J. A. Bendure
J. A. Bendure, manager of the Lima & Toledo Traction Company, at Lima, and one of the city's foremost citizens, was born in Illinois but was reared and educated in Kansas, to which State his parents removed in his childhood.
Ever since entering into business life, Mr. Bendure has been more or less connected with big enterprises. He was first associated in Ottawa, Kansas, with a large flouring mill business, and later at Kansas City; subsequently he became interested in the manufacture of corn starch and glucose. He operated the first factory at Ottawa, which manufactured sugar from sorghum, and glucose from the ordinary sorghum seed, using 500 bushels of seed per day. The company with which he was interested manufactured granulated sugar that took first premium at the New Orleans Exposition. This factory was operated by the Franklin Sugar Company and the majority of the stock was owned in New York City.
In 1881 Mr. Bendure removed from Ottawa to Topeka and became foreman and custodian of the second incandescent electric light plant ever erected west of the Mississippi River. This was followed by an appointment as superintendent of the construction of two electric light plants, one at Ottawa and the other at Cherryvale, Kansas. In addition to these important contracts, Mr. Bendure built and operated, in connection with a gas plant at Pittsburgh, Kansas, a third electric light plant and also an electric street railway system.
In 1892 he was called to Atchison, Kansas, where he transformed a horse-car line into an electric railway and built a large electric light plant which he operated as general manager for eight years, also contracting for and building water works and electric light plants at other points, his last work in this line in the West being in Paris, Missouri. Then, in 1902 he came to Lima where he accepted a position as general manager of The Lima Electric Railway & Light Company. He built an entire new system, power house, etc. Mr. Bendure is also a member of the executive committee of the National Roofing Tile Company. His location in this city, has resulted in much benefit to the city, as he is just the type of man needed where enterprise and energy are appreciated and are sought. He is the originator fo the Lima Progressive Association, is interested in numberless movements designed for the public welfare and he enjoys to the fullest extent the confidence and regard of the public. For years he has been a Mason.
On July 1, 1905, The Lima Electric Railway & Light Company was succeeded by the Lima & Toledo Traction Company, which has leased the property and has powers almost unlimited.
From History of Allen County, Ohio and Representative Citizens, Edited by Charles C. Miller. Richmond & Arnold, Publishers, Chicago, 1906