Henry Held

    Henry Held, harness manufacturer, is a native of Germany, born October 15, 1832, and is one of a large family of children born to Jacob and Elizabeth (Bowman) Held, both of whom died in Massillon, Ohio. They emigrated from Germany in 1833, and the same year settled in Stark County, Ohio.

    Henry Held was reared to manhood in Ohio; received a fair common school education, and at the age of fourteen began learning the harness maker's trade and doing for himself in Canton, Ohio. After serving four years as an apprentice, he began work as a journeyman, and in 1851 came to Williamsport; worked at his trade with his brother Jacob, who had preceded him to Warren County two years, and who had a shop at this place.

    For two years our subject worked for his brother, then became a partner, and in 1873, purchasing his brother's interest became proprietor. He has since continued as such alone, does a good business, and besides owning good town property, has an interest in a  farm of one hundred acres in Washington Township. Mr. Held has acquired his present property entirely by hard work and industry. For thirty-two years he has been a resident of Williamsport; he is a Democrat in politics, a member of both A. F. & A.  M. and I. O. O. F., and has been twice married. His first wife, Nancy Niroth, died in 1868, leaving him three daughters -Ella, Kate and Nellie. His present wife, Helen Koehler, has borne him five children, -Fred, Lucy, John, Edward and Flora. Mr. and Mrs. Held are members of the Presbyterian Church, and esteemed citizens of Williamsport.

Source: Counties of Warren, Benton, Jasper and Newton, Indiana. Historical and Biographical. F.A. Battey & Co., 1883.