John W. Stoddard

JOHN W. STODDARD.

In contradistinction to the old adage that a prophet is never without honor save in his own country, John W. Stoddard stands today as one of the distinguished and representative men of Dayton, his native city. He has largely devoted his energies to manufacturing and with marked ability to plan and perform he has put forth many new: and practical ideas in the business world that have been resultant factors in the attainment of success. Moreover, in all of his business career there has not been a single esoteric phase, his record being one which at all times will bear the closest investigation and scrutiny, his ' success being won in close conformity with a high standard of commercial ethics.

Mr. Stoddard was born October 1, 1837, a son of Henry Stoddard, who in pioneer times became a resident of Dayton and was closely associated with the growth and development of the city for many years. His birth occurred in Woodbury. Connecticut, March 18, 1788, his ancestors being among the pilgrims of New England and among those who fought for American liberty in the Revolutionary war. Asa Stoddard, grandfather, of John W. Stoddard, was a direct descendant of the Rev. Anthony Stoddard, of London, England, who in 1670 established his home in Boston, Massachusetts, since which time many of his descendants have occupied positions of prominence and honor in the New England, eastern and middle states.

Henry Stoddard acquired a common-school education, spent five years as a salesman in a store, and then after thorough preliminary reading of law was admitted to the bar in 1812. In 1817 he made permanent location in Dayton, traveling westward on horseback with the Hon. George B. Holt. Although the little village of six hundred inhabitants did not seem to offer an extremely promising field, yet he undertook his professional labors here, riding the circuit at an early day to attend court in the different counties. In the course of years he became recognized as one of the distinguished lawyers of Montgomery county, Ohio, continuing in active practice until 1846 when he retired. In the meantime he had become connected with various business interests and thereafter his attention was given to private affairs. He was prominent in the First Presbyterian church of Dayton, in which he served as ruling elder and in that faith he passed away November 1, 1869. His first wife was Harriet L. Patterson, who died October 1, 1822, leaving a son, Asa P. Stoddard. His second wife, who bore the maiden name of Susan Williams, died April 5, 1861. Their children were: Henry, of California; John W., of this review; Mrs. Samuel B. Smith, of Dayton; and E. Fowler, deceased.

Reared in his native city John W. Stoddard attended private schools here and completed the work of the freshman and sophomore years in Miami University. As a junior he entered Princeton College and is numbered among its alumni of 1858. He then became a student in the Cincinnati Law School and was graduated in 1860, after which he devoted two years to successful law practice, but, abandoning the law for a commercial career in 1862, he began the manufacture of linseed oil in partnership with his brother Henry and Charles G. Grimes under the firm style of Stoddard & Grimes. For three or four years the business was continued on the original plan and was then extended in its scope to include the manufacture of varnishes, while a wholesale trade was established in paints, oils, window glass, etc., under the name of Stoddard & Company. After several years’ connection with the business, John W. Stoddard disposed of his interests to his brothers Henry and E. Fowler Stoddard in 1869 and joined John Dodds in a partnership under the firm style of John Dodds & Company, for the manufacture of agricultural implements. A change in partnership occurred five years later, when the firm of J. W. Stoddard & Company was formed, E. Fowler Stoddard and William A. Scott being admitted. In 1884 the Stoddard Manufacturing Company was organized and John W. Stoddard remained at the head in the position of president and principal stockholder. It was one of the leading manufacturing industries of Dayton, its output being shipped to many sections of the country, while its trade constantly increased and its well equipped factories and skilled employes secured an output of the highest grade. In 1905 this company was practically succeeded by the Dayton Motor Car Company, manufacturers of the Stoddard Dayton Automobile, one of the largest and most successful motor cars manufactured in the United States. Of this company John W. Stoddard is president. While there are now many kinds of automobiles on the market, experience has.shown that all are not of equal value. In fact the kinds of high grade cars are comparatively few but the Stoddard machine is one which meets the requirements of the most exacting and the most fastidious. The utmost care is taken in the selection of the material and in the construction of the car, together with supplying its equipments, and the Stoddard automobile today has a very wide reputation as a high class and thoroughly satisfactory machine. Before another year has passed another company will be formed, which will be a separate organization from the Dayton Motor Car Company, for the purpose of manufacturing taxicabs, smaller cars and heavy trucks. Although this will be a separate concern, Mr. Stoddard will be interested therein as a stockholder.

In May, 1861, Mr. Stoddard was united in marriage to Miss Susan Keifer, whose father, Daniel Keifer, was one of the pioneer residents of Dayton. The family now numbers a son and three daughters: Charles G., vice president and superintendent of the Stoddard Manufacturing Company; Mrs. Charles M. Wood; Mrs. E. F. Platt and Mrs. E. S. Reynolds. The family home is a beautiful residence on a hillside in Dayton and is the center of a cultured society circle.

Mr. Stoddard is well known as a prominent member of the Dayton Club, of which he was honored with the presidency. He holds friendship inviolable and true worth can always win his regard. He believes in the aristocracy of worth rather than of birth and has commendable hatred of sham and pretension. He is today one of the most honored and respected citizens of Dayton, for the use which he has made of his opportunities and his talents has brought him prominently before the public in various relations and in all things he has measured up to the full standard of honorable manhood.

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.