Edward Gwyn

As printed in 1908

[This passage is too damaged in the scanned book to reproduce. See the original book.]

The Gwyn family can be traced to John Gwyn, of London, England. Edward Gwyn, son of John and father of our subject, was born in London, May 12, 1816. He there married Isabella Tumbull and they came to America in 1847. They settled first in Wood County, but subsequently moved to Cincinnati, where he became a builder and contractor of gas and water works. He came to Springfield from Dayton and established the first gas plant here, which he operated for a number of years. He was engaged in other enterprises, notably the manufacture of small arms during the Civil War, and still later he was associated, as agent in foreign lands, with the Champion Reeper and Mower Company, of Spring-field. Accompanied by his wife, the father of the late Edward C. Gw>ai visited various expositions in his own and other countries, and pushed the sale of the products of the great concerns he represented to the fullest extent. It was while engaged in business of this nature that his death took place in Rotterdam, Holland, May 25, 1879. His remains were brought to Springfield and laid to rest in Ferncliff Cemetery. His widow survived him until 1899. Their living children are: Amelia (Spencer), who resides in Springfield; Rosa (Driscoll), also residing in Springfield; Mary (Sheibley), of Tiffin, Ohio, and Violet (Hyde), who is at present residing at Santa Anna, California.

Edward C. Gwjn acquired his education in private schools in his native city of Springfield, and at Hamilton, Ohio, where the family spent their winter months. Upon completing his literary studies he became his father's assistant and worked with him in various gas and water plants located both in Ohio and in Pennsylvania. After coming to Springfield lie was interested for a time in the wood and lumber industry. Later, in the interests of a gas company, he resided for a time at Upper Sandusky, coming back to Springfield in 1881, where for six mouths following he served as superintendent of the construction of the water works and then was made secretary and assistant superintendent of the Springfield Gas Light Company, serving as such for four years. In June, 1885, he was elected president of the board of trustees of the Springfield Water Works. As indicated, he had many important business interests in this city and was a large property owner. In politics he was a Republican, and, religiously, a member of the First Congregational Church.

On September 1, 1887, Mr. Gwyn was married to Isabella W. Smith, who was born at Springfield and is a daughter of William R. and Mary (Ege) Smith.

They had two children, a son and daughter, Charles W. and Mary Belle, the former of whom is a graduate of the Springfield High School and a student at Wittenberg College, the latter being a student in the high school.

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.