JOHN H. BURKHOLDER.
The rapid development of photography during recent years has brought into the profession and business—for in a broad sense photography is both—many men of enterprise and ability for affairs such as would scarcely have connected themselves with it in the earlier years of its history, One of the prominent representatives of this art in Ohio is John H. Burkholder, of Mansfield, who is a popular and influential citizen of Richland county.
Mr, Burkholder was born in Holmes county, Ohio, July 17, 1863, a son of John and Christina (Burky) Burkholder. His father had tanneries at Dundee and Shanesville, Tuscarawas county, Ohio, and is now living retired at the last named place. He was at one time the postmaster at Walnut Creek, Holmes county, Ohio. Mr. Burkholder, who is of Swiss extraction in both direct family lines, was educated in the common schools at Dundee and Shanesville and entered upon his career as a photographer at Shanesville, whence he removed to Navarre, Stark county, Ohio. From Navarre he removed to Bellville, Richland county, this state, where he remained five years. After that he was for seven years at Mount Vernon, Ohio, where he had the leading business of the kind in the town. He came to Mansfield in 1885 and opened a gallery on Main street, and has prospered even beyond his expectations. He does general photography of all kinds, giving special attention to portrait and commercial work. A feature of his business is portraits in all finishes, such as crayon, india ink, water color and pastel portraits, and for this work he has been awarded a number of first-prize medals at photographers’ conventions. In connection with his artistic work he carries a complete line of photographic supplies, in which he has a large trade throughout the territory tributary to Mansfield. one of his specialties being Burkholder’s extra rapid symmetrical lens for high-grade photography. His business, which now occupies a floor space of more than four thousand square feet, is increasing rapidly, as his goods and straight-forward business methods become known to the trade.
Mr. Burkholder married, at Bellville, Richland county, Ohio, Miss Josephine Crumrine, of Nevada, Ohio. He is a Knight of Pythias, a Modern Woodman of America and a member of the Junior Order of American Mechanics. His brother, George W. Burkholder, has been associated with him in his business for several years as a general assistant.
