I wanted to pass this onto these lists, because they're so close to each other! Cathy Cathy Raber pigeonrock@earthlink.net Why Wait? Move to EarthLink. > [Original Message] > From: Archives <archives@poppet.org> > To: <OH-FOOTSTEPS-L@rootsweb.com> > Date: 11/20/2005 11:41:49 PM > Subject: [OH-FOOT] Oh-Hardin Co. Bios (Espy) > > > Hardin County OhArchives Biographies.....Espy, John 1811 - 1879 > ************************************************ > Copyright. All rights reserved. > http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/copyright.htm > http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/oh/ohfiles.htm > ************************************************ > > File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: > Ann Anderson ann.g.anderson@gmail.com November 20, 2005, 9:43 pm > > Author: Warner, Beers & Co. > > JOHN ESPY was born in Beaver County, Penn., March 2, 1811, there grew to > manhood, and in August, 1836, was married to Miss Jane Anderson, a native of the > same county. To this union one son, Thomas, was born, who for many years has > been one of the leading business men of Kenton. From Beaver County, Penn., Mr. > Espy and family removed to Taylor Creek Township, Hardin Co., Ohio, arriving at > their destination September 1, 1838. Here he lived upon a farm until the autumn > of 1840, when he removed to Kenton, and engaged in the manufacture and sale of > wooden pumps until the year 1844, when he entered a distillery on the present > site of the Slow Cloud Mills. During the ensuing year the grinding for the > distillery was done by the old Ross horse mill. which was operated, as its name > implies, by a horse tread-wheel. The insufficiency of this mill for the growing > demands of the day was soon recognized fey Mr. Espy, and in 1846 he erected the > present. Snow Cloud Flour Mill in connection with the distillery. The erection > of this mill marked a new era in the milling operations of the community, for > this was the first steam flour mill erected within the county. Mr. Espy > continued the operation of this mill about eight years, when he sold it, and > purchased a saw mill on the south side of the town. With this enterprise he was > connected about twelve years. In 1865, the Marseilles Flouring Mill was > purchased, but at the expiration of the first year Mr. Espy returned to Kenton, > and at once erected the present Espy Mill, which went into operation March 30, > 1867. To this enterprise he devoted his attention until 1872, when he withdrew > from all connection with milling operation. From this date up to within about a > month of his death, his whole time and attention were devoted to the improvement > of the home farm on the south side of town. During the last month of his life, > he had purchased the old woolen mills property, and planned the erection of > another large flour mill which should supply the growing demands of the old > mill, whose increased patronage had outrun its capacity. The death of Mr. Espy, > November 28, 1878, brought this undertaking to a close for the present. Such > were the leading events in the business affairs of Mr. Espy that he justly > earned the title of "the pioneer miller of Hardin County." Beginning with empty > hands, by persistent application to business, he was enabled to achieve some of > the greatest milling operations of the county and period. In his capacity as a > pioneer, he contributed to the development of the public interests of the > community, always an advocate of all measures of advancement, and a champion of > every project of improvement. Although deeply interested in public affairs, he > would never allow his name to be used in connection with any office beyond those > of his own township, always giving as a reason for his aversion to office--the > urgent demands of his private affairs. Thus, while a partisan of strong > convictions, and deeply devoted to the interests of the Democratic party, he > would never sacrifice his personal interests "by attending to the business of > others." His party received his sympathy and influence; his private affairs, his > energy and time. In business he was a man of strict integrity, rigid in exaction > of all obligations, and unswerving in his plans. Possessed of a high sense of > justice, and an indomitable will, no question of expediency could allure him > aside from what he considered the line of duty. In private life he was kind, > forbearing and affable. With a plan unwavering, an energy untiring, and a will > unflinching, he rose to affluence; but this success not only failed to produce > pride or coldness, but rather served to enlarge its sphere of usefulness, as > generosity and liberality were prominent traits of his character. Although > having reached the advanced age of sixty-eight, his death came suddenly and > unexpectedly and was deeply deplored by the whole community, for the public > recognized in his demise an almost irreparable loss. > > Additional Comments: > Bucks Township > > Excerpt from > > "The History of Hardin County, Ohio" > containing > A HISTORY OF THE COUNTY; ITS TOWNSHIPS, TOWNS, CHURCHES, > SCHOOLS, ETC.; GENERAL AND LOCAL STATISTICS; MILITARY > RECORD; PORTRAITS OF EARLY SETTLERS AND PROMINENT > MEN; HISTORY OF NORTHWEST TERRITORY; > HISTORY OF OHIO; MISCELLANEOUS > MATTERS, ETC., ETC. > > CHICAGO: WARNER, BEERS & CO. > 1883 > > Photo: http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/oh/hardin/photos/bios/espy332bs.jpg > > File at: http://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/oh/hardin/bios/espy332bs.txt > > This file has been created by a form at http://www.poppet.org/ohfiles/ > > File size: 5.1 Kb > > > > ==== OH-FOOTSTEPS Mailing List ==== > This list if for Archive Material Only. No Queries Allowed. For Ohio Queries visit > http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~maggieoh/Maillist/maggiemaillist.html and sign up for > Maggie_Ohio-L or OHROOTS-L