Joseph W. Kennedy

As printed in 1897

OSEPH W. KENNEDY, secretary and treasurer of the Dayton Cast Steel Plow company, is a native of Montgomery county, Ohio, and was born on a farm four miles north of Dayton, September 22, 1869, a son of John and Martha (Dorst) Kennedy. The excellently equipped plant of the Cast Steel Plow company is located at 122 North Front street. The business dates its inception back to 1885, when it was founded with the following named gentlemen as interested principals: Stephen J. Allen, John Kennedy, Joseph Kennedy, L. S. Aughe, Joseph W. Kennedy, and Grafton C. Kennedy. The enterprise was established for the purpose of manufacturing cast-steel plows of special design and of many points of recognized superiority, and the success of the venture is the best evidence of the character of the products turned out. The original executive corps of the company comprised Mr. Allen as president, Mr. Aughe as superintendent, and Joseph W. Kennedy as secretary and treasurer. The capital stock is $18,000, while the surplus has now reached an aggregate of about $9,000. The works afford employment to a body of from twenty to twenty-five skilled operatives, and the most punctilious care is accorded to every detail of manufacture. The present members of the company ares. H. Carr, president; J. F. Allen, vice-president; Joseph W. Kennedy, secretary and treasurer; and L. S. Aughe, superintendent. Joseph Kennedy, Sr., and Grafton C. Kennedy have retired from the concern, and S. J. Allen is now deceased. The principal trade territory covered by the company comprises Ohio, Indiana and Kentucky, and the business is gradually extending its range of operations as the merits of its products become known.

Joseph W. Kennedy received his educational discipline in the public schools of Dayton, though he continued to reside on the old homestead until 1883, when he came to Dayton and accepted a position as clerk in the establishment of C. Wight & Son, with whom he remained a few weeks, after which he became bookkeeper for the Parrott Manufacturing company, manufacturers of plows, continuing in their employ for two years. He then became personally interested in the enterprise with which he is at present identified, and has done much to insure the marked success which has attended the prosecution of the business. He is recognized as a representative of that progressive young element in the business circles of Dayton which is carrying the city forward to an even more conspicuous place in the industrial world than she has yet attained.

In his fraternal relations Mr. Kennedy is a member of Miami lodge of the Knights of Pythias, and he is also identified with the Garfield club, a republican organization. His marriage was solemnized in July, 1887, when he wedded Miss Daiy A. Macy, a daughter of Davis Macy, a prominent farmer of Harrison township, Montgomery county. Two children were born of this union, but the parents were called upon to bear a double bereavement in the death of both in the month of January, 1896 — Lawrence being seven years of age and Howard M. five. Mr. and Mrs. Kennedy are members of the Presbyterian church, in whose affairs they maintain an active interest.

Kyy1 L. BLUMENSCHEIN. — The sub- M Q I ject of this biographical review was born in Brensbach, Germany, December 16, 1849. He lived for many years in Pittsburg, Pa., but has been a Buckeye resident since the fall of 1876. Portsmouth, Ohio, was his first point of operations, whither he was called to direct the Harmonic society. The Ironton choral union was also under his direction for a season. In the summer of 1878 the Dayton, Ohio, Philharmonic society extended a call to him, which was accepted, Otto Singer, so recently deceased, being his predecessor. Since then the Philharmonic society has been continuously under his direction, and has won for itself and director a far more than local reputation. Indeed, the repertory of choral works performed in Dayton will compare favorably with that of any of the prominent choral organizations of the country.

The directorship of the Indianapolis, Ind., Lyra society (male chorus and orchestra) was intrusted to him for a season, also the Springfield Orpheus mixed chorus, and, incidentally, two Ohio saengerfests in Dayton and Springfield, respectively. The Cincinnati May festival chorus was given under his direction, superintended by Theodore Thomas, from 1891 to 1895.

Dayton’s present musical states is largely to be attributed to Mr. Blumenschein’s persistent efforts in the direction of classical culture. His pupils in piano-playing and singing have won for him a standing as teacher such as any musician and artist may be proud of. The surrounding towns have also contributed much of their best talent to his tutorship. The Third street Presbyterian church has claimed his services as organist and choir-director since October, 1878.

As composer for piano and voice Mr. Blumenschein has had the satisfaction of being rewarded by favorable criticism in all the prominent musical journals ot the country. Several of his anthems have been reprinted in England, and quite recently a Leipsic, Germany, musical journal has published a sketch of his life and work, illustrated by his portrait. Considering that his residence has mostly been confined to an inland town, it is surely a credit to his ability thus to be a subject of consideration in other countries.

What the future may bring to Mr. Blumenschein is a matter of conjecture, of course, but as he is just in the prime of life and activity, it is reasonable to predict a continuance of the good work of the past, coupled with a fair measure of success.

As printed in Centennial portrait and biographical record of the city of Dayton and of Montgomery County, Ohio, containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, together with the biographi (1897). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.