Crape, on the office door of the Eureka Insurance Company on Third Street, announced the death of one of the best-known men on the street, Captain John Kyle.
He was known on the river from Pittsburgh to the Crescent City, and wherever his reputation extended, all men envied it.
Cincinnati Enquirer 21 Mar 1889 page 4
For some weeks, he had been ill at his home, at Gilbert Avenue and Locust streets, first of a stomach disorder, and following that, a complication of stomach, liver, and heart diseases, which ended yesterday at twenty minutes to twelve o’clock in his death. It was not unexpected to those who knew his condition, and while the realization of their fears was not a shock, its bitterness had grown in severity.
Seventy-five well-spent years would have been the measure of life allotted to Captain Kyle had he lived until the 14th of April. He was a native of Ireland, from whence he came to this country in early life. Reaching an age of usefulness, he was apprenticed to a tin and coppersmith – old Billy Stevenson of Cincinnati. At that time, coppersmithing was the best business in town. Not satisfied, he ran away from his apprenticeship and went to New Orleans, where he worked at his trade until he was stricken with yellow fever.
He recovered and came back North to Hanging Rock, Lawrence County, Ohio. At one time, he was a resident of Burlington, also in Lawrence County, and was elected Treasurer of the county while yet a young man. He was engaged in a successful merchandising business during his residence in Hanging Rock. His health became poor. He concluded to try steamboating and
TOOK CHARGE OF A LITTLE STEAMBOAT
From that time until he left the river to accept the Presidency of the Eureka Insurance Company eighteen years ago, he was always interested in river matters. He was a stockholder in many of the larger boats at the time of his death which landed at this point. The large iron firm of Sinton, Means & Co., which afterward became Means, Kyle & Co., has been represented by Captain Kyle, a partner in the business for twenty-five years, and the captain’s largest financial interests have been with this house.
SINCE HE LEFT THE RIVER
He has been identified with many of the greatest enterprises of Cincinnati, and not a few of them owe their success to him. Since 1870 he has been the President of the Eureka Marine and Fire Insurance and Security Companies, both of which he has built upon a solid foundation until their stock is of the highest price on the market.
He was also President of the Brush Electric Light Company and of the Walnut Hills Railway Company. At the time of his death, he was President of the Big Sandy Packet Company and the United States Mail Line Company. He was also a director of the Commercial and Enterprise Insurance Companies and the German National Bank.
In her early years, the estimable lady who became Captain Kyle’s wife and now mourns his death was Miss Margaret Carson, who came from an old and highly respected Scotch-Irish family. No children have ever blessed their union. His younger brother and sister, William H. and Eliza, who were left in his care, had the full strength of his warm affection lavished upon them. William died several years ago.
YESTERDAY AT THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
A committee composed of C. M. Holloway, J. W. Hartwell, H. C. Urner, Matthew Ryan, J. Hauck, Matthew Hart, L. O. Maddux, and D. Sinton was appointed to draft appropriate resolutions respecting the death of a man whose activity and judgment was largely instrumental in the erection of the new Chamber.
President Morrison spoke feelingly of the great loss that the Chamber had sustained and of the high character of the life and works of Captain Kyle. At the time of his death, he served his second term as a member of the Board of Real Estate Managers of the Chamber of Commerce. The funeral will take place at one O’clock Saturday.
0 Comments