Daniel C. Larkin

As printed in 1897

ANIEL 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 Centennial portrait and biographical record of the city of Dayton and of Montgomery County, Ohio, containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, together with the biographi (1897). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.