The Callahan Families of Montgomery County, Ohio

WILLIAM P. CALLAHAN.

William P. Callahan was born in County Armagh, Ireland, on the loth of February, 1833. He belonged to a family that, like many another that has come from across the water, sought the opportunities of the new world that advancement might be made in business lines and better advantages given to the members of the household. His parents were James and Jane Callahan, who in the year 1848 bade adieu to the Emerald isle and with their children sailed for the United States, settling at Shippensburg, Pennsylvania, where they resided for many years.

William P. Callahan was a youth of fifteen at the time of emigration to the United States. He had previously acquired a common-school education in his native country and he further supplemented his knowledge by study in the schools of Shippensburg. He was still in his teens when he entered upon an

W. 1>. CALLAHAN apprenticeship to the cabinetmaker’s trade, in which he became a thorough and expert workman. The advantages of the west, which was entering upon a period of substantial yet rapid growth, attracted him to Ohio, and in 1853 he became a resident of Dayton, where he was destined to become a prominent figure in connection with the industrial and financial interests of the city. Naturally he sought employment along the line of his trade, securing a position in the furniture factory of M. Ohmer. He was thus a fellow workman with Dennis Dwyer, later Judge Dwyer, at a time when a dollar a day was the average wage paid cabinetmakers and the hours of labor were from sunrise to sunset. Some months later Mr. Callahan and Mr. Dwyer left Dayton for Iowa but returned to this city to be married and continue to reside here.

Following his return Mr. Callahan learned the patternmaker’s trade in the employ of the firm of Chapman & Edgar, and then accepted a position as foreman in the pattern shop of Thompson, McGregor & Company in 1855. His ability, faithfulness and trustworthiness won him continued promotion and in 1857 he became a member of the firm, purchasing an interest of John Clary. Upon the death of Mr. Thompson in 1862 he purchased the interest of Mr. McGregor and became the sole proprietor of the business. From the time he assumed the management the enterprise rapidly developed under his careful guidance and keen discrimination. In 1876 he admitted Thomas De Arman to a partnership under the firm style of W. P. Callahan & Company and in 1885 they were joined by his son, William K. Callahan, although the firm title was not changed. The business was founded in 1841 on Shawnee street between Wayne and Wyandotte streets. It was established in a most humble way but its gradual expansion in time made it one of the most important enterprises in this city. In 1856 a removal was made to East Third street, where the company had one of the largest and most important manufacturing plants in Dayton or even in the state of Ohio.

A man of resourceful ability, constantly watchful of opportunities, which he improved to their full extent, Mr. Callahan made continuous progress in the business world and his labors were all the greater by contributing to the general upbuilding of the city as Well as to individual success. In 1865 he became one of five men to establish the Miami Valley Boiler & Sheet Iron Works under the firm name of McGregor, Callahan & Company. A few years later Mr. Callahan purchased the interest of Mr. McGregor but subsequently sold his own stock. In 1873 he joined W. P. Lewis in building what was known as the Lewis Paper Mill, on Monument avenue. This proved a success and in 1883 he became the owner of a controlling interest in the Ohio Paper Company at Miamisburg. This venture likewise proved profitable and thus the interests of Mr. Callahan were continuously broadening in their scope and extent. He became a stockholder and director in the Cooper Insurance Company on its organization and was elected to its presidency as the successor of Colonel B. E. Mead. His enterprise and business activity brought him into close relations with many important commercial, industrial and financial connections. He served as a director of the Dayton Gas Light & Coke Company for twenty years and for a similar period was connected with the leading institutions and insurance companies of Dayton, either as director, office-holder or stockholder. He withdrew from the directorate of the Dayton National Bank and became associated with the City National Bank and was elected to its presidency in 1894. From time to time he made extensive investments in real estate until his holdings were very large. Among his early purchases were that of the Main street business and office property between Second and Third streets. In 1890 he erected the Callahan Bank building which at present is one of the substantial structures of this city.

I11 1859 Mr. Callahan was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth Kiefer, a daughter of Philip Kiefer, one of the pioneer residents of Dayton. Their children are Susie, William, Charles and Lillie. One daughter, Cora, passed away in early womanhood.

During the long years of his residence in Dayton Mr. Callahan remained as one of its representative, worthy and honored citizens. He won notable success in business yet larger fortunes were made, but the life history of no man indicates more clearly the value and power of close application, of concentration, of earnest and honorable purpose and of wise utilization of opportunity. A contemporary biographer has said: “The story of his success is short and simple. It contains no exciting chapters but in its completeness lies one of the valuable secrets of the prosperity which it records. He began with no capital except brains, energy, integrity and rugged health. He was truly a self-made man in the broadest sense of the term. When he came to Dayton he was only a young cabinetmaker with no money and few friends; yet in that short time he built up one of the largest and most successful manufacturing businesses and contributed to the success of a dozen other prominent enterprises. He was a man of broad and deep sympathies, and nowhere was this characteristic more exemplified than in his association with his employees. They have on every occasion, both during their association with him in the business and since his death, paid tribute to his many kindnesses. The fairness and kindness with which he carried out his business methods reached in the best way for both employer and employes. His warm interest in the affairs of every one associated with him was the outpouring of a generous nature and his advice and assistance always went out to those in need. His ideas were strong, but with his heart close to the pulse of the people his hand was ever ready to help where the need was a worthy one.”

Mr. Callahan was always in close touch with the people of this city at large and there has been perhaps no resident of Dayton whose advice and counsel have been more frequently sought or freely given. He was deeply interested in the affairs of the bank of which he was president, and at the same time he regarded the demands of every individual depositor as something to which he should give his attention. His opinions were frequently sought by patrons of the bank and no matter how trifling were the questions presented to him, he was sincere in his interest and manifested that kindly good will and thoughtful consideration that would only be expected from more important business ventures. He always demanded that uniform courtesy be extended to the patrons of the bank and that no difference should be made between the smallest and the largest depositor. Through his genuine thoughtfulness in these small affairs his bank was made a benefit to hundreds of the middle class who learned to know and love the man whom they recognized as their patron friend. He had accumulated his own wealth mainly in the consideration of small items and wise investment and thus he had sympathy for others who were attempting the same thing. His business acumen was keen and his ambition was surpassed only by his great energy.

Mr. Callahan was equally interested in affairs of general public moment and cooperated in every movement which he deemed essential or valuable to the welfare and progress of the city. He gave substantial, ready and generous support to all municipal movements which his judgment sanctioned. He was a prominent member of the Dayton Club and of other social organizations and he made the generous hospitality of his beautiful home on West First one of its most attractive features. His affection was sincere when once placed and an evidence of his loyalty to early associations was his generosity to the little Episcopal church in Ireland where in early life he was a choir boy. This church was never forgotten in his generous contributions to religious work and during his last trip abroad he made a special journey to the church where his boyish voice had been raised in the anthems and songs of praise and worship. His devotion to his home was one of his strongest characteristics, the interests of his family being at all times placed before aught else. He stood as a splendid type of the high-minded American gentlemen with whom contact meant expansion and elevation. His is a splendid example of the power and force of honorable manhood, of earnest effort and of high principle.

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

WILLIAM P. CALLAHAN, banker and manufacturer, of Dayton, Ohio, was born in county Armagh, Ireland, on February io, 1833, and is the son of James and Jane Callahan. The Callahan family came to the United States in 1848, and settled at Shippensburg, Pa., where the parents resided for many years. Before leaving Ireland, William P. Callahan had acquired the foundation of a common-school education, and to this he added by attending the common schools of Shippensburg. Before completing his schooling, however, he left school to serve an apprenticeship at the trade of cabinetmaking, which trade he mastered. Before attaining his majority, young Callahan began to dream of what he might accomplish in the west, and in 1853 he left his home in Pennsylvania, coming to Ohio, and settled in Dayton, then considered a western town by the people of the east. Here he found employment in the furniture factory of M. Ohmer, where for a time he and Judge Dennis Dwyer worked together at the same bench. In 1854 these two young men — Callahan and Dwyer — went west to Iowa, where they worked at their trade for about eight months, when they returned to Dayton. Mr. Callahan then entered the shops of Chapman & Edgar, of Dayton, where he learned the trade of patternmaking. He left that firm in 1855 to accept the foremanship of the pattern shops of Thompson, McGregor & Co., on Third street, by which firm he was employed for two years. In 1857 he became a member of the above firm by the purchase of John Clary’s interest therein. In 1862 the senior member of the firm died, and in 1868 Mr. Callahan bought out the interest of McGregor and became sole proprietor of the works. In 1876 Mr. Callahan admitted as a partner Thomas DeArmon, and the firm became that of W. P. Callahan & Co. In 1885 William K. Callahan, son of W. P. Callahan, was admitted to the firm, the firm name remaining as above. This business was originally founded in 1841 on Shawnee street, between Wayne and Wyandotte streets, on a very small scale, and gradually grew into its present large proportions. In 1856 it was removed to its present location on East Third street, where the company has one of the largest and most important manufacturing plants in Dayton or the state of Ohio. In February, 1865, Mr. Callahan made a second business venture, becoming one of a party of five gentlemen who established the Miami Valley Boiler & Sheet-Iron works, under the firm name of McGregor, Callahan & Co. A few years later Mr. Callahan purchased the interest of Mr. McGregor, but later sold his own interest and retired from the firm.

In 1873 W. P. Lewis and Mr. Callahan built what is known as the Lewis papermill, on Monument avenue, which has been a success, and is now owned by Mr. Callahan. In 1883 Mr. Callahan bought a controlling interest in the Ohio Paper company, at Miamisburg, Ohio, which has been running successfully ever since. He has been a stockholder and director of the Cooper Insurance company since its organization, and since the death of Col. D. E. Mead has been its president. He has also served as a director in the Dayton Gas Light & Coke company for twenty years.

For many years Mr.. Callahan has been identified with many of the leading financial institutions and insurance companies of Dayton, either as an officer, director or stockholder. He was for some years a director and large stockholder of the Dayton National bank, which position he resigned a few years since, becoming associated with the City National bank, with which he had been identified since its organization, and on January 10, 1894, he became its president. P'or many years Mr. Callahan has been a holder of valuable city real estate, improved and unimproved. His first notable purchase of real estate was that of the Main street business and office property, on Main street between Second and Third streets. In 1890 he began the erection of the Callahan bank building on the corner of Third and Main streets, which was completed in 1891, and is to-day one of the most conspicuous business buildings in the city. In 1859 Mr. Callahan was married to Elizabeth Keifer, who was born in Dayton, Ohio, in 1834, and is the daughter of Philip Keifer. Her father is one of the oldest living pioneers of Dayton. He was born in Maryland in 1801, and came to Dayton at a very early date in the history of the city.

To Mr. and Mrs. Callahan the following children have been born: Will K., Charles,

Lillie and Cora, the latter daughter deceased. The business career of Mr. Callahan is one most worthy of record and is a marvel in its way. Greater fortunes have been accumulated, but few lives furnish so striking an example of the wise application of sound principles and safe conservatism as does that of W. P. Callahan. The story of his success is short and simple. It contains no exciting chapters, but in it lies one of the most valuable secrets of the prosperity which it records. Beginning with no capital save brains, energy, integrity and rugged health, and building up the great business which bears his name, his business life is pregnant with interest to the public. He is truly a self-made man in the broadest sense of that often misapplied term. When he came to Dayton forty-three years ago he was only a young, inexperienced cabinetmaker, with no money and few friends. Yet he has in that time built up one large and successful manufactory, and has contributed to the success of a dozen other enterprises. To-day he is the head and controlling spirit in one of the leading manufacturing plants in the state, and president of one of the leading and most substantial] banking houses in the city, and is prominently identified with other important concerns, all of which have been of great benefit to Dayton in a material and lasting way. Mr. Callahan’s life has been a most active and busy one, but he has not permitted business to interfere with his duties as a citizen. He has always been found on the right side of public questions having for their aim and object the building up and beautifying of his adopted city. His views on public matters have always been broad and liberal, tempered with conservatism. While progressive, he is prudent, ambitious,, yet cautious. As a man, Mr. Callahan possesses characteristics which have won for him the friendship of the leading citizens of Dayton, and the admiration of all who know him. Personally he is pleasant, agreeable and always approachable, fond of humor, and with a desire to make life enjoyable for himself and all with whom he comes in contact. Though in his sixty-third year, and after a life of activity and constant business occupation, Mr. Callahan is in the enjoyment of all his physical and mental faculties, and is a striking example of the well-preserved, progressive and representative men of Dayton.

As printed in the source². Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected.

WILLIAM KEIFER CALLAHAN, junior member of the firm of W. P.

Callahan & Co., and one of the well-known young manufacturers of Dayton, Ohio, was born in this city on January 8, 1864, and is the son of William P. Callahan, of whom a sketch appears elsewhere in this volume. Mr. Callahan was educated in the Dayton public schools and at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology at Boston,, taking a course in mechanical engineering at the latter. He entered the shops of W. P. Callahan & Co. as an apprentice in 1884, and the following year, upon attaining his majority, he was taken into the firm. Notwithstanding his admission to the firm, he continued and completed his apprenticeship, and then entered the office. He is vice-president of the Gem City Building association. In 1891 Mr. Callahan was married to Miss Lida Ohmer, daughter of George Ohmer, of Dayton, and they are the parents of one daughter — Charlotte. Mr. Callahan is a member of the Masonic order, including the Knights Templar and Thirty-second degree Scottish rite and the Mystic Shrine. He is also a charter member of the Elks society.

As printed in the source². Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

Henry Callahan, conducting a profitable business as a dealer in stoves in Dayton, has been a resident of this city for more than half a century and throughout almost the entire period has been known as an enterprising and progressive merchant and reliable business man. His name indicates his Irish lineage. He was born in County Antrim, Ireland, August 7, 1835, and was brought to America by his mother in 1840, his father, Alexander Callahan, having preceded them in 1836. The father was at that time proprietor of a hotel at Ridgeville, Ohio, and the mother and son joined the husband and father at that place. His death occurred there a few years later and in 1850 Henry Callahan, with his mother, sister and brother went to Yellow Springs, Ohio, where they lived for three years and in 1853 removed to Dayton. Mr. Callahan of this review was at that time about eighteen years of age. He had pursued his education in the schools of Ridgeville and of Yellow Springs and after locating in this city he entered the tin and stove store of Henry Yost, under whose direction he learned the tinner’s trade. Later he and John Reese formed a partnership in the same line of business, the connection continuing for thirty years, or until 1888, since which time Mr. Callahan has been alone. His success is undoubtedly due 'in part to the fact that he has always continued in the line of business in which he embarked as a young tradesman and in which he gained comprehensive knowledge concerning the business in principle and detail. As the years have gone by he has carefully watched all indications pointing to success, has closely studied the market and the demands of the purchasing public and year by year has added to his prosperity.

The only interruption to his continuous business activity came in April, 1861, when in response to the country’s first call for troops he enlisted for three months’ service as a private of Company A, Eleventh Ohio Volunteer Infantry. In 1864 he reenlisted as a member of Company A, One Hundred and Thirty-first Ohio Volunteer Infantry and served for nearly four months at Baltimore, being stationed at Fort Federal Hill and at Fort Marshall. This service entitles him to wear the Grand Army button and he is now a member of Old Guard Post, No. 23, G. A. R.

In 1871 Mr. Callahan was united in marriage in Dayton, to Miss Lovie Cline, and they have had three children, of whom one died in infancy while two are still living — Alexander H., and Callie Cline, the wife of William M. Burkhardt. The family attend the United Brethren church and Mr. Callahan gives his political allegiance to the republican party. For fifty years a merchant of this city, he has throughout this entire period sustained an unassailable reputation for business integrity and progressiveness, seeking his success along the legitimate lines of trade without the adoption of a single esoteric feature. Although he has now passed the psalmist’s allotted span of three score years and ten he yet remains a factor in commercial circles, honored and respected by all who know him.

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