Harry Wileman
Harry Wileman, senior member of the brick manufacturing and general contracting firm of Wileman & Helbling, has for many years been prominently identified with the building interests of Ironton, and has been the architect of his own fortune as well. The struggle to rise from modest circumstances to affluence has been his, and his career has been characterized by unfaltering perseverance, strong determination and great energy. Mr. Wileman was born at Chelsworth, England, September 20, 1861, and is a son of James and Mary Ann (Wyard) Wileman.
James Wileman was born in England in 1842, and on emigrating to the United States with his family settled first at Newport, Kentucky, from whence, in 1871, he removed to Cincinnati, Ohio. In 1873 he came to Ironton, where he followed the trade of brick mason for a number of years, and at this time is living a retired life. He has taken an interest in civic affairs and has served as alderman of the city for one term. Mrs. Wileman was born in England in 1840 and has been the mother of four children: Harry, Lucy, Ellen and Charles. Harry Wileman was educated in the public schools of Cincinnati, Newport and Ironton, and at the age of sixteen years began to learn the trade of brick mason under his father. He worked at his trade from 1877 until 1892, and during this time rose to a foremanship in the employ of Witherow & Gordon, blast furnace contractors of country-wide reputation, and was in the Birmingham, Alabama, district for three years and in Chicago for eight months. In 1892, in partnership with John D. Helbling, he founded the brick manufacturing and general contracting firm of Wileman & Helbling, and this has since grown to large proportions, now owning a $7,000 plant and controlling a large and representative business. Among the structures erected by this firm may be named the following: the Ketter Block, McMahon livery barn, Furlong Building, Eberts brewery, Foster stove works, Central school building, and the Methodist Church edifices at Hanging Rock, Sedgwick and Ironton. Mr. Wileman is a thorough master of every detail of his business, and bears a high reputation in commercial circles. He is a stockholder in the Ironton Athletic and Amusement Company, a director of the Home Building and Loan Company of Ironton and a member of the Chamber of Commerce, and in addition to his own residence, at No. 655 South Sixth Street, owns about fifteen vacant lots in Ironton. A republican in his political views, he has taken only a good citizen's interest in political matters. His fraternal connection is with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and his religious faith that of the Episcopal Church. In all respects he is a stirring, progressive man of his community, at all times ready to lend his co-operation to beneficial movements.
Mr. Wileman was married November 15, 1883, at Wellston, Jackson County, Ohio, to Miss Ellen Cheuveront, daughter of T. M. Cheuveront and five children have been born to this union, namely: Frank, who is a brick mason, married Nellie Henry, daughter of I. N. Henry, of Ironton, and has four children, Garland, Nellie L., Genevieve C. and Harry N.; Clifford, who is deceased; James M., a brick mason of Ironton, who married Eva Taylor and has one child, Iantha ; Charles, who is deceased; and Kathryn, who married Arthur Bester, a brick mason, and lives at Ironton.
From "A Standing History of the Hanging Rock Iron Region of Ohio" by Eugene B. Willard, Daniel W. Williams, George O. Newman and Charles B. Taylor. Published by Lewis Publishing Company, 1916