J. W. Rowlands
J. W. Rowlands, one of Lima's leading citizens, a prominent merchant and vice-president of the Lima Driving Park Association, was born in this city in 1861, and is a son of Daniel Rowlands, one of its honored retired citizens, who was formerly largely interested in real estate. Daniel Rowlands built the paper mills at Piqua and Upper Sandusky, Ohio, and for a number of years was manager of the Lima Paper Mills. He also served on the Water Works Board at Lima.
J. W. Rowlands was educated in the public schools of Lima and the Ohio Normal University at Ada, Ohio. With the exception of a period of eight years, during which he traveled in Indiana, Dakota and the West, he has lived continuously at Lima, where his business and social interests are centered. In 1886 Mr. Rowlands became associated in the furniture house of C. Betzer & Company, but in 1893 embarked in the same line of business for himself and, through enterprise and ability, has established the largest trade in the city. Mr. Rowlands has a fine location at No. 204 North Main street, where he utilizes 560 feet of floor space in displaying his goods, while his warehouse gives him 300 more feet. His stock is up-to-date in every particular, and, in addition to all the new conceits of fashion, includes all the old standard good, with prices to suit the workingman and millionaire alike. In addition to his large business in this line, he is financially interested in a number of other successful enterprises. He is a large operator in Lima real estate, is one of the original stockholders in the Lima Trust Company, a stockholder in the Lima Telephone & Telegraph Company, and a director and vice-president of the Lima Driving Park Association, giving his personal attention to these various interests and being naturally, one of the busiest men of the city.
In 1883 Mr. Rowlands was married to Lizzie M. Koller, of Tiffin, Ohio, who is a daughter of Henry O. Koller. They have two sons Carl K. and Walter D.
Mr. Rowlands has served on the City Council and has been president of that body. Fraternally he is a Mason and an Elk.