Byron O. Elifritz

As printed in 1902

BYRON OLIVER ELIFRITZ.

When only nine years of age, Byron O. Elifritz started out upon an independent career and since that time has made his own way in the world. ‘All that he has; all that he has accomplished; and all that he has achieved are the result of his own enterprise and capability. He is now conducting a large and practical job printing business and is one of the progressive citizens of Springfield.

Mr. Elifritz was born in Circleville, Pickaway county, Ohio, and comes of a family of German ancestry. The father, George Elifritz, was born in Greencastle, Pennsylvania, and was one of seven children. The only survivor is Daniel Elifritz, an inmate of the Soldiers’ Home at Marshalltown, Iowa, George Elifritch removed from his native state to Maryland at an early day, when a young man, and was there married. Subsequently he took up his above in Circleville, Ohic, where he remained from 1844 until 1848, when he came with his family to Springfield. He was a tanner and also a butcher by trade and in the latter years of his life he worked in the manufacture of brick, carrying on an extensive and profitable business in that way. He manufactured the brick used in the construction of Wittenberg College, for the seminary on East High street and in the old Catholic church. He afterward Yellow Springs, where he manufactured the brick for Antioch College, as well as for many other of the old land marks of the place. During the summer months he conducted his brickyard and in the winter sessions, he followed butchering. He was a self-made man of limited educational advantages, but he possessed business capability, and strong qualities of character and steadily he has advanced in his business affairs. He died in 1853, at the age of thirty-two years, respected by all who knew him. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Elizabeth Boward, was born in Maryland and received but limited educational privileges. She belonged to a farmer's family and her services were needed in the.

removed to home. She was born in 1811 and died in 1900. Her mother died at the advanced age of eighty-two years. Mrs. Elifritz was laid to rest in Ferncliff cemetery, while her husband was interred in Greenmount cemetery. Unto them were born six children. Of these, Upton, the eldest, died in Springfield, in 1899, at the age of fifty-eight years. He was a member of the Seventeenth Ohio Battery during the Civil war, serving throughout the period of hostilities. At his death ww un E he left a son, William, and three daughters. The son now makes his home in Toledo, Ohio, while the daughters reside in Springfield. Charles H., the second member of the family of George Elifritz, is a farmer now living retired, at Vienna Crossroads, in this He was a member of the Artillery service during the Civil war. Byron O. is the next younger. Emma is the wife of Robert Smith, of Springfield, and has one son and one daughter. Laura is the widow of John Miller, of this city, and has a son and daughter. Carrie is the wife of Peter Critzinger, of this city, who has one daughter, the wife of John Powell. The daughters of Mr. Elifritz were educated but the sons attended school for only a short time. After the death of her first husband Mrs. Elifritz was again married, becoming the wife of John Webster, and they had twin children, one of whom died at the age of thirteen and the other at the age of twenty-one, and both are interred in Ferncliff cemetery. The home of the Elifritz family was on ten acres of land on what is now Harrison street in Springfield. In religious faith they were Lutherans. The father was well known and was very successful in his business career for many years, but afterward met with reverses which undoubtedly hastened his death. In politics he was an ardent Democrat.

Mr. Elifritz, whose name introduces this county.

review, was a lad of only seven years when his father died. He spent six months as a student in the first public school of Springfield, near the East High street bridge. In the fall of 1855 he became connected with the printing business, receiving a salary of one dollar and twenty-five cents per week, but even this was many times not fortheomcoming. He worked in the office of the

Evening News, published by Hastings & Nichels. The printing of job work was then all done by hand presses, which were afterward superseded by the cylinder press. Mr. Elifritz fed the first cylinder press that was brought into this city. In 1863 he left the employ of the firm of Hastings & Nichols and then went to work for Freye & Freye, on the Tri-Weekly Republic, continuing with that house until 1865. On severing that business connection he began the publication of the Weekly Transcript, now the Springfield Democrat., This was the second Democratic paper published in the county, and the only one that prospered. John McGaffey was his partner in the enterprise, which was conducted until 1869 by the first firm, when Mr. McGaffey sold his interest to David C. Ballentine, who is now in the navy department at Washington, D. C. He remained with the house until 1872 and then sold out to Charles E. Winters. During the continuation of this partnership they branches into the job work and also established the Moraing Globe, which is to-day the Press Republic. After a time, however, they gave up all newspaper work and entered upon lithographing, getting out all of the work for World's Columbian Exposition, in Chicago, with a large amount of other job work. Mr. Elifritz continued in the business until 1890, when he left the company and purchased the present business, which was then very small, for three thousand dollars. In this undertaking he and his brother Upton formed a partnership, which continued for a year, when Byron purchased his brother's interest and has since secured a very lucrative patronage. He now has a large and well equipped plant and has added many improvements in technical and mechanical

BHOGRAPHICAL, RECORD: work. He is thoroughly practical in all tliat he undertakes and has advanced in the business through comprehensive knowledge; through fidelity to the terms of a contract; through the capable execution of all trusts given into his care. Good management has always been one of his strong characteristics. Although he was in debt to some amount when he embarked in this business, the enterprise has proved successful financially and he has paid dollar for dollar. He enjoys the respect of the best business men of the city and their trade is constantly bestowed upon him. Mr. Elifritz is a mechanical genius and can manufacture anything necessary to carry out his plans and please his patrons. He has done considerable printing for manufacturing concerns from 1855 to the present time. He left home when a boy of only eight years of age and went to Illinois, where he remained for a year, after which he returned to Ohio. From that time forward he has depended entirely upon his own resources for a living and all that he has acquired is the merited reward of his labor.

In 1867 in Hagerstown, Maryland, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Elifritz and.

Miss Alice V. Boward, who was born there in 1848 and there pursued her education. This union has been blessed with three living daughters, while one son, Harry, died at the age of twenty-one years. May L. is the wife of Charles E. Winckler, who is en with Mr. Elifritz in the office; Ada E. assisting her father in business; and ar Dot is at home. The children were all educated in the public schools.

Mr. Elifritz is a member of the Lutheran church and his political support is given the Democracy. He has never sought or desired office and has always declined to serve although he has frequently been solicited to do so. He has given his entire time and attention to his business and his unremitting diligence and honorable efforts have brought to him gratifying prosperity. He is a member of Anthony Lodge, F. & A. M., and also belongs to Ephraim Lodge, I. O. O. F., and is one of the past grand of the lodge. He is also identified with the Order of Rebekah, to which his wife likewise belongs. Mr. Elifritz was a member of Moncrieffe Lodge,

As printed in A Biographical Record of Clark County Ohio (1902). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.