Charles E. Patric

As printed in 1908

CHARLES E. PATRIC, who may justly be termed the father of those agricultural implements, the Superior Drills, which have carried the name of Springfield all over the United States and to remote foreign lands, came first to this city in 1867, and has made it his permanent home since 1883. Mr. Patric was born at Poughkeepsie, New York, September 6, 1837, and is a son of Richard V. and Bethia (Patric) Patric.

The founders of the Patric family in America were born in Scotland, and settled in Connecticut about 1635. Abel Patric, the paternal grandfather, served in the Revolutionary War and had many thrilling adventures, through which he lived, and died in his peaceful home in Eastern New York. His son, Richard F. Patric, father of Charles E., was born in Connecticut, but later moved to a farm near Poughkeepsie, New York, and still later to Wayne County, in the same state. He was engaged in a lumber business during his active years. His death took place in Monroe County, New York, in 1855. His widow survived him until 1863. They were zealous and worthy members of the Baptist Church.

Charles E. Patric was the ninth child in his parents' family of ten children, and with his brothers and sisters he enjoyed the same educational advantages in the district schools. Later he had academic training at Hornellsville, after which he returned to Wayne County and for a time, prior to starting out independently, he was associated in business with his father. He was connected subsequently, until 1864, with manufacturing and milling interests at Victor, in Ontario County, and then entered into manufacturing, at Shortsville, New York. In the meanwhile, Mr. Patric had been quietly developing a natural talent for invention, one that in the course of time has closely approached genius. After many experiments and innumerable valuable inventions, in 1865 he i succeeded in completing what is known as the "double force teed grain distributor for grain drills." In the fall of 1866 he moved to Macedon, New York, where he was able to secure better facilities for perfecting his great inventions. In May of the following year, Mr. Patric came to Springfield, and here he set forth the merits on his inventions before capitalists of this section, who quickly recognized their merits and lost little time in organizing for their manufacture.

In 1878 Mr. Patric returned to Rochester, New York, where he had established a foundry and machine works, and while experimenting, he succeeded in making an entirely new drill, one which was superior in every way to the former inventions, and this fact naturally suggested the name of the "Superior Drill." In the fall of 1883 Mr. Patric came back to Springfield, and here he organized The Superior Drill Company, which was then incorporated with a capital stock of $250,000. Mr. Patric has continued as a director and one of the heaviest stockholders of this company, which, with the exception of one industry, controls the largest business done at Springfield. His brain is still active, although he has taken out more than forty patents on grain drills and seeding machines.

His latest invention consists of a Seed Planter, adapted to the use of the gardener, florist, nurseryman or seedman. It plants perfectly all kinds of seeds, from the finest seeds to and including the wrinkle peas and lima beans, either in drills or hills. It is constructed upon thoroughly scientific principles, using an absolute "force feed," insuring absolute control of the quantity sown, and will sow exactly the quantity it is set to sow, and without injury to the seed. It opens the furrow, plant the seed, covers it. and presses the soil over the seed, all at one operation, and as fast as the operator can walk. It is a model of simplicity and will last for years. It weighs but nineteen pounds, and a boy can operate it with ease. A great deal of time and money have been expended in perfecting this little machine, on which patents are pending.

Mr. Patric 's other business connections include the vice presidency of The Foos Gas Engine Company, the presidency of The Springfield Metallic Casket Company, and a directorship in the Springfield National Bank. His name stands ever for business integrity and personal honor.

In 1907 Charles E. Patric was married to Mary Jane Veazie, who is a daughter of Judge Veazie, of Natchez, Mississippi. They reside in an elegant home at No. 1314 East High Street, Springfield.

[This passage is too damaged in the scanned book to reproduce. See the original book.]

As printed in 20th century history of Springfield, and Clark County, Ohio, and representative citizens (1908). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.