PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM
page 197, 198
JOHN AMBLER SHIPMAN is the worthy
descendant of a noble pioneer ancestry, and it gives us pleasure to insert in
this volume an outline of his life. He
is one of Springfield’s favorite and favored sons, who “native and to the
manner born,” has been untiring in his efforts to aid this city of his birth
in the front ranks with its sister municipalities of this Commonwealth, as
regards its commerce, its varied industries, its government, its public
improvements, and in all else that go to the making of a progressive,
enterprising and thriving city. While
he has thus labored he has advanced his own interests and has acquired a
handsome competency, which he enjoys in the beautiful home that he has
established on Yellow Springs Street, where he lives in retirement, free from
all business cares, excepting the management of his property and investments.
The subject of this biographical review was
born in this city August 11, 1829, his father, Clark SHIPMAN, having been an
early pioneer of the place, coming here from his native Kentucky when this city
was but an insignificant hamlet. In
the forest wilds of this region and on the uncultivated prairies, deer, and
other wild game were plentiful, and he being a fine marksman, was a successful
hunter and kept the family larder well supplied with tempting game. He was an intelligent, wide-awake man, and held the rank of
Brigadier-General in the State Militia, and his death in 1830, while yet in the
prime of life, was a blow to the interests of the little community of pioneers
who had settled in wilderness. His
wife survived him for more than fifty years, her death finally occurring in this
city in the home of our subject in 1884, at the venerable age of eighty four
years. By her husband’s death she
was left a young widow with the care of three children, but nobly did she take
up the task that thus devolved upon her and trained them carefully to good and
useful lives, so that they might be worthy members of any community wheresoever
their lots might be cast. Our
subject is now the sole survivor of the family, his brother Warren and sister
Annie having both departed this life. His
mother, whose maiden name was Ruth AMBLER, was the daughter of one of the most
noted and active of the early pioneers of Springfield and of Clark County.
John AMBLER was one of the earliest
settlers of this city, coming here from New Jersey in 1808, and ever after that
he was a prominent figure in the annals of city and county until death rounded
out a life that was an honor to himself, his family and the entire community.
Soon after coming here he bought a farm in Mad River Township, but
agriculture was not to his taste, and he soon sold out and settled in
Springfield, buying a large tract of land here, which is now included within the
corporate limits of the city. He engaged in the mercantile business and also kept a hotel,
beside taking a part in the management of public affairs.
His bold enterprise and large public spirit were moving powers in many a
scheme for the advancement of the city and county, and he was always ready with
hand and purse to do whatsoever he could for the infant colony.
He donated the land for the Presbyterian Church, and contributed largely
towards the erection of a house of worship.
When the county seat was removed to Springfield he was elected County
Treasurer, and his office in his kitchen, and as a valuable memento to those
early days in the pioneer history of Clark County, our subject has the bookcase
in his possession in which he kept the books and moneys collected for public
use.
John Ambler SHIPMAN, of this sketch was but
one year old when his father died. He
remained with his mother and attended school as opportunity offered until he was
fifteen years old, when he was apprenticed to learn the trade of a
cabinet-maker. He subsequently
established himself as a furniture dealer on Main Street, and one year later
bought a building on the corner of that and Center Street.
A year later after that his business had so increased that he was
justified in building for himself, so as to obtain more commodious quarters, and
buying a lot on Market Street, between Main and High Streets, he erected a
substantial, conveniently arranged roomy building, in which he carried on a
large and steadily increasing trade, carrying a fine lot of furniture of all
kinds to meet the demands of all purses and tastes.
In January 29, 1877, he was appointed Postmaster by Gen. GRANT, having
secured the recommendations of Senator SHERMAN and Gen. KEIFER.
He was reappointed by President Hayes, and continued in office until
1885, giving entire satisfaction to all concerned, showing his eminent fitness
for the position by his business-like and methodical management of the affairs
of the office, by his close application to his duties in that connection, and by
his invariably courteous treatment of those under him and of all with whom he
came in contact. Since leaving the
office he has lived retired, attending only to his private affairs.
Among other desirable property he owns the fine brick residence in which
he lives on Yellow Spring Street. He
is, as we have noted, liberal and public-spirited, and is generous with the
wealth he has acquired, spending money freely in any cause that appeals to his
warm heart. He has grown up with
the city, and has a large circle of friends, and is of high social standing in
this community where he is so well-known and esteemed.
He is prominently identified with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows,
as a member of Springfield Lodge, No. 33, and belongs to Lagonda Lodge, No. 61,
Improved Order of Red Men.
This sketch of our subject would be incomplete without reference to his devoted wife, the true home-maker, who has shared the joys and sorrows of life with him for thirty years. In 1859 he was united in marriage with Miss Fanny GRANT, who is like himself a native of Springfield, and a daughter of pioneer parents, William and Nancy (MCCORMICK) GRANT, of whom see sketch on another page of this volume. The felicities of their wedded life have been enhanced by the birth of three children—Warren, Annie and Earl.