HENRY FLESH, who has attained prominence as a merchant and financier, has been a resident of Piqua, Ohio, for more than half a century, during which time he has identified himself with the development of the city and its resources in a patriotic and public-spirited manner. He was born in Bavaria, Germany, in 1837, in which province his father was a prosperous country merchant.

Mr. Flesh received a common school and commercial education in his native land, and was fifteen years of age when he emigrated to America in 1852. Soon after his arrival in the United States, he located at Dayton, Ohio, and for a period of five years clerked in a clothing establishment in that city. He was then for a short time employed in a similar establishment at Troy, Ohio, after which he moved to Piqua in 1858. He accepted the position of bookkeeper and salesman in the clothing house of A. Friedlich, one of the best known merchants of the city at that time, and continued in that capacity until the latter part of the year 1860, when he embarked in business for himself. He began a merchant tailoring business, but as his means were very limited, it was some time before he had a store of any great pretensions. He had the ability and the energy necessary to make a success of the venture and the personality to retain the friendships he had formed. As his trade increased his stock was enlarged, and he continued the business without change until 1878. He then disposed of the merchant tailoring branch of the business and confined himself exclusively to ready-made clothing and gentlemen's furnishing goods. "Quality" has ever been his watchword and his establishment, which is now probably the largest in Miami County, receives its patronage from the leading class of people in the community.

Mr. Flesh's success in this enterprise attracted attention to his ability and in January, 1878, he was elected cashier of the Citizens' National Bank, which position he still retains. He is also president of the Border City Building and Loan Association of Piqua, one of the safest and most prosperous institutions of the kind in this part of the state, and president of the Cron-Kills Company, manufacturers of furniture at Piqua. He served for some time as president of the Board of Trade at Piqua, during which time that body was kept at its highest state of efficiency and accomplished much that has been of lasting benefit to the city. With a view to giving Piqua an honest business administration it has been the policy of the ward in which he lives to have as its representative in the city council a man of proven, worth and ability. Mr. Flesh has been honored with that office many years a part of the time as president of the council an at a personal sacrifice has given his time and energy to the faithful discharge of his duties.

In 1862 Henry Flesh was united in marriage with the eldest daughter of Moses Friedlich, a representative citizen and business man of Piqua at an early day. Fraternally Mr. Flesh has been very active in the Masonic Lodge, of which he is past master.