A highly respected businessman and resident of our city is called to the Great Beyond – the entire community grieves.

In every community there are always men who are considered leaders, to whom the majority of the citizens look for advice and guidance in civic affairs, whose character is above reproach and whose talents for good and for advancement are recognized. Such a man was Barney Blottman. He was born in Germany, May 6, 1846, coming to this country with his parents and sister Rosa at the age of seven. Mr. Blottman was married Sept. 15, 1863 to Miss Mary Kelley at Greenville, who survives him with four sons, William of Williamson, W. Va., James F. of Indianapolis, Ind., Ed. Employee in the post office in this city, Lawrence Daniel who will be ordained a priest in 1917; also three daughters, Mamie, who is at home, Anna who assisted him in his china store, and Irene, stenographer for E.A. Grubbs Grain Co.; also five grandchildren and several other relatives besides two sisters, Mrs. Timothy Longenbaker and Mrs. George Hildebrand, both of this city.

He was in the grocery business from 1868, starting in a building now occupied by the Vance Grocery on Third Street, until 1869, but has continued in the china store until the time of his death which occurred Monday morning.

He was a devout Catholic, and served as trustee of St. Mary's Church for 40 years and was a member of the Knights of Columbus, St. Anthony's and the School Fund Societies.

We have personally known Mr. Blottman for over 30 years and cheerfully testify to his inestimable worth as a business man and citizen. The loss of such a man is greatly deplored, and brings to every heart a sadness and sorry, but his relatives and friends are consoled with the thought that while in this life he made good and made the world better by his having lived in it. He was kind and generous. He was industrious and honest. He understood the wants of men and made every effort to satisfy them. He was a kind and devoted husband, and at all times a great support and advisor of the church.

We uncover our head to the honor of this good and great man, great in the sense that he was a noble character and furnished the proper guide for those that follow, an ideal citizen whose benevolence was only limited by his means.

Words cannot express the many remarkable and valuable traits of this good man. All we can do is to tender our sympathy to his bereaved wife, children, and relatives and friends. May the future have in store for him the rich reward promised to the righteous, and may those who knew this good man profit by the religious and social life he lived so that in the final judgment they may prepare to meet the end.

The funeral services will be held Wednesday morning at nine o'clock at the St. Mary's Catholic Church, Father Gnau having charge, and burial will be made in the Catholic Cemetery.

Greenville, Ohio - Daily Advocate April 25, 1916