William P. Callahan

WILLIAM P. CALLAHAN.

William P. Callahan was born in County Armagh, Ireland, on the loth of February, 1833. He belonged to a family that, like many another that has come from across the water, sought the opportunities of the new world that advancement might be made in business lines and better advantages given to the members of the household. His parents were James and Jane Callahan, who in the year 1848 bade adieu to the Emerald isle and with their children sailed for the United States, settling at Shippensburg, Pennsylvania, where they resided for many years.

William P. Callahan was a youth of fifteen at the time of emigration to the United States. He had previously acquired a common-school education in his native country and he further supplemented his knowledge by study in the schools of Shippensburg. He was still in his teens when he entered upon an

W. 1>. CALLAHAN apprenticeship to the cabinetmaker’s trade, in which he became a thorough and expert workman. The advantages of the west, which was entering upon a period of substantial yet rapid growth, attracted him to Ohio, and in 1853 he became a resident of Dayton, where he was destined to become a prominent figure in connection with the industrial and financial interests of the city. Naturally he sought employment along the line of his trade, securing a position in the furniture factory of M. Ohmer. He was thus a fellow workman with Dennis Dwyer, later Judge Dwyer, at a time when a dollar a day was the average wage paid cabinetmakers and the hours of labor were from sunrise to sunset. Some months later Mr. Callahan and Mr. Dwyer left Dayton for Iowa but returned to this city to be married and continue to reside here.

Following his return Mr. Callahan learned the patternmaker’s trade in the employ of the firm of Chapman & Edgar, and then accepted a position as foreman in the pattern shop of Thompson, McGregor & Company in 1855. His ability, faithfulness and trustworthiness won him continued promotion and in 1857 he became a member of the firm, purchasing an interest of John Clary. Upon the death of Mr. Thompson in 1862 he purchased the interest of Mr. McGregor and became the sole proprietor of the business. From the time he assumed the management the enterprise rapidly developed under his careful guidance and keen discrimination. In 1876 he admitted Thomas De Arman to a partnership under the firm style of W. P. Callahan & Company and in 1885 they were joined by his son, William K. Callahan, although the firm title was not changed. The business was founded in 1841 on Shawnee street between Wayne and Wyandotte streets. It was established in a most humble way but its gradual expansion in time made it one of the most important enterprises in this city. In 1856 a removal was made to East Third street, where the company had one of the largest and most important manufacturing plants in Dayton or even in the state of Ohio.

A man of resourceful ability, constantly watchful of opportunities, which he improved to their full extent, Mr. Callahan made continuous progress in the business world and his labors were all the greater by contributing to the general upbuilding of the city as Well as to individual success. In 1865 he became one of five men to establish the Miami Valley Boiler & Sheet Iron Works under the firm name of McGregor, Callahan & Company. A few years later Mr. Callahan purchased the interest of Mr. McGregor but subsequently sold his own stock. In 1873 he joined W. P. Lewis in building what was known as the Lewis Paper Mill, on Monument avenue. This proved a success and in 1883 he became the owner of a controlling interest in the Ohio Paper Company at Miamisburg. This venture likewise proved profitable and thus the interests of Mr. Callahan were continuously broadening in their scope and extent. He became a stockholder and director in the Cooper Insurance Company on its organization and was elected to its presidency as the successor of Colonel B. E. Mead. His enterprise and business activity brought him into close relations with many important commercial, industrial and financial connections. He served as a director of the Dayton Gas Light & Coke Company for twenty years and for a similar period was connected with the leading institutions and insurance companies of Dayton, either as director, office-holder or stockholder. He withdrew from the directorate of the Dayton National Bank and became associated with the City National Bank and was elected to its presidency in 1894. From time to time he made extensive investments in real estate until his holdings were very large. Among his early purchases were that of the Main street business and office property between Second and Third streets. In 1890 he erected the Callahan Bank building which at present is one of the substantial structures of this city.

I11 1859 Mr. Callahan was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth Kiefer, a daughter of Philip Kiefer, one of the pioneer residents of Dayton. Their children are Susie, William, Charles and Lillie. One daughter, Cora, passed away in early womanhood.

During the long years of his residence in Dayton Mr. Callahan remained as one of its representative, worthy and honored citizens. He won notable success in business yet larger fortunes were made, but the life history of no man indicates more clearly the value and power of close application, of concentration, of earnest and honorable purpose and of wise utilization of opportunity. A contemporary biographer has said: “The story of his success is short and simple. It contains no exciting chapters but in its completeness lies one of the valuable secrets of the prosperity which it records. He began with no capital except brains, energy, integrity and rugged health. He was truly a self-made man in the broadest sense of the term. When he came to Dayton he was only a young cabinetmaker with no money and few friends; yet in that short time he built up one of the largest and most successful manufacturing businesses and contributed to the success of a dozen other prominent enterprises. He was a man of broad and deep sympathies, and nowhere was this characteristic more exemplified than in his association with his employees. They have on every occasion, both during their association with him in the business and since his death, paid tribute to his many kindnesses. The fairness and kindness with which he carried out his business methods reached in the best way for both employer and employes. His warm interest in the affairs of every one associated with him was the outpouring of a generous nature and his advice and assistance always went out to those in need. His ideas were strong, but with his heart close to the pulse of the people his hand was ever ready to help where the need was a worthy one.”

Mr. Callahan was always in close touch with the people of this city at large and there has been perhaps no resident of Dayton whose advice and counsel have been more frequently sought or freely given. He was deeply interested in the affairs of the bank of which he was president, and at the same time he regarded the demands of every individual depositor as something to which he should give his attention. His opinions were frequently sought by patrons of the bank and no matter how trifling were the questions presented to him, he was sincere in his interest and manifested that kindly good will and thoughtful consideration that would only be expected from more important business ventures. He always demanded that uniform courtesy be extended to the patrons of the bank and that no difference should be made between the smallest and the largest depositor. Through his genuine thoughtfulness in these small affairs his bank was made a benefit to hundreds of the middle class who learned to know and love the man whom they recognized as their patron friend. He had accumulated his own wealth mainly in the consideration of small items and wise investment and thus he had sympathy for others who were attempting the same thing. His business acumen was keen and his ambition was surpassed only by his great energy.

Mr. Callahan was equally interested in affairs of general public moment and cooperated in every movement which he deemed essential or valuable to the welfare and progress of the city. He gave substantial, ready and generous support to all municipal movements which his judgment sanctioned. He was a prominent member of the Dayton Club and of other social organizations and he made the generous hospitality of his beautiful home on West First one of its most attractive features. His affection was sincere when once placed and an evidence of his loyalty to early associations was his generosity to the little Episcopal church in Ireland where in early life he was a choir boy. This church was never forgotten in his generous contributions to religious work and during his last trip abroad he made a special journey to the church where his boyish voice had been raised in the anthems and songs of praise and worship. His devotion to his home was one of his strongest characteristics, the interests of his family being at all times placed before aught else. He stood as a splendid type of the high-minded American gentlemen with whom contact meant expansion and elevation. His is a splendid example of the power and force of honorable manhood, of earnest effort and of high principle.

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.