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PETER
CHARPIOT.
Mr. Charpiot is a leading representative of the business
interests of Stryker, Williams county, being a prominent hardware
merchant of that place. Of excellent business ability and broad
resources, he has attained a leading place among the substantial
citizens of this part of the county, having won success by his well
directed, energetic efforts, and the prosperity that has come to him is
well deserved.
Mr. Charpiot was born September 23, 1835, m
France, where he was reared, and where he learned the tanner's trade. In
1854 he crossed the Atlantic, and after spending three months in
Defiance, Ohio, he came to Williams county. He worked at his trade for
four years in West Unity, and then opened a small tin shop in Stryker,
adding to it a limited stock of hardware a year later. As his trade
increased he gradually enlarged his stock to meet the growing demand,
and now has a large and well equipped store. While in West Unity his
store was destroyed by fire, entailing a loss of nine thousand dollars,
and in January, 1897. his store in Stryker was burned, the damage
amounting to eighteen thousand dollars, but it was partly covered by
insurance. As soon as possible, he resumed business, however, and today
enjoys an excellent trade.
In West Unity, Mr. Charpiot was united in
marriage to Miss Elise Peugeot, who was also a
native of France, and to them were born six children, namely: Edward,
Leo, Leah, Emil, living, and two—Henry and
George— deceased. The mother of these died June 30, 1876. and on
November 26, 1876, Mr. Charpiot married Louise
Charpiot, a second cousin (their grandfathers being brothers), who
was born November 13, 1838, in France, coming to America in 1861. For
fifteen years she lived in New York City. By this marriage there is one
daughter, Alice, now the wife of Charles Grisier,
of Wauseon, Ohio, where he is engaged in the insurance business. As a
business man Mr. Charpiot has been enterprising,
energetic and always abreast of the times, and besides his property in
Stryker he now owns about five hundred acres of valuable land in
Williams county. He has ever taken an active interest in public affairs,
gives his political support to the Democratic party, and has efficiently
served in the capacity of school director and councilman. His life
record is well worthy of emulation, and contains many valuable lessons
of incentive, showing the possibilities that are open to young men who
wish to improve every opportunity for advancement.
(Source: Commemorative Biographical Record of Northwestern
Ohio - Chicago - J. H. Beers & Co. 1899 - pg. 576) |
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JEREMIAH CLAY.
This thorough and skillful farmer and a man of more than ordinary
business capacity, is a representative of the agricultural interests of
Jefferson township, Williams county, Ohio, his home being in
Section 34, where he owns eighty areas of fine farming land under
excellent cultivation. He
was born in Richland county,
Ohio, Feb. 13, 1845, but in the spring of the
same year, when only three months old, he was brought to Williams
county, by his parents, Jacob and Elizabeth (Glime) Clay, who located in Mill Creek
township.
JACOB
CLAY Clay, the
great-great-grandfather, was born in the Principality of Hesse, Germany,
and was one of the soldiers hired to
George III of
England
and sent to this country to fight against the Americans.
He afterward joined the Continental army, and helped to defeat
the forces of Great
Britain.
At the close of the Revolutionary war his family came and they
settled near Hanover, York county, Pennsylvania.
They reared a son, whom they named
Jacob.
The
son, Jacob Clay, the great-grandfather, was born in Germany, Jan.
30, 1769, and died Aug. 17, 1860.
Catharine, his wife,
was born Mar. 30, 1772, and died Sept. 5, 1850.
To them was born a son,
John, the grandfather, Sept. 15, 1794; died Oct. 24, 1870.
His wife, Margaret (Miller), to whom he was married Nov. 26, 1818, was born
Jan. 1, 1796, and died Oct. 1, 1879.
To them three sons and one daughter were born.
John Clay and family,
together with his parents, removed from York
county, Pennsylvania, to
Richland
county, Ohio,
in 1828.
Jacob Clay, the father, was the second of the four children, the
others being George, William
and Catharine.
Jacob
Clay was born Nov. 21, 1821.
Elizabeth (Glime), his wife was born in Pennsylvania, July 11, 1823.
Both are enjoying good health in their home at West Unity,
Ohio.
They were married in Richland
county, Ohio,
in 1844. One son,
Jeremiah, was born here.
They removed to Williams county,
Ohio, in 1845, and here there were eight more
children born, four of whom died in infancy.
Those who reached maturity were
Jeremiah, William, Catharine,
Sarah Ann, and John H.
On
the home farm in Mill Creek township,
Jeremiah Clay, passed the
days of his boyhood and youth, remaining with his parents until he
married and removed to a home of his own.
On Feb. 15, 1864, he enlisted in Company G, Sixty-eighth Ohio
Volunteer Infantry, and served until the war was ended and peace once
more reigned, being mustered out July 10, 1865.
Returning to the old home in Mill Creek township, he worked at
the carpenter’s trade for three years.
On June
24, 1869, in Bryan, Ohio,
Mr. Clay was united in
marriage to Miss Elizabeth,
daughter of Daniel and Sarah Bear,
both of whom were early settlers of Williams county, and are now
deceased. To
Mr. and Mrs. Clay were born
six children, three of whom died when young; those living are
Sydney S., a minister of the
Methodist Episcopal Church;
Martha D., now the wife of O.
L. Kelly; and Charles B.
Mr. Clay
has spent the greater part of his life in Williams county, but lived for
nine years in Gorham township, Fulton county, Ohio, and two years in
Michigan. With the exception
of six years during which he was engaged in mercantile business in
Pulaski,
Ohio, he has always devoted his
time and attention to farming, and has been remarkably successful in
carrying on that occupation, with which he is thoroughly familiar.
No man takes a deeper interest in the prosperity of the county,
and it is safe to say that few have contributed in a larger degree in
making it one of the best in this great commonwealth.
Politically he adheres to the Republican party, is one of its
most earnest advocates, and takes a great interest in its success.
He is an earnest Christian gentleman, a member of the Methodist
Episcopal Church, to which his wife and children also belong, and all
take a leading and active part in its work.
The family is one of the highest respectability, and occupies a
prominent position in social circles.
Fraternally, Mr. Clay is a member of Evans Post, No. 149, G. A. F., and of the
Independent Order of Odd Fellows.
(Source: Commemorative
Biographical Record of Northwestern Ohio - Chicago - J. H. Beers & Co.
1899 - pg. 433
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