John was born in Xenia, Ohio. His parents had both come over from Ireland about ten years before he was born and met and married in Xenia in 1850 or so. John went as far as the second grade in school. His teacher boxed his ears so bad for misbehaving the he had hearing loss in his left ear and never returned to school. His first job was with the gas company lighting the gas lamps at night and putting them out at sun rise. His mother died in 1872 when John was around 12 years of age. He was raised by his father a happy go lucky Ireshman. His Aunt Catherine Edgeworth known as Kate was also a big influence in his life. She ran her own household, plus her brother's. John remained devoted to his Aunt Kate the rest of his life.He was a part time police officer for Xenia for a few years. Eventually he got into the restaurant business with several partners. He started buying restaurants at train stations known as "Depot Restaurants" The train engineers told him where they had to stop to refuel and he would open restaurants there. In 1895 he became manager of the bankrupt Phillips House Hotel in Dayton, Ohio and with in a year had it back in the profit margins. He was manager there for over 35 years until it was torn down in 1926. He married Katherine Beckman of Cleveland, Ohio from a very wealthy German family.She was very refined and educated and taught him many things in the business world. He was voted best hotel man in Ohio for over thirty five years by the Ohio Hotel-mans association. He was very successful in life. Had a quiet sense of humor and was known as a stern man who ran good hotels. Was running the Phillips House during the great Dayton flood of 1913. He had a full hotel during that week and was trapped with the guest and his family due to the flood waters. Eventually he took over and ran the Dayton Biltmore Hotel in 1930 with his youngest son Eddie. He loved to swim and row boats.Loved to travel out West and visit the Indian reservations with his wife where they donated a lot of money. The Breen family of this time period gave a lot to various charities in the name of their first son Henry who died as a baby.John died in his home at 101 Hadley Ave. in Oakwood. Loved life and was devoted to his family. Also loved fresh flowers in his home.Always very proud of his Irish heritage.
John was born in Xenia, Ohio. His parents had both come over from Ireland about ten years before he was born and met and married in Xenia in 1850 or so. John went as far as the second grade in school. His teacher boxed his ears so bad for misbehaving the he had hearing loss in his left ear and never returned to school. His first job was with the gas company lighting the gas lamps at night and putting them out at sun rise. His mother died in 1872 when John was around 12 years of age. He was raised by his father a happy go lucky Ireshman. His Aunt Catherine Edgeworth known as Kate was also a big influence in his life. She ran her own household, plus her brother's. John remained devoted to his Aunt Kate the rest of his life.He was a part time police officer for Xenia for a few years. Eventually he got into the restaurant business with several partners. He started buying restaurants at train stations known as "Depot Restaurants" The train engineers told him where they had to stop to refuel and he would open restaurants there. In 1895 he became manager of the bankrupt Phillips House Hotel in Dayton, Ohio and with in a year had it back in the profit margins. He was manager there for over 35 years until it was torn down in 1926. He married Katherine Beckman of Cleveland, Ohio from a very wealthy German family.She was very refined and educated and taught him many things in the business world. He was voted best hotel man in Ohio for over thirty five years by the Ohio Hotel-mans association. He was very successful in life. Had a quiet sense of humor and was known as a stern man who ran good hotels. Was running the Phillips House during the great Dayton flood of 1913. He had a full hotel during that week and was trapped with the guest and his family due to the flood waters. Eventually he took over and ran the Dayton Biltmore Hotel in 1930 with his youngest son Eddie. He loved to swim and row boats.Loved to travel out West and visit the Indian reservations with his wife where they donated a lot of money. The Breen family of this time period gave a lot to various charities in the name of their first son Henry who died as a baby.John died in his home at 101 Hadley Ave. in Oakwood. Loved life and was devoted to his family. Also loved fresh flowers in his home.Always very proud of his Irish heritage.
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Age 75
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