The Larkin Family of Montgomery County, Ohio

DANIEL C. LARKIN, chief of the fire department of Dayton, was born in Sandusky, Erie county, Ohio, July 29, 1849, and is a son of Thomas Larkin, who was born in Connecticut. Thomas Larkin was one of six brothers who came west together in 1824, three of them settling in Sandusky, Ohio, the other three going further and locating in Detroit, Mich. Thomas Larkin was a locomotive engineer for more than thirty years, and lost his life in an accident, his locomotive exploding June 5, 1875, about two miles from Sandusky. His wife was Ann Ryne, who was born in Ireland, and who came to the United States when a child, with her two sisters, and died in 1893.

Daniel C. Larkin was reared in Sandusky, and received his education in the public schools of that city. After leaving school he learned the trade of a machinist, serving an apprenticeship of three years. He then began firing a locomotive running between Sandusky and Dayton, being promoted to engineer three years later, his route lying between Sandusky and Dayton, on the C., S. & C. railroad. For three years afterward he ran a locomotive on the C., C., C. & I. railroad, between Cincinnati and Dayton. In 1875 he retired from the road and took charge of a number of teams in Dayton, doing drawing for large firms in that city, continuing thus engaged until 1880, in which year he was appointed chief of the Dayton fire department, a position which he has held ever since. This was at the time of the organization of the present board of fire commissioners.

Mr. Larkin was married May 26, 1875, to Hannah A. Hartnett, of Dayton. This lady, a daughter of Morris and Julia (Hern) Hartnett, natives of Ireland, was born in Dayton, Ohio, January 10, 1856, and has blessed her husband with seven children, viz.: Morris D., assistant secretary of the Dayton fire department; Thomas, a student of Saint Mary’s institute of Dayton; John, Alice, Helen, Francis and David. Mr. and Mrs. Larkin are members of Saint Joseph’s church, and Mr. Larkin is a member of Iola lodge No. 83, Knights of Pythias, which was instituted March 24, 1875, and also of the society of Elks.

A brief review of the growth and improvement of the Dayton fire department is appropriate in this connection, as it is in point of fact, a history of the great success of the life of Mr. Larkin. When he took charge of the department in 1880 it had eleven horses, while now it has thirty-six. It then had six hose reels, and now has thirteen new, improved hose wagons. At that time it had two old engines, and now has four engines, two of which are new. It had then but one hook and ladder truck, where now it has three. There were then only thirty-five fire alarm boxes, while to-day there are 122, with the Gamewell fire-alarm system. In 1880 the department owned but 2,000 feet of good hose, and 4,000 feet of that which was inferior. Now it has 25,000 feet of good hose. It had six engine houses, three of which were unfit for the service. Now it has twelve engine houses, nine of them new and of modern construction, and the appointments for quick hitching to the engines are complete, seconds being required now instead of minutes as then. At the time Mr. Larkin took charge there were eighteen regular firemen, and thirteen subject to call; now there are seventy regular men and five call men. Many other improvements, which it would be tedious to enumerate, have been made and put in operation in the department, all tending to rapid and efficient service. In the first year Mr. Larkin had charge of the department there were sixty-five fires, and during the year 1895 there were 342. In 1875 there were forty-six; in 1880/ sixty-five; in 1885, 103; in 1890, 138; in 1895, 342, and in 1896, 353. The citizens of Dayton are certain that they have one of the best fire departments in the country, the improvements in its equipment and administration being a source of great pride in the entire community. Mr. Larkin is treasurer of the International Fire Chiefs’ association, having held this position for twelve years; and in 1895'- he was made president of the Fire Chiefs’ association of Ohio. He is likewise a member of the Great Britain Fire-Brigade union, is president of the Firemen's Benevolent society, and secretary of the Firemen's Relief fund.

Chief Larkin’s personality is so closely identified in the public mind with the recognized excellence and efficiency of the fire department, that it is impossible to discuss the latter without giving large praise to the man who has given the best years of his life in its service.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

MAURICE D. LARKIN.

It is only the successful men who are before the public eye and we have become so accustomed to accept their work without comment that we seldom pause to seriously contemplate their accomplishments or reflect upon the causes which have won them success. In analyzing the life records of such men as Maurice D. Larkin, however, it becomes evident that close application and unfaltering and intelligently directed energy constitute the salient elements in their continuous advancement in business lines. He is today president and treasurer of the M. D. Larkin Supply Company, engaged extensively in the jobbing of mill, factory and steamfitters supplies, and sole proprietor of the Larkin Manufacturing Company, manufacturers of fire department supplies.

A native of Dayton, Mr. Larkin was born March 22, 1876, a son of Daniel C. Larkin, former chief of the fire department of this city. The father was born in Sandusky, Ohio, July 29, 1849, while the grandfather, Thomas Larkin, a native of Connecticut, was one of six brothers who came together to the middle west in 1824, three of them locating in Sandusky, Ohio, while the other three became residents of Detroit, Michigan. For more than thirty years Thomas Larkin was a locomotive engineer and through the explosion of his locomotive about two miles from Sandusky, on the 5th of June, 1875, he lost his life. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Ann Ryne, was born in Ireland, came to the United States in childhood with her two sisters and died in 1893.

Daniel C. Larkin spent his youthful days as a public school student in Sandusky and in learning the machinist’s trade, at which he served a three years’ apprenticeship. He then accepted a position as locomotive fireman, his run being between Sandusky and Dayton. Three years’ faithful service in that position won him promotion to the position of engineer on the same route. He acted in that capacity for three years, after which he spent a similar period as locomotive engineer between Cincinnati and Dayton on the Cleveland, Cincinnati, Chicago & St. Louis Railroad. On his retirement from railroad service in 1875 he turned his attention to the transfer and storage business in Dayton, in which he was actively engaged until 1880, when he was appointed chief of the fire department, serving continuously until 1907. He was called to the position at the time of the organization of the present board of fire commissioners and the development of the fire system of Dayton is largely attributable to the efforts of Daniel C. Larkin. When he took charge in 1880 the department had eleven horses and six hose reels, a hook and ladder truck, thirty-five alarm boxes and six engine houses, three of which, however, were unfit for the service. As the years passed, through Mr. Larkin’s efforts all the modern appliances and equipments of fire engines were introduced and the system was improved in every particular. As the fire chief Mr. Larkin displayed the utmost skill, ability and courage, keeping cool in times of danger and excitement, so that he was able to direct his forces to the best possible advantage. His work was indeed of great benefit to the community and after twenty-seven years’ faithful service Mr. Larkin retired from the position as he had entered it — with the confidence, respect and good will of all concerned. The work which he did in improving the Dayton fire department won for him much more than local renown. He was honored with the position of treasurer of the International Fire Chiefs’ Association for twenty years and still is treasurer, and in 1895 was made president of the Fire Chiefs’ Association of Ohio. He was likewise a member of the Great Britain Fire Brigade Union, was president of the Firemen’s Benevolent Societv and secretary of the Firemen’s Relief Fund.

Daniel C. Larkin also became a member of lola Lodge, No. 83, K. P., and of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. Both he and his wife are members of St. Joseph’s Catholic church. He was married May 26, 1875, to Hannah A. Hartnett, of Dayton, a daughter of Maurice and Julia (Hern) Hartnett, who were natives of Ireland. Mrs. Larkin was born in Dayton, January 10, 1856, and by her marriage became the mother of twelve children, of whom four died in early childhood. Maurice D., Thomas, John, Alice, Helen, Francis, Daniel C., Jr., and Ruth are living.

Maurice D. Larkin was a pupil in the public schools of Dayton and later entered the Georgetown University at Washington, D. C., from which he was graduated in the class of 1898. Returning to his native city at the age of twenty-two years, he became identified with its business interests, organizing the Larkin Manufacturing Company for the manufacture of fire department supplies. This line of business followed as a logical sequence of his early interests and experiences, for his father was chief of the Dayton fire department and he naturally gained much knowledge concerning the equipment of the department. Realizing the needs in this direction, he began manufacturing along those lines and has conducted the business with growing success to the present time. In addition to the Larkin Manufacturing Company, in March, 1907, he organized and incorporated the M. D. Larkin Supply Company. The output of both businesses is now extensive and is being increased to meet the growing demands of the trade.

On the ist of February, 1905, Mr. Larkin was married in Dayton to Miss Eva Harvey and they have one son, Maurice D. Jr. Mr. Larkin gives his political support to the republican party at the polls but is not active in its ranks. He is a communicant of the Catholic church, while his social relations are with the Dayton Club and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. He is well known in Dayton, where the thirty-three years of his life have been passed and where his substantial qualities in business and citizenship have won him high regard and good will.

As printed in the source³. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.