USA > Ohio > Allen County > History of Allen County, Ohio, and representative citizens, Part Two > Part 21
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Mr. Mattingly was married in 1878 to Mary E. Carr, of Lancaster, Ohio, a daughter of James W. Carr, who was for years employ- ed in the bridge department of the Cincinnati & Muskingum Valley Railroad. Mr. Matting- ly is a stanch member of the St. Rose Catholic Church of Lima, of which he is secretary. He is financial secretary of Branch 23, Catholic Knights of Ohio and a charter member of Lodge No. 436, Knights of Columbus.
EORGE DILLER was born March 23, 1862, in German township, Allen County. Ohio, and has passed his en- tire life almost within a stone's throw of his birthplace. He owns 60 acres of fine' land in German town- ship and is one of the intelligent, up-to-
date farmers of this county. He is a son of Samuel Diller, who was an early settler in German township, where he purchased a farm and built a log cabin. The six brothers and three sisters which composed the family were : Andrew, George, Samuel, Henry, William, Barbara, Lydia (deceased), and Nancy (de- ceased). A remarkable fact concerning this family is that four of the brothers married Bren- neman girls, Andrew, Henry and George mar- rying sisters. Samuel married a Lydia Bren- neman, who was in no way related to his broth- ers' wives. He has four children. Andrew Diller married Nancy Brenneman and is the father of three children. Henry married Caro- line Brenneman and has three children, while George married Lydia Brenneman. William married Anna Shank and has a family of three children. Barbara married John Powell, of Virginia, who died leaving five children.
George Diller has been a farmer since his earliest boyhood, when he performed his share of the work on his father's farm. He was married in November, 1885, to Lydia Brenne- man, who is a daughter of John Brenneman, of Marion township. They have an only child, Lesta May, who was born January 1, 1887, and is still living at home. Soon after marriage, Mr. Diller purchased 40 acres of land which, with 20 acres recently added, comprise his pres- ent holdings. In 1899 he built his new resi- dence, a modern frame building, at once com- fortable and convenient. He has remodeled his barns and made many minor improvements to his property. Mr. Diller is a member of the Mennonite Church and a man who stands well in the community.
OHN BLACK. a retired master me- chanic of Lima, is also one of the city's old and honored citizens. He was born in Scotland in 1848, and is a son of John Black, whose ancestors as far back as can be traced were of Scotch birth and rearing.
John Black, the father, emigrated to Amer- ica in the early '50's and commenced his busi- ness career as a locomotive builder in the Niles Locomotive Works, at Cincinnati, Ohio. There
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he continued until he secured a position as an engineer on the Marietta & Cincinnati Railroad, being thus employed for several years and later being connected in the same capacity with the C., H. & D. Railway, running between Cincin- nati and Richmond, Indiana. He then be- came a master mechanic in the C., H. & D. Rail- way shops, at Richmond, and when that road gained control of the D. & M. Railroad, in 1863, he was appointed master mechanic of their shops at Lima, and continued as such, and as general master mechanic, for a period of 23 years. His death took place in 1893. During his entire residence in Lima he had been a prominent and useful citizen, serving frequent- ly as a member of the City Council and support- ing and assisting in formulating ordinances for the general welfare. Politically he was a Democrat
John Black, our immediate subject, was reared through youth in Scotland, attending school and serving his apprenticeship to the machinist's trade prior to coming to America in 1869. He joined his father in Lima, and immediately commenced work in the machine shops of the C., H. & D. Railway, remaining there for a period of 20 years and two months. From the most subordinate position, through careful and persistent work, he was promoted to be engineer, and foreman and finally, in 1889, general foreman. He then became con- nected with the "Nickle Plate" Railroad as gen- eral foreman in their Chicago shops, where he remained one year, after which he served for three years as master mechanic of the Rock Island shops at Chicago.
The death of his father at Lima recalled John Black to this city, when he abandoned the railroad business altogether. He had accumu- lated property, both in Chicago and Lima, and has since devoted his time and attention to his investments. In 1900 he built the Black Block in Lima, this being a fine four-story brick building of Bedford stone front, with di- mensions of 185 by 50 feet, and containing stores, offices and apartments. It is occupied by leading business men, and is the scene of much of the city's commerce. Mr. Black also built other fine buildings, and owns valuable
real estate in Chicago. He is one of the stock- holders in The Ohio National Bank of this city.
In 1876 `Mr. Black was married to Kate Hardesty, who is a daughter of the late Reuben Hardesty, one of the pioneers in the lumber trade of Lima. The four sons of the family are: William G., who is general foreman of the "Nickle Plate" Railroad shops at Fort Wayne, Indiana; John, a graduate of the Uni- versity of Chicago, later serving two years as a chemist with Parke Davis & Company, of De- troit, then a student in mechanical chemistry at Cornell University, and at present assistant pro- fessor in that department ; Charles H., a grad- uate of the Englewood High School, Chicago, served an apprenticeship in the C., H. & D. shops, and is now a machinist at the Lima Locomotive & Machine Works; and Robert C., a recent graduate of the Lima High School, who has entered Purdue University to pursue a course in mechanical and electrical engineering. All of Mr. Black's sons are practical young men, who know how to apply the education they have been given by an indulgent father and re- flect credit upon him and his generous thought- fulness.
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LARK L. HOYT, of Myers & Hoyt, grocers of Lima, was born in Hardin County, Ohio, in June, 1858. He is a son of William Hoyt. who came to Ohio in 1832 and lo- cated at Kenton, Hardin County, where he en- gaged in farming until 1862, at which time he moved to Lima, where he lived until his death, 12 years later.
Clark L. Hoyt, since he was four years old, has always resided in Lima. After leaving school, he entered the shops of the C., H. & D. Railway, and had been there two years when he went on the road as fireman for the com- pany. Five years later he took charge of his first engine, and for 21 years was one of the most trusted and esteemed engineers on the road. By this time he was tired of the work and desired to engage in some business in which he might have regular hours and more
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time with his family. He therefore purchased an interest in a grocery store in partnership with Mr. Myers, taking possession in June, 1904. They have a nice, clean store and carry a full line of staple and fancy groceries. Mr. Hoyt is equally at home at the throttle of an engine or behind the counters of his store, and is well pleased with the change.
He was married in 1888 to Nora V. Cope- land by whom he has three children -- Eldean, Lenore and Lucile. The father of Mrs. Hoyt was Willis Copeland, who was for many years engaged in the dairy business in Lima, and ran the first dairy wagon in the city. He died in 1894. Mr. Hoyt is a prominent Mason, a Knight of Pythias and a member of the Broth- erhood of Locomotive Engineers. He is a Re- publican in politics, and was at one time a mem- ber of the City Council of Lima.
ELSON WILBER CUNNINGHAM, cashier of the Commercial Bank & Savings Company, of Bluffton, was born at Lima, Ohio, February 24, 1856, and is a son of Col. James and Martha (Kennedy) Cunningham.
The late Col. James Cunningham was a pioneer in Allen County and for. years was one of its most prominent men, serving two terms as a member of the State Senate and filling many offices with honor and efficiency. Ex- tended mention of Colonel Cunningham will be found in the historical portion of this work.
Nelson W. Cunningham was a student in the local schools until 14 years of age and then entered another school, a printing office. For the following five years he worked in the office of the Allen County Democrat, which was then under the editorial charge of D. S. Fisher, at Lima, after which he came to Bluffton, then a village, and founded the Bluffton News, which he ably conducted for the succeeding 16 years. In 1893 Mr. Cunningham purchased a half in- terest in the Commercial Bank, a private bank- ing institution which had been founded at Bluffton in 1887 by Frank Scott. Mr. Scott and Mr. Cunningham continued sole owners
until June 3, 1902, when it was incorporated under the laws of the State of Ohio, commenc- ing business as a State Bank on July 1, 1902. At this time Mr. Scott became president and Mr. Cunningham, cashier. The institution is. one which commands the confidence of the pub- lic. It is under the management of men of proved business integrity. There is probably no sounder, safer banking institution in Allen County than the Commercial Bank & Savings Company, and the citizens of Bluffton and vicinity readily give it support and reap accru- ing benefits.
In . 1883 Mr. Cunningham was married to Eva A. Ballard, who was born in Allen County.
UGH E. HUGHES, a prominent farm- er and successful stock-raiser of Su- gar Creek township, who resides on his well-improved farm of 80 acres which is situated in section 22, was born November 2, 1839, in Montgomeryshire, North Wales, and is a son of Evan and Cath- erine (Evans) Hughes.
Both parents of Mr. Hughes were born in Wales and their death occurred in 1852, separ- ated by one month, the mother being aged 44 years and the father, 60 years. Their children were : Susan, Hugh E., William, John and David. Our subject and his two brothers, John and David, all came to the United States and the two brothers mentioned live in Mis- souri.
Hugh E. Hughes, like many others of his countrymen who have contributed largely to. the State's prosperity, came to American shores in young manhood, poor in purse but rich in health, energy and stability of character. In- dustry had been considered a cardinal virtue in his home and he was prepared to work hard in the new land to which he had come, accepting that necessity as a stepping-stone to future in- dependence.
Mr. Hughes reached the United States shortly after the close of the great Civil War, in 1866, and settled first in Cambria County, Pennsylvania, where he worked one year and then came to Gomer, Allen County, Ohio. A
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WILLIAM PUGH
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year later he went to Missouri and there acquired his first farm, a tract of 40 acres in the vicinity of Dawn, Livingston County. He remained in that State for six years. In 1874 he returned to Ohio and after his marriage early in the year bought 80 acres of land in Sugar Creek township, Allen County, on which he and his family resided for 10 years. He then disposed of the farm, which he had greatly improved, and on February 25, 1884, purchased his pres- ent farm of 80 acres in section 22. This prop- erty has undergone much improvement since Mr. Hughes has been its owner. His commo- dious barns and large, comfortable house give an appearance of thrift and good management, and his fields and stock, his machinery and gen- eral orderliness, show that a careful, competent man has been at the helm. He carries on gen- eral farming and stock-raising. In addition to the home farm in section 22, he owns another 80 acres, in section 23, the latter being in charge of a tenant. These farms and all else he possesses have been acquired by Mr. Hughes through personal endeavor.
On March 28, 1874, Mr. Hughes was mar- ried in Sugar Creek township, by Rev. D. M. Evans, to Margaret Hughes, who was born July 31, 1841, near Vaughnsville, Ohio, and is a daughter of Jenkin and Jane (Morgan) Hughes. The parents, both natives of South Wales, located, prior to the birth of Mrs. Hugh E. Hughes, in Putnam County, Ohio, where the father died in 1887, aged 84 years and the mother in 1886, aged 80 years. They were most worthy Christian people and reared their children carefully. They had nine children, Mrs. Hughes being the seventh in order of birth. Three of her brothers were in the Civil War. David served in Company D, 118th Reg., Ohio Vol. Inf .; Evan belonged to the 6Ist Regiment, Ohio Vol. Inf .: and John served in the 15Ist Regiment, Ohio Vol. Inf.
Mr. Hughes and his wife have had three children-Jennie, Katherine and Jenkin, of whom the last named died in infancy.
Mr. Hughes votes with the Republican party, but takes only a good citizen's interest in politics. He is a charter member of the
Vaughnsville Congregational Church, one of its deacons and formerly served as the Sunday- school superintendent. Mrs. Hughes has been a member of the church since 1855.
HARLES PUGH, manager of the Pugh Stone Company, conducting of Lima, was born in Oneida County one of the most important industries New York, November 23, 1858, and is a son of the late William Pugh, whose por- trait is shown on the opposite page. Our sub- ject's father located in Allen County, Ohio, in the early '6os, and was among the first to en- gage in the construction of pike roads here. The headquarters of the company have been located in Lima for almost 30 years.
William Pugh, born in Wales, Novem- ber 26, 1832, was a shoemaker by trade, and followed that calling for a few years at Gomer, in this county, after which he engaged in a spec- ial line of contracting. He furnished crushed stone for road-ways, and built pike roads for a great many years, later furnishing stone for concrete and cement work. For about 15 years he was also engaged in the ice business. All in all, William Pugh was an influential citizen of the county. He served as a member of the Lima Water Works Board and was holding that position at the time of his death, February 28, 1900.
William Pugh was married about 1852 to Mary Evans, a native of Wales, and they had nine children, as follows: William, deceased ; Annie, who married Joseph Jones, of Lima, and has two children-Mary M. and Richard W .; William C., deceased ; Charles ; Mary ; Lisabeth, deceased; George, who married Lucile Mum- augh, and has one child, William; John, de- ceased, and Elizabeth. William Pugh and wife came to America from Wales, in 1857, after their two oldest children were born. Their third child was born en route to this country. The parents landed in New York City and went directly to Waterville, New York, where they resided about eight years before coming to Al- len County, Ohio. Mrs. William Pugh died March 4, 1896, aged 65 years.
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Charles Pugh was reared and educated at Gomer, and, upon leaving school, was put to work in his father's stone quarry. He soon be-" came the latter's able assistant, and in 1877 lo- cated at Lima, where he has since resided and superintended the interests of the company. Since the death of his father, Mr. Pugh has had the sole management of the business. During recent years the company has done a large amount of cement construction, being especially busy in getting out crushed stone for cement and concrete work and for repairing pike roads. The quarries and crusher of the Pugh Stone Company are located on East North street, within nine blocks of the heart of the city.
In 1890, Charles Pugh was married to Clara Miller, who is a daughter of one of Allen Coun- ty's oldest and most esteemed citizens-Uriah Miller, of Elida. This union has resulted in the birth of four children, namely : Beulah June and Charles Victor, both deceased; Virgil N. and Gladys E. Mr. Pugh is one of the sub- stantial, reputable business men of Lima, and has a_pleasant home at No. 925 East High street. He is a member of the Improved Or- der of Red Men and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.
D. WALLACE, for more than a quarter of a century an esteemed and honored citizen of Lima, was born in 1847, at Poland, Mahoning County, Ohio, where he was reared and educated. He is a son of the late John Wallace, who for many years was engaged at Poland in the furniture and undertaking bus- iness. Mr. Wallace is by occupation a very successful agent for, a number of insurance companies, while by trade he is a miller, having learned that calling in his early youth at Youngstown, Ohio. After working at his trade in that city and in Sharon until 1870, he en- tered the store with which he was connected until he located at Lima in 1880.
Arriving in Lima on December 1, 1880, Mr. Wallace at once engaged in the general insur- ance business, with which he has since been identified, having become proficient and emi-
nently successful in his work. He represents a number of companies, among which are the fol- lowing : Ohio Farmers; Eureka, of Cincinnati; Metropolitan, of Chicago; Central Manufac- turers of Van Wert; Mutual Life, of New York, and the Maryland Casualty, of Balti- more, Maryland.
Mr. Wallace was married in 1870 to Miss Alice Draa, daughter of Perry Draa, of Trum- bull County, Ohio, and a descendant of Sir Francis Drake, the name having been changed from the original spelling "Drake" to "Draa." Three children have blessed the union of Mr. and Mrs. Wallace, viz: Glen I., who is in the insurance business at Lima; Julia L., wife of Orrin Simpson, who is with the Central Gas Company of Columbus, Ohio; and Frank N., who is associated in business with his father. Mr. Wallace is a member of the Trinity Meth- odist Episcopal Church, of Lima, in which he takes an active interest. He is also a member of the Knights of Pythias.
D ANIEL McKERREN, notary public, who is one of the well-known business men of Lima, conducting a real es- tate and pension claim business at No. 20212 North Main street, has been a citizen here for the past twenty years, He was born November 30, 1850, in the city of Londonderry, Ireland, and was brought to America by his parents, Daniel McKerren, Sr., and wife, nee Margery Sweeney, both origin- ally from the parish of Clondavodag, in County Donegal, Ireland. The first permanent settle- ment made by the parents of Daniel McKerren was at Greenville, Darke County, Ohio, where they lived a few years, then removing to near Fort Recovery, Mercer County, Ohio, where they purchased forty acres of land, and lived there a few years. Later exchanging this property for eighty acres in the northern part of Darke County, they removed to the latter county and lived there until they retired from farm life and moved to Lima, where they died, having passed the four-score mark, leaving be- sides Daniel, two other sons,-James D., and John, both of whom have since married and lo-
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cated in the city of Detroit. They also had onc daughter, Mary, who married James Costello of Lima ; both have since died.
Daniel McKerren, the subject of this sketch, after leaving the farm home of his parents, learned the carpenter's trade, which he followed in various places until the fall of 1875, when he married Catharine M. Hillen, then a school teacher, the daughter of James and Mary Hil- len, who lived a few miles northwest of Sid- ney, Ohio, where they owned a farm of eighty acres. To this union was born eight children, of whom one died in infancy. The oldest child living, James D., married and resides on North Metcalf street, Lima, being employed as a cigarmaker at the Deisel-Wemmer factory. The second son, John H., married and now lives in Akron, Ohio; he is a molder by tradc. A daughter, Catherine C., married and resides at Sidney, Ohio; previous to her marriage she was cashier at Feldman's store. The next, a son, Daniel E., deceased December 1, 1901, was at the time of his death 19 years old, and was collector for the Metropolitan Bank of Lima. Charles J. is employed as an account- ant in the Buckeye Pipe Line Company's of- fice. Mary Agnes, still living at home, will finish her high school course this year. The youngest member of the family, Bernard A., now 13 years old, is going to school. Mr. Mc- Kerren is a member of St. Rose Catholic Church and is the financial secretary of the C. M. B. A.
AMUEL M. BURNS. Among the pleasant farm homes of Allen County, that of Mr. Burns is certain to attract the attention of the casual observer.
It comprises 88 acres of fertile land, 78 of which are located in section 31, Rich- land township, with 10 acres adjoining in sec- tion 1. Bath township. Mr. Burns was born May 6, 1833. in Chautauqua County, New York, and is a son of E. R. and Katherine ( Dull) Burns.
The Burns family, as the name implies, is of Scotch origin. Edward Burns, the grand- father of our subject, was first cousin of Robert
Burns, the Scotch bard, and was a native of Scotland. He was pressed into the British Navy at Edinburgh and brought to America to help make war, on the Colonies. Reaching Quebec, he, with four others, deserted from the British and joined the Continental Army in time to take part in that engagement. He served all through the war under the immedi- ate command of General Washington, and was fortunate in that he was neither. wounded nor taken prisoner. After peace was declared, he settled in Vermont where he married, reared a family of 12 children and lived until his death, which took place before he had reached the prime of manhood.
E. R. Burns was the ninth child in his par- ents' family and was born in Essex County, Vermont. He went to New York where he married Katherine Dull, who was a native of Pennsylvania, and four children were born in that State. In 1837 they left New York for Ohio, making the journey by means of an ox team. Their first stop was in Lake County, Ohio, where they lived about two years. From thence they moved to Hancock County. Much of their way lay through dense timber which had to be cut away before they could proceed, and their final stopping place was in the heart of the forest, with the nearest neighbor one and a half mile away. Here the father entered 80 acres of land and erected a small cabin 18 by 24 feet in dimensions. Of their five children- John D., Mary Ann, George L., Samuel M. and William-Samuel M. is the only one now living. The parents remained on this property in Hancock County until they passed away, the father aged 84 years and 9 months, and and the mother in her Soth year.
Samuel M. Burns remained at home and assisted in clearing and improving the home- stead until he had attained his majority, when he went to Tazewell County, Illinois, and re- mained there one year. He then returncd home and, with his brother John, rented the farm and cultivated it for four years, at the same time working at carpentering in the vi- cinity. In 1856 he went to Nebraska where he spent two years working at his trade-he also preempted a claim there and made some im-
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provements upon it. Returning home, he was married April 3, 1863, and again rented the home farm, which he operated with his brother William for one year, the brother managing the farm while our subject was engaged at carpentering. In 1864 he crossed the plains with a dozen or so companions and spent a year, and a half in California, where he worked at his trade or on a ranch as opportunity of- fered. The return trip to New York was by way of the Isthmus of Panama.
About 33 years ago Mr. Burns came to Allen County and purchased his present farm, also renting land in the vicinity. He has about 25 acres cleared and has erected all the build- ings now standing on the property with the ex- ception of the dwelling. In addition to his farming operations, he derives considerable revenue from the 12 oil-wells which are located on his property.
Mr. Burns was married in 1863 to Mar- garet Jane Stratton, who was born in Union township, Hancock County, Ohio, September 15, 1843, and is a daughter of Thomas and Celia (Jones) Stratton, both of whom are nat- ives of Wayne County, Ohio. Ten children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Burns, seven of whom are living, namely: Cynthia J., wife of J. C. Elliott, of Bath township; Celia Kath- erine, wife of Nelson Bassett, of Bath town- ship; William, of Oklahoma ; Anna Viola, wife of L. E. Bassett, of Richland township; Harry D., of Orange township, Hancock County; Edward, who lives at home; and Willard S. Mr. Burns is a Democrat, but was an adherent of the Populist party while it was in existence in Ohio. The family are members of the Dis- ciples' Church.
ILLIAM C. BELL, a member of the well-known business firm of Mosier & Bell, operators of the Mosier Steam Laundry, at Lima, was born in this city, November 24, 1870, and is a son of the late W. M. Bell, who was long one of its active business men.
Mr. Bell attended the public schools of Lima and spent three years at the University
of Notre Dame, in Indiana. After complet- ing his education, he was associated for II years with F. E. Harman, following which he spent one year in the grocery business at Marys- ville, Ohio, and four and a half years as fireman on the C., H. & D. Railway. In June, 1903, he purchased a half interest in the Mosier Steam Laundry, to which he has since given his un- divided business attention, developing it into one of the successful industries of the city. The laundry is well equipped with all modern appliances, and its work is of such a satisfact- ory character as to necessitate the employment of a large force. The office of the laundry is located at No. 121 West North street.
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