Bio of OVENSHIRE, Charles E. (b.1856), Hennepin Co., MN ========================================================================= USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, material may be freely used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material, AND permission is obtained from the contributor of the file. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for non-commercial purposes, MUST obtain the written consent of the contributor, OR the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. If you have found this file through a source other than the MNArchives Table Of Contents you can find other Minnesota related Archives at: http://www.usgwarchives.net/mn/mnfiles.htm Please note the county and type of file at the top of this page to find the submitter information or other files for this county. FileFormat by Terri--MNArchives Made available to The USGenWeb Archives by: Laura Pruden Submitted: June 2003 ========================================================================= Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm ======================================================== EXTRACTED FROM: History of Minneapolis, Gateway to the Northwest; Chicago-Minneapolis, The S J Clarke Publishing Co, 1923; Edited by: Rev. Marion Daniel Shutter, D.D., LL.D.; Volume I - Shutter (Historical); volume II - Biographical; volume III - Biographical ======================================================== Vol III, pg 179-180 CHARLES E. OVENSHIRE Few men are more prominent or more widely known in the enterprising city of Minneapolis than Charles E. Ovenshire, treasurer and general manager of the Minne­apolis Knitting Works. He was born in Athens, Bedford county, Pennsylvania, on the 25th of August, 1856, a son of Edward R. and Cynthia (Satterlee) Ovenshire, natives of Pennsylvania. For many years the father was engaged in contracting and building and he was prominently known in that connection. His demise occurred in 1860, and Mrs. Ovenshire died in 1887. To their union two boys and three girls were born, Charles E., whose name introduces this review, being the youngest member of the family and he is the only one living. In the acquirement of his early education Charles E. Ovenshire attended the public schools of Athens. When eighteen years of age he left the parental roof and went to Detroit, Michigan, where he took a commercial course, upon the completion of which he accepted a position as bookkeeper with Thorpe, Hawley & Company, manufacturers of confections, and was active in that connection six years. In 1881 he located in St. Paul and with his brother-in-law, Perry Starkweather, organized the St. Paul Knitting Works, which in December, 1891, was moved to Minneapolis and the name was changed to the Minneapolis Knitting Works, of which he is treasurer and general manager. Mr. Ovenshire has always possessed untiring energy, is quick of perception, forms his plans readily and is determined in their execution. These qualities, together with his close application to business and his excellent management, have brought to him the high degree of prosperity which is today his. In Detroit, Michigan, on the 29th of January, 1879, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Ovenshire and Miss Hattie R. Willmarth, a daughter of Hiram D. Willmarth. The Willmarths are one of the oldest and most honored families of Detroit. To the union of Mr. and Mrs. Ovenshire two children have been born: Clarence, who died at the age of three and one-half years; and Clara Louise, who is the wife of George F. Dickson, associated with Mr. Ovenshire in the knitting works. In his political views Mr. Ovenshire is a republican and he maintains an active interest in party affairs, although he has never sought nor desired political preferment. Fraternally he is identified with the Masons and he is one of the most exemplary members of the craft in the state. He became a Master Mason in Newport, Minnesota, on the 7th of December, 1891, from which he demitted and joined Minneapolis Lodge, No. 19, July 6, 1892; he became a member of Zion Commandery, Knights Templar, on the 28th of December, 1892; has taken the Scottish Rite degrees; was for four years Master of Ceremonies in the Lodge of Perfection; was Chancellor in the Consistory four years; served one year as preceptor, two years as Prior and one year as Master of Kadoh; he was elected Grand Junior Warden in the Grand Commandery, Knights Templar, in 1903, and also held all intervening offices. In 1908 he was elected Grand Commander, and in 1910 he was elected Grand Treasurer, which office he now holds In March, 1893, he was created a Noble in the Zuhrah Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S., and he has filled the various offices along the line, serving as Potentate in 1907. In 1908 he was elected Imperial Outer Guard of the Imperial Council and filled all the intervening offices until in 1917 he was elected Imperial Potentate of the A. A. 0. N. M. S., at the Imperial Council session held at Minneapolis. He is now serving his eighteenth year as a director of the Masonic Temple Association. He is in the Royal Arcanum and a Past Regent as well as life, member of the Grand Council. He was chairman of the building committee which has charge of the new building of the Shrine Hospital for Crippled Children, which has recently been completed, and is president of the board of governors of this hospital. He is also affiliated with the Ancient Order of United Workmen. Along the lines of his business Mr. Ovenshire holds membership in the National Association of Manufacturers, the National Association of Hosiery & Underwear Manufacturers, and the National Association of Knit Goods Manufacturers. Socially he is identified with the Minneapolis Athletic Club, Minneapolis Auto Club, Minne­apolis Golf Club and the Old Colony Club. He is essentially public-spirited and is a member of the Minneapolis Civic & Commerce Association. Mr. Ovenshire's hobby is his family and friends. He is a man of genial and pleasing personality and has the confidence and esteem of all who know him.