Charles E. Oberlin

As printed in 1892

HARLES E. OBERLIN. Massillon ranks deservedly high as a commercial centre, and prominent among its resources is the trade carried on in hardware. Identified with this trade and deserving of notice, is Charles E. Oberlin, who is one of the foremost and far-seeing business men of the place. He is a representative of one of the oldest families in the county, and is the son of Samuel Oberlin (see sketch). He was born in Massillon on the 24th of February, 1855, was next to the youngest child born to his parents, and was reared and educated in his native town, being graduated from the High School when about eighteen years of age.

Our subject subsequently entered the hardware store of S. A. C'conrad as clerk, and continued as such for about ten years, after which he became junior partner, about 1883. Even at that age he displayed unusual sagacity and shrewdness as a business man, and remained a member of this firm until 1888, attending strictly to the buying and selling. The firm then dissolved partnership, and in the spring of that year our subject branches out in business for himself. He has a large double store at Nos. 12 and 14 North Erie Street, J. F. Hess' old stand, and the building is three stories in height and is 50x65 feet in dimensions. An elevator is in this building. Mr. Oberlin put in a fine new stock of shelf hardware and miner's supplies, paints, oils, etc., and has a large and flourishing trade. lie is an energetic and thorough man of business, and is highly esteemed, beinghonorable in all his dealings.

Our subject is a Director of the Massillon Building and Loan Association, and takes an interest in other enterprises of the city. lie owns a pleasant linie on Tremont Street, and is the owner of other residences in the city. In the year 1887, he selected his wife in the person of Miss Ella Miller, who was born in Massillon,.-md whose father, William T., is a moulder with Russell & Co., of this city. Mr. and Mrs. Oberiin are the parents of one child, Howard M. Pnhlic-spirited and enterprising, Mr. Oberiin has ever taken an active interest in all worthy enterprises, and has given liberally of his means to further the same. He is President of the City Board of Teachers' Examiners, and has been a member of the same for four years. Socially, he is a Royal Arcli Mason, and a member of the Royal Arcanum, also a member of the.liinior Order of American Mechanics. He holds membership in the.Metliodist Episcopal Church, and is a Trustee in the same. In politics, he is a Republicdii.

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The subject of this sketch was educated in the village schools, but his advantages were limited, as the session each year lasted for only about three months. At the age of twelve, he began working on the farm, plowing, seeding, etc., and while yet a boy was often required to drive from four to six horses to a wagon. He remained at home until the death of his father and then entered the employ of Hull & Shepherd, commission merchants, receiving 12.5 per month. He was required to look after the warehouse, and did this work for thirty-five months, during which time he gained a good knowledge of business methods. He then embarked in farming, which he has continued more or less all his life. He ran a mill near Wellsville, and engaged in its operation until 1842, when he sold out, came back to Canton and bought a part of his father's farm and the mill, (going South on business, he stopped at Vicksburg and at Memphis, Tenn., and from there went by boat up the Yazoo River to Williams' Landing, after wliicli he returned to Wellsville, Ohio.

Mr. Hurford married Miss Elizabeth Sweariiigin, of Hanover,.Tanuary 28, 18)2, daughter of E. Swearingin, and settled with his bride on the farm above mentioned, and also carried on the mill formerly owned by his father, a portion of the old homestead. He then carried on farming and milling for a number of years, when, on account of failing health, he sold out. Having recovered from his illness, he began dealing in cattle, sheep and horses which he drove to Pittsburgh, and in this line of trade made considerable money. His next busine.ss venture w.as in su)plying ties, wood and lumber, and in constructing bridges for the Ohio & Pennsylvania Railroad, after which he bought wood and ties for the same road, with which he was connected for fifteen years. Subsequent to that time, various enterprises engrossed his attention. In 1860, in company with Peter P. Trump, he built the Hurford House, a four-story building, and one of the leading hotels of Canton, of which Mr. Hurford is now sole owner. In connection with this, he owns a good farm of three hundred and twenty acres in Lawrence Township, highly cultivated and well improved. He also owns another valuable tr.act of one hundred and thirty acres adjoining the corporation on the southeast. Mr. Hurford, Peter P. Trumii and Hiram Wise owned and operated the Exch.ange Bank several years. Subsequently, -Mr. HurfuKJ sold his interest to H. R. Wise.

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In early life, Mr. Ilurford was a Whig, but afterward became a Republican. To many business enterprises he has devoted his attention, and by enterprise, good m.management and the application of correct business principles, he has won a brilliant success. His life has been characterized by that indomitable spirit which carries forward to successful completion whatever it undertakes. He is now one of the wealthy citizens of Canton, and is also one of its valued and representative men.

As printed in Portrait biographical record of Stark county, Ohio. Containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, together with biographies and portraits of all the presidents of the Unit (1892). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.