L D Henry

HENRY

Posted By: County Coordinator (email)
Date: 4/12/2010 at 13:08:42

Great credit is due L D Henry for what he has achieved in life. He began his career in a comparatively humble capacity and today is one of the leading financiers of Boone county, conducting a private bank at Beaver and also being interested in a number of other enterprises of a similar nature. Moreover, Mr Henry is ever ready to indorse and support valuable measures which make for material expansion, moral improvement and itellectual attainment. He was born in Trumbull county, Ohio, April 13, 1864, and is a son of Zimri and Emeline (Brown) Henry, the former a native of Trumbull county, Ohio and the latter of Pennsylvania, of German Descent. The father followed farming throughout life in Trumbull county, Ohio, with the exception of the last few years of his life, during which he conducted a hotel in Kinsman. He died in 1908, his widow surviving him until October, 1911.
L D Henry was reared and educated in Kinsman and attended the academy there. He has always been proud of the fact that he was a sachoolmate of Clarence S Darrow, the noted Chicago attorney, and he had as his teacher Mary Darrow, who was noted as an educator and connected with the Chicago schools, but is now deceased. After completing his educatin Mr Henry turned his attention to railroading, becoming a brakeman for the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern Railroad. In two and one-half years he was promoted to the position of conductor and remained with that system until 1889, when he made his way to Savanna, Illinois, becoming conductor for the Chicago, Milwaukee & St Paul Railroad, with his headquarters in that city. In 1893 he was transferred to Perry, Iowa and for twelve years, or until 1905, ran a train out of there. Meeting with an accident which cost him his right leg, his company then made him live stock agent of his district in which capacity he was charged with settling claims for the traffic department. He held that position for two years and being an observant man, able to judge of conditions and opportunities, perceived that a bank in Beaver would be a most profitable investmnet. He therefore, came to that city and with E D Carter organized the Beaver Savings Bank. The original captial was ten thousand dollars and the institution was a success from the beginning. Its prosperous condition is largely due to the initiative of Mr Henry, who has proved himself a financier of no mean ability. The bank was under state charter until April 1, 1912, when it was reorganized, Mr Henry acquiring the intersts of the other stockholders and transforming the corporation into a private bank. it is now known as the Beaver Bank and its capital and surplus exceed fifteen thousand dollars. Mr Henry is sole owner and his daughter Mable is assistant cashier. They have over 66 thousand dollars in depostis and well merit the confidence placed in them. Although Mr Henry is progressvie and ever ready to lend a helping hand in promoting the industrial enterprises and in assisting agricultural ventures, his foremost consideration is the safety of his depositors. He has always displayed marked energy and determination in his business affairs and has made good use of opportunities as they presented themselves and has even created them where non existed. He has overcome difficullties by persistent, energtic and honorable effort. He is a man of unerring accuracy in judgment and of a caution in business trascactions which, though it protects the bank from loss, does not hinder its development. In short, he knows, whom and what to trust. He ownes the two story block in which the bank is located, it being erected by him in 1907.
On May 31, 1886, Mr Henry married Miss Bertha L Fellows, a daughter of Harvey and Reuhama (Johnson) Fellows, natives of the Keystone state, where they always made their home. Her mother was the first white child born in Warren coutny, Pennsylvania. Her father died in 1887 and her mother in June 1905. Mr and Mrs Henry had three children: Mable A born February 21, 1888, assistant cashier of the Beaver Bank, Carl H who was born Feruary 20, 1895 and died December 1897, and Margaret Lucille, born January 3, 1900, who is attending school in Grand Juction.
Mr Henry has other important interests, being a stockholder and treasurer of the Farmers Cooperative Company of Beaver, and he also owns a block of shares in the Peoples National Bank at Perry. Since 1888 he has been a member of the Order of the Railway Conductors and was secretary of the general board of adjustment for the Milwaukee system for ten yeaers. He is a charter member of the American Nobles of Perry. Politically he is a republican and was a member of the city council in Perry. Since coming to Beaver this town has been incoported and he has since served as councilman, giving the city the benefit of his business abiltiy besides supporting a number of measures which have been of great benefit to the community. He and his family are Methodist and devout in their religious professions. While he has attained success, he is a man who is considerate of the intersts of others and always ready to make sacrifices in order to promote the public welfare. He has proved himself a useful and valuable citizen and enjoys in full meaasure the respect, esteem and confidence of all who have come in contact with him.

1914 Boone County History Book