John B. Niman
Sunday is the birthday anniversary of John B. Niman, of 245 West Fourth street, who was born in this county, only about 2½ miles north of Mansfield, Sept. 25, 1838. Mr. Niman spent his early boyhood on the farm, but at the age of twelve years came to Mansfield and entered school. During the civil war he served first in the Fifteenth Ohio and later re-enlisted as a sergeant in the One Hundred and Sixty-third O. V. I. In 1872 he, with others, started the Union Foundry and Machine works, of which for the past six years he has been the sole proprietor. Mr. Niman is a member of McLaughlin Post No. 131, G. A. R., the National Union, a fraternal organization, and the First Congregational church.
From The Mansfield News: Saturday, September 24, 1910, p. 7
The parents of the Niman family of Mansfield were John and Margaret, who came from Pennsylvania and located about two and one-half miles from Mansfield on the Olivesburg road in early days. Here were born Elizabeth, who married a gentleman named Baggs, and who lives with her aged mother in this city, James A., Wm. B., John B., and Jeremiah, the latter a citizen of Bucyrus. All of these five children are living and have made more or less of a mark in the world. John B. Niman was 52 years old Thursday, and that evening many more friends than he was aged in years dropped into his happy home on West Fourth street. The family was prepared for the guests, as they always are, as a sumptuous dinner testified. The head of the house was not. In short, he was surprised. However, he took in the situation, and speedily made all feel at home. The house was crowded with friends when Mr. Niman returned from work. After he was at ease Dr. Hubbell arose and said: Mr. Niman: We heard a few days ago that you had been born. This was not so much a surprise to us as that you were born so long ago. We heard that you were to be, tonight promptly at 6:00, not 52 years old, but 52 years young, as Oliver Wendell Holmes would say. So a few of your neighbors and friends thought we would come around and see if it was really so. We find a good deal of a child, so much so that we think a pitcher will be more suitable and serviceable than a bottle. Although a bottle for some grown up babies seems still to come handy. But we are glad to believe that you have no farther use for the bottle, if indeed you ever had. For you do not look as though you were brought up in that way. Your stalwart figure provokes rather the question: "Upon what meat hath this our Cæsar fed, that he hath grown so great?" Your friends were afraid that you would forget that you ever were born, (it was so long ago) that they thought they would come around and remind you of it and sort of surprise you with your own advent. And for fear that you should ever again forget it they have brought you this choice souvenir, and they have bidden me to present it to you, accompanying it with the hope that it may be ever bright and beautiful with birthday memories. They beg you to receive it as an expression of their esteem and good wishes for you and yours, "as long as grass grows and water runs." By some strange alchemy of friendship and good cheer which go with this pitcher, may you drink from it the very elixir of life which shall give you health and youth, and (shall I say it?) beauty also. So that as the years come and go, and you score one more every time, you shall find that it is really one less, and that you are all the while growing young again; so that if you live long enough you may get to be quite a boy yet. Yes, my friends, let us all be boys together tonight, full of frolic and fun. Why not? The good book speaks of immortal youth. Let us begin it in this world and keep on forever. Bailey in his Festus tells us we should "Live in deeds, not years; in thoughts, not breaths; in feelings, not in figures on a deal. We should count time by heart throbs. He most lives who thinks most, feels the noblest, acts the best." Accept then, my friend, the gift and greetings that go with it. We are glad that you were born, and your wife too, and as a consequence your children also. May the girls in the next generation all be boys, and the name of Niman go down the generations forever. May you live yourself a hundred years and may your shadow never grow less. The presents were fine and consisted of two handsome easy parlor upholstered chairs, a china pitcher, a china cup and saucer, a gold pen and holder, a large leather pocketbook, a fine pair of spectacles, a book rest, etc. The spread was one of the finest ever set in this city, and the entire affair was one long to be remembered.
From The Mansfield News, October 2, 1890, Vol. 40, No. 46