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Born 1846
From 20th century history of Springfield, and Clark County, Ohio, and representative citizens (1908), A Biographical Record of Clark County Ohio (1902)
CHARLES A. BAUER.
Charles A. Bauer attained’ a distinguished position in the industrial circles of Ohio, while his reputation as an expert and authority in mechanical affairs was national. Thrown at an early age upon his own resources, his life is a striking example of what may be accomplished by genius, energy and ability.
He was born in Wurtemberg, Germany, August 16, 1846, and was a son of Frederick Bauer, a prominent bridge builder and of that country. In 1852 Frederick Bauer came to America with his family, but three months after his arrival was stricken with yellow fever and died in New Orleans. The mother then determined to seek a home farther north and in the same year took up her residence in Cincinnati, where she remained until her death, which occurred on the 2d of February,
The subject of this review was only six years of age at the time of the emigration of the family. His educational privileges were limited and from an early age he was dependent upon his own resources. At the age of twelve he obtained employment in the
Pyrotechnical Manufactory owned by H. P. Diehl, of Cincinnati, and in 1861 he became an apprentice to the gunsmith’s trade. Three years later he entered the shops’ of ‘Miles, Greenwood € Company as a practical machinist, devoting his leisure hours to the study of mechanics and applied mechanics. So rapidly did he progress in this line that in 1878 he was called to the Ohio Mechanics Institute’ as a teacher of mechanical drawing and applied mechanics. During his
“connection with the institute the progress of these departments was very remarkable. In 1871 he accepted" the position’ of superintendent of the gréat Niles Tool Works at Hamilton, Ohio, and continued in that capacity until his resignation in 1873, when he assumed the duties of consulting engineer for the firm of Lane & Bodley, of Cincinnati, Ohio. During all this time he retained his position as instructor of mechanics and applied mechanics in the Ohio Mechanics Institute. In 1875 he was tendered the position of assistant superintendent of the works of the Champion Bar & Knife Company at Springfield, Ohio, and in 1878 was made superintendent of the same concern. In 1883 he became general manager of the mower and reaper works owned by the firm of Warder, Bushnell & Glessner at Springfield, and in 1886, when the business was incorporated, he became one of the partners and stockholders, retaining his position as general manager of the extensive enterprise. His career was remarkably successful, chiefly by reason of his natural ability and his thorough insight into the business in which as a young man he embarked. He had a most comprehensive and thorough knowledge of the great mechanical principles underlying his chosen pursuit, and reading and investigation along such lines continually broadened his knowledge and added to the efficacy of his work. Again and again promotion came to him in recognition of his superior ability in this line. His strict integrity, business conservatism and judgment were uniformly recognized and he enjoyed public confidence to an enviable degree. This naturally brought to him success,
Although preferring home life to active connection with public affairs, Mr. Bauer yet gave much of his valuable time to works of public importance. For nine years he served as a member of the board of water works trustees of Springfield and was instrumental in having installed a fine water works system, which is to-day the pride of the city. At his death he was chairman of the Ohio State House Commission, having been appointed to that position by Governor Asa S. Bushnell. This commission was to have charge af the remodeling of the state house at Columbus and the appointment was a splendid acknowledgement of Mr. Bauer's marked ability. He was one of the vice-presidents cf the National Founders Association and refused to accept the presidency of that organization at the last meeting which was held just before his death. He was alea a member of the fifth district committee’ of the National Founders’ Association, was one of the vice-presidents of the American Foundrymen’s Association and took a great interest in the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, of which he was one of the charter members, his avocation bearing date May 14, 1880. He was elected one of the managers of this society in 1894 and served for four successive years. Because of his broad and comprehensive knowledge of everything in the line of mechanics and mechanical construction, because of his familiarity with great mechanical principles and also because of a charm of manner which made him poprılar, Mr. Bauer was thus honored again a, d again but he never sought notoriety alo..g such lines. In manner he was entirely fre from ostentation and display. He posse:ssed, however, broad sympathy and a genial, kindly nature, and these qualities won for him the esteem of all with whom he came in contact, and the regard in which he was held was in the great majority of instances deepened into strong friendship. He always received the respect of the men whose efforts he superintended in business and the relations between employer and employe were largely of an ideal character. The men recognized in him one whose ability was superior to their own, and, moreover, his justness gained for him their unqualified regard. An estimate of his ability could only be gained by visiting the factories of which he had charge and closely inspecting the methods and original ideas which ue had inaugurated.
Mr. Bauer was married in 1868 to Miss Louise Haeseler, who came to America with her parents from St. Goar, Prussia, in 1851. Three children were born to them: Charles L., who is now the general superintendent of the Warder, Bushnell & Glessner Company; William A., who is employed in the office of the same company; and Louis E., who is in the chemical department there. The home of the Bauer family is located on East High street.
Mr. Bauer passed away in June, 1899, and was laid to rest in Ferncliff cemetery. In Masonic circles he was prominent, belonging to Anthony Lodge, No. 455, F. &
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.
CHARLES A. BAUER, for many years was one of the remarkable business men of Springfield — a man whose broad and comprehensive knowledge of everything in the line of mechanics and mechanical construction, caused him to be identified with some of the most important manufacturing undertakings of this section. Mr. Bauer was a German, born in Wurtemberg, August 16, 1846, and his father's name was Frederick Bauer.
The parents of Mr. Bauer emigrated to America when he was six years of age, landing at New Orleans in 1852. Here the father died three months later of yellow fever, when his widow and son removed to Cincinnati, Ohio, whei'e the former resided until her death, in 1900.
Left a fatherless boy in a great city and a strange country, the late Charles A. Bauer had few of the advantages or enjoyments of ordinary youth. At the age of twelve years he became, with justifiable pride, entirely self-supporting. His father had been a skilled draughtsman and successful bridge-builder, and the son inherited a positive genius for mechanics which caused him to seek employment in this direction. After a short period of work in the Pyrotechnieal Manufactory, at Cincinnati, he became an apprentice to the gunsmith trade, and three years later, in 1864, circumstances made it possible for him to enter the machine shops of Miles, Greenwood & Company, at Cincinnati. There he learned to be a practical machinist, extending his studies far into applied mechanics.
Mr. Bauer's unusual ability did not fail to attract attention, and in 1867 he was offered a position at the Ohio Mechanics' Institute as an instructor in mechanical drawing and applied mechanics, which position he retained while also filling that of superintendent of the Nile Tool Works, at Hamilton, and acting as consulting engineer for the firm of Lane & Bodley, at Cincinnati. In 1875 Mr. Bauer became superintendent of the Champion Bar and
Knife Compauy, at Springfield, and from that time until his death, which occurred in June, 1899, he continued to be connected with Springfield enterprises. In 1883, he became general manager of the Warder, Bushnell & Glessner Mower and Reaper Works, and three years later, when the business was incorporated, he became a partner in the concern, still retaining, however, his position as general manager. Mr. Bauer was a very valuable assistant and advisor in the installation of the city's various utilities, and for nine years he served as a member of the board of trustees of the Springfield water-works system.
His experience covered a wide range, including most prominently the design and practical execution of nearly all kinds of machine tools, stationary and river engines, rolUng-mills, furnaces, pumping, mining and general milling machinery. He was particularly well fitted for superintending the establishment of plants and the arrangement and details of buildings on ground for manufacturing purposes.
In 1868 Mr. Bauer was married to Louise Haeseler, who was born in Prussia, and who accompanied her parents to America in 1851. Mrs. Bauer survives her husband and resides at No. 825 East High Street, Springfield. Three sons were born of this marriage, namely: Charles L., who is president of the Foos Manufacturing Company of Springfield, and who resides at No. 1215 East High Street; William A., who is treasurer of the Foos Manufacturing Company, and resides at No. 1427 East High Street; and Louis E., vice president of the Foos Manufacturing Company, who resides at No. 1217 East High Street.
The late Charles A. Bauer was one of the vice presidents of the National Founders' Association, refusing the presidency of the same. He belonged also to the Fifth District committee of the American Foundrymen's Association, and was one of the charter members of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, serving as one of its managers for four years. He was a Mason of high standing, having attained the 32nd degree, and he belonged to Anthony Lodge, No. 455, F. & A. M. He was also identified with the Ivnights of Pythias. The death of Mr. Bauer called forth many expressions of regret and appreciation from those who had enjoyed his personal acquaintance, and also from those who recognized the extent and value of his professional work, both in America and in Europe.
As printed in 20th century history of Springfield, and Clark County, Ohio, and representative citizens (1908). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
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