Henry Callahan

As printed in 1909

HENRY CALLAHAN.

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 History of the city of Dayton and Montgomery County, Ohio (1909). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.