OHIO GENEALOGY EXPRESS - Scioto County, Ohio

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BIOGRAPHIES

Source:
A Standard History of
THE HANGING ROCK IRON REGION OF OHIO
An Authentic Narrative of the Past, with the Extended
Survey of the Industrial and Commercial Development
Vol. II
ILLUSTRATED
Publishers - The Lewis Publishing Company
1916

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IRVING DREW, president of the Irving Drew Company, of Portsmouth, Scioto County, has been a dominant power in advancing the manufacturing and mercantile interests of this section of Ohio, he and his father, the late Frederick Drew, having been among the original shoe manufacturers of Portsmouth, and prominent in the upbuilding of one of the largest industries of the kind in the city. A native of New England, he was born, July 27, 1849, in Rowley, Essex County, Massachusetts. His paternal grandfather, Joshua Drew, was born, in 1793, in Durham, New Hampshire, being a son of Samuel Drew a native of Portsmouth, New Hampshire. The Drew family, according to tradition, originated in England, the immigrant ancestor coming from there to America in colonial times, and locating in New Jersey, from whence some of his descendants migrated to New Hampshire.
     Frederick Drew was born Feb. 1, 1817, in Durham, New Hampshire, where his father was a life long resident. Leaving home at the age of eighteen years, he located in Essex County, Massachusetts, a county in which, without doubt, more shoes are manufactured annually than in any other county in the world, and for upwards of fifteen years resided in the Town of Rowley where he became thoroughly identified with the trade of a shoe manufacturer, learning the business from start to finish. In 1851 he came to Portsmouth, Ohio, to accept the position of foreman in the old time shoe factory which Robert H. Bell had established the previous year, it being the pioneer factory of the city. Going back to Massachusetts at the end of a few months, he remained in Rowley until 1854, when he returned to Ohio, and for eight years was engaged in the manufacture of shoes by the old hand method and selling at retail at Ironton, Lawrence County. Going to Granville, Licking County, in 1862, he there continued in the shoe business a part of the time until 1869, when he returned to Portsmouth to again enter the employ of Mr. Bell, who had commenced to manufacture shoes by machinery, and from that time until 1891 he was actively associated with the shoe business of that place. Returning then to Massachusetts, he spent the remainder of his life in Rowley, his death occurring there on Oct. 17, 1896.
     The maiden name of the wife of Frederick Drew was Sarah G. Bailey. She was born in Rowley, Massachusetts, a direct descendant in the seventh generation from the immigrant ancestor, James C. Bailey, who settled in Massachusetts about 1630, the lane of descent being thus traced: James C. (1), John (2), Nathaniel (3), Deacon David (4), Ezekiel (5), Ezekiel (6), and Sarah G. (7). Ezekiel P. (6) Bailey, a life long resident of Rowley, was a ship carpenter by trade, and for many years was intimately connected with an industry of much importance. Mrs. Sarah G. (Bailey) Drew, died Jan. 30, 1900. To her and her husband six children were born, two dying in infancy and four were reared, as follows: Ellen A.; F. Austin, who died in 1874, at the age of twenty-seven years; Irving the subject of this sketch; and Mary S., who died in 1901.
     Irving Drew was educated in the schools of Ironton and Granville. Coming to Portsmouth, Ohio, in 1869, he began work in a shoe factory as a general utility man, and in short time had learned to sue the McKay Sewing Machine, and to last shoes. In 1871 the firm of Rifenberick, Drew & Gregg was formed, and succeeded to the ownership of the R. Bell & Company manufacturing department. In 1874 the Portsmouth Shoe Company was organized, with Mr. Drew as secretary, treasurer, and general manager, the company succeeding to the ownership of the Rifenberick, Drew & Gregg Company's plant. In 1877 Mr. Drew and his father withdrew from that concern, and organized the firm of Irving Drew & Company. In 1880 George D. Selby purchased an interest in that organization, and the firm name became Drew, Selby & Company, Bernard Damon being the junior member of the firm. In 1902 the business was incorporated as the Drew Selby Company, and Mr. Drew sold enough of his stock to Mr. Selby to give him a controlling interest in the business, although he himself remained as a director until 1905. Mr. Drew then disposed of his entire interest in the firm, which then became the Selby Shoe Company. In 1902 Mr. Drew organized the Irving Drew Company, of which he has since been the president. This enterprising company succeeded to the business of The Star Shoe Company in 1902, and about a year later purchased the business of the Heer Shoe Company, merged the two and enlarged its operations. The Irving Drew Company having grown from a small beginning until until now its business is nearly as large as was that of the Drew-Selby Company when Mr. Drew disposed of his interest in that concern.
     Mr. Drew, married, June 30, 1879, Ella A. Gates, who was born in Cheshire, Ohio, a daughter of William Wallace and Alvira (Nye) Gates, natives of Ohio. Seven children have blessed the union of Mr. and Mrs. Drew, and in order of birth are: LeRoy Irving, who died at the age of twenty-four years in 1904; Mabel Arelie married S. D. Ruggles and they have an adopted daughter, Elinor; Margorie Gates, wife of T. C. Lloyd, has three children, Roy Irving, Reese and Drew and Sarah Ann; Hazel Bailey; Frederick Wallace and Everett A. Mr. and Mrs. Drew are members of the Second Presbyterian Church, in which he is a ruling elder.
Source: A Standard History of The Hanging Rock Iron Region of Ohio, Vol. II - Illustrated - Published by The Lewis Publishing Company, 1916 - Page 882

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