USA > Ohio > Representative citizens of Ohio : memorial-genealogical > Part 25
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Arthur L. White is a native son of the old Buckeye State, having been born at Mt. Vernon, Knox County, on March 10, 1861. His father, John W. White, was born in Marietta, Ohio, in 1814, and died in Mt. Vernon in 1886. He came of a long line of sterling New England ancestors, his parents being natives of Vermont. In an early day they came to Ohio, their advent here being over one hundred years ago, and their first settlement was at Marietta. In that city John W. White was reared to man- hood. He then moved to Zanesville, where he met and married Catherine Springer, of a prominent old and well-to-do family of Wilmington, Delaware. The Springers had located at Wilming-
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ton in the pioneer days of that section and they leased for ninety- nine years the land on which the city was eventually built. They were prominent in the early life of that community and were im- portant factors in the carly growth and upbuilding of the city. John W. White early became identified with the newspapers of Zanesville and for some years prior to the Civil War, he was the editor and publisher of a paper there, wielding a large influence in the community. Later he went to Mt. Vernon, where he became agent for the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Company, retaining that position until his death and discharging his responsible duties to the entire satisfaction of the company. In the life of that com- munity he became a live factor and efficiently filled several local offices, such as member of the city council. He took a deep interest in local historical matters and was identified with the editing and publication of a comprehensive and accurate history of Knox County. He had been well educated and possessed marked native ability. He also prepared a complete genealogical record of his family, as well as his wife's family. Politically, he was at first a Republican, but eventually he became a strong supporter of the Greeley wing of the Democratic party. He was a man of strong convictions, and when he felt that he was right, nothing could swerve him from his course. His wife survived him about six years, her death occurring at Mt. Vernon in 1892, at the age of seventy-three years.
Religiously, John W. White was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, while his wife was identified with the Congre- gational Church. They were the parents of eight children, an equal number of boys and girls, of whom the subject is the youngest, their names being as follows: Caroline became the wife of W. L. Wardell and both are now deceased; Oscar, whose wife is dead, has a daughter, Catherine, and he now lives in Texas, retired; Edna died in infancy; John Douglas, who was promi- nently identified with the management of railroads in this State died at the age of about sixty years, unmarried; Emma is the widow of the late H. C. Wright, who was a well-known contractor at Gambier, Ohio; she has two sons and three daughters, one daughter being deceased; Frank died in infancy; Jessie died in early womanhood, and Arthur L. Oscar, mentioned above, was a graduate from the Annapolis Naval Academy, and was an officer on the United States warship "Waterce" when that vessel was driven ashore by the great tidal wave on the coast of Peru, South America. The vessel, which was cruising off the coast when the wave struck, was carried one and a half miles inland,
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being left "high and dry" when the water receded. £ So well trained and carefully disciplined was the crew, that only one seaman was lost, though the escape of the whole ship and crew was nothing short of miraculous. After this experience, Oscar White resigned his commission and went to Texas.
Arthur L. White was reared under the parental roof at Mt. Vernon, where he secured his education, being a graduate of the high school. When he was but fourteen years of age, ambi- tious to make his own way in the world, he went to work as office boy for the C. G. Cooper Manufacturing Company, at Mt. Vernon. He proved a faithful and industrious employee, intelligently studying every phase of the business as opportunity presented, and, his ability being recognized, he was successively promoted until, eighteen years after entering the company's employ, he was made general superintendent and a director of the concern. This was a remarkable record, but to those familiar with Mr. White's qualities and abilities it is easy to understand. With him, any- thing that is worth doing at all is worth doing well, and this same rule is applied to those under him, the result being a high degree of efficiency in any work over which he has supervision. Mr. White remained with the Cooper Company twenty-five years, and then, in 1900, he came to Lima as general manager of the Lima Locomotive and Machine Company, at that time a comparatively small, but growing concern. His personality was at once in- jected into the company's affairs, and in response to his ener- getic efforts the business began to grow by leaps and bounds. Six months after Mr. White became connected with the company, it was reorganized and he became president of the corporation, in which position he has since been retained. When he came here the works were small, giving employment to about one hun- dred and fifty men, with a capacity of twenty-seven engines a year, the capital stock of the company being two hundred and fifty thousand dollars. The works have since then been increased many fold, and will soon have employment for three thousand five hundred men, while the output capacity will be about one thousand engines a year. In 1912, the company became known as the Lima Locomotive Corporation, its capital stock being in- creased to six million dollars, and it is now the third largest loco- motive manufacturing company in the United States. Every style of locomotive, passenger, or freight, light or heavy, for for- eign or domestic use, is built here, including special styles and types, and in railroad circles their output is recognized as among the very best. In all this growth and development the moving
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spirit has been Mr. White, who has literally devoted himself to the mammoth enterprise of which he is the active head. The other officers of the Lima Locomotive Corporation are: Ira P. Carnes, vice president (inactive); George L. Wall, active vice president; William T. Agerter, secretary and treasurer. The offices of the corporation are in a splendid new seven-story build- ing erected especially for the company near the manufacturing plant, which covers a large part of the sixty-five acre tract owned by the corporation. The plant is most eligibly located near three leading railroad lines, and connected with other lines by a belt railroad. This colossal enterprise means much to the city of Lima, in the growth of which city no one has taken a deeper interest or greater pride than Mr. White. In all local move-
ments for the general upbuilding and development of the city he has been a prominent figure and has rendered signally efficient service as president of the Commercial Club and for two years as president of the Progressive Association, a business men's or- ganization. Mr. White has identified hin self with a number of other local enterprises besides the locomotive works, being a stockholder and a director of the Lima Trust Company, and a stockholder in the old National Bank. He assisted in the pro- motion of and is a director in the Ohio Steel Casting Company, and was largely instrumental in bringing to Lima the Gramm Motor Truck Company, of which he was president until it was taken over by the Willis-Overland Motor Car Company. He re- tains an interest in the latter company, which has remained at Lima. Of the Lima Young Men's Christian Association, Mr. White has been an ardent supporter and he served for two years as its president, giving to it the same careful attention that he would to a profit-sharing enterprise. His remarkable success in the world of affairs has in no sense dwarfed his nature and he takes the keenest interest in all ethical or sociological movements for the uplift and benefit of his fellow men, particularly the young men, in whom he evinces a special interest. He is proud of Lima and of the grand State of Ohio and zealous of their prog- ress and prosperity.
Politically, Mr. White has been a life-long supporter of the Republican party, in the success of which he has taken a keen interest, though never himself a seeker after office of any kind. Fraternally, he is a member of the Free and Accepted Masons, in which he has taken the thirty-second degree. In the York Rite he has also taken all the degrees, being a member of Lima Command- ery, Knights Templars. His Scottish Rite membership is at
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Toledo, while he belongs to Aladdin Temple, Ancient Arabic Order of Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, at Columbus. Socially he is a member of the Shawnee Country Club, of Lima, of which he is an ex-president.
At Mt. Vernon, Ohio, Arthur L. White was united in mar- riage with Lucy Spindler, who was born and reared at Mt. Vernon, being the daughter of John C. and Anna (Smith) Spindler, na- tives of this State. Her parents were for many years honored residents of Mt. Vernon, where her father was a successful me- chanical engineer. He is now deceased, and his widow, who is now seventy years old, still resides in that city. Mr. and Mrs. White are the parents of one daughter, Jane, now nine years old. Religiously, they are members of the Market Street Presby- terian Church, to which they are liberal contributors. They move in the best social circles of the city and are popular with all who know them.
Samuel Collins
HE biographies of enterprising men, especially of good men, are instructive as guides and incentives to others. The examples they furnish of patient purpose and steadfast integrity strongly illustrate what is in the power of each to accomplish, when they have courage and right principles to control their course of action. Some men belong to no exclusive class in life; apparently insurmountable obstacles have in many instances awakened their faculties and served as a stimulus to carry them to ultimate success. Samuel Collins, one of the best known citizens of Lima, Ohio, whose residence here has covered a longer period than that of any other citizen of this city, and who is also one of the oldest persons here in respect to his age, has lived to good purpose and has achieved a degree of success commensurate with his efforts. By a straightforward and commendable course he made his way from somewhat humble environment to a respectable position in the business world, win- ning the admiration of the people of his city and earning a repu- tation as an enterprising, progressive man of affairs and a broad- minded, charitable and upright citizen, which the public was not slow to recognize and appreciate. Thus he is eminently deserving of specific mention among the representative men of his section of the commonwealth.
Samuel Collins was born near Bridgeport and St. Clairsville, Belmont County, Ohio, on March 6, 1824, being now in the nine- tieth year of his age. He is descended from sterling Scotch ances- try, his paternal grandfather, John Collins, having been born in southwestern Scotland, a scion of a family long residents of that locality. His wife's given name was Rachael, and to them were born several children in their native country. About 1780, or soon thereafter, they embarked for America, and, after a long, tedious and dangerous voyage in one of the slow-going and uncomfortable sailing ships of that period, they landed probably at New York. From there they proceeded to Susquehanna County, Pennsyl- vania, where they remained until 1798, when they came to Bel- mont County, Ohio, locating in the midst of the wilderness. This county was at that time sparsely settled and was infected by wild animals and the scarcely less wild red man. There they pur- chased one hundred acres of land on Coleman Creek, which land
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was underlaid with a fine strata of coal, and there they bravely went to work to create a home and rear their family. Conditions were certainly not favorable or encouraging, but they were a hardy and courageous people, those early pioneers, and they un- derwent privations and faced conditions that would to-day prob- ably deter most persons. However, they had a definite object in view, and with their ideal ever before them they worked on faithfully from day to day until at length they realized, in a way, the fruits of their years of toil and hardships. Mr. Collins had a little shop in which were constructed practically all the coffins required in the first years of the settlement, they being made entirely by hand and sometimes being rude and unartistic; but they served well their purpose. Here, after a long and honorable life, John Collins passed away, when upwards of eighty years of age, his wife having died many years before, while the family lived in Pennsylvania. Their children included, John, Jr., father of the subject of this sketch, Daniel and three sisters, Mrs. Scott, Mrs. Coleman and Mrs. Starkey.
John Collins, Jr., was one of the children who were born before the family left Scotland, the date of his birth being No- vember 19, 1781, and he was but a lad when the family came to their new home in the western continent. While they were living in Pennsylvania he attained his majority and was married to Rachael Cunningham, who was born in England on January 29, 1789. In her early girlhood her family came to America, settling in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, where her parents died. After her marriage to Mr. Collins and the birth of their first two child- ren, William and Martha, they moved to Belmont County, Ohio, where they lived from 1798 to September, 1834, their first loca- tion being a little log house about five miles east of Bellefontaine in Logan County. In this cabin they lived ten years, and it was while living there in 1836 that Mr. Collins acted as a pall bearer at the funeral of his friend, Simon Kenton, one of the eminent men of his day in Ohio. In 1844, they located on a farm a few miles from their former home in the same county where their deaths occurred, his on August 13, 1849, and hers on July 18, 1860. Mrs. Collins was a Presbyterian in her religious affiliation, while Mr. Collins was a stanch Democrat in his political faith. They became the parents of nine children, all of whom are deceased but the subject of this sketch.
Samuel Collins was reared without opportunities for secur- ing an education, except such as was absorbed by experience. However, he has been a close observer of men and events and is
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a well informed man. He was reared to a life of hard work and during the years of his youth he did his full share in the work of clearing the land and cultivating the soil. These habits of industry became characteristic of him and were the secrets of his later success. In 1851, Mr. Collins came to the then village of Lima and, having decided to make this his permanent home, he brought his family here the following year, their first home being a hewed-log cabin, situated in the present public square, within a few feet of the fine building now owned by Mr. Collins, the home of the First National Bank and Empire Hotel, this property being two hundred and four by fifty feet in size. As an instance of the energy, ability and enterprise of the subject, it should be noted in passing that he planned, did the architectural work and built this splendid block, which is a well arranged and substan- tially constructed building. Mr. Collins' first business enter- prise here was a small grocery store, in which, by honest treat- ment and fair dealing, he won the confidence of his customers and built up a large and profitable trade, so that he was soon on the way to financial success. As he was prospered, he made judicious investments of his money from time to time, including two splendid farms near the city of Lima, each of eighty acres, and he was eventually enabled to retire from the more active business affairs, though he is yet, despite his advanced age, keenly alive to passing events, giving his personal attention to his busi- ness affairs and showing a physical activity that would be cred- itable to a man twenty years his junior. He is truly one of the grand old men of Lima, and because of his life of activity, success and right living he has for many years enjoyed the good will and respect of all who know him.
A life-long Democrat in politics, Mr. Collins has always taken an active interest in the success of his party, and in 1860, he was elected sheriff of Allen County, discharging the duties of that position with a fidelity and ability that won for him the com- mendation of all the people. During his business life here he lias been frequently called upon to act as trustee, administrator and in other similar capacities, his business ability and his integrity of purpose and action being widely recognized. Mr. Collins' pro- tracted residence in this section of the State, has made his name widely and familiarly known. His life and the history of this locality have been pretty much one and the same thing, for lie has lived to see and take a prominent part in the growth of the community. His has been a long life of honor and trust and no higher eulogy can be passed upon him than to say the simple
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truth that his name has never been coupled with anything dis- reputable and that there has never been the shadow of a stain upon his reputation for integrity and unwavering honesty. He has been a consistent man in all he has ever undertaken, and his career in all the relations of life has been utterly without pre- tense.
On March 16, 1848, Samuel Collins was united in marriage with Mary Brinser, the marriage occurring in Logan County, Ohio. She was a native of Pennsylvania and of Dutch stock. Her death occurred on December 21, 1903, after a happy con- genial union of fifty-five years. To this union were born the following children: Rosanna, who died after her marriage to Jacob Rinkle, leaving one son, Charles; Daniel married Emma Pearson, and both are now deceased, leaving no children; Gilbert died at the age of two years; Perry, who received a good educa- tion and now makes his home with his father, married Eva Leland, of Cleveland, Ohio, and they have one child, a bright boy of twelve years; Charles, who died in infancy.
The mother of these children was a woman of many fine per- sonal qualities, was an earnest member of the Methodist Episcopal Church and in her daily life exemplified the religion which she professed.
Eng by 5 G Williams & Bro MV
Harrison Hefner
Harrison Heffner
F one desires to gain a vivid realization of the rapid advance in the civilization which the last few decades have brought, he can listen to the stories that men who are still living among us can tell of their early experiences when the country was to a large extent new and when social conditions in this part of the Buckeye State were in the formative period. There are among us many of these old settlers who, having spent the vigor and strength of their manhood in developing homes for themselves and their posterity, are now in the evening of life, when the shadows are growing dim and the past gradually receding from view, spending their declining years in rest and quiet, surrounded by neighbors and friends who honor and revere them for the good work they did in laying broad and deep the foundation upon which the community's prosperity has been builded. Conspicuous among these silver-haired veterans of a period long past is the venerable and highly respected citizen, now living a life of honorable retirement, to a brief review of whose career the following lines are devoted. All his active years were devoted to the pursuit of agriculture, which has been an honored vocation from the earliest ages. As a usual thing, men of honorable and humane impulses, as well as those of energy and thrift, have been patrons of husbandry. The free outdoor life of the farm has a decided tendency to foster and develop that independence of mind and self-reliance which characterize true manhood. It has been the fruitful soil from which have sprung the moral bone and sinew of the country, and the majority of our nation's most distinguished men in all walks of life were born on the farm and are indebted to its early influence for the distinc- tion which they have attained.
Harrison Heffner, an honored and respected citizen of Lafay- ette County, Ohio, was born in Colerain Township, Ross County, Ohio, on December 25, 1834. He is descended from old Pennsyl- vania Dutch stock, his ancestors' respective families having been prominent and well known in their locality in the old Keystone State. There his paternal grandfather, Daniel Heffner, died in middle life, after which his widow, Susan, came to Ross County, Ohio, and subsequently to Allen County, this State. She sur- vived her husband a good many years, her death occuring, when
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past seventy years of age, at her home near Bethlehem church. She was long an earnest member of the Reformed Church. She was the mother of six children, three sons and three daughters, all of whom grew to maturity, married and reared families, ex- cepting one daughter who died young and was buried in what became known as the Heffner Cemetery, near the Bethlehem church, the land within the cemetery enclosure having been do- nated for that purpose by Isaac Heffner, father of the subject of this sketch. Another daughter, who married a Mr. Holman, moved to Iowa, where she died and was buried. David, who married, lived to an advanced age and died in Allen County, Ohio. Anna became the wife of David Moyer, both being now deceased, their bodies lying in the Heffner Cemetery. Isaac, father of the subject, is mentioned in the following paragraph. Gabriel married and he and his wife died in Allen County, when advanced in years. Katie, who became the wife of Amos Bowser, a farmer in Ross County, this State, is also deceased.
Isaac Heffner, who was born and reared in Pennsylvania, came to Ross County, Ohio, about one hundred years ago. Here he married Mary May, who also was a native of Pennsylvania and who had been brought to Ross County, Ohio, in young girl- hood. In 1832, the May and Heffner families came to Allen County, locating on wild and undeveloped land in the woods of Jackson Township. There Mrs. Heffner's grandparents, George and Katherine May, died and were buried in what later became known as Heffner Cemetery, near Bethlehem church, both being advanced in age at the time of their deaths. Isaac Heffner walked the entire distance from Ross County to the new home, and after taking up his land, he returned for his family, whom he brought here in an old Pennsylvania wagon, drawn by four horses. The journey was a long and tiresome one, beset by many dangers and accompanied by many hardships and discomforts, their stopping place at night being at the roadside wherever they happened to be. Upon reaching their new home, the outlook was anything but inviting, but they had not expected much and they bravely made the best of their surroundings. Their first abiding place was a rude log hut, which, in the course of time, was superseded by a hewed-log cabin, and then, in 1855, they erected a substantial brick residence, into which none but the best materials were put, so that this house, which at that time was considered one of the best in Allen County, is still in a remarkable state of preservation, being now occupied by Mr. Heffner's youngest son, who owns the old homestead. Here Isaac and Mary Heffner spent the
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remainder of their lives, he dying when past seventy-six years of age, and she at the age of ninety-five. They were faithful and active members of the Reformed Church, to which he was a liberal contributor, having given generously to the erection of the first church building.
Isaac and Mary Heffner were the parents of the following children: Jacob, who now lives on a farm in Jackson Town- ship, was married, his wife being now deceased; the subject of this sketch is next in order of birth; Amos, who is a successful farmer in Auglaize Township, Allen County, is married and has reared a family; Clarissa, who lives in Bath Township, Allen County, is the widow of Jacob Moury and the mother of children; David, who died at the age of fifty-five years, is the only deceased member of this family; he was married and left a son and daugh- ter; John, who is a retired farmer, living in Lafayette, married and reared three sons and three daughters, his wife being now deceased; Albert, who now lives on and operates the old home- stead, is married and has two daughters and a son.
Harrison Heffner was reared under the paternal roof and secured his education in the common schools. He devoted him- self indefatigably to the cultivation and improvement of the home farm, proving a valuable assistant to his father, who was enabled to accumulate a splendid estate of eighteen hundred acres of land. This land was highly improved and was devoted to gen- eral farming and stock raising. Upon starting out in life on his own account, the subject decided to follow the vocation to which he had been reared and in this decision he showed sound judg- ment, for as a farmer and stock raiser he was successful to an eminent degree, accumulating a comfortable fortune, his estate at one time comprising over one thousand acres of as fine land as this section of the State contained. Much of this land he has given to his children, who are engaged in its operation. Mr. Heffner was during his active years a hard and persistent worker, giving his personal attention to every detail of his farm work and being progressive and systematic in his operations, so that he was enabled to realize maximum returns for his labor.
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