima where he was educated, being graduated from the Lima High School in the class of 1890. Securing work with the C., H. & D. Railway, he was employed first in their offices in Lima, and later went on the road, re- maining in their service about three years. The two years following were spent with the Solar Refining Company, and he then engaged in the. ice business for one year. Being tendered the management of the Lima Ice & Coal Company, he served in that capacity two years and was then identified with the Pure Ice Company. This company built a plant in Lima and was. afterward succeeded by The Crystal Ice & Coal Company, Mr. Craig remaining with the new management, and one year later being placed in charge of the business. He is a shrewd bus- iness man and well fitted for the place, having shown marked ability in looking after the in- terests of the company.
W. B. Craig was married in 1896 to Mary Thompson, daughter of Frederick Thompson, a retired railroad man of Lima. They have one child, Isabelle. Mr. Craig has but recently been elected to a seat in the City Council of Lima, and it is certain that the interests of the city will lose nothing by having so careful and con- scientious a gentleman to look after their ad- vancement.
ILLIAM NAPIER, one of the old pioneers of Shawnee township, after a long, busy and useful life, passed away on his large farm in section 14, on March 15, 1900.
Prior to his marriage William Napier had bought property at Pulaski, Pennsylvania, and was married in that State while his bride was temporarily residing there. She was Sarah Huff, born in Hubbard township, Trumbull County, Ohio, April 7, 1818, and a
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daughter of Adam and Anna ( Hall) Huff, the former of whom was born in Vir- ginia and the latter, in New Jersey. The children born to William Napier and wife were: Adelia, who died aged two years; Amanda, who died aged six years; Charles, who died aged two years; Hanlon, who died at Toledo, in 1899, who had been a member of the 54th Regiment, Ohio Vol. Inf., in the Civil War; Harriet B., wife of Silas Reed, of Shaw- nee township; Elizabeth Adelia, wife of Salem Reed, of Shawnee township; Hillary C., a prominent citizen of Lima and a member of the City Council, who married Emma Bird; Susan, who married Freeman Reed, of Lima; Sarah, who married William A. Smith; and Mary, who married John Striff.
On October 7, 1843, Mr. Napier started with his family from Trumbull County to make a home in Allen County, which was then almost a wilderness. The great wagon, with its house- hold goods and the family, lumbered along through the unbroken forests, not a road hav- ing yet been cut, crossed dangerous streams and had numerous adventures; but after a journey of two weeks Mr. Napier reached Shawnee township and settled first on a farm south of the one now occupied by his family. Later he moved to the farm in section 14 on which he lived for 46 years. He graded and constructed the road in front of his home, and in the year following the Civil War erected the present comfortable brick house in which Mrs. Napier still resides. Although he had not been reared to agricultural work, being a shoemaker and tanner, he cleared and put under cultiva- tion two farms, developing them from the for- est. At one time he owned 200 acres of land, but subsequently sold 80 acres to his son-in- law, Salem Reed.
For many years Mr. Napier was identified with the Republican party : but in later life, realizing the crime and curse of intemperance, he cast his influence in favor of the Prohibition party. He was a man of principle and always had the courage of his convictions. He was a worthy and valued member of the Disciples' Church at one time: but later united with the Methodist Episcopal Church. To all denomi- nations he was liberal as became a Christian
man, and he was a generous contributor to the erection of Darling Church, the first Methodist Episcopal edifice in his locality. Until infirmi- ties prevented, he was active in church and Sunday-school and no more thorough teacher of the Holy Scriptures could be found. He had studied them carefully, and was frequently called upon to make clear some obscure subject.
During the entire period of his active life Mr. Napier took an interest in developing the township, assisting in framing good laws and in forwarding movements for the building of churches and school-houses and the construc- tion of good roads. His venerable wife sur- vives him; and -in spite of her burden of 88 years retains her active mental faculties and enjoys the visits of her neighbors and devoted children.
€ M. BOTKINS, a resident of Lima who for years was the leading livery- man of the city, was born in Shelby County, Ohio, in 1858. He was reared and educated in his native county, taking a course in the schools of Sid- ney, after which he began working by the month on a farm. He continued this work until about 1878 when he came to Lima and secured a position as fireman on the C., H. & D. Railway under Engineer John Black. Later he was promoted to the more responsible posi- tion of engineer and had charge of an engine for 14 years, after which he gave up railroad- ing and engaged in the livery business with his brother W. S. Botkins.
Botkins Brothers had the misfortune to be burned out after they had been conducting their business but two and a half years, and from that time until August, 1905, E. M. Botkins continued the business by himself. He did a large business and accumulated sufficient means to enable him to retire from active work at that time. He has since employed his time in look- ing after his various business interests.
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.
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 II, 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 11 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 the 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 lie was interested in the sale of farm im- plements, carriages and wagons, continuing an
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 1, 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.
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