Source:
Twentieth Century History
of
Findlay and Hancock County, Ohio
and Representative Citizens.
By J. A. Kemmell, M. D.
"History is Philosophy Teaching by Example"
Published by
Richmond-Arnold Publishing Co.
F. J. Richmond, Pres.        C. R. Arnold, Sec'y and Treas.
Chicago, ILL
1910.

< CLICK HERE to RETURN to 1910  BIOGRAPHICAL INDEX PAGE >
< CLICK HERE to GO to LIST of HISTORY and BIOGRAPHICAL INDEXES >

	COL. JAMES FINDLAY Source: Twentieth Century History of Findlay and Hancock County, Ohio - Published by Richmond-Arnold Publishing Co. - Chicago - Ill. - 1910 - Page 646
	FRANCIS W. FIRMIN, M. D., senior member of the firm of Francis Wilber and John M. Fermin, physician and surgeons, at Findlay, O., enjoys the honorable distinction of being the oldest practicing physician in this city.  Dr. Firmin was born July 15, 1842, at Richfield, Summit County, O., and is a son of F. B. and Mary C. Firmin.      Dr. Firmin is able to trace his ancestry very far back, reaching even to William the Conqueror, but he takes greater pride in the courageous forefather who came form Ipswich, England, to the inhospitable shores of Massachusetts, in the winter of 1630, founding on American soil a family that now has honorable representatives all over the land.  From Summit County, O., the parents of Dr. Firmin moved to Springfield, Mass., in 1844, and from there to South Hadley Falls, and later to South Wilbraham, where Francis Wilber attended school.  In May 1862, he came to Findlay and shortly afterward entered Oberlin College, with the intention of completing the regular course of that institution.  The agitation incident to the continuance of the Civil War was the cause of many a young man changing the whole current of his life, and young Firmin, with a number of his classmates, determined to leave their Books enter the army to assist in putting down rebellion.  His service, which terminated with his honorable discharge on Mar. 10, 1864, was in Co. E, 129th O. Vol. Inf.      The young soldier on his return did not reenter college, on the other hand he made the initial step on the path which subsequently led to a foremost place in the field of medicine at Findlay.  He became a medical student in the office of his uncle, Dr. Lorenzo Firmin, under whose direction he prepared for the medical department of the Western Reserve College at Cleveland, where he was graduated Feb. 18, 1867.  He immediately entered upon professional work in this city, establishing his own office and continuing alone until he subsequently admitted his son, John M., to partnership.  The latter is a graduate of the Cleveland College of Physicians and Surgeons, in the class of 1897.  The Firmin name has been one of strength in the medical profession in this part of Ohio for many years, representing at all times, skill, ability, education and close adherence to professional ethics.  The present firm is located in the Adams Building.  Both physicians are valued members of the leading medical organizations of the country, in including the American Medical Association, and the older physician was instrumental in founding the Medical Society of Hancock County.      As a citizen, Dr. Firmin has been zealous in his support of all measures promising to be of permanent benefit to Findlay, giving liberally of his time, means, and professional services on many occasions.  He served four years as a member of the city council, seven years as a member of the Board of Education, and innumerable times on committees for the betterment of civic conditions.  Since 1872 he has served continuously as examining surgeon for pensions, in Hancock County, with the exception of eight years, during a Democratic administration, and for a large part of that period has been president of the examining board.  He is identified with the Grand Army of the Republic and has taken an active interest in the post at Findlay.  Fraternally is an Odd Fellow and a Mason, in the latter organization being particularly prominent, being a Knight Templar and Scottish Rite 32nd degree an a member of the Mystic Shrine.      Dr. Firmin was married on May 6, 1869, to Miss Mary L. D. Meeks, a daughter of Rev. John A. Meeks, and they have had six sons and one daughter born to them: Otis, deceased; Scott, John M., George, deceased; Clara, deceased; Frank Bope and Carl Giles.  Dr. Firmin's residence is located at No. 1009 South Main Street, Findlay. Source: Twentieth Century History of Findlay and Hancock County, Ohio - Published by Richmond-Arnold Publishing Co. - Chicago - Ill. - 1910 - Page 353
	JOHN C. FIRMIN, proprietor of Firmin's Drug Store, at Findlay, O., has been owner of his present business since the fall of 1890.  He was born at Wilbraham, Mass., Oct. 5, 1857, and is a son of F. B. and Mary (Chapin) Firmin.      F. B. Firmin died in Massachusetts, in 1881, after which his widow came to Findlay, where her death occurred in 1903.  The name of Firmin has been a prominent one in medical and drug circles of Findlay.  The late Dr. Lorenzo Firmin, an uncle of John C. Firmin, in his day was one of the eminent physicians of this city.  Dr. F. W. Firmin, a brother of John C., is associated with his son, Dr. John M. Firmin in medical and surgical practice at Findlay.  Dr. Lorenzo and Dr. F. W. Firmin were already established at Findlay when John C. Firmin came here in 1877.      John C. Firmin was twenty years old when he came to Findlay and started to learn the drug business with John Decker, who was then the proprietor of what is now known as the Central Drug Company.  After serving the required apprenticeship, Mr. Firmin entered Washington College, at Washington, D. C., where he was graduated in 1883, with the degree of Phar. D.  He then returned to his native state and was engaged there in connection with the drug business for seven years, during the larger part of the time in the city of Worcester.  In 1890 he returned to Findlay and bought the old Huber & Burns store and has continued in business here ever since.  He carries a full line of drugs, sundries, candies and cigars together with all the specialties found in a modern drug store and has probably the most complete establishment in this line in Hancock County.      Mr. Firmin has long been recognized as one of Findlay.  He served continuously as city treasurer from 1903 until Jan. 1, 1910, being elected to that office on the Republican ticket.  He is a member of the Masonic fraternity.  Mr. Firmin has never married. Source: Twentieth Century History of Findlay and Hancock County, Ohio - Published by Richmond-Arnold Publishing Co. - Chicago - Ill. - 1910 - Page 530 ------------------------- Found 1909 City Directory Listing as follows: Firmin, John C., Drugs and Books, Ticket Agt. Nickel Plate R. R., 319 S. Main, Home Tel. 207, Bell Tel 409-K, Also City Treas and Treas The C. L. Sheppard Sanitorium and Remedy Co., h. 304 E. Lincoln, Home Tel. 544 Note:  The Business address at 319 S. Main St. is still standing.  The home is no longer standing at 304 E. Lincoln St. ~ SW
	LORENZO FIRMIN, M. D., deceased, for almost forty years was a citizen of Findlay and his name is identified with much that has brought this city into deserved prominence and which contributed to its advance in substantial and material lines, as well as on the higher levels of professional and social effort.  Dr. Firmin was born Mar. 31, 1808, at Wilbraham, Mass., and was a son of John and Lovina (Green) Firmin, his parents coming of old established New England families.      Dr. Firmin remained under his father's roof until he was twenty-two years of age, during that time obtaining educational training in the village schools and under his father a knowledge of shoemaking.  In 1834 he came to Ohio, and at Richland, in Summit County, embarked in a tanning business with Dr. Rawson.  In 1838 he was married to Miss Clara Harriet Rawson, a daughter of his partner, and then came to Findlay as established himself in the shoemaking business.  Shortly afterward, however, he began the study of medicine, under the supervision of Dr. Bass Rawson, completing the course as then required and entering into practice.  With the exception of one year, during which he followed his profession at Benton Ridge, Dr. Firmin's whole period of professional activity was spent at Findlay, where he continued in active practice until his retirement, in 1877.  During three years of thsi time he was associated with Dr. F. W. Firmin.  In the meanwhile he had become interested in business enterprises to which he later gave closer attention with corresponding advantage.  Many of them grew to important proportions, and through them he derived the fortune with which he was so ready and willing, at all times, to help the unfortunate or to aid public-spirited, philanthropic and benevolent movements.  As one of the organizers of the First Congregational Church at Findlay, he was ever generous in contributing to its support, and he was equally liberal in his contributions to the Y. M. C. A. of this city; on many occasions also Oberlin College benefited through his generosity.  Dr. Firmin was widely known and was held in high esteem, for he possessed many endearing personal qualities.  In early manhood he was a Democrat but later he identified himself with the Republican party, though from disinterested motives, as he invariably declined political honors.  He attained a venerable old age, retaining his faculties to a remarkable degree, passing quietly out of life on Oct. 12, 1901.      Dr. Firmin was twice married.  His first wife died in 1891.  In 1894 he was united to Miss Mary B. Humphrey, who was born at Findlay, Ohio, and is a daughter of Jarvis and Julia (Barber) Humphrey.  Mrs. Firmin was the youngest of her parents' family of six children and the only one born in Ohio.  She was educated at Findlay and for some years prior to her marriage was a successful teacher.  She resides in her beautiful home at No. 914 North Main Street, Findlay.* Source: Twentieth Century History of Findlay and Hancock County, Ohio - Published by Richmond-Arnold Publishing Co. - Chicago - Ill. - 1910 - Page 495 ------------------------- The building at 914 N. Main Street, Findlay is no longer there. ~ SW
John C. Folk Samuel S. Folk.	FOLK BROTHERS, manufacturers of office furniture, store fixtures, tables, counters, household furniture, kitchen cabinets, etc., with offices and works at No. 402 East Sandusky Street, Findlay, O., have been partners in this business since Nov. 15, 1888.  The firm is composed of Samuel S. and John C. Folk, brothers.  The former was born on a farm in Perry County, O., in a pioneer log house, Sept. 13, 1852, and the latter was born at Findlay, O., at the family home, No. 351 South Blanchard Street*, Sept. 12, 1868.  They are sons of George and Sarah Ann (Pence) Folk.      George Folk, the father, was a natural mechanic and he was equally at home as a blacksmith, a carpenter or cabinetmaker.  His death occurred at Findlay, Mar. 12, 1904.  His widow survives and is in her seventy-eighth year.  The Folk brothers have inherited their tastes for working in wood, this having been a family trait for generations of Folks.  The maternal grandfather, Isaac Pence, was a soldier in the War of 1812 and later in the Mexican War.  He was with Commodore Perry at the naval battle fought off Put-in-Bay Island and in this connection a very interesting bit of history may be recorded.  Many of the older generation will remember the historical picture that was sure to attract their attention in their old geographies, which represented Commodore Perry and several of his men in a skiff, rowing from Perry's flag ship to another vessel, during this battle, after the flag-ship had been destroyed.  One of the rowers is shown with his head tied up and the original was Isaac Pence, who had been slightly injured and had tied a cloth across the wound.  It was the intention of the artist to make the picture historically correct and he succeeded in doing so.  Mr. Pence passed through Findlay as a soldier following the old Indian trail and assisted in the building of old Fort Findlay which stood on the west side of Main Street, just south of the bridge.  Later in life, Mr. Pence went out as a soldier in the Mexican War.      The Folk brothers began business in a small way at the old family home place, No. 351 South Blanchard Street, where they remained until the completion of their factory on East Sandusky Street, in 1891.  In 1901 they made extensive improvements, equipping their works with a full line of modern machinery.  Both brothers are skilled mechanics themselves and they entrust their manufacturing only to those equally qualified, giving steady employment to from seven to twelve men.  In the main they have been continuously prosperous although they have suffered some misfortunes, including robbery and destruction by fire.  On the anniversary of the day of their starting into business they had their safe blown open and had the robbers made their visit on the day before they would have secured over $2,000, which the firm had deposited there.  Fortunately this large sum had been removed and the loss aggregated only $15 in money and a trifle in postage stamps, not counting in the damage to the safe.  In their second year of business they suffered from a fire.  Both brothers are equally public spirited and show an interest in all that concerns the welfare of their city and county.  They reside in adjoining houses on East Main Cross Street, the residence of SAMUEL S. FOLK being at No. 500 and that of JOHN C. FOLK at No. 506.**      Samuel C. Folk married Miss Lizzie A. Early, of Wood County, O., and they have one son, Fred R.  John C. Folk married Miss Estella I. Grubb and they have five children:  Gaylord A., Violet, Mildred, John and Martha Jennette.  The brothers are members of the Modern Woodmen and Samuel S. is identified also with the Maccabees and the Red Men.  Neither takes an undue part in politics but the responsibilities of citizenship are never shirked. Source: Twentieth Century History of Findlay and Hancock County, Ohio - Published by Richmond-Arnold Publishing Co. - Chicago - Ill.  - 1910 - Page 335 ------------------------- * The building at 351 South Blanchard Street, Findlay, Ohio appeears to no longer be there. ~ SW **The Buildings at 500 & 506 East Main Cross Street, Findlay, Ohio appear to no longer be there. ~ SW
	ELIAS FOX, who resides in Section 13, Washington Twp., Hancock County, O., is one of the capitalists of this section, being interested in banking institutions and owning 1,000 acres of land which is divided into easily cultivated farms, the most of them being occupied by his children.  He was born in1834, in an old log house that stood on the home farm in the woods, on Section 12, Washington Township, Hancock County, and is a son of William and Elizabeth (Whaley) Fox.      William Fox was born in Pennsylvania and after his first marriage he came to Fairfield County, O., where he rented land.  From there he moved to Seneca County, where he cleared up a small farm south of Tiffin, O., and thereby made enough money to enable him to enter eighty acres of land in Hancock County, in 1832.  He was a man of business foresight and resource and to his eighty acres for Isaac Wiseman, which he did with the help of his older sons.  When William Fox settled first in Section 12, Washington Township, he hastily put up a plain log house which later gave way to a hewn log one and this in turn to the brick house which is still standing.  He was known to every one in the neighborhood and was called "Uncle Billy" in friendliness.  After the death of his first wife he married Elizabeth Whaley, a lady of Scotch descent, who died in 1837, leaving two children: Isaiah and Elias, the former of whom died at the age of nineteen years.  The third marriage of Mr. Fox was to Elizabeth Jacobs, who died without issue.  He married Catherine Mailes for his fourth wife, and they had a large family, of whom there are two still living - Nicholas, of Hancock County, and Milton, of Seneca County.  He survived his last wife, his death occurring in 1871, when he was aged seventy-nine years.      Elias Fox grew to manhood on the old farm which he helped to clear and spent some of his boyhood days in the old log school house, one of the primitive kind, with slab benches, puncheon floor and great fireplace which had to be supplied with fuel by the boys who brought logs in from the forest.  After he reached manhood he spent a few yeas in Wisconsin and after he came back entered his first tract of land, forty acres.  He kept it until he was able to sell at a profit of about $400, and this was the capital with which he started his business operations which have grown to be so important.  Just before he married he bought thirty-seven acres in Section 13, Washington Township, paying $27 an acre, and in a log house there he and bride commenced housekeeping.  For many years he carried on general farming and did much business also in shipping stock.  He has believed in improving his land and on almost all the farms he has put up good buildings and has laid, in all probability, 200,000 tiles.  He is a stockholder in the bank at Bradner, O., and was one of the organizers of the Union National Bank at Fostoria, of which he is a director.     On Mr. 22, 1860, Mr. Fox was married to Miss Louisa Felkley, a daughter of William and Catherine (Fritcher) Felkley.  The parents of Mrs. Fox were born in Germany but were not married until they met in Pennsylvania, where Mrs. Fox was born.  She was fourteen years of age when her parents came to Washington Township, Hancock County, Nine children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Fox, as follows:  Amelia, now deceased, was the wife of Andrew Coleman and two children survived her - Emma and Della, the latter of whom is the wife of David Hines; Charles married Nellie Greene; Bailey married Lela Kiser and they have three children - Harold, Ray and Alverta; Clara is the wife of Fred Crannell; Johnmarried Cora Grubb and they have two children - Clarence and Howard; Curtis A., married Sophia Burroff and they have five children - Rosetta, Marcella, Janetta, Ruth and Helen; William, who is unmarried; Lulu, is the wife of Charles Good; and Elias, who married Iva Kendell.   They have one son, Alfred.  Mr. and Mrs. Fox is a Democrat.  He has served in township offices, being township Trustee for three terms.  Mr. Fox has become a man of large estate through frugality and good business judgment. Source: Twentieth Century History of Findlay and Hancock County, Ohio - Published by Richmond-Arnold Publishing Co. - Chicago - Ill.  - 1910 - Page 406
	NICHOLAS FOX, one of Washington Township's best known citizens and most substantial men, owning farms in Sections 16, 17 and 9, aggregating 540 acres of some of the best land in Hancock County, O., was born in his father's old log house that stood on the home farm in Washington Township, south of Fostoria, July 10, 1848.  His parents were William and Catherine (Mails) Fox.      WILLIAM FOX was a well known pioneer of this section.  He was born in Pennsylvania.  It is said that he and John Hooper and James Wiseman were the three white men who represented the race in this section of Ohio, coming before Hancock County was organized and long before Findlay had been laid out.  They all took up land from the Government, William Fox selecting that lying along the creek in Washington Township, and each cleared his own property, doing the first clearing in all this section.  They no doubt faced and overcame many hardships and all have long since passed away.  William Fox left many descendants, having been married four times and he became the father of twenty-five children.  His first wife died in Pennsylvania and his second marriage might have been in Fairfield County, O., where the Pennsylvania pioneers stopped for a time.  Her name was Whaley and she died in Washington Township.  He then married Elizabeth Jacobs and after her death, Catherine Mails.  Of the children born to the last union there are two survivors: Nicholas and Milton.      Nicholas Fox recalls the school house of his boyhood as a small log building with split log seats and wide fireplace.  In those days farmer boys were not given a great deal of time for their books, the clearing and tilling of the soil being duties that could not be put off or avoided and Mr. Fox had a thorough training along these lines.  He remained at home until he was married and then started out for himself, going into debt for his first 120 acres which was all in woods.  He not only cleared that but a larger part of the rest of his land which he bought from time to time as he was able and as he saw the property was valuable.  In 1871 he bought his residence farm in Section 16, from Emanuel Kimmell, and put up all the substantial buildings here and has good buildings on all his other farms, all of which are otherwise well improved.  All of his land is under cultivation and all is operated by his own children.       On Dec. 30, 1868, Mr. Fox was married to Miss Mary Gilmer, a daughter of John and Susan (Caster) Gilmer, who were Pennsylvania people, coming from Allegheny County and settling in Delaware Township, Hancock County, where Mrs. Fox was born.  To this marriage twelve children were born, six of whom died young.  The family record is as follows, including the surviving children and grandchildren:  Edward married Bertha Crawford and they live in Washington Township and have seven children: Ralph, Elmer, Mary, Emma, Rose and Bessie, twins, and Edward. John E. married Nannie Wells, now deceased, and they had one child, Lela, who lives with her grandfather. Mollie is the wife of S. E. Noel, of Washington Township, and they have four children: Carle, Wilbur, Mildred and Crystal. William married Etta Nusser and they live in Washington Township and have three children:  Waldo, Fayma and Kenneth. Nicholas and Coral reside at home, Nicholas being the farmer at the home place. Source: Twentieth Century History of Findlay and Hancock County, Ohio - Published by Richmond-Arnold Publishing Co. - Chicago - Ill.  - 1910 - Page 456
	ANDREW G. FULLER, a leader lawyer of the Hancock County bar, and a prominent citizen of Findlay, Ohio, was born in Barry County, Michigan, Mar. 5, 1858.  His parents were Geo. S. and Mercy A. (Hill) Fuller.  Both were pioneers in Michigan when ox-teams were the generally recognized mode of travel.  His father was of New England lineage, but a native of New York; his mother of English and German descent and Canadian birth.  During Mr. Fuller's infancy his parents moved to Allegan, Michigan, and later, when he was about six years old, to Kalamazoo, Michigan, at which place he was reared through childhood and youth.      Mr. Fuller received a common school education in the public schools of Kalamazoo, and at the place attended and graduated from Kalamazoo College, completing his collegiate course in 1883, receiving the degree Ph. B., and having later the degree of Ph. M. conferred for post-graduate work.  Immediately following his graduation in1883 he received the appointment of assistant city engineer in the city of Kalamazoo, which position after about two years he resigned to take up the study of law as a profession.  He was admitted to practice as a member of the bar of Michigan in September, 1885, by the Circuit Court of Kalamazoo County, with the distinction of having covered the then ordinary two-year course of reading requ8ired by the university curriculum in seven months.  Following his admission to the bar, Mr. Fuller engaged in active practice of his profession at Cadillac, Mich., where he held for one year the office of city attorney, and for one year that of county superintendent of schools in Wexford County.  In August of 1889, drawn by the then growing fame of Findlay as the center of the oil and gas belt of Ohio, he removed to that city, becoming at the time a member of the law firm of Barber and Fuller, which continued until 1896, since which time Mr. Fuller has continued his professional work as the successor of this firm, Mr. Barber having removed to Toledo.      Since taking up his residence in Findlay, Mr. Fuller has been thoroughly identified with the interests of the city as a property owner and citizen, taking part in its movements for civic advancement, and serving it as a member of its Board of Health for many years, and holding the office of local registrar of vital statistics.  Professionally he has been interested in and taken part in very many of the cases of large importance that have passed throught the courts in his own and adjoining counties.      He has been for many years prominent as an Odd Fellow, both among local lodge circles, and in the State, having been representative in the Grand Lodge of Ohio I. O. O. F.      Mr. Fuller was married, Oct. 12, 1887, to Miss Mary A. Peck, of West Bloomfield, N. Y., to which union have been born eight children, of whom seven are living, being in the order of their birth, Henry C., Raymond M., Margaret A., Robert E., Edith N., Frances F. and Ruth E.  All were born at Findlay except the oldest; son, whose birthplace was at Cadillac. Source: Twentieth Century History of Findlay and Hancock County, Ohio - Published by Richmond-Arnold Publishing Co. - Chicago - Ill. - 1910 - Page 655

.