JAMES A. BAKER, a contractor and brick mason of Mt. Sterling, has made his home in this locality for more than a third of a century.  He was born in Albany, N. Y., July 22, 1837, and is a son of John and Sarah (Presgrave) Baker.  His parents were both natives of Lincolnshire, England, where their marriage was celebrated.  With five of their children, they emigrated to America in 1835, locating in Albany, where the family circle was increased by the birth of our subject and two daughters.  Mr. Baker followed his trade of brick-laying in Albany for about ten years and then removed to Seneca, N. Y., where he spent his last days.
     At the age of fifteen, our subject began to learn the mason's trade with his father, with whom he worked for four years.  He then went to Warrensburg, N. Y., where he secured employment and engaged in brick-laying in various places in the Empire State.  In 1859, he came to Ohio, where he began working on a farm, being thus employed for three summers.  The Civil War was then in progress and on the 13th of August, 1862, he enlisted in Company G, One Hundred and Thirteenth Ohio Infantry, and before the regiment was ordered South, he was married, on the 12th of September, to Miss Emeline Puckett, of Mt. Sterling.  Bidding good-bye to his young bride, he marched to the front and participated in the battles of Chickamauga, Peach Tree Creek, Kenesaw Mountain, Franklin and others.  In June, 1864, he was transferred to Company C, First United States Regiment of Engineers, and was engaged in repairing bridges and other such work.  He was never wounded or taken prisoner and was honorably discharged, Sept. 26, 1865, in Nashville, Tenn.
     Mr. Baker then returned home to his wife, who in the interval had resided in Mt. Sterling.  She was born in Pickaway County, July 7, 1842, and is a daughter of James K. and Mary (Elmore) Puckett, who resided upon a farm in Pickaway County.  Unto Mr. and Mrs. Baker have been born four children.  Elva, born in Pleasant Township, Madison County, July 16, 1866, is the wife of Harry Terry, of Mt. Sterling, by whom she has three children; Marietta, born in Fayette County, Dec. 27, 1868, is the wife of Barton De Long, a molder of Mt. Sterling, and they have one child; Ida Effie was born in Fayette County, Aug. 26, 1871, and William A. was born in Mt. Sterling, Dec. 22, 1873.
     For three years after his return from the war, Mr. Baker engaged in operating a rented farm.  In 1870, he came to Mt. Sterling, purchased a home and began working at his trade.   He has since been a leading contractor of the city and has erected a number of the principal brick buildings in the place.   He is an excellent workman and the liberal patronage which he has received is well deserved.  He cast his first Presidential vote in Chattanooga in 1864, for George B. McClelland and has since supported the Democratic party.   Himself, wife and daughters are members of the Christian Church and he has served as assistant Superintendent.  Mr. Baker is also a member of the Patriotic Order of Sons of America and a charter member of Bostwick Post No. 406, G. A. R.  He has attended both the National Unions held in Columbus.  He is a public-spirited and progressive citizen, true to every public and private duty.
Source:  Portrait and Biographical History of Fayette,  Pickaway and Madison Counties, Ohio. Publ. Chicago: Chapman Bros. 1892 - Page 748

GEORGE W. BOTKIN, a leading and representative citizen of Paint Township, Madison County, was born Oct. 10, 1822, about three miles from his present home, in Madison Township, Clarke County.  His parents, Jeremiah and Anna (Ellsworth) Botkin, were both natives of Harrison County, Va., the former born Oct. 31, 1784, and the latter Jan. 1, 1790.  The mother was a distant relative of Col. Ellsworth, who led the Zouaves, and was shot in the early part of the War of the Rebellion, at Alexandria, Va.  The Botkin Family was descended from two brothers of English birth, who in 1650 crossed the Atlantic and settled in Virginia.  The parents of our subject came to Ohio in 1802, with their respective families, and were married Dec. 9, 1806.  For a few years they resided in Clinton County, where the eldest child, Jesse, was born Nov. 5, 1807.  About 1808, they removed to Clarke County, where Mr. Botkin bought and and carried on farming and wagonmaking.  The second child, Sanford, was born on Birch Creek, Nov. 7, 1809.  The other children were all born on the farm, which was the birthplace of our subject, and were: Ruhamah, born Jan. 21, 1813; Margaret, Mar. 13, 1815; Amos, May 15, 1817; Moses E., May 6, 1819; George, of this sketch; Anna, born May 10, 1827; and William L., Apr. 8, 1832.  The father of this family made his own way in the world, and was very successful, owning two hundred and fifteen acres of land at the time of his death.  In early life he was a Whig, and joined the Republican party on its organization.  He became a member of the Republican party on its organization.  He became a member of the Methodist Church when a young man, and was licensed to exhort.  by all who knew him he was held in the highest regard.  His death occurred Sept. 7, 1861, and his wife passed away Aug. 24, 1864.  Two of his sons were in the army.  William I., who was married and had two children, enlisted in 1861, in Company F, Forth-fifth Ohio Infantry, for three years' service, was taken prisoner at Philadelphia, Tenn., and incarcerated in Libby Prison, Belle Isle and Andersonville, where he died June 15, 1864.  Our subject was a member of the one-hundred-day service.  He enlisted May 2, 1864, and returned home on the 26th of August, the day after his mother's burial.
     At the age of twenty-one, Mr. Botkin, began teaching at $12 per month.  After being employed for three months, he was solicited to retain the school for another month, and was given an increase of salary of $1.  For ten years, he followed teaching at intervals.  He was married Apr. 5, 1849, at the age of twenty-seven, to Miss Eliza S. Maxey, of Paint Township, who was born on the farm which is now her home, Jan. 10, 1823.  Her parents were Stephen and Fannie (Troxel) Maxey.  Unto them have been born six children:  Frances E., born Apr. 13, 1850; Albert C., who was born Nov. 13, 1851, and wedded Mary Tumbleson; Mary E., born Jan. 4, 1853, is the wife of H. H. Snyder, a druggist of London, Ohio, and has five children; Florence I., born Dec. 10, 1854, became the wife of Frank W. Pierce, and died, leaving two children; Stephen H., born Sept. 23, 1856, resides in Madison County; and Anna J., born Oct. 8, 1860, completes the family.
     Mr. Botkin was in Fulton County, Ill., from Sept. 1847, until June, 1848, engaged in teaching school.  After his marriage, he resided upon his father's farm for three years, when he removed to South Charleston, where he worked at the carpenter's trade for five years.  In the meantime, he took a Western trip through Missouri and Iowa in 1857, in order to locate some land, just did not do so.  He removed to his present home Apr. 17, 1860, and has resided there continuously since.  He owns one hundred and seventy-eight acres of valuable land, under a high state of cultivation and well-improved, and his residence was erected by himself and sons.  He is an enterprising and progressive citizen, and may truly be called a self-made man.
     Mr. Botkin cast his first vote for Henry Clay in 1844, supported John C. Fremont in1856, and has since been a stanch Republican.  He has served as Township Trustee, and for the long period of eighteen years has been Justice of the Peace, which fact indicates his faithfulness to duty.  Himself and wife are consistent and active members of the Methodist Church, in which he has served as Steward and Trustee.  He has also been a prominent Sunday-school worker, and was Recording Steward for the circuit for six years.  Socially, he is a member of McMillan Post No. 122, G. A. R., of South Charleston.
Source:  Portrait and Biographical History of Fayette,  Pickaway and Madison Counties, Ohio. Publ. Chicago: Chapman Bros. 1892 - Page 724