John C. Bothe
John C. Bothe, to whom reference is already made as one of the earliest business men of Wapakoneta, was born in Prussia Dec. 23, 1807, and came to the United States in 1823, stopping first at Baltimore, from which place he soon proceeded to Dayton, O., where he was employed as a clerk until 1833, when he came to Wapakoneta. Here he purchased two town lots, after which he went back as far as Sidney, where he located about a year in the interest of his Dayton employers. He was next sent by the same firm to Wapakoneta to conduct a branch house, with which he was identified until 1835, when he visited Europe, and on his return the following year he established himself in the dry goods business at this place. In 1860 he built a warehouse and became an extensive grain dealer, in which business he continued until 1875, when he retired from active business. In 1878 he again visited Europe, returning the same year. After a long and active business career, in which he was associated with the public enterprises of the town and county, he has thrown aside business responsibilities and leads a retired life in Wapakoneta.
From History of Auglaize County, Ohio, with the Indian History of Wapakoneta, and the First Settlement of the County, Robert Sutton, Publishers, Wapakoneta, 1880