- - - BIOGRAPHIES - - -
Henry Wentz
 
 
Back on the Boulevard, “We laid it out as the Boulevard Addition to Shelby with the idea of building one of the best residential districts in Shelby and I believe we have succeeded, at least I’m not ashamed of our adventure, but feel proud of it.” Henry said, “A few citizens rather made fun of the name Boulevard Addition. We have lived to vindicate the name. A great number of our best citizens and residences are now on the Boulevard.”
These photos show the rapid development of the Shelby Boulevard.

 
Henry joined an extensive list of lodges and had many military affiliations and events throughout his life. He lists them in his book: “ Was charter member of Harker Post # 146 G.A.R organized Sept 28th, 1881 and its Post Commander for about 12 years at different times, and also acted as adjunct for many years. Was delegate to state encampments and delegate to the National Encampment at Indianapolis, Indiana in 1894 and at Boston, Massachusetts in 1917. Always took a prominent part in it’s affairs and always remained in good standing. Was a charter member in the K. of P. Subordinate Lodge # 392 and passed through all the chairs of this lodge. Was also a charter member of Damon Company, Uniform Rank # 104. Was 1st Lieutenant for several years and Captain Major, Lieutenant Colonel of the 9th Regiment of the Uniform Rank, and afterwards by appointment of Brigadier General Kaughman commanding Ohio brigade, Commissary General of Substance , with rank of General on my staff.”
 
In the realm of Shelby politics, with his term ending as Shelby Councilman in 1908, Henry’s friends encouraged him to run for Mayor of Shelby. Henry recalls, “I did not want the office as it wasn’t to my liking. In this case, I was badly defeated, in fact, the whole Republican ticket went down to defeat. In one sense, I was glad that I did not get the office, but of course did not relish the idea of so many of my friends going back on me. Have, however, been told many times since that it was not me that the people were after, but a certain “gang” as they called it. Let that be as it may, I wish to say that there was no bunch of men who did as much for Shelby and its upbuilding as that same “gang” as they were called, and I have always felt proud of the fact that I was connected with them in nearly all their work. They were largely responsible for bringing the following manufacturing plants to Shelby: The Shelby Incandescent Lamp Company, The Shelby Printing Company, The Auto-Call Company and helped materially in the first Tube Company and I am free to say that if it had not been for them, the present Ohio Seamless Tube Company would not now be here. They also aided in every other enterprise that worked for the betterment of Shelby. The parties who criticized them and found fault cannot equal the work for Shelby they did.”
 
He continues, " I have been connected with nearly all the Shelby enterprises- in some I made money, in others I lost, but when I lost I took it as a matter of course and never worried about my bad luck. I have always tried to do my duty in any public enterprise. In just a few days over a month I will be eighty-three years old. I have never been out of employment long. When out, took the first thing that came along and was thankful for even that. I have much to be thankful for. "

In 1911, just as Henry began purchase of the Citizens Bank building at 20 West Main Street in Shelby, Mr. G. M. Skiles became a member of the board of directors of the Plate Glass Association and together, they proudly moved in, on the ground floor. This bank building was the third location for the insurance company.

In November, 1918, the Plate Glass Association was reorganized into a company named The Mutual Plate Glass Insurance Company of Shelby, Ohio.

In 1920, Henry, along with 7 employees, did business in Ohio, Pennsylvania, Maryland, and District of Columbia. He states their insurance premiums (income) for 1920 were $118,000 and insurance claims (losses) were $55,000 for the year. A nice net surplus!

At its annual meeting of policy holders on Jan. 17, 1922, the Daily Globe reported, “The yearly session was one of the best from every point of view ever held by the company. The annual reports by the officers were astonishing and hardly believable, as they showed that the volume of business had grown far beyond anything the organizers of the company had ever dreamed. The business has been honestly and efficiently conducted and for this reason the Shelby company was able to meet the competition of 32 other companies successfully.”

The report continues, “This certainly speaks well for the management of the Shelby company. Quite contrary to most business organizations, most of which are at the time standing still or going backward, the Shelby Mutual Plate Glass Company is forging ahead. One of the policy holders after the meeting remarked that someone was on the job.”

“The Alfred M. Bests insurance reports, which are considered the highest authority on insurance, say of the Shelby company. 'They make their own rates based on their many years of experience, and have never made an additional assessment.' The general public does not appreciate the above citation but the insurance world considers it the highest tribute it can get. The slogan over in Pennsylvania when speaking of plate glass insurance to a prospect, “The Shelby” is all that is necessary and many people in that state think Shelby is a whale of a city.”
 
"The company has grown from nothing to gigantic proportions. In 1914, it was the only plate glass insurance company in Ohio. It insures plate glass against breakage by accident, except by fire. It also protects its patrons against loss by flood. Policies last 10 years with privilege to cancel at any time by either party. For many years its growth was very slow but the increasing volume of business has been remarkable in the past few years." (The Daily Globe, Shelby)

In 1922, Henry was the company President, Treasurer, and Board Director. R. C. Skiles was Vice President, L. A. Dennis was Secretary and general agent, and J. J. Crum was Assistant Secretary and Assistant Treasurer. Later that year, the business had purchased property for a fourth new location at 23 West Main Street. The firm paid $5,100 for the site, and long range plans called for the completion of the new building by 1930 to coincide with the 50th anniversary of the company.

The Great Depression had little effect on the company as it celebrated its first 50 years of operation in 1930. By 1929, it was operating in 18 states with net premiums of $512,000. (The Daily Globe, Shelby)
 
 
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