Ahnentafel......Site Info23. Henry[5] Gennett (Andrew, 43) (A24). Born, 13 Sep 1852, in Nashville, Davidson Co.,, TN[21]. Died, 3 Jun 1922, in Dayton, Montgomery, OH[22]. Extra 4: 1860, in Davidson Co., Co., TN. Census: 1900, in Richmond, Wayne Co., IN, 1920. Census: 1880, in Nashville, Davidson Co., Co., TN. Census: 1870, in Davidson Co., Co., TN. Occupation: Piano Manufacturer.

St Louis-------------------Richmond, April 1899------"Starr Piano Founder"

In the 1880 census, Henry lived at 497 S. College in Nashville, with Alice and their two sons Harry and Clarence. This was the same house that Alice's parents lived in. His occupation was "produce merchant." In the 1900 census, he was listed as a "manufacturer, and claimed his father had been born in France. With them lived Clarence, Frederick, and Rose, Sallie Brown, a black servant aged 27, born in Kentucky, and Ancie Roberts, a black servant aged 23 born in Indiana. In 1920, he was living at 1829 East Main and was described as "President, piano company." Living with him were Alice L., Rose G. Seager, married daughter, Lizetta Campbell, 4 10/12, "ward," and Dora Cox, a servant (nurse).

Nashville Directory: 1872: Gennett, Henry, (G & Co) Bds 267 S Cherry,1873: Gennett, Henry bkk 63 &65; S Market, 267 S Cherry 1874: ditto

"The Presto" (12 Nov 1912): "Their youngest son, now president of the Starr Piano Company, was but a few years old at the time of the elder Gennett's death....His schooling was abruptly terminated in 187 by the failure of a carpet-baggers' bank in which the school fund of the State [of Tennessee] had been deposited. "Young Gennett entered the old [grocer's] store, where over its door in 1836 his father's name was placed, where he remained until 1872 when business demanded that the old building be replaced by a five story structure with a frontage of eighty feet. "While eminently successful in the business world, Mr. Gennett did not neglect other things of a social and civic nature and in 1876 was married to Miss Alice Lumsden. By 1880 the business was operating with a surplus and in 1885 his first investment was made in the piano field."

Wooldridge, 1890, Nashville History: "A call was issued May 11, 1877, for a meeting to be held May 12, at five o'clock P.M. at the rooms of the Cotton Exchange, for the purpose of considering the propriety of organizing a produce exchange. The call was signed by...Gennett & Co." (Wooldridge, 1890)

The Palladium: "In 1893, the Starr Piano Company received national recognition at the Columbian exposition in Chicago. The same year, the company was incorporated anew with Benjamin Starr as President and Henry Gennett as the secretary-treasurer. The arrival of Gennett and his entrepreneurial skill gave the much needed spark to the company. By 1906, the Starr Piano Company had 600 employees. In 1916, a six-story building for the manufacture of phonographs and records was erected. Over the years, the Starr Piano, Phonograph and Gennett Records were joined by Starr refrigerators and freezers, synchronizer units designed for use with talking picture projection machines, wooden propellers and a valve for barrage balloons during World War I, wooden cabinets for radios, and even billy-clubs to quiet a local factory strike. No such labor disputes occurred at Starr, as most of the craftsmen considered themselves employed for life. By the 1920's Starr was a broadbased musical empire flourishing in the gorge on South 1st Street.

Left-Starr Store in Dayton, Ohio, "Music Trades" (1904)

Clarence Gennett, quoted in The Music Trades (11 Apr 1904): "Our booth at the big Fair [Worlds Fair]...was designed by Louis Levey, the designer of the Transportation Building. It is to be of the classic style of architecture, and will be finished in white and gold. The booth will be located in the Liberal Arts Building, in the space asjoining that alloted to Great Britain. One of the principal attractions in the booth will be an elegant Louis XVI concert grand, in white and gold. While no mention has been made of the design of the booth, or the character of the exhibit, the Starr Piano Co. have been complemented by the exposition officers upon both of the points mentioned. "The exhibit will be in charge of Eugene Francis, of the Starr Piano's Indianapolis store. The complete line to be exhibited will be displayed in the warerooms of the Jesse French Piano and Organ Co., at St, Louis, for a week prior to the opening of the Exposition."

Kennedy (1994): "A distinctive, tan-skinned Italian with a black moustache, Henry Gennett was colorful and dynamic. Though he wa short and slightly built, he more than compensated for his small physical stature with an outgoing, confident personality and a reputation among employees as a bold decision maker. Known for his impeccable attire, Henry would be seen walking through he Starr piano complex with a white Panama hat, white suit, and a fancy cane with a gold knob. In his later years, he was chauffeured around town in a black Packard; one relative laughingly said that Henry had to climb up in order to get into the back seat. "Henry was not a craftsman; he was a hard-driving, creative merchandiser. A typical example of his style was relayed to his son Richard Gennett by the family's long-time chauffeur, Howard Thomas. While driving Henry's twelve cylinder Packard down Main Street in Richmond one morning, Thomas was stuck behind a slow-moving wagon loaded with corn on its way to one of the Whitewater River grain mills. He charged into the store and ordered a Starr salesman to follow the corn wagon to the mill and sell the driver a Starr piano. Henry figured that the farmer delivering the corn would soon have cash in his pocket, making him ripe for a big purchase.

Obituary (Palladium-Item): "Henry Gennett, aged 63, president of the Starr Piano Company and the Gennett Corporation of Richmond, died at 8 o'clock last night at the Miami Valley Hospital in Dayton after a month's illness. Mrs. Gennett and a son, Harry Gennett, were with him when he died. The body was brought to this city last night. "Mr. Gennett returned to his home here in April from Los Angeles where he had been organizing a future extension of his business interests by forming the Gennett Realty Company of California. He expected to return to complete this work but was taken ill and was taken to the Dayton hospital where he died. "...Mr. Gennett was born in Nashville, Tenn., September 13, 1852. His parents were Andrew and Martha Estes Gennett, and he was the eighth child in a family of nine. He was graduated from the Nashville high school in 1868 and immediately entered active business life,, associating with his brothers in the firm of Gennett and Company, which had been established in 1833. On September 13, 1876, he was married to Alice Lumsden, daughter of John and Lucetta Christman Lumsden, also residents of Nashville. A few years later, he joined Mr. Lumsden in financing various music stores. In 1891, he severed business relations with Gennett and company of Nashville, and moved to St. Louis, Mo. "In 1893, the present Starr Piano Company was organized to manufacture supplies for the chain of music stores previously established. The following year, the Starr plant was almost destroyed by fire, and due to new plans for its rebuilding and expansion, Mr. Gennett relinquished his business interests in St. Louis and moved to Richmond in the spring of 1894, where he has since made his home.

The Richmond Item: He served as vice-president of the Starr company until the death of John Lumsden in 1898 when he succeeded him as president of the organization. He served in that position until his death. He gave personal supervision to the business education of his three sons, Harry Gennett entering the business in 1895, Clarence Gennett in 1896, and Fred Gennett in 1905...."

Paladim again???: "...In 1907 Mr. Gennett initiated a new and further venture in the music side of the organization in Los Angeles of the Starr Piano Company, Pacific Division, of California. Two Richmond citizens, Henry Nolder, formerly of Spring Grove but now of Los Angeles, and H. Shuman Jones, retired, of East Main Street, were his aides in this project. The direction of this work led him to be a frequent visitor in California. "During the early months of this year, Mr. Gennett was in California organizing the Gennett realty company which is now engaged in the construction of an eight story building to be occupied by the Starr Piano Company of California. His return to Richmond late in April was not due to the contemplation of serious illness, although he was not feeling as well as usual. He had planned to return to the west to complete his plans there. "His business interests were varied, although the work in the Starr and Gennett Companies occupied the majority of his time. He was president of both the Starr Piano Company of Richmond and the Gennett corporation of Richmond as well as the Starr Piano Company of California. He was a director of the Second National Bank and the Dickinson Trust Company. "Mr. Gennett was a member of the local lodge of Elks and of the T.P...." "Gennett's initial venture into business was made in 1868 when he associated with his brothers in the firm of Gennett and Company in Nashville. The firm was originally established by Gennett's father in 1833...Gennett married Alice Lumsden, daughter of John Lumsden, who[m] John became associated with in a chain of music stores in 1878. He moved to St. Louis after severing his connections with the family business in Nashville. In 1893, the Starr Piano Company was organized by Benjamin Starr, John Lumsden, and Henry Gennett to manufacture pianos for the chain of music stores...Gennett moved to Richmond in 11894 from St. Louis after a disastrous fire which almost destroyed the piano company. The company was headed by Mr. Lumsden with Mr. Gennett as Vice President. Gennett was elected president of the firm on Mr. Gennett's death in 1898. He was a director in the Second National Bank of Richmond, as well as the Dickinson Trust Company." (The Gennett House...unpubl.)

Donat, The Earlhamite (1992): "Soon [1900] after their arrival (in Richmond ) the family home was built at 1829 East Main Street. "1829," as it was affectionately known by the family, is now a landmark in the eastern Indiana city. Rose once recalled, "Papa loved that house. He would stand on the lawn and just look at it."

Letter from Henry Martin to Wayne (1985): "She [Rose] recalls the parties, the guests, the Gennett Orchestra rehearsals in the third floor ballroom every Tuesday evening. She tells of painting her porcelains in the good light of the aerial room, completing scores of vases, pictures, coffee and tea sets, an extensive set of Limoges china monogrammed with a gold "RG"...and a punch bowl and stemmed china used to serve fruit punch following those orchestra rehearsals."

The New York Times, June 4, 1922: "Henry Gennett, President of the Starr Piano Company, died Friday night in a hospital in Dayton, Ohio, aged 69. He was born in Nashville, Tenn., in 1852."

Henry was cremated in Cincinnati and his ashes strewn over the San Pedro Channel.

Letter from Henry Martin to Wayne (1985): "Her [Rose's] fondest memory is of her own wedding in the entry hall, the magnificent decorations, including draperies cascading the full length of the three-story entrance pillars. The saddest remembrance is of her father's funeral, also in the entry hall. On the latter occasion the front doors were opened wide to allow the hundreds of friends and Starr employees who thronged the lawn and Main Street to see and be part of of Henry Gennett's last rites."

He married Alice Lumsden (24) (A25), 13 Sep 1876, in Nashville, Davidson Co., TN.

Children:

i. Harry Gennett. Born, 11 Jul 1877, in TN[8]. Died, 5 Nov 1952. Burial in Earlham Cem., Wayne Co., IN. Census: 1900, in Richmond, Wayne Co., IN, 1910. Census: 1880, in Nashville, Davidson Co., Co., TN. Occupation: Piano Manufacturer. He married Grace Robinson, daughter of Henry Robinson, 28 Dec 1898, in Wayne Co., IN.

ii. Clarence Gennett. Born, 25 Aug 1879, in Nashville, Davidson Co., TN[21]. Died, 13 Jan 1953, in Richmond, Wayne Co., IN[22]. Census: 1900, in Richmond, Wayne Co., IN. Census: 1880, in Nashville, Davidson Co., Co., TN. Census: 1920, in Richmond, Wayne Co., IN. He married Ruby E. Hasecoster, daughter of John Hasecoster and Emma, 28 Feb 1905, in Richmond, Wayne Co., IN[22].

11 iii. Frederick Gennett.

iv. Rose Gennett. Born, 10 Jul 1891, in TN[8]. Resided, 1994, in Los Angeles, CA[23]. Census: 1900, in Richmond, Wayne Co., IN. Census: 1920, in Richmond, Wayne Co., IN. She married, first, Thomas Jerome Campbell, son of William Campbell and Elizabeth, 13 Sep 1913, in Wayne Co.,IN[1]. She married, second, Robert F. Martin