William Henlan

biography

WILLIAM HENLAN, proprietor of meat market, was born in Meadville, Penn., November 8, 1829, and is a son of John and Mary A. (Williams) Henlan. His father was a native of Newfoundland, of Irish ancestry, and came to Meadville in early manhood, where he married Mary A. Williams, who was born in that city in 1813. Her parents, Isaac and Margaret Williams, removed from Carlisle, Penn., to Meadville, Penn., late in the last or early in the present century. Isaac Williams was a shoemaker, and both he and wife died in Meadville. John and Mary Henlan reared two sons and four daughters, all of whom are living. The father was a tailor by trade, and served in the War of 1812. He died ten years ago, and his widow is still a resident of Meadville. Our subject left Meadville at the age of sixteen, and going to Warren, Ohio, served an apprenticeship of three years to the tin and coppersmith trade. In April, 1849, he came to Sharon, and for the next twelve years worked in the tin-shop of E. A. Wheeler, in the meantime engaging in business in Sharon on his own account for about three years. After leaving the employ of Mr. Wheeler he began working for C. G Carver, Esq. with whom he remained nearly eighteen years, in December, 1878, he bought an interest in his brother John's meat market, some four years afterward purchased his brother's remaining interest, and has since continued the business alone. Mr. Henlan was married in 1851 to Miss Mary J., daughter of William and Julia A. (Reno) Trotter. The latter was born in Sharon, and is living with Mr. Henlan at the ripe old age of nearly eighty-four years. Five children have been born of this marriage, three of whom survive: Julia E., wife of William Dickson, of Sharon; Conrad C. and Gaylord L. Mr. Henlan is a Democrat in politics, and a leading gospel temperance worker. He has been burgess of Sharon two terms, served in the council several years, and has also been a director on the public school board. He was once the Democratic candidate for the Legislature, and cut down the Republican majority from 1,200 to sixty-eight votes. The family belong to the Methodist Episcopal Church, and Mr. Henlan is a member of the Masonic order, A. 0. U. W. and the E. A. U., and is one of the oldest and most respected citizens of Sharon.

History of Mercer County, 1888, page 730