USA > Ohio > Allen County > History of Allen County, Ohio, and representative citizens, Part Two > Part 22
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On March 28, 1897, Mr. Bell was married to Stella Craig Jones, and they have one daugh- ter, Alice, attending school. The family home is at No. 21112 North Main street, in the Bell Block. The family is connected with the Market street Presbyterian Church, of Lima. Mr. Bell is a member of Lima Lodge, No. 162, B. P. O. E., and Lodge No. 100, K. P., of Marysville, Ohio.
G. PARKS, a representative business man of the city of Lima, proprietor of large livery, feed and sale stables, at No. 216 East Market street, was born near Willshire, Van Wert County, Ohio, in 1864, being a son of Samuel and Sarah A. ( Philbee) Parks.
The father of Mr. Parks was a pioneer settler of Van Wert County, locating there when the country was a wilderness. He lived into advanced age, dying in April, 1903. He married Sarah A. Philbee and they reared a family of ten children-five sons and five daughters, all of whom survive. For almost a half century both parents were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
S. G. Parks was reared on his father's farm, and was educated in the local schools. He was 24 years old when he left the farm, go- ing to Decatur, Indiana, where for one year he engaged in a livery business. He continued to conduct a similar business at Van Wert for
MR. AND MRS. J. H. WALTER
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two years, and at Willshire for two years, and, during the excitement attending the first operations in oil, operated a livery stable at Mendon, Ohio. In July, 1895, Mr. .Parks purchased the livery at Spencerville and, in addition to his Mendon barn, operated two establishments at the former place. Later he sold his Mendon interests, but continued at Spencerville until 1899, when he also disposed of his business there and bought the fine estab- lishment, of which he is still proprietor, at Lima. In addition to this prospering business, Mr. Parks has had numerous oil interests, of which he has disposed. He is a large property owner in this city, including business blocks and dwellings, located on East Market street and Central avenue. He is numbered with the city's substantial men.
On March 4, 1885, Mr. Parks was mar- ried to Hulda Royston, of Willshire township, Van Wert County, who is a daughter of Moses Royston, one of the pioneers of that county who still survives at the age of 87 years. Mr. and Mrs. Parks have two children, viz: Orla L., a student at the Lima Business College; and Pearl D., a student at the Lima High School.
H. WALTER, proprietor of the South Side Planing Mill at Lima, and one of the city's well-known and substantial general contractors, was born in Wit- tenberg, Germany, in 1853.
Mr. Walter came to America when 17 years of age, having been educated and taught the carpenter's trade in his native land. He lo- cated in Cattaraugus County, New York, where he lived for a number of years, working at his trade and engaged in general contracting. He also owned and operated a planing and a saw- mill.
In 1901 Mr. Walter came to Lima and here he has found a good field in his specialties. He has done much in the line of general contract- ing, and has operated the large plant known as the South Side Planing Mill, which is situated at No. 925 South Main street. This is one of the city's important industrial plants.
On September 14, 1875, Mr. Walter was married to Mary Mann, who died without is- sue. August 16, 1897. On November 10, 1898, he was married to Agnes Brown, who is a daughter of George Brown, of Lima.
Politically, Mr. Walter has always been identified with the Republican party. Since coming to Lima he has accepted no political office, but while living in New York served as excise commissioner. Fraternally, he is a Royal Arch Mason. He is a member of the German Evangelical Church, but, as no organ- ization of this religious body holds services in Lima, he attends the German Reformed Church. Portraits of Mr. and Mrs. Walter accompany this sketch.
OHN LUDWIG BEUTNER, a leading agriculturist of Marion township, who carries on general farming and stock- raising on his valuable farm of 110 acres in section 23, was born at Del- phos, Allen County, Ohio, February 26, 1860, and is a son of Frederick and Johanna ( From- bach ) Beutner.
Frederick Beutner was born near Sonne- berg, in Saxe-Meiningen, Germany, February 25, 1819, and spent the usual time at school required of German children. He learned to be a shoemaker and, after deciding to seek his fortune in America, took passage in 1851 in a sailing vessel, which, after a voyage of three months, landed him in the city of New York, with 50 cents in his pocket. Fortunately for him, the individual to whom he entrusted his money, as pay for securing him employment as a shoemaker, was honest and he worked for. a time in New York and then went to Buffalo, where he continued to work at shoemaking for a year. About 1853, after his marriage, Mr. Beutner and wife came to Delphos, Ohio, by way of the Lakes and the Miami and Erie Canal, and opened a shop opposite the paro- chial house, later removing to Main street. He also bought land. A few years ago he bought his present farm of 120 acres in section 22. Marion township, which he still owns. He
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lives with his two sons, dividing his time be- tween their homes. Haing a good knowledge of land values, he has accumulated considerable property and now enjoys a comfortable com- petency. At Buffalo he married Johanna Frombach, who was born in Germany, Septem- ber 4, 1827, came to America in young womanhood and died December 15, 1904. They have four sons, namely: Frederick and Carl, who died in infancy; and John Ludwig and Frederick Philip.
Prior to coming to the United States, Fred- erick Beutner traveled to many points of inter- est in his own and other European countries, crossing the Alps and working at his trade through Switzerland and Italy. Although now bearing the weight of 87 years, he still enjoys walking and frequently passes other pedestrians on the road when walking to Del- phos, a distance of four miles. He frequently walks as much as 15 miles a day, and in sum- mer often goes afoot to his farm in Van Wert County, west of Delphos. He is a well-known citizen and enjoys a very large measure of public esteem. He was reared a Lutheran but is a man of liberal mind, ready to see good in every religious organization. In his politi- cal views he is a Republican. He helped to develop the town of Delphos, always support- ing the measures which, in his judgment, were for the welfare of the place.
John L. Beutner attended public school at Delphos and learned the shoemaker's trade with his excellent father. He is entitled to the name of self-made man, for from the age of 14 years he has depended for a livelihood entirely upon his own exertions. When he was still a boy at school he always found some profitable way in which to spend his holidays and vacations. He remembers when he was willing to work in the elevators for 20 cents a day and board himself rather than to be without work. He continued to work at shoemaking until failing health warned him to give it up and his physi- cian recommended the open air and farm work. Hence, in 1883 he came to his present farm, on which at that time there were only a log-hut and log stable. Now all of his 110 acres, with the exception of 15. are under cultivation and he
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 1, 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 element-
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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