note, being a singer in the church choir and prominent member of several musical societies. Charles H. Larimore, secretary of the Union Coal company and prominently identified with the educational interests of Chillicothe, has an honorable ancestry leading back through Virginia to an origin in the "Emerald Isle." In 1760 three brothers, named James, William and Hugh Larimore, started from the north of Ireland to seek their fortunes in America. William located in Pennsylvania, Hugh sought a home in North Carolina, and James found an abiding place in that part of Virginia watered by the south branch of the Potomac. October 20, 1796, at Romney, Hampshire county, W. Va., a son was born to James Larimore, whom he christened Robert. When the British burned the national capitol in 1814, Robert Larimore was one of a number of volunteers who were sent to Washington as a relief expedition. What may have been his adventures is not stated in the family records, but it appears that he was back in Romney in time to marry Mary Smith, September 23, 1814. Ten years later he went down the rivers to try his chances in the rapidly developing state of Ohio, and on arrival found employment with the salt works in Muskingum county, then owned by Hon. Thomas Ewing. About 1826 the contracts for building the Ohio canal were let, and Robert Larimore secured one at Nashport and another at Westfall. While at the last mentioned place, he frequently made trips to Chillicothe and during one of these he secured the services of Alfred Blake as tutor to his children. Mr. Blake remained with the family several years, afterward studied theology at Gambier and became assistant rector of Christ church, Cincinnati, later returned to Gambier to take charge of the Boys' school there, and completed his useful life in that city. After the death of his wife in 1831, Robert Larimore removed to Circleville, Ohio, where he went into partnership with a drygoods merchant named Finley, invested $5,000 in the business, and also built a flour mill. When the latter was ready for work, the store failed and the stock was disposed of at sheriff's sale, but a debt still remained for the liquidation of which the mill had to be sacrificed. August 23, 1832, Mr. Larimore married Mrs. Elizabeth Tate Evans, of Martinsburg, W. Va. She was a friend of the Rev. Alfred Blake, who, at the solicitation of Mrs. Larimore, who like himself was a stanch Episcopalian, succeeded in raising funds to build a church of that denomination in Circleville, to which Mr. Larimore contributed $100. In 1837, he removed to Piqua, where he secured contracts to do construction work on the Miami canal, but after several years, when Mr. Larimore was in debt to his many laborers and for supplies, the state suspended payment owing to lack of funds. Bonds were issued in lieu of cash, but they were unpopular and depreciated, Mr. Larimore being compelled to discount those paid him at a loss of $50,000. His second wife died in 1839. Two years later he went to Columbus, Ohio, invested $5,000 in an insurance and banking company of that city, and took $20,000 worth of stock in a bank at Circleville. Both these institutions failed and left Mr. Larimore almost penniless. March 26, 1844, he was married to Mrs. Susan Stoddard, a widow with one daughter named Amelia. The latter was the daughter of Dr. Joseph Stoddard, of Wellsburg, W. Va., the first Episcopal clergyman west of the Alleghany mountains. When the centennial of the first services conducted at Steubenville, Ohio, by Dr. Doddridge, was held in October, 1896, Mrs. Amelia Stoddard Larimore, his granddaughter, was present as the nearest living relative. In 1849, Mr. Larimore took charge of a forge owned by John Woodbridge near Bainbridge, Ross county, and conducted the same for six years. In 1855 he went to Chillicothe and had only become fairly established in the grain business when attacked by a severe cold from the effects of which he died February 27, 1856. He left a son and namesake who was born in Romney, W. Va., June 20, 1823, and accompanied his parents to Ohio in the following year. Subsequently he became a student at Kenyon college, at Gambier; accompanied his family to Columbus when eighteen years old, and clerked in stores of that city until 1849. At the age of twenty-six he went to Cincinnati to accept a position as clerk in the postoffice and was married in 1851 to Amelia Stoddard, granddaughter of Dr. Joseph Doddridge. After five years' service in the Cincinnati postoffice he moved to Delphos, Ohio, where he clerked for a while in a store and in 1856 located at Chillicothe where he engaged in the grain business. Mr. Larimore served as township trustee several times and in 1873 was a candidate for county recorder on the Republican ticket but was defeated by his Democratic opponent. Mrs. Larimore died in December, 1898, leaving the following named children: Mrs. Daisy Shepard, of San Antonio, Tex.; Mrs. Evan Rupel, of Schooley's, Ross county; Dudley T. Larimore, a druggist in New York city; Frank C. Larimore, clerk in the treasury department at Washington, D. C.; James D., clerk in St. Louis, Mo.; Charles H., Chillicothe, Ohio; at home, Mary and Reppa, the latter a teacher in the public schools. Charles H. Larimore, sixth of the living children, was born at Chillicothe, September 3, 1856, and when fifteen years old entered the employment of William T. McClintick, at that time proprietor of the coal company. This concern, although several changes in ownership and management have taken place, still does business at the corner of Bridge and East Water street, being now known as the Union Coal company. Mr. Larimore began with this corporation as office boy and has remained uninterruptedly since, going through various advancements until, in 1893, he became secretary and still holds that position. In the spring of 1895, Mr. Larimore was elected member of the city school board from the Fourth ward and, after an intermission of one term, was elected to the same. mother is still livigy They had a family of and Walter, died in charco Which date he disposed of his hot 1 mat dent of Chillicothe. Mr. Larrick warried February 25, 1875, to Isabel, daughter of John and Louisa Withrow, of Colern township, both deceased. Her mother as a Miss Binkley, of Maryland, was and her father a native of Pennsylvania. Mr. and Mrs. Larrick are the parents of six children, of whom Florence, the eldest, is married to Floyd Luchar, a law student at Columbus, Harry is the only son; Lennie, Rosa, Christie and Helen are still at home. Mr. Larrick is an active member of the Knights of Pythias. Politically, he is an uncompromising Republican but he has neve" been a seeker of public office. He has been successful in a financial ay anI can say truthfully that his possessions are largely the result of his own unaided efforts. His grandifa her, at a period saripto recrs of Athens 1812, and afterward was Pow fever then prevalent Job Lash, the father Josiah Wilson Lash, A. M., M. D., 1 (leothe, is a native of Athens county, Ohio, born November 17, 15 William Lash, came from Pennsylvania to O ciently early to entitle him to rank among the county; served as a soldier in the or of stricken down in the prime of life by to in epidemic form. The ancestor next rei of William, emigrated from Germany to Aregbout the midle of the eighteenth century; became a soldier done, Revolutionary war and according to family tradition served, when I advanced in years, in the contest of 1812. The family treasures as a precions |
