J. S. Harshman

As printed in 1908

J. S. HARSHMAN,* one of Springfield's capitalists and most prominent business men, who has been closely identified with many successful enterprises in this section of Ohio, is perhaps best known in connection with the establishment, control and management of electric railroads. To name these is to designate the most important lines in which Springfield capital is interested. Mr. Harshman is the president of the Dayton, Springfield and Urbana Electric, president of the Columbus, London and Springfield Electric, president of the Springfield and Western Electric, also of the Urbana, Bellefontaine and Northern Railway Company and of the Columbus, Delaware and Marion Electric Railway. Other large interests with which he has been associated are: the Citizens' National Bank of Springfield, of which he was formerly vice president; the Victor Rubber Tire Company, the Kyle Art Glass Company, and the Harshman Shoe Manufacturing Company, of Harshman, Ohio.

Mr. Harshman was born at Harshman, Montgomery County, Ohio, January 26, 1863, and is a son of George W. and Anna V. (Rohor) Harshman. The family is of German extraction and its founder in Ohio came from Maryland. The father of J. S. Harshman was born in Ohio and died at the village named in his honor, where he had been manufacturer, farmer, merchant and prominent man for many years, in 1898.

J. S. Harshman completed his education in the public and select schools of his native locality and then spent one year in the employ in the office of the American Express Company at Dayton. After returning home he became interested with his father in many of the latter 's business enterprises and subsequently became buyer and seller of grain and farm products for his father's mills and farms. He continued thus engaged until 1886, when he became associated with his brothers in the business of buying and shipping grain. Subsequently he sold out his interests to his partners and located at Enon, Clark County, where he entered into the grain business on an extensive scale. His elevator was once destroyed by fire and was rebuilt, but since 1893 he has been mainly interested in electric railway lines. His office is at Room No. 128 Bushnell Building, Spring-field.

Mr. Harshman was married in 1887, to Mary Snyder, who is a daughter of Henry and Anna (Hertzler) Snyder. The late Henry Snyder and a brother were prominent citizens of Clark County and the name is perpetuated not only in the village of Snyderville, but also in Snyder's

Park, which was a gift to the city. Mr. and Mrs. Harshman have three children, namely: Anna S., George W. and Virginia V. The family home is in the environs of Springfield.

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.