hamilton county

Albert Wheeler Schell Cincinnati, The Queen City, Volume III, 1912 Pages 29-30< Transcribed by: Paula Carle Bosch         The insurance business has shown great development during the last quarter of a century, especially in the large cities, and the men who manage the agencies are among the most active and efficient factors in metropolitan life. Of this number is Albert W. Schell, of Cincinnati. He is a native of Geneva, New York, born December 14, 1861, and is a son of Henry C. Schell, who was born in England in 1827. The father came to America and engaged in the insurance and banking business at Geneva. In 1872 he was invited by J. B. Bennett, an organizer of several insurance companies, to come to Cincinnati and accept the position of superintendent of agencies for the Amazone Insurance Company. He accepted the invitation, but in 1877 resigned from his position and started the Queen City Fire Insurance Agency, which became a leading concern of the kind in the city. The mother of our subject, Harriet C. Black before her marriage, was a native of Virginia and the mother of eight children, all of whom are now living, namely: Robert H., of Jonesville, Michigan; Evelyn, the widow of William A. Widney, of Washington, D. C.; William Frederick, of Wichita, Kansas; Richard D., who lives in New York city; Phylena, who is the wife of George C. Chambers, of Hagerstown, Maryland; Albert W., of this review; John D., of Chicago; and Harriet C., who is now the wife of Frank D. Bristley, of Indianapolis.
        Albert W. Schell received his early education in the public schools of Geneva and Cincinnati and grew up under highly favorable conditions for an active and useful business life. In 1879, at the age of eighteen years, he entered the insurance business under his father and has ever since been connected with insurance interests. He was made district manager of the Hartford Fire Insurance Company January 1, 1897, and represents many of the leading companies of this country and Europe, including the Commercial Union Assurance Company, the Phoenix Assurance Company and the Employers Liability Assurance Corporation, all of England; also the Commonwealth Insurance Company and the New York Plate Glass Insurance Company, both of New York; and the Steam Boiler & Inspection Company of Hartford, Connecticut, and several other important organizations. Possessing a good address he readily makes friends and his progress from the beginning of this business career has been steadily forward.
        On the 4th of September, 1889, Mr. Schell was married to Miss Alice B. West, a native of Cincinnati and daughter of Robert H. and Katherine (Wunder) West. Two children have blessed this union: Albert West, who is now a student in the fire prevention engineering course of the Armour Institute of Chicago; and Katherine.
        Mr. Schell is a man of activity, energy and integrity and has a remarkably thorough knowledge of matters pertaining to insurance. He conscientiously guards the interests of his clients and his business has increased from year to year until he is now one of the leading agency men of the city. Politically he is independent, voting for the man rather than the party. He holds membership in the Cincinnati Chamber of Commerce and the Business Men's Club and is always interested in their work. He is a sincere believer in the Christian religion and is now serving as junior warden of Grace Episcopal church of Avondale, being also an active worker of the Episcopal Church Club.

Frederick Henry Bastian Cincinnati, The Queen City, Volume III, 1912 Pages 49 - 50 Transcribed by: Debbie Pentecost-McNabb         Among the men who have been active factors in the commercial life of Cincinnati and who have passed from the scene of earthly activities is numbered Frederick Henry Bastian, who for a long period was proprietor of a men’s furnishing goods store. He was born in France, in 1837 and his life record covered the intervening period to the year 1902. His father, Philip Bastian, was a landscape surveyor who, having brought his family to the new world, settled in Philadelphia where he resided until his death. The son Frederick H. Bastian, was a young lad when the family crossed the Atlantic, the voyage being made on a sailing vessel in 1849, when he was but 12 years of age. At length anchor was dropped in the harbor of New Orleans and the party proceeded northward to Cincinnati, where Frederick Bastian completed his education in the public schools. At the time of the Civil War he put aside all business and personal relations in order to enter the Union Army, joining the Sixth Ohio Regiment with which he served throughout the period of hostilities. He was wounded at the battle of Chickamauga and again at Stone River, and later because of his injuries acted as secretary for the regiment. When the war was over he returned to Cincinnati and was engaged in the men’s furnishing goods business, opening a store in the Arcade where he remained until his death. His trade gradually extended until it had reached large and profitable proportions. He drew trade from among the best citizens, always carrying a large and well selected line of goods that enabled him to enjoy their patronage. After his death the business was carried on for a time by his son and his head clerk but later was sold.
        In Cincinnati in 1865 Mr. Bastian was united in marriage to Miss Fannie H. Koernein, a daughter of Charles Koernein, who was the oldest seal engraver on this side of the Alleghenies, doing jewelry and copper engraving. He married Susanna Hipp, a representative of an old family from Darmstadt, Germany. Their daughter Fannie became the wife of Mr. Bastian and this marriage was blessed with three children: Charles F., now with the American Valve and Motor Company; Ada; and Lily. The mother is active in many good works and is now serving as treasurer of the Hamilton County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
        The death of Mr. Bastian occurred in 1902. His cooperation in movements for the general good marked him as a public-spirited citizen and his stalwart support of the republican party at the polls gave evidence of his political belief. He was a subscriber of the Bodman Widows Home, maintained pleasant relationship with his comrades in arms through his membership in the Great Army of the Republic and was a consistent and faithful member of the Locust Street Church. There were, perhaps, no unusual chapters in his life record, and yet his cause, at all times showed forth those sterling traits of character which in every land and clime constitute the basis of respect and admiration.

JOSEPH M. ALLEN Cincinnati, The Queen City, Volume III, 1912 Pages 423-424 Transcribed by: Patti Graman

Joseph M. Allen, of the Allen-Roberts Company, engaged in the carpet business in Cincinnati, was born in Lebanon, Tennessee, but has been a resident of this city for more than a quarter of a century. His grandfather, Captain Jeremiah H. Allen, came from Birmingham, England, about 1800, and located in Virginia. He later came to Lebanon, Tennessee. He was a soldier in the war of 1812, served as captain of a company and was with General Jackson oat the battle of New Orleans. The father of Joseph M. Allen was born at Lebanon, Tennessee, and owned a plantation of fifteen thousand acres in the Cumberland Valley on which was a large number of slaves. He was also named Jeremiah H. and served as an officer in the War with Mexico, being colonel of the state militia. He died at Lebanon in 1883. Colonel Jeremiah H. Allen married Rebecca Ellis, daughter of Moses Ellis, a prominent and wealthy planter of Lebanon, Tennessee. To this union were born nine children, of whom the subject of this sketch was the seventh. The mother is still living at Nashville, Tennessee. Throughout the entire period he has been connected with the carpet trade. For a time he was associated with the George F. Otte Company and later with the L. B. Thoms Company. In 1900 he embarked in business on his own account, opening an establishment at No. 616 Race Street. Previous to this he had acted as a broker and manufacturer's agent for several years, with offices in the Bradford Building. In 1910 he combined his interests with those of the Cincinnati Lace Company under the name of the Allen-Roberts Company at Nos. 114 and 116 West Sixth Street, with Mr. Allen as president, J. C. Roberts, vice president and Treasurer and C. Smith, secretary. There are jobbers and retailers of carpets, rugs and lace curtains and are the middle western agents for the Wilton Brussels Carpet Company of Philadelphia. They employ about twenty people and the business is increasing along gratifying lines, its steady and substantial growth arguing well for the future.
In June, 1888, Mr. Allen was united in marriage to Miss Mae Wernke and they have three children: Helen, Beulah and Joseph M., Jr. The family home is on Walnut Hills and its reputation for hospitality is well merited. Mrs. Allen is the daughter of Henry and Mary Wenke, who came from German in the 30's , where he engaged in the undertaking business. His wife died in 1903. Mr. Allen has always taken a great interest in the Masonic fraternity and is a past master of Cincinnati Lodge, a past commander of Hanselman Commandery and chief raban of the Syrian Temple of the Mystic Shrine. He has also attained the thirty-second degree of the Scottish Rite and he belongs likewise to the Knights of Pythias fraternity. For the furtherance of trade relations and the advancement of Cincinnati's business center he has become identified with the Business Men's Club and the Merchants Manufacturing Association. While connected with the carpet trade for twenty-six years, he has been in business for himself only since 1900 but in that period has demonstrated his power to successfully manage important trade interests. His labors have been crowned with prosperity and he is now one of the substantial residents of Cincinnati.

BENJAMIN EVANS Cincinnati, The Queen City, Volume III, 1912 Pages 697- 698 Transcribed by: Linda Thompson, Wabash, IN

        During a period of more than thirty years Benjamin Evans, who is president of The Evans-Rendigs Company, has been identified with the building interests of this city. He was born in Shandon, Ohio, on the 17th of November, 1856, being a son of John D. and Ann (Lloyd) Evans. The father, who was a native of Wales, was a wagonmaker, which trade he followed for some years after locating in Shandon, later engaging in the undertaking business with which he continued to be identified until he passed away in 1903. Mrs. Evans died in 1899.
        The boyhood and youth of Benjamin Evans were spent under the paternal roof, the first nineteen years of his life being largely occupied in the acquirement of an education at the public and high schools of his native town until about 1875. Having decided that he would like to make carpentry his life vocation, after laying aside his text-books, he went to Irontown, Ohio, where he served an apprenticeship for three years. Feeling at the expiration of that period that he had thoroughly mastered the craft he came to Cincinnati, where he entered the employ of James Griffith & Sons, general contractors. He remained identified with this firm for fourteen years, during the entire period of which he acted in the capacity of superintendent. Having become well and favorably known throughout the city on account of the quality of his work, in 1892 Mr. Evans withdrew from his position in order to engage in business for himself. In 1905 he organized a stock company of which he is president and George E. Rendigs, secretary and treasurer, and they are now operating under the firm name of The Evans-Rendigs Company. They have met with most gratifying success in their venture, and now have one hundred and fifty men on their payroll. The quality of their work is such that each satisfied patron obtains for them a new one, and as a result they have been awarded some of the best contracts in the city.
        In Cincinnati on the 19th of March, 1884, was solemnized the union between Mr. Evans and Miss Henrietta Winkleman, and they have become the parents of two children: Nannie, who is a graduate of the Cincinnati University, the wife of Leslie B. Ryan, of this city, and Carrie, who was graduated from the Woodward high school. The religious views of the family coincide with tenets of the Congregational denomination, in which church they hold membership, while Mr. Evans keeps in touch with his business associates through the medium of the Business Men's Club, with which he is affiliated.</P>
<P>An ardent advocate of the principles of the republican party, Mr. Evans always casts his ballot for the candidates of that body, although he is too much engrossed in his personal affairs to participate in political activities prominently.