USA > Ohio > The biographical annals of Ohio, 1906-1907-1908. A handbook of the government and institutions of the state of Ohio. > Part 37
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In 1894 he married Miss Jennie C. Laughlin. They have one child, Carrie L.
Mr. Russell's election was a surprise to all political parties, Governor Pattison having carried the district by 2,325. No higher tribute can be paid Senator Russell than having carried the 12th district as a Republican under the conditions of the campaign of 1905.
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THIRTEENTH DISTRICT
Composed of the counties of Logan, Union, Marion and Hardin.
SAMUEL H. WEST, Bellefontaine.
SAMUEL H. WEST, born in Linn County, Iowa, July 7, 1872. After securing a common school education at the age of 16 began work first as assistant in the postoffice at his home town, and later as station agent and tele- graph operator for the Iowa Central Railroad. In 1891 Mr. West came to Ohio, and entered the law office of his uncle, Judge W. H. West, at Belle- fontaine, as clerk and student. He was admitted to the bar in October, 1893, at the age of 21. In 1894 was elected city solicitor of Bellefontaine, but re- signed the office in a few months. Became a member of the legal firm of West & West, and in 1896 was elected Prosecuting Attorney of Logan County, and re-elected to a second term. He enlisted in Company F, 2d Ohio Reg- iment, for the Spanish-American war in April, 1898, and served on detached duty as chief clerk of one of the army divisions at Chickamauga and Knox- ville. In 1903 Mr. West was elected to the Senate from the 13th District by the largest plurality on record, and was re-elected as a member of the 77th General Assembly in 1905. In both sessions he took an active part in all matters of legislation. In April, 1906, he became connected with The Na- tional Cash Register Company, of Dayton, one of Ohio's greatest corporations and business enterprises, as its General Solicitor.
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FIFTEENTH-SIXTEENTH (JOINT) DISTRICT
Composed of the counties of Delaware, Licking, Muskingum and Perry.
W. L. ATWELL, Johnstown.
P ROF. W. L. ATWELL, representing the 15th-16th District, was born April 15th, 1868, on a farm in Newton township, Muskingum County, Ohio, where he lived until he was 21 years old. He taught school in both Muskingum and Perry Counties until he was able to attend college, from which he graduated. Since then he has been constantly engaged in school work until he was elected Senator. Prof. W. L. Atwell is the holder of a High School life certificate, was school examiner in Licking County for several years, and is at present superintendent of the public schools at Johnstown. He is a 'Mason, Odd Fellow, Knights of Pythias and Modern Woodmen of America.
He is a self-made man, having fought unaided, the battles of life since he was twelve years old. He has come up through the flint mill of experience with an unsullied character, and a keen intellect, two qualifications which peculiarly fit him for the responsible position of State Senator.
He is a member of the standing committee on Common Schools, En- rollment (Joint), chairman of the Committee on Federal Relations, Industrial Schools, Labor, Library, Municipal Affairs, Railroads and Telegraphs and Temperance.
Mr. Atwell has a pleasing personality and many friends in both parties.
L
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SEVENTEENTH-TWENTY-EIGHTH DISTRICTS
Composed of the counties of Knox, Morrow, Wayne and Holmes.
F. M. VANOVER, Wooster.
F. M. VANOVER, Democrat, from the 17th-28th District, was born in Con- gress township, Wayne County, Ohio, February 27, 1858. Was reared on a farm and learned the carpenter trade with his father. Other than a common school education he received at the' Wooster High School and the Burbank Academy, he did not have any other schooling. Was a railroad car- penter, an iron bridge builder for two years. In November, 1882, was mar- ried to Miss Melinda J. Somers of Wayne County, and settled down on the farm until 1888, when he embarked in the business of buying and shipping baled hay and potatoes in large quantities, which business he has conducted very successfully. He has always been a strong party man, and has been honored many times by his party with positions of honor and trust. He is a stockholder in the M. W. & O. Telephone Company, and the Citizens' Na- tional Bank of Wooster, Ohio. He was unanimously nominated by his party at Wooster, Ohio, for State Senator, and was elected by a large majority from his district composed of the counties of Wayne, Holmes, Morrow and Knox, in the fall of 1905.
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EIGHTEENTH-NINETEENTH DISTRICTS
Composed of the counties of Guernsey and Tuscarawas.
J. P. MAHAFFEY, Cambridge.
J. P. MAHAFFEY was born in Cambridge, Ohio, April 16th, 1845, and prac- tically his entire life has been spent there. From young manhood he has been identified with the printing business, first as a printer, and later as a publisher. Mr. Mahaffey is a member of the M. E. church. He enlisted in the army during the Civil war, and is a member of the G. A. R. He is a prominent Elk, and a member of the Masonic, K. of P. and I. O. O. F. orders. He has always been a Democrat, and for years has taken an active part in local and state politics. In the late seventies he was elected clerk of the courts of Guernsey County, a strong Republican County, and served one term, 1879 to 1882. He was elected on the Democratic national ticket when Hon. W. J. Bryan was a candidate for president in 1900. In 1904, he was a candidate for clerk of the Supreme Court, but was defeated with his party in the Republican landslide of that year. In 1905, he was made the nominee of his party for State Senator in the 18th-19th District and elected.
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TWENTIETH-TWENTY-SECOND DISTRICTS
Composed of the counties of Belmont, Harrison, Jefferson and Columbiana.
M. N. DUVAL, Steubenville.
S
ENATOR M. N. DUVAL, Republican, is serving his first term as Senator from his district. He was born in Wellsburg, W. Va. Later he moved to Jefferson County, Ohio. He attended the public schools at New Alexandria, the High School at Wellsburg, and spent one year at Mt. Union College. He taught a while and then attended Scio College, and is now a student of law at the Ohio State University. Mr. Duval belongs to the Masonic order; also to Sigma Nu College fraternity of Mt. Union, and to the Phi Delta Phi legal fraternity of O. S. U. He was elected without opposition to the 74th General Assembly, and re-elected in 1901 to the 75th General Assembly. He is a member of the standing committees on Finance, Railroads and Telegraphs and is Chairman on Corporations.
Mr. Duval has splendid command of the English language, and seldom fails to carry his point when he speaks upon the floor of the Senate.
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TWENTIETH-TWENTY-SECOND DISTRICTS
Composed of the counties of Belmont, Harrison, Jefferson and Columbiana.
D. W. CRIST, Moultrie.
THE subject of this sketch was born November 28, 1857, in Columbiana County, Ohio, near where he now resides. His youth was spent on a farm, attending the common schools in the winter; after he became of age he educated himself, graduating at N. W. O. N. U., Ada, Ohio, in 1882. Gave his attention to school teaching until his health broke down, when he turned his attention to music. As a composer he has a national reputation, being the author of many works on music besides the author of over 100, piano compositions, many of which have proven very popular, and he now enjoys the honor of being the proprietor of one of the largest music pub- lishing houses in Ohio. Has always been an ardent Republican, and as such was elected to the 75th General Assembly to represent Columbiana County. He was re-elected to the 76th General Assembly by an increased majority, and now represents the 20th-22d joint senatorial district in the Ohio State Senate of the 77th General Assembly. He is a member of the standing committees on Taxation, Fees and Salaries, Public Printing, Insurance and Library (Chairman).
Mr. Crist's eminent social and genial qualities are often commented upon by his many friends. His constitutents have full confidence and faith in him as a legislator.
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TWENTY-FIRST DISTRICT
Composed of the counties of Stark and Carroll.
ROBERT A. POLLOCK, Canton.
R OBERT A. POLLOCK, Republican, was born at North Lawrence, Stark County, Ohio, August 24th, 1870; is serving his second term, represent- ing the 21st District (Stark and Carroll Counties); was a member of the House of Representatives in the 74th and 75th General Assemblies; was married to Miss Lillian Henesei, of Canton, Ohio, January 3, 1906.
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TWENTY-THIRD DISTRICT
Composed of the counties of Mahoning and Trumbull.
THOMAS KINSMAN, Kinsman.
T HOMAS KINSMAN, Senator from the 23d District, has represented Trum- bull County in the 74th and 75th General Assemblies, and the District in the 76th and 77th. He was born at Kinsman, Trumbull County, Ohio, on May 21, 1857; was educated in the Kinsman public schools and Western Reserve College, then at Hudson, Ohio. The sudden death of his father, Thomas Kinsman, Sr., abruptly ended his college course; for the need that the ex- tensive farm lands should have his care was imperative.
His farming has been of a general character, but dairying and the rais- ing of cattle and the trotting bred horse have been especially prominent.
He is president of the Kinsman National Bank, and has been secretary of the Kinsman Stock and Agricultural Society for the past ten years.
In politics Mr. Kinsman is of the Republican stock found on the Western Reserve who are never known to waver in their principles. While not an orator on the floor of the Senate he is a willing and strong working member in committees, and his suggestions in various matters are carefully considered.
He was married on November 16, 1904, to Mrs. Bertha Wilson Smith, of Columbus, Ohio, eldest daughter of ex-Congressman George W. Wilson, of London, Madison County, Ohio. -
His genial nature makes him many friends. His address is Kinsman, Trumbull County, Ohio.
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TWENTY-FOURTH-TWENTY-SIXTH DISTRICTS
Composed of the counties of Summit, Portage, Ashtabula, Geauga and Lake.
N. O. MATHER, Akron.
R EPUBLICAN. Attorney. Lucrative law practice. Successful advocate. Close student of public affairs. Careful and investigating legislator. The welfare of his people his chief concern. Unmarried.
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TWENTY-FOURTH-TWENTY-SIXTH DISTRICTS
Composed of the counties of Summit, Portage, Ashtabula, Geouga and Lake.
CHARLES LAWYER, Jefferson.
CHARLES LAWYER was born in Crawford County, Pa., 1858. His edu- cation was obtained in the common and high schools of Ashtabula County and at the University of Michigan, graduating from the law de- partment at Ann Arbor in 1883. He was admitted to the practice of law in Ohio in the same year. Thrown upon his own resources early in life he taught school. Soon after being admitted to the bar he began the practice of law at Jefferson, Ohio, where he has ever since been located. In 1889 he was elected prosecuting attorney of Ashtabula County, holding the position for two terms. Mr. Lawyer has been an active and earnest worker in the Re- publican ranks of his county, inheriting the love of politics from his mother's family, which was identified with the political history of Pennsylvania, his grandfather at one time representing Crawford County in the General As- sembly of that state. Mr. Lawyer was elected to represent the Twenty- fourth-Twenty-sixth Districts in the 77th General Assembly.
He was married in 1886, and has one daughter.
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TWENTY-FIFTH DISTRICT Composed of Cuyahoga County.
P. W. WARD, Cleveland.
P ETER W. WARD, son of James and Mary Ward, and one of a family of twelve, was born at Olmsted Falls, Ohio, June 29, 1852. Received com- mon school education. Came to Cleveland when 17 years of age. Was married in 1874. Studied law and was admitted to practice in 1878. Engaged in the insurance business in 1891, as an attorney and adjuster for an insurance company.
Senator Ward has always taken a deep interest in public affairs. In 1903 was appointed a member of the Board of Health for one year by Mayor John- son. In 1905 was reappointed for five years, and elected president of the board. During the term of office as president the Health Department of Cleve- Iand was revolutionized, and today is considered one of the best in the coun try. In 1905 he was elected a member of the Senate from Cuyahoga County. Mr. Ward ranks high among the members of the Senate, who consider him wise in council and conservative in action. His social attainments, keen ob- servation and business experience pre-eminently qualify him for public service.
He is a member of several important committees, his chosen field being insurance affairs. He is chairman of the Senate Insurance Committee and secretary of the Joint Insurance Committee specially appointed by the Leg- islature to investigate insurance laws of other states, and to recommend needed and proper legislation for the State of Ohio.
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TWENTY-FIFTH DISTRICT
Composed of Cuyahoga County.
THOMAS P. SCHMIDT, Cleveland.
T HOMAS P. SCHMIDT, Cleveland, Ohio, 31 years old. Graduate of Cleve- land Public Schools and Cleveland West High School. Graduate of Uni- versity of Michigan. Attorney at law. Comes from the German stock that fled to this country in 1848, owing to the revolution prevalent in Germany at that time. Grandfather, C. W. Schmidt, was one of the originators of said revolution, which was in the interests of liberty and public welfare for the German people. His uncle was ex-Lieutenant Governor Jacob Mueller, with whom his father, Gustav Schmidt, former mayor of West Cleveland, was associated in the practice of law at Cleveland, Ohio. At present associated with E. L. Hessenmueller in the practice of law at Cleveland, Ohio. Member of the committee selected by the Senate for the investigation at Cincinnati. Inherited a spirit for politics. Has endeavored to act in the capacity of a representative of the people for the people's good, and trusts that his record has been established in this particular. Has one son, Thomas L.
Mr. Schmidt is greatly interested in the study of municipal government and other economical questions. He is a Democrat. While he is one of the youngest members of the Senate, yet his strong personality makes him a potent member of that body.
25-B. A.
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TWENTY-FIFTH DISTRICT __ Composed of Cuyahoga County.
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FREDERICK C. HOWE, Cleveland.
F REDERICK C. HOWE was born in Meadville, Pa., in 1867. He received his education in the public schools and subsequently graduated from Al- legheny College in 1889, with a degree of A. B. Upon graduation he en- tered Johns Hopkins University, from which institution he received the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in 1892 in political economy, history and jurispru- dence. He later entered the University of Maryland Law School, and com- pleted his law course at the New York Law School, after spending a semester at the University of Berlin.
During his university career Mr. Howe devoted his attention to journalistic work in Pittsburg, Baltimore and New York. He was later appointed Secre- tary of the Pennsylvania Tax Conference, in which capacity he served for . two years. He was admitted to the bar at Pittsburg, Pa., and later moved to Cleveland, where he subsequently became identified with the firm of Garfield, Garfield & Howe, which firm has subsequently been changed to Garfield, Howe & Westenhaver.
In 1901 he was offered the post of Secretary of the Treasury in Porto Rico, which he declined. Prior to this time he was elected to the City Council of Cleveland, and was later chosen president of the Board of Sinking Fund Trus- tees. In 1903 he was nominated for the State Senate on the Democratic ticket and defeated.
Mr. Howe was a professor in the Cleveland Law School for some years, and a lecturer at the University of Wisconsin and Western Reserve University. In 1905 he was commissioned by the Bureau of Commerce and Labor to make an investigation of municipal ownership in Great Britain, which report has just been published.
Mr. Howe is a frequent contributor to the World's Work, the Atlantic Monthly, Scribner's Monthly, the Cosmopolitan, Outlook and Collier's Weekly. He is the author of a book entitled, "The City, the Hope of Democracy," which has run through several editions; as well as a work on taxation entitled, "Taxation and Taxes in the United States Under the Internal Revenue Sys- tem." He is also the author of a fanciful story entitled, "The Confessions of a Monopolist." Mr. Howe is a deep student of social and economic questions. He is the author of several important bills considered by the 77th General Assembly.
TWENTY-SEVENTH-TWENTY-NINTH DISTRICTS
/ Composed of the counties of Medina, Lorain, Ashland and Richland.
FRANK N. PATTERSON, Ashland.
F RANK N. PATTERSON, Republican, was born in Hayesville, Ohio, Decem- ber 28, 1863; attended the University of Wooster, but did not graduate; . began the practice of law in 1890; in 1894 was elected prosecuting attor- ney of Ashland County. Mr. Patterson was married in 1892 to Miss Mary Shanwecker. He has one child, Miss Ada Patterson. Mr. Patterson was one of the most active and earnest members of the Senate. His experience and standing as a lawyer made his advice and counsel valuable in the enactment of important legislation.
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THIRTIETH DISTRICT
Composed of the counties of Huron, Erie, Sandusky and Ottawa.
JOHN C. DRAKE, Kimball.
J OHN C. DRAKE was born December 13, 1860, near North Monroeville, Erie County, Ohio. The early years of his life were spent at home on the farm. In the summer of 1880 he entered the employ of the Nickel Plate Rail- road as a bridge carpenter. In 1882 he received permanent injuries caused by falling thirty feet from a railroad bridge. In 1886 he engaged in the general merchandise and grain business at Kimball, Erie County, in which place he still resides.
In politics always a Democrat. In 1899 he was defeated for representa- tive by M. J. Love, the Republican candidate, by 137 votes. In 1901 he was re- nominated and again defeated by W. E. Guerin by only 10 votes in one of the hottest campaigns ever waged in Erie County. It has since been said that the liquor interests spent ten thousand dollars to defeat him. In that mem- orable campaign Mr. Drake's home township gave him 250 votes and his op- ponent only 27.
In 1905 Mr. Drake was nominated and elected Senator from his district by a majority of 1,361 votes. Mr. Drake has the confidence and respect of all his fellow senators. Because of his sterling qualities he was made Chair- man of the Drake Investigating Committee appointed by the Senate to probe municipal and county affairs at Cincinnati. Mr. Drake is also Chairman of the Temperance Committee, as well as member of other important commit- tees of the Senate.
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THIRTY-FIRST DISTRICT ,
Composed of the counties of Seneca, Crawford and Wyandot.
ELZA CARTER, Upper Sandusky.
E 'LZA CARTER, Democrat, of the Thirty-first Senatorial District, is a na- tive of Wyandot County, Ohio, was educated in the sub-district schools, the Upper Sandusky public schools and Baldwin University. He began his official career as township clerk, and held the office for four years. Mr. Carter removed from Tymochtee township to Upper Sandusky in 1881, and was admitted to the bar the same year; soon thereafter he acquired a large practice, which he has since retained, and is now a member of the law firm of Carter & Goodrich. In addition to his work in his chosen pro- fession, he is interested in agriculture and stock raising.
Mr. Carter was a member of the Wyandot County Board of School Ex- aminers for six years; at present he is president of the Upper Sandusky School Board, and for six years has been a member thereof.
He was elected prosecuting attorney of Wyandot County in 1892, and again in 1895. He has always been a Democrat, and without opposition was elected to the Senate in November, 1903. In his profession, as well as in politics, he is well and favorably known throughout his district. He believes the Legis- lature should be untrammeled in the exercise of its functions. In 1905 he was re-elected as member of Ohio Senate, and took active part in all the important legislation considered by that body.
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THIRTY-SECOND DISTRICT
Composed of the counties of Allen, Auglaize, Defiance, Mercer, Paulding, Van Wert and Williams.
W. M. DENMAN, West Unity.
D R. W. M. DENMAN, who, with his colleague, Hon. T. M. Berry of Van Wert, represents the Thirty-second Senatorial District, comprising Al- len, Auglaize, Mercer, Van Wert, Paulding, Defiance and Williams Coun- ties, lives at West Unity, and is engaged in the practice of his profession in conjunction with various business enterprises. Is President of the West Unity Banking Company, President of the Brady Fire Insurance Company, both of which positions he has held for a period of over ten years; is pro- prietor and sole owner of the West Unity Brick and Tile Manufacturing plant; is very much interested in agriculture, having two good farms on which he is raising good horses and other stock of good grade.
In politics a Democrat. Represented Williams County in the 74th General Assembly, but refused the second nomination, which was made by acclama- tion. Was elected to the present position without opposition. As a member of the Senate is Chairman of Committee of Claims, and member of the follow- ing committees: Bank and Banking, Finance, Public Works, Privileges and Elections, Commercial Corporations, Medical Colleges and Library. Is a mem- ber of the Masonic fraternity, a Knight Templar and life member of Ohio Consistory at Cincinnati, and charter member of Zenobia Temple Mystic Shrine at Toledo. Is married, and keeps house, where he is glad to have his friends visit him. No man in Northwestern Ohio has a wider circle of friends than Dr. Denman. He and Mrs. Denman are clever entertainers.
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THIRTY-SECOND DISTRICT
Composed of the counties of Allen, Auglaize, Defiance, Mercer, Paulding, Van Wert and Williams.
THOMAS M. BERRY, Spencerville.
T HOMAS M. BERRY, the junior member from the 32d Senatorial District of Ohio, was born July 29, 1859, on the homestead farm which he now owns in Jennings township, Van Wert County, Ohio. He resided almost continuously for thirty-eight years on this farm. He obtained his education in the common schools of this township. Mr. Berry was honored by the cit- izens of his township by election to positions of trust. He was a member of the School Board for many years and township clerk for five years. He was elected on the Democratic ticket in 1896 to the office of County Auditor in his county by a majority of 23 votes; was re-elected in 1899 by a majority of 264 votes. Mr. Berry was nominated for State Senator at Wapakoneta, Ohio, on April 28, 1903, after a two days' convention, on the 92d ballot and was elected without opposition.
Senator Berry was united in marriage in 1880 to Miss Minnie L. Wolford, of Allen County; this union has been blessed with thirteen children, twelve of whom are living, ten girls and two boys.
He was re-elected without opposition to the 77th General Assembly. No more babies have been born to his family. In the 77th Senator Berry was one of the strong leaders, serving on several important committees. He was appointed a member of the Insurance Investigating Committee. In public and private life he has many warm friends.
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THIRTY-THIRD DISTRICT
Composed of the counties of Fulton, Hancock, Henry, Putnam and Wood.
AMOS BOEHMER, Ottawa.
A MOS BOEHMER was born at Fort Jennings, Putnam County, Ohio, 1838, and has lived in the county all his life. He is of German parentage, his father, Hon. H. J. Boehmer, being a pioneer citizen who settled in the county in 1832, and represented the counties of Putnam and Henry in the Ohio Legislature in 1856 and 1857, and also Putnam County in 1864 and 1865. His early days were spent upon a farm. His education was received in the public schools of Fort Jennings and Findlay, and afterwards in St. Xavier's College at Cincinnati. He was admitted to the bar in 1862, having studied law in the office of Nichols and Cunningham at Lima, Ohio, where he practiced for a short time, and then engaged in a general merchandise business at Fort Jennings.
In 1884 he was elected to the Ohio Legislature and re-elected in 1886. In 1896 he was elected Probate Judge, and served as such for six years.
His has been a busy. useful life. He has the confidence and respect of all who know him. In 1905, along with Senator Beatty, he received the nom- ination by acclamation for State Senator of the 33d District. He was elected. As a member of the Senate he fill's the position with intelligence and fidelity, occupying a high position in this body on account of his excellent judgment and correct conclusions on matters considered by it.
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THIRTY-THIRD DISTRICT
Composed of the counties of Fulton, Hancock, Henry, Putnam and Wood.
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RICHARD A. BEATTY, Bowling Green.
R ICHARD A. BEATTY was born February 23, 1859, on a farm near White Oak Springs, Butler County, Pa. He is of Scotch-Irish descent. He at- tended public schools until he was thirteen years old, and graduated from Harrisville High School at seventeen, married at 19. Left home without a dollar and worked in oil fields as a pumper at $60 per month for three months. Went to Big Shanty, Mckean County, Pa., and engaged in grocery business with $10 capital. He built a cheap store room, and stocked up on credit in 1880. After being in this business for eighteen months he took an interest in an oil lease, and made money for two years. He then engaged in the drug business at Bradford, Pa., up to 1886, when he devoted all his time to oil interests until he sold his holdings in 1890.
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