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PHILIP F.
ORTMAN.
The invention of the automobile and its subsequent
development has created several industries in the United States
in which there are several millions of dollars invested.
When Elkwood Haines displayed his first little gasoline
motor in the streets of Kokomo in 1891, he probably little
realized that within the course of a few years the automobile
would be the highly developed machine it is today.
Automobiles have been built which have traveled faster than any
engine which was ever placed on a railroad track, and the makers
of automobiles say the limit has not yet been reached. The
automobile and its manufacture has given employment to thousands
of men, while other thousands are engaged in automobile
repairing. There is scarcely a city of any size in the
United States but has a garage of some kind with facilities for
the repair of automobiles. Washington C. H. boasts of one
well equipped garage and repair shop and Philip F. Ortman,
the manager of the P. F. Ortman Motor Company, is
recognized as one of the most expert machinists of this section
of the state.
Philip F. Ortman, the son of Charles Louis
and Elizabeth (Yeoman) Ortman, was born in Fayette
County, Ohio, March 21, 1868. His father was born in
Prussia, Germany, and came to this country when a young man,
settling first in Ross county, Ohio, and later in Fayette
county. After coming to this country he married Elizabeth
Yeoman, who was born in this county, she being his second wife.
His first wife was a Miss Compton, and to his first union there
were four children born, George, John, Albert and
Charles. To the second union there were four
children born also: Enos, a farmer of Union
township, this county; Amy, the wife of M. L. Johnson,
of Columbus, Ohio; Philip F., with whom this history
deals, and Milton C. of Washington C. H. Charles
Louis Ortman was a soldier in the regular army in Germany
and served three years, as was required by the law of that
country. He died in Fayette county in 1875, being about
sixty years of age at the time of his death. The parents
of his second wife, Elizabeth Yeoman, were Enos
and Amy (Baughn) Yeoman, natives of Fayette county.
Enos Yeoman and wife were the parents of thirteen
children, Elizabeth, Lucy, Bethiah, Sarah, Allen J., Walter,
Milton, Newton, Albert and four who died in early childhood.
Philip F. Ortman was reared in Fayette and Ross
counties, Ohio, on the farm and received a good common school
education in the public schools and remained with his parents
until he was grown. He then opened a general repair shop
in Lattisville, Ohio, and a year later moved to Fayette county,
where he opened a shop in Eber, and lived there for
several years. In 1908 he came to Washington C. H. and
opened the first automobile agency in the city, since when he
has sold several hundred machines in the city and the
surrounding community, handling several different kinds of
automobiles. He also has a large garage and a machine shop
equipped with all the latest and most approved machinery for any
kind of automobile repairing. Being an expert mechanic it
was easy for him to become acquainted with the mechanism of the
automobile, and he has built up a reputation as an expert in
this new line of business.
Mr. Ortman was married
August 16, 1891, to Vianna Davis, the daughter of Ira
and ___ (Bryan) Davis, and to this union has been
born one daughter, Lela Grace. Mrs. Ortman is a
native of this county, as were her parents. Her mother
died several years ago and her father is still living in this
county. Mr. and Mrs. Davis are the parents
of several children, Amaljah, Vianna and several who died
in childhood.
Fraternally, Mr. Ortman is a
member of Confidence Lodge No. 265, Knights of Pythias.
Politically, he is not affiliated with any particular party, but
casts his vote, especially in local elections, for the best men,
and not because they happen to be on some party ticket.
While living in Union township, in this county, he served as
school director, filling that position in an acceptable manner
for fifteen years. He is a popular business man and as
manager of and stockholder in the P. F. Ortman Motor
Company, has built up a business which is second to none in the
county. He has a large acquaintance throughout the county
and is well known and highly esteemed as a reliable and
straightforward business man and good citizen.
Source: History of Fayette
County, Ohio - Published Indianapolis, Ind. : B.F. Bowen &
Co., 1914 - Page 492 |
