Biography - JAMES CHARLES CARLYLE
Ohio has sometimes been suspected of priding herself upon the production
of a particularly fine type of citizen and while it is not the province of
this article to prove the truth or falsity of the matter, nevertheless
Albion is in possession of a native son of the Buckeye state who has done
much to substantiate this good opinion in local circles, namely James
Charles Carlyle, superintendent of the Albion Vitrified Brick Company. Mr.
Carlyle has resided here since 1907 and no small part of the success and
progress of the concern with which he is identified is traceable to his
ability. As his name indicates, he is of Scotch origin, his father having
been born in the historic old city of Glasgow, Scotland, in 1818. Believing
that the newer land across the Atlantic presented greater opportunity for an
industrious young man, he severed the ties that bound him to the "land o'
cakes" and in 1841 came to these shores in quest of his share of
opportunity. He located in East Liverpool, Ohio, where he worked at the
potter's trade, becoming an expert clay worker. In 1847 he went to Toronto,
Ohio, and engaged in sewer pipe manufacturing, having the distinction of
making in the year mentioned the first sewer pipe ever manufactured in the
United States. He continued in this line of endeavor for an extended period
and built up a large plant in his forty years activity in this line. He saw
it grow from small beginning to an immense concern which sold for nearly
$300,000. After retiring from business the elder gentleman removed to
Winchester, Kentucky, where he passed the declining years of life and passed
to the Great Beyond. He married Anna Hamilton, of Knoxville, Jefferson
county, Ohio, who survives him, this venerable lady residing at the present
time in Winchester, Kentucky, her years numbering eighty-two. The subject is
one of a family of three children. Anna is the wife of Dr. J. W. Cochran, of
Erie, Pennsylvania, and George Edward is in Portsmouth, Ohio, where he is
president of the Carlyle Paving Brick Company, one of the large and
important Ohio river industries.
James Charles Carlyle received his education in the public schools of
Steubenville, Ohio, and graduated from the high school at the age of
eighteen years. Shortly thereafter he went to Cleveland, Tennessee, and
engaged in fire brick manufacturing, at that early age acting in the
capacity of superintendent of a factory. He remained in the south until 1891
and then went to Cincinnati, where for a year and a half he was commissary
agent for the Pullman Car Company of the Queen City. In 1892 he went to
Winchester, Kentucky, where he accepted a position as president of a brick
manufacturing plant and remained there until 1897, in which year he located
in Brazil, Indiana. His residence at that point in the Hoosier state was of
nine years' duration, or until 1906, when he located at Brooklyn, Indiana,
where he became superintendent of the Indiana Drain Tile Company, a position
he held for one year. In 1907 he located in Portsmouth, where he was in
business with the Carlyle Paving Brick Company for one year. In August,
1908, he came to Albion, where he accepted his present position and in the
fortunes of the enterprise which is justly valued by Albion as a potent
factor in its advancement he has played an important role. Fraternally this
gentleman is identified with the Modern Woodmen and his faith is that of the
Methodist Episcopal church.
In October, 1896, Mr. Carlyle laid the foundation of a happy household and
congenial life companionship by his union with Ella Hall, daughter of James
E. and Ann Rebecca Hall, their marriage being celebrated at Winchester,
Kentucky, the home of Mrs. Carlyle. Both of her parents were natives of
Virginia and both are deceased, the father having passed away on July 4,
1902, and the mother on January 31, 1912. These worthy people were the
parents of seven children, the following six surviving: Luella (Hillis), of
Greencastle, Indiana; James Edwin, of Sheffield, Alabama; Anna, living in
Albion; Alice J. (Johnson) of Winchester, Kentucky; Nancy F. (Wilson) of
Columbia, Missouri; and Ella. The eldest daughter. Mary Elizabeth, is
deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Carlyle share their delightful home with two
children. Glenn Wilson and Edwin Paul. Mrs. Carlyle is very prominent in
church and Sunday school work, and both are popular members of society and
aligned with the best interests of the community.
Extracted 11 Nov 2018 by Norma Hass from 1912 History of Southern Illinois, by George W. Smith, volume 3, pages 1662-1663.
