My Genealogy Hound

HOMER W. CALENDAR. Among the business establishments of Springfield, Clark County, the photograph gallery of the gentleman above named is not unworthy of notice, as the work turned out is most excellent and the patronage large. The reputation of Mr. Calendar as a fine artist has been spread broadcast by the photographs which have been sent to various parts of the country by citizens of Springfield and vicinity, whose friends are living in the four quarters of the world, and who are pleased to receive life-like semblances of those they love. Not only is Mr. Calendar known for his artistic ability, but he is held in good repute as a citizen whose reliability and upright manhood are highly valued.

The Calendar family is of New England stock, from that section of the United States one Samuel Calendar having come to Ohio in an early day. He located near Mechanicsburgh, Champaign County, improving a farm and residing thereon until his death. There his son Elisha Calendar was born, and left an orphan at an early age. He learned the trade of a cabinet maker, but ere long gave up work at the bench to engage in mercantile business at North Lewisburg, where he resided six years. He then, on account of the ill-health of his wife, went to Texas, starting with a team and driving to Cincinnati, where they embarked on a boat which carried them to New Orleans, thence they crossed the gulf to Port Lavacka, where they again had recourse to the team, driving to Helena, on the San Antonia River. At that time, 1859, Helena was a frontier settlement, with no railroad, all communication being by team to the seaboard, one hundred and twenty-five miles distant. Mr. Calendar shipped some horses from Ohio and also some carriages, which were then a new tiring in Helena. He did not engage in any permanent business, but in 1860 returned to his native State, and resumed his mercantile pursuit. This he continued until 1866, when he became a resident of Springfield, and engaged in the manufacture of chemical compounds, a line of business in which he continued four years, after which he retired to Lewisburg, where he is still living.

Elisha Calendar married Lydia Keyes, a native of Madison County, and a daughter of Loren and Lydia (Morse) Keyes, natives of Rhode Island and pioneers of the county in which their daughter was born. The family of Mr. and Mrs. Elisha Calendar comprised eight children, as follows: Homer, of whom we write; Fida, wife of Dr. Eli Sherrett, of Lewisburg; Cora, widow of C. H. Foster; Laura, wife of I. M. Sullivan; Horace; Minnie, wife of C. H. Haines; Celia, who married Prof. Warren Cushman, died at the age of forty years; Howard died when eight years old.

The subject of this sketch was born in Homer, Union County, July 23, 1847. He was twelve years old when he accompanied his parents to Texas, and well remembers the incidents of the journey and life in a frontier town in the far South. He attended the public schools in his youth, and advanced his education by attendance at the Iron City Commercial College in Pittsburg, from which he was graduated in 1868. He then traveled in his native State in the interest of the Chemical Company, during the latter part of the time having an interest in the business. After traveling two years, he sold out his interest and engaged in the photograph business in Lewisburg, where he remained about a year. He then operated in Plain City, Woodstock, Mechanicsburg and DeGraff, in 1878 returning to Springfield, where he has since remained.

In the year 1870, Mr. Calendar became the husband of Miss Jennie E. Baldwin, a native of Logan County, and a daughter of Butler and Matilda (Lane) Baldwin. The union has been blessed by the birth of four children, named respectively: Ono, Z. Evangeline, Howard and Rubie.

Mr. Calendar belongs to Anthony Lodge, No. 455, F. & A. M. Two of his daughters are members of the Second Presbyterian Church. His wife and family are well regarded by their acquaintances, and by him are valued more highly than any earthly possessions.