Garrett Wykoff
Among the early businessmen of Lima was the late Garrett Wykoff, who for many years before his death on May 21, 1893, was numbered with the retired capitalists of the city. Mr. Wykoff was born in Butler County, Oho, July 21, 1831, and was the son of Rulef and Desire (Marshall) Wykoff.
The father of our subject was born in 1796 in New Jersey, and was a young man who had just attained his majority when he came to Ohio, with the idea of founding a home. He entered land in Butler County and resided upon it the remainder of his life. He married a lady who was born in Virginia, and they reared nine children, some of whom still survive.
When Garrett Wykoff was a boy, he attended the schools of his native locality, growing up to manhood on his father's farm. His inclinations were not in the direction of agriculture, rather more in the line of mechanics. He learned the trade of blacksmith and became a first-class artisan, enjoying a very prosperous trade. After 12 years of work at blacksmithing, he came to Lima, where he enlarged his business, entering also into wagon manufacturing. While carrying on a good business in these lines, he wisely invested considerable capital in real estate and to the management of this he devoted the latter years of his life. He was a man of practical ideas, keen and quick in business dealings, honest, outspoken defender of his political views and religious professions, and a man who enjoyed the respect and esteem of the community.
In 1854 Mr. Wykoff was unite in marriage with Anna E. Straley, a daughter of Frederick and Elizabeth Straley. She still survives and enjoys the many comforts of a pleasant home at No. 212 South McDonald street, Lima. Mr. Wykoff was laid at rest in Woodlawn Cemetery. He was a prominent and influential Mason, and Garrett Wykoff Lodge, F. & A. M., was named after him.
From History of Allen County, Ohio and Representative Citizens, Edited by Charles C. Miller. Richmond & Arnold, Publishers, Chicago, 1906