Howard-Grant County IN Archives Biographies.....Neary, John 1865 - 
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Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com April 5, 2006, 11:24 pm

Author: Jackson Morrow

JOHN NEARY.

   Among the progressive men of Kokomo identified with important industrial
enterprises whose technical training and executive ability have enabled them to
achieve noteworthy success as the practical head of one of the city's largest
manufacturing establishments is John Neary, the efficient superintendent of the
Kokomo Rubber Works. A man of intelligent ideas and wide experience, his
interests have become so interwoven with the plant with which he is identified
as to make the history of one practically the history of both. The development
of the rubber industry in the West is the result of many years of study and
scientific research, and so different from all other lines of enterprise as to
require the clear brain and sound judgment, technical skill and practical
experience of the trained specialist. That Mr. Neary stands at the head of this
important branch of manufacture in the city of Kokomo is without question, and
as an expert in the line of endeavor to which his energies and talents have been
devoted he has an honorable and much more than local reputation.

   Mr. Neary is a native of New York City, New York, where his birth occurred on
the 27th day of May, 1865. When a mere lad he became interested in the rubber
industry, and as soon as old enough entered an establishment where it was
manufactured and in due time acquired a practical knowledge of the business in
its every detail. To become an expert he devoted ten consecutive years to close
and painstaking scientific study and at the expiration of that time became
foreman of one of the departments of the establishment. Later he served in the
same capacity with different firms in various cities and then came to Indiana to
take charge of the plant at Jonesboro in which D. C. Spraker was a stockholder,
remaining at this place until the business was established in Kokomo a few years
later.

   The industry in the latter city grew up and developed under the direct
management of Mr. Neary, whose wide knowledge and technical skill made the
enterprise a pronounced success from the beginning. As superintendent he has
devoted his energies untiringly to the building up of a large and profitable
business, gradually enlarging the capacity of the plant and adding to the lines
of manufacture until now nearly every article and device made of rubber is
included among the output of the plant, the goods bearing the firm's trademark
being noted for their excellence and commanding the highest prices in markets of
United States and Canada, to say nothing of frequent shipments to other
countries. The demand for these goods has been so great and insistent as to
render imperative additional enlargements of the plant from time to time, with a
corresponding increase in the working force, the number of men employed
averaging* one hundred and seventy-five, all under the immediate management and
direction of the efficient superintendent and relying upon him for any necessary
instruction in their various departments of labor.

   At the beginning of his career Mr. Neary determined to so master his trade as
to make his services of value, and that he has succeeded in this laudable
ambition is abundantly indicated by his wide reputation as a skilled specialist
and the large and important enterprise in Kokomo which stands an enduring
monument to his wisely directed energy and ability.

   In addition to his official connection with the company he owns a large share
of stock in the enterprise, the advance in which within the last few years
making him and others equally interested comparatively wealthy men, there being
but few industries that pay such liberal dividends as that of the manufacture of
rubber.

   Since becoming a resident of Kokomo Mr. Neary has manifested an abiding
interest in the city's welfare and as a public-spirited citizens co-operates
with others in carrying forward enterprises for the advancement of the community
along all laudable lines. A Democrat in politics, well informed on the questions
of the day and deeply interested in the success of his party, he is by no means
a partisan; neither has he ever aspired to leadership nor sought public office
at the hands of his fellow citizens. Personally he has always been popular,
especially with his workmen, between whom and himself feelings of mutual respect
and trust have ever obtained. Such is the hold he has on their esteem and regard
that but few have given up their positions to find employment elsewhere, a
number having been identified with the plant in Kokomo ever since the business
was inaugurated.

   Mr. Neary is a married man and the father of an interesting family of five
children, whose names are as follows: William, John, Kate, Ed and Ralph. The
maiden name of Mrs. Neary was Kate McDonald, and the ceremony by which it was
changed to the one she now so worthily bears occurred in the city of Chicago,
where she formerly resided. Our subject and wife were reared in the Catholic
faith and have always remained loyal to the Holy Mother church, belonging at
this time to the congregation worshiping in Kokomo.


Additional Comments:
From:

HISTORY OF HOWARD COUNTY INDIANA
BY
JACKSON MORROW, B. A.
ILLUSTRATED
VOL. II
B. F. BOWEN & COMPANY
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA

(circa 1909)


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