JOHN FETTER, of Claridon Township, has lived in Marion County for over a quarter of a century.  About 1870 he purchased a farm on section 32, and has since been engaged industriously in its cultivation and development.  He is a member of the Lutheran Church and always upholds worthy religious and benevolent enterprises.
     A native of Germany, John Fetter was born and reared on a farm in that country, and there spent his early manhood.  The date of his birth was Oct. 15, 1817.  When fifteen years of age he began working at the shoemaker's trade, and served an apprenticeship of three years, during which time he received only his board in return for his services.  According to the law of his native land, he was in the army from the time he was twenty-one until he was twenty-six years of age.
     In 1867 our subject determined to try his fortunes in America and embarked on the sailing vessel "Caroline."  For sixty-five days he was tossed to and fro on the briny deep, but eventually reached his destination, New York City, in safety.  Arriving in Marion County, he went to the county seat, and there worked at his trade for three years.  As he was thrifty, he managed to lay aside a certain portion of his earnings,  which he invested in a farm in Claridon Township about 1870.  For the succeeding twelve years he toiled unremittingly to bring the place under better cultivation, and succeeded in becoming well-to-do.  His present homestead is a place of forty-four acres, on which stand good buildings and other substantial improvements.
     April 5, 1844, Mr. Fetter married Elizabeth Linden, by whom he has had five children, all sons, and named as follows:  Martin, John, Michael, Henry and Peter.  They are all living and are useful citizens in the communities where they make their homes.  The faithful wife and mother was called to the silent land in 1882, and was placed to rest in the Lutheran Cemetery of Richland Township. 
     In his religious faith Mr. Fetter is a Lutheran, as were his forefathers for many generations.  He is an active member of the local church and a liberal contributor to its expenses.  Politically he has used his ballot in favor of the Democratic party ever since becoming a voter.
Source: Portrait and Biographical Record of Marion and Hardin Counties, Ohio - 1895 - Page 135

JOHN W. FLINN.  This respected agriculturist of Hardin County has been engaged for many years in carrying on a fine estate located in Lynn Township.  He has been enterprising and industrious, and through the exercise of these qualities has succeeded in making ample provision for the wants of his family, and has also laid aside a certain proportion of his income, so that he is now enabled to live in ease and comfort, retired from active work of any kind.
     Our subject was born at Berkeley Springs, W. Va., May 21, 1823, and is the sixth in order of birth of the family of John and Mary (Smith) Flinn.  They grandfather, Alexander Flinn, was a native of Delaware, and during the Revolutionary War served on the side of the Colonists for seven years.
     John W. Flinn was born on a farm, but as soon as old enough to earn his own living began teaming.  During early manhood he was chosen Deputy Sheriff of Morgan County, W. Va., serving from 1844 to 1846.  March 30, of the last-named year he was married to Margaret Alderton, who died nine months later and was buried in Morgan County.  Wishing to see more of the country, our subject traveled about from place to place, visiting points in his native state, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and Kentucky.  He clerked in a store in Scioto County, Ohio, for eighteen months, after which he removed to Pickaway County, where he was married, Dec. 16, 1849, to Miss Eliza Ann Henderson.  The succeeding five years were spent in farming in that county, where he raised immense crops of broom corn.  Mrs. Eliza A. Flinn departed this life Sept. 31, 1853, and was buried in Pickaway County.
     In 1855 Mr. Flinn came to Hardin County, and for some time farmed on rented land lying in McDonald Township.  July 16, 1854, he had been married to Catherine, daughter of John and Mary (Miller) Fultz, who located in the above township sixty years ago.  They are both now deceased, the father passing away in 1867, and Mrs. Fultz dying in 1848.
     Of the children born to the union of Miss Fultz and our subject, we mention the following:  Josephine V., born Nov. 6, 1855, married Nathan D. Bailey, Aug. 31, 171, and died Jul. 28, 1882; William P. was born Jan. 17, 1857, and died July 8, 1886; Myron D. was born June 22, 1858, and is now car inspector for the Toledo & Ohio Central Railway Company, whose shops are located at Kenton, this state; Louis N. was born Feb. 9, 1861, and is now farming in Lynn Township; Fernetta S., who was born Sept. 15, 1862, married John F. Kissling, a farmer of McDonald Township, Hardin County; Sadie, who was born Aug. 18, 1864, is unmarried and living in Kenton; Mary M., born Aug. 3, 1866, married Henry Bradley, a well-to-do agriculturist of Lynn Township; Joseph W.  was born July 23, 1868; John W. T. was born February 27, 1870, and lives in this township; Catherine E. was born Dec. 16, 1871; and Sylvester O., Jan. 4, 1874.  Joseph W. was for some time in the employ of the Salem Wire Nail Company of Findlay, this state, and has also had some experience in railroading.
     There are only three of the old residents now living who were among the early settlers of Lynn Township when our subject located here.  His first work was to build a cabin for his family, after which he began the arduous task of clearing the forest and placing the primitive soil under cultivation.
     Nov. 16, 1861, soon after the outbreak of the late war, our subject enlisted as a member of Company B, Eighty-second Ohio Infantry, being mustered in at Kenton.  The command first went into camp south of the city, where they remained until the following January.  They were then ordered out, and went to Grafton, W. Va., thence moving on to Moorefield, on the south branch of the Potomac.  In May, 1862, occurred the first engagement in which he participated, the battle of McDowell.  At Winchester Mr. Flinn was taken seriously ill and was sent to Ft. McHenry, arriving there on the 8th of July.  He remained in the hospital until Aug. 16, when he was discharged and came home.  When fully recovered from his sickness he re-enlisted, in September, 1864, and was mustered into Company H, One Hundred and Seventy-ninth Ohio Infantry, and with his regiment went to Camp Chase and from there to Nashville, being in the reserve force on the 15th and 16th of December, 1864.  After this his company did garrison duty until mustered out, June 17, 1865.
     On receiving his discharge, Mr. Flinn lost no time in making his way back to his wife and family in Hardin County.  This time, however, he found it no easy matter to regain his lost health, as for three years he was an invalid, and been at the present time he is not a strong man.  He has taken a very active part in the development of his adopted county, and is in sympathy with all progressive measures.  Genial in manner, honorable i all his dealings, and kind to those in distress, he is worthy of the confidence and esteem of his associates.  He is a Democrat in politics, and on his ticket has served as Trustee in his township, and for a number of years was a member of the Board of Education.
     Both Mr. and Mrs. Flinn are members of the Church of Christ at Kenton, with which they have been connected since 1857.  On the 16th of July, 1894, they celebrated the fortieth anniversary of their marriage.  On this occasion one hundred and fifty people were present at their home, conspicuous among whom were nearly all the members of "Pap" Tomas Commandery No. 14, U. V. U.
Source: Portrait and Biographical Record of Marion and Hardin Counties, Ohio - 1895 - Page 374