In the books' own words, not ours, with obvious scanning errors fixed. The later printing (1902) is folded below the first. Families often supplied these stories to the publisher, so check key dates.
From A centennial biographical history of Seneca County, Ohio (1902), History of Seneca County, Ohio, containing a history of the county, its townships, towns, villages ... portraits of early settlers and prominent men; biographies; history of the Northwest territory; h (1886)
JOHN M. NAYLOR. This well known citizen and business man of Tiffin, was born at Wooster, Ohio, December 9, 1822. His parents, James and Eleanor Dill (Musgrave) Nay lor, were natives of Beaver and Dauphin Counties. Penn., respectively. James Naylor was a carpenter and house builder, and carried on that business at Wooster, Wayne Co., Ohio, for many years. John M. Naylor, during his earlier years, attended the public schools, where was laid the foundation for a practical English education. Before he was out of his ' teens. " however, he taught school for several terms, and thus acquired means to pay his way at Granville College, where he was a student for some time. Up to this date his aim had been to obtain a thorough education and to devote himself to the study and practice of law, but at the age of twenty years he was induced to accept a clerkship in the hardware store of Jacobs & kouke, at Wooster, Ohio, and thus the channel of his life was diverted and directed into mercantile pursuits. He remained with the above named firm for four years, at the expiration of which time, in 1847, he formed a partnership with Harvey Howard and came to Tiffin, where they opened a hardware store under the firm name of Howard & Naylor. Foxuyears afterward INIr. Howard sold his interest, and Mr. Naylor assumed the sole proprietorship of the house, continuing the same up to the present time. Under his management the business has steadily prospered and grown, until now it is the most extensive establishment of its kind in Tiffin, and, indeed, is excelled by few, if any, in northern Ohio. Notwithstanding the assiduous attention Mr. Naylor has given to his business, he has always been a student of men and affairs and devoted much time to the study of standard works, thus acquiring a valuable fund of information that is generally only attained by a thorough collegiate coiu'se. He has now been prominently identified with the commercial, social and other interests of Tiffin for a period of thirty-eight years, dxu'ing which time he has been proved to be a man of excellent executive and financial abilities, with perceptive and reasoning faculties of no ordinary mold. His judgment and prompt decision in business affairs are seldom at fault. These qualities, together with great firmness and a conscientious desire to be just toward all men, are characteristics of the man. Though never a i)politician in the general acceptance of the term, he has always been a Republican, zealously interested in the welfare of that party, believing it to be the party of progress, as it was of the Union during the dark days of the civil war; in those days by means and influence Mr. Naylor was earnest in his aid and support of the Union cause. He has been a member of the Methodist Church for many years, and has been a liberal donator and one of its chief supports in Tiftin. "When the new brick church was built he contributed largely toward its erection and completion, and in various ways the city of Tiffin has always found him to the front in support of any pu.blic enterprise calculated to benefit the whole people. He was one of the founders of the National Exchange, now the Tifiin National Bank, of which he has always been a director and large stockholder. Mr. Naylor commenced his business career with little or no means, and is a striking example of what may be accomplished in the space of a few years when energy is aided by well directed industry, accompanied by strict integrity. Mr. Naylor was married, December 11, 1849, to Cornelia T., daughter of Judge Benjamin Pittenger, and although two children were born to this union none now survive: Cora, born in 1851, died, after a short illness, in 1873, and Frank, born in 1854, died while on an excursion in Florida in 1883.
As printed in History of Seneca County, Ohio, containing a history of the county, its townships, towns, villages ... portraits of early settlers and prominent men; biographies; history of the Northwest territory; h (1886). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
JOHN M. NAYLOR.
Honored and respected by all, there is no man in Tiffin who occupies a more enviable position than John M. Naylor in commercial and financial circles, not alone on account of the brilliant success he has achieved but also on account of the honorable, straightforward business, policy lie has ever followed. He possesses untiring energy, is quick of’ perception, forms his plans readily and is determined in their execution,, and his close application to. business and excellent management have brought to him the high degree of prosperity which is to-day his. In. early manhood he entered upon his business career without capital, and, placing his dependence solely upon the sterling qualities of diligence, perseverance and honesty, he has worked his> way steadily upward and now occupies a commanding position in the business circles of this city.
Mr. Naylor was born in Wooster, Ohio, December 9, 1822, a son of James and Eleanor (Musgrove) Naylor, both of whom were nativesof Pennsylvania, the former born in Beaver and the latter in Dauphin, county. The father was a carpenter by trade and was engaged in housebuilding in Wooster, Ohio, for many years. During his boyhood John M. Naylor attended the public schools and before he had left his ’teens he engaged in teaching. I11 this way he earned the money with which to pay his tuition in Granville College, where he remained as a student for some time. His aim was to obtain a thorough preliminary education, and then study law, but at the age of twenty he was induced to. accept a clerkship in a hardware store owned by the firm of Jacobs & Kouke, at Wooster. For four years he remained in that service and then entered into partnership with Harvey Howard. They came to Tiffin and opened a hardware store under the firm name of Howard & Naylor, and under that style conducted the business for four years, when Mr. Naylor purchased his partner’s interest, conducting the enterprise successfully for a number of years, when he sold his store. Under his management,, however, it grew to. be the largest mercantile establishment in the town: and was excelled by few, if any, in the northern part of the state. Mr. Naylor made a careful study of the wishes of the people and made an earnest effort toi please, sincerely wishing to: give good satisfaction as well as gain success. Plis honorable methods and enterprise brought him a continually increasing patronage and when he was enabled to command an excellent income he made judicious and extensive investments in real estate. Pie has in many ways been connected with business activity in Tiffin. He was one of the founders of the National Exchange Bank, now the Tiffin National Bank, of which he has always been a director and large stockholder. He finally became its president and is now at the head of the institution, which owes not a little of its success to his excellent ability and sound judgment.
On the nth of December, 1849, Mr. Naylor was united in marriage to Miss Cornelia T. Pittinger, a daughter of Judge Benjamin Pittinger, and untothem were born two children, but both are now deceased. Cora, born in 1851, died in 1853, and Frank, who was born in 1834, died in 1883, while on a visit fi> Florida. Mr. and Mrs. Naylor occupy one of the finest brick residences in the city, his success in former years enabling him to secure for them all the comforts and many of the luxuries that go to make life worth the living. He is now seventy-nine years of age, but be is still very active and could pass for a man many years younger. Instead of retiring altogether from business life he still gives his attention to banking and to the control of his real-estate investments, being still a valued factor in financial circles in Tiffin. Of a studious nature, he has devoted much attention to the study of standard-works and has thus gained valuable and comprehensive information, such as is seldom possessed except by a college graduate. Tiffin has found in him a warm and helpful friend, ever ready to promote her welfare along the lines: of substantial progress and improvement. For fifty-four years he has been identified with her business and social interests, and during this time has proven to be a man ol excellent executive ability with marked perceptive and reasoning faculties. His judgment and prompt decisions are seldom at fault and throughout the years his course has been characterized by a conscientious desire to be just and fair in his treatment of all. In politics be has ever been a stalwart Republican, but the honors and emoluments of office have had no attraction for him. During the Civil war he strongly endorsed the presidential policy and was a warm supporter of the Union. He holds membership in the Methodist Episcopal church and contributes most liberally to its support. When the new brick house of worship was erected he gave most liberally to the work and aided in pushing forward the enterprise in other ways. He is a man of even temperament, calm and self-poised, of refined character, in whom nature and culture have vied in making an horr ored and interesting gentleman. His erect form and clear-cut features give little suggestion of the fact that he had almost completed eight decades since starting upon life’s journey. Nature deals kindly with the man who abuses not her laws, and though Mr. Naylor’s business cares have been extensive, age rests lightly uponhim.
As printed in A centennial biographical history of Seneca County, Ohio (1902). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
Their biographies name John M. Naylor: Scudder Chamberlain (b. 1819)
The printed record stops around 1902. We trace your line from there down to you, with every source cited.