Robert J. Skinner
Among the early and most respected citizens of Wapakoneta was Robert J. Skinner, who established the first Democratic paper published in Dayton, Ohio, the first number of which was issued in December, 1816. This paper was continued by him until 1830, in which year he removed to Piqua, and established in that town the first Democratic press. In 1832, having received the appointment from President Jackson of Receiver of the United States Land Office, at Wapakoneta, he moved his family to that town, and continued a resident of the place until June, 1849; when, being on a visit with part of his family at the house of a married daughter in Dayton, himself, wife, daughter, and son, composing all the visitors, were attacked with the cholera which prevailed in the city at the time, and, during one week, the four died of the disease. Mr. Skinner was a man of positive character, of great enterprise, and a most useful citizen. He represented Montgomery Co., of which Allen County formed a part, in the General Assembly, at the sessions of 1828-29.
Some of the residents of Wapakoneta, about the time Mr. S. became a citizen of the place, were Col. T. B. Van Horn, Register of Land Office, Peter Hammel (a French Indian trader), Captain John Elliott, who was an officer at Hull's surrender, and had been a number of years Government blacksmith at Wapakoneta, Jeremiah Ayres, Cummings & Mathers, Samuel Case, James Elliott, and H. B. Thorn.
From History of Auglaize County, Ohio, with the Indian History of Wapakoneta, and the First Settlement of the County, Robert Sutton, Publishers, Wapakoneta, 1880