Botkins
In the early days, religion and the church played a prominent role in the lives of most people, and of times was the most important aspect of family and community life. In fact, the social life of most people in rural areas revolved around the church first, and then in activities connected with farming, according to historians. Neighbors helped one another in turn in agricultural pursuits, particularly during harvest.

The village of Botkins came into being as Botkinsville officially in July, 1858, and was at one time known as "Stringtown". Historians of the past have never been able to accurately determined how it came by the latter handle, but it is a fair guess that the settlement was one of a string along the most heavily traveled road or byway. Richard Botkin, for whom the village was named, came to the area at the age of 29 from Hamilton County. The year was 1832, and Botkin brought with him his wife and family. Apparently he had heard of the opportunities for home-steading "up north" where the soil was rich, and provided incentive for a man bent toward farming and making his living off the land. Whatever his purpose, Botkin recognized opportunity when it presented itself, for he set up a farm operation and dealt in stock for the remainder of his life. He died in the spring of 1858, and a little more than a year later, Botkinsville was surveyed and platted for Russell Botkin, Richard's son. The date, according to courthouse records, was July 31, 1858. The town came into being and was so named out of a deference to the elder Botkin. In his will, he had expressed a desire to have a village laid out on his land, and it was to be named "Botkinsville". In Those days, religion and the church played a prominent role in the lives of most people, and oftimes was the most important aspect of family and community life. In fact the social life of most people in rural areas revolved around the church first, and ten in activities connected with farming, according to historians. Neighbors helped one another in turn in agricultural pursuits, particularly during harvest. The same comradery prevailed in times of tribulation in most cases. In keeping with Richard Botkin's upbringing, the Methodist Episcopal Society soon flourished in the area. The society was organized the year after Botkin's arrival, and meetings were held in his home for a time (reportedly a log house, later framed, at 211 S. Main Street, where now lives Steven D. Maurer, mayor of Botkins, and candidate this year for state Senator). Then members started holding worship services and prayer meetings in a log cabin house which later became the site of the John Losher residence. According to Sutton's history of Shelby County, the Methodists met in the log house until about 1841 when they built a 40 by 30 foot hewed log church near where P. Sheets Jr.'s warehouse now stands, on ground donated by Richard Botkin. The building was used by the society for purposes for a number of years, or until 1860, when they erected a frame church building in Botkins, 45 by 30 feet..." on North Main Street, where the present-day Ward School play area is located." In the meantime, Sutton said, several families of German Roman Catholics settled in the area and held services at private residences or wherever a meeting place was available. The were occasionally served by missionaries or priests from other communities. The Roman Catholic Church of the Immaculate Conception formally organized in 1865 with 28 families, and two years later were occupying their newly built church (85 by 45 feet) which cost $8,000. The Methodists used their frame building until 1881 when, according to Sutton, they "erected their present brick edifice... 51 by 31 feet, with an 18 foot ceiling at a cost of $2,040." The frame building was sold to the Immaculate Conception Parish for use as a school. The church structure remained at the Mill Street location, however, for many years after the present Methodist Church was built in 1926. (The present St. Paul Lutheran Church at Botkins was not to come into being until 1896 when a budding membership purchased a small frame church building at the corner of Main and South streets from officers of the Zion German Evangelical Church. Historians wrote very little about the German Zionists, however. The home of Ralph Grieves, 201 S. Main Street, is located on the former Lutheran and Zion church site.) Besides the Richard Botkin family, others to locate in the township up to and including 1832 were the Blakeleys, Dills, Allens, Turners and Greens. In 1833, The Park, Hartpence, Lemon, Toland, Hagelberger, Goode, Wilford and Staley families came to the area. They were followed in 1834, according to records, by the Bridewesser, Taylor, Mede, Bruner, Oxberger,.Liams, and Elliott families.	Early settlers of the 1835-38 period were Samuel and Alexander Elliot, Thomas Liams, William H. Abbott, W.D. Johnson, Peter Gerber, John Faler, Elias Gibson, Daniel Toland, John Fahr, Diedrich Schulte and John Knasel (according to an account written for the Ohio Sesquicentennial edition of the Daily News in 1953). Some small township schools sprang up throughout the county as time went by, but according to available historical rec- ords, it would appear the Immaculate Conception Church had the first real school at Botkins in 1881. (The same year that a petition for Incorporation of the village was filed with Shelby County Commissioners.) Before the turn of the century, however, pa public school was erected at the site of the present-day swimming pool (corner of West State and North Sycamore Streets) across from the United Methodist Church. Some opposition was noted after the March 7, 1881 filing of the Incorporation petition. D.E. Morgan and Jacob Zaenglein were named agents for the "said corporation"> and the petition was signed by J.B. Hemmert, A. Roth, J.C. Struckman and "45 others". A remonstrance signed by "A. Gutman and 27 others" protested against the petition saying that incorporation of the village was "not demanded by the people; that it would involve an unnecessary expense and burden upon the people, and upon the property owners for all time to come." A protest filed with the commissioners and signed by Elizabeth Monger "and three others", pleaded that the signees "own property that will be taxed; that they are poor and cannot afford to pay any additional tax that will necessarily follow; that the same (incorporation) is not demanded by the best interests of the people". The commissioners set a date for a hearing (May 10, 1881). As a result, the village became a corporation August 2, 1881, and the name of Botkinsville was shortened to Botkins. The commissioner's order was certified by the county auditor and recorded January 3, 1882. Sutton said a special election was held at which the following officers were elected to serve Botkins: P.W. Speaker, mayor; H.H. Varner, clerk; F.M. Hemmert, treasurer; J.B. Staller, marshal and (sic) At the regular April, 1882 election, J. W. Zaenglein and J.B. Greve succeeded Tate and McMahon on the council, and J.W. Botkin succeeded Varner as clerk. All other officers were either reelected or held over, according to Sutton's 1883 report. Sutton also listed "business interests" as follows: "Three general stores, by A. Gutmann, Joseph H. Miller, and Philip Sheets. Warehouse and mill, A. Gutmann. Two warehouses, P. Sheets and Miller & Norris. Two blacksmith shops, John W. Zaenglein and Henry Brockman. Hardware, Schaf and Kuhn. Bakery Frank Monger, Hotels, Shelby House and Burnett House, Fred. Schubert, proprietor. Livery stable, Benj. Kuest. Meat market, Stole & Hemmert. Tin shop, John Duckro. Physicians, P.R. Cilnehens, and G.M. Tate. Shoe store, Joseph Miller. Saw Mills, Gray and Ailes, and A. Roth. Agricultural Implements, Hunt & Greve. Wagon makers John B<@151><@151>- and John Schars." According to Sutton and information derived from the 1953 Sesquicentennial edition of the Daily News, Botkins' first industry was Silas D. Allen's sawmill established in 1849. It was later taken over by "Duff and Fogt". Andrew Gutman conducted a general store in <@145>1860 and in 1865, build a steam flouring mill. Miller Brother's general store was in operation in 1878, and the Hunt and Greve implement store came into being about the same time. Philip Sheets Sr. conducted a hotel and cafe in 1865, and Philip Sheets Jr. clerked in the drygoods store of Henry Smith in 1870. In 1879 he went into the drygoods business for himself but later became engaged in the grain elevator business. John Stolle was engaged in the meat market business in 1888 and W.C. Zaenglein established his drygoods and department store in 1890. Fred Schubert built his hotel in 1888, and M.A. Marx and H.S. Allen had a cooperage business in 1890. In the same year, Dr. M.F. Hussey was teaching school and Charles Mowry and Philip Sheets Jr. established a wheel and spoke works in the village. The "Botkins Herald" was founded in 1902 by Adam Blakeley and the newspaper business was carried on by family members for many years. The Botkins Herald was described by A.B.C. Hitchcock in his 1913 History and Biography of Shelby County, as a "luminary which sheds light in the community, suggests improvements, records the happenings and molds public opinion". A few treasured copies of the old newspaper are in the possession of Botkins citizens yet today. It is hoped that they can be reproduced for display in the old Shelby House.

Botkins

In the early days, religion and the church played a prominent role in the lives of most people, and of times was the most important aspect of family and community life. In fact, the social life of most people in rural areas revolved around the church first, and then in activities connected with farming, according to historians. Neighbors helped one another in turn in agricultural pursuits, particularly during harvest.

The village of Botkins came into being as Botkinsville officially in July, 1858, and was at one time known as "Stringtown".

Historians of the past have never been able to accurately determined how it came by the latter handle, but it is a fair guess that the settlement was one of a string along the most heavily traveled road or byway.

Richard Botkin, for whom the village was named, came to the area at the age of 29 from Hamilton County. The year was 1832, and Botkin brought with him his wife and family. Apparently he had heard of the opportunities for home-steading "up north" where the soil was rich, and provided incentive for a man bent toward farming and making his living off the land.

Whatever his purpose, Botkin recognized opportunity when it presented itself, for he set up a farm operation and dealt in stock for the remainder of his life. He died in the spring of 1858, and a little more than a year later, Botkinsville was surveyed and platted for Russell Botkin, Richard's son. The date, according to courthouse records, was July 31, 1858.

The town came into being and was so named out of a deference to the elder Botkin. In his will, he had expressed a desire to have a village laid out on his land, and it was to be named "Botkinsville". In Those days, religion and the church played a prominent role in the lives of most people, and oftimes was the most important aspect of family and community life. In fact the social life of most people in rural areas revolved around the church first, and ten in activities connected with farming, according to historians. Neighbors helped one another in turn in agricultural pursuits, particularly during harvest.

The same comradery prevailed in times of tribulation in most cases.

In keeping with Richard Botkin's upbringing, the Methodist Episcopal Society soon flourished in the area. The society was organized the year after Botkin's arrival, and meetings were held in his home for a time (reportedly a log house, later framed, at 211 S. Main Street, where now lives Steven D. Maurer, mayor of Botkins, and candidate this year for state Senator).

Then members started holding worship services and prayer meetings in a log cabin house which later became the site of the John Losher residence.

According to Sutton's history of Shelby County, the Methodists met in the log house until about 1841 when they built a 40 by 30 foot hewed log church near where P. Sheets Jr.'s warehouse now stands, on ground donated by Richard Botkin. The building was used by the society for purposes for a number of years, or until 1860, when they erected a frame church building in Botkins, 45 by 30 feet..." on North Main Street, where the present-day Ward School play area is located."

In the meantime, Sutton said, several families of German Roman Catholics settled in the area and held services at private residences or wherever a meeting place was available. The were occasionally served by missionaries or priests from other communities.

The Roman Catholic Church of the Immaculate Conception formally organized in 1865 with 28 families, and two years later were occupying their newly built church (85 by 45 feet) which cost $8,000.

The Methodists used their frame building until 1881 when, according to Sutton, they "erected their present brick edifice... 51 by 31 feet, with an 18 foot ceiling at a cost of $2,040." The frame building was sold to the Immaculate Conception Parish for use as a school.

The church structure remained at the Mill Street location, however, for many years after the present Methodist Church was built in 1926.

(The present St. Paul Lutheran Church at Botkins was not to come into being until 1896 when a budding membership purchased a small frame church building at the corner of Main and South streets from officers of the Zion German Evangelical Church. Historians wrote very little about the German Zionists, however. The home of Ralph Grieves, 201 S. Main Street, is located on the former Lutheran and Zion church site.)

Besides the Richard Botkin family, others to locate in the township up to and including 1832 were the Blakeleys, Dills, Allens, Turners and Greens.

In 1833, The Park, Hartpence, Lemon, Toland, Hagelberger, Goode, Wilford and Staley families came to the area. They were followed in 1834, according to records, by the Bridewesser, Taylor, Mede, Bruner, Oxberger,.Liams, and Elliott families.

Early settlers of the 1835-38 period were Samuel and Alexander Elliot, Thomas Liams, William H. Abbott, W.D. Johnson, Peter Gerber, John Faler, Elias Gibson, Daniel Toland, John Fahr, Diedrich Schulte and John Knasel (according to an account written for the Ohio Sesquicentennial edition of the Daily News in 1953).

Some small township schools sprang up throughout the county as time went by, but according to available historical rec- ords, it would appear the Immaculate Conception Church had the first real school at Botkins in 1881. (The same year that a petition for Incorporation of the village was filed with Shelby County Commissioners.)

Before the turn of the century, however, pa public school was erected at the site of the present-day swimming pool (corner of West State and North Sycamore Streets) across from the United Methodist Church.

Some opposition was noted after the March 7, 1881 filing of the Incorporation petition. D.E. Morgan and Jacob Zaenglein were named agents for the "said corporation"> and the petition was signed by J.B. Hemmert, A. Roth, J.C. Struckman and "45 others".

A remonstrance signed by "A. Gutman and 27 others" protested against the petition saying that incorporation of the village was "not demanded by the people; that it would involve an unnecessary expense and burden upon the people, and upon the property owners for all time to come."

A protest filed with the commissioners and signed by Elizabeth Monger "and three others", pleaded that the signees "own property that will be taxed; that they are poor and cannot afford to pay any additional tax that will necessarily follow; that the same (incorporation) is not demanded by the best interests of the people".

The commissioners set a date for a hearing (May 10, 1881). As a result, the village became a corporation August 2, 1881, and the name of Botkinsville was shortened to Botkins. The commissioner's order was certified by the county auditor and recorded January 3, 1882. Sutton said a special election was held at which the following officers were elected to serve Botkins:

P.W. Speaker, mayor; H.H. Varner, clerk; F.M. Hemmert, treasurer; J.B. Staller, marshal and (sic) At the regular April, 1882 election, J. W. Zaenglein and J.B. Greve succeeded Tate and McMahon on the council, and J.W. Botkin succeeded Varner as clerk. All other officers were either reelected or held over, according to Sutton's 1883 report. Sutton also listed "business interests" as follows: "Three general stores, by A. Gutmann, Joseph H. Miller, and Philip Sheets. Warehouse and mill, A. Gutmann. Two warehouses, P. Sheets and Miller & Norris. Two blacksmith shops, John W. Zaenglein and Henry Brockman. Hardware, Schaf and Kuhn. Bakery Frank Monger, Hotels, Shelby House and Burnett House, Fred. Schubert, proprietor. Livery stable, Benj. Kuest. Meat market, Stole & Hemmert. Tin shop, John Duckro. Physicians, P.R. Cilnehens, and G.M. Tate. Shoe store, Joseph Miller. Saw Mills, Gray and Ailes, and A. Roth. Agricultural Implements, Hunt & Greve. Wagon makers John B<@151><@151>- and John Schars." According to Sutton and information derived from the 1953 Sesquicentennial edition of the Daily News, Botkins' first industry was Silas D. Allen's sawmill established in 1849. It was later taken over by "Duff and Fogt". Andrew Gutman conducted a general store in <@145>1860 and in 1865, build a steam flouring mill. Miller Brother's general store was in operation in 1878, and the Hunt and Greve implement store came into being about the same time. Philip Sheets Sr. conducted a hotel and cafe in 1865, and Philip Sheets Jr. clerked in the drygoods store of Henry Smith in 1870. In 1879 he went into the drygoods business for himself but later became engaged in the grain elevator business. John Stolle was engaged in the meat market business in 1888 and W.C. Zaenglein established his drygoods and department store in 1890. Fred Schubert built his hotel in 1888, and M.A. Marx and H.S. Allen had a cooperage business in 1890. In the same year, Dr. M.F. Hussey was teaching school and Charles Mowry and Philip Sheets Jr. established a wheel and spoke works in the village.

The "Botkins Herald" was founded in 1902 by Adam Blakeley and the newspaper business was carried on by family members for many years.

The Botkins Herald was described by A.B.C. Hitchcock in his 1913 History and Biography of Shelby County, as a "luminary which sheds light in the community, suggests improvements, records the happenings and molds public opinion".

A few treasured copies of the old newspaper are in the possession of Botkins citizens yet today. It is hoped that they can be reproduced for display in the old Shelby House.