In the books' own words, not ours, with obvious scanning errors fixed. The later printings (1903 and 1910) are folded below the first. Families often supplied these stories to the publisher, so check key dates.
Born 1842
From Twentieth century history of Findlay and Hancock County and representative citizens (1910), History of Hancock County, Ohio (1903), History of Hancock County, Ohio : containing a history of the county, its townships, towns ... portraits of early settlers and prominent men, biographies, history of the Northwest Territory, history o (1886)
FRANCIS W. FIRMIN, M. D., Findlay, was born in Richfield, Summit Co., Ohio, July 15, 1842, and is a descendant of pioneers of that name in Massachusetts, who came to our shores in 1630, in the fleet with Gov. Winthrop, and followed literary and mercantile pursuits. He is a descendant of Solomon De Firmin, who followed the fortunes of William the Conqueror from Normandy, and settled at Ipswich, England, in the eleventh century. His descendants number among them leading ecclesiastics and preserve the original crest and shield with the motto Firiaus in Christo
(Steadfast in Christ). The first records in this country show Giles, John, Josiah, Eobert and Thomas Firmin, of whom Giles practiced medicine and preached the gospel, and died in Ridgewell, England, in 1697; John settled in Watertown, Mass., and Thomas, who was a merchant, settled in Haverhill, Mass., and removed to Salisbury, Mass., in 1652. Josiah Firmin came to Boston in 1640, and lived with Gov. Winthrop; Robert settled in Newton, Long Island, in 1645. The subject of this sketch comes in all probability fi'om John of Watertown, Mass. His father was Francis B., born in 1809, son of John, born in 1773, and he of John, born in 1713, at Somers, Conn., where his father lived. Here there occurs a break in the genealogy, but cotemporaneous genealogy of its different branches traces the ancestry to John Firmin, of Watertown. Dr. Francis W. Firmin, a son of Francis B. and Mary (Chapin) Firmin, received a good education in Wilbraham, Mass. (whither his parents had removed), and at Oberlin, Ohio, in 1862-63. In 1862 he came to Ohio and engaged in the study of medicine with his uncle, Dr. Lorenzo Firmin, and in 1867 he graduated from the Cleveland Medical College. He located in Findlay, this county, and has been in very creditable professional work here since. He married here in 1869, Mary L. D., daughter of the Rev. John A. Meeks, a pioneer minister of the Presbyterian Church. They have four sons and one daughter: Alfi-ed Scott, John Meeks, Clara H., Frank B. and Carl Giles. Dr. Firmin was made a Mason in 1868 and is a member of Findlay Lodge, Chapter and Council, and of Shawnee Commandery, at Lima, Ohio; is also a worthy Odd Fellow and a member of the Patriarchs Militant. The Doctor is a member of the American Medical Association, the Ohio State Medical Association, and of the Northwestern Ohio Medical Association, and has been United States Examining Surgeon for pensions since 1872. During the late war of the Rebellion, July 15, 1863, he enlisted in Company E, One Hundred and Twentyninth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and after doing service for eight months, was honorably discharged. He is a member of Stoker Post G. A. R. Dr. Firmin has always held himself aloof from public office, but has served with credit in the councils of the city. He holds high rank in his profession; is a liberal contributor to all measures tending to the development of the social and industrial life of this locality, and is a public-spirited citizen. In politics he is a Republican.
As printed in History of Hancock County, Ohio : containing a history of the county, its townships, towns ... portraits of early settlers and prominent men, biographies, history of the Northwest Territory, history o (1886). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
FRANCIS W. FIRMIN.
Francis W. Firmin, M. D., was born in Richfield, Summit county, Ohio, July 15, 1842, and is a descendant of pioneers of that name in Massachusetts, who came to our shores in 1630, in the fleet with Governor Winthrop. Our subject is a son of Francis B. and Mary (Chapin) Firmin. He received a good education in Wilbraham, Massachusetts, and at Oberlin, Ohio, in 1862-63. In 1862 he came to Ohio and engaged in the study of medicine with his uncle, Dr. Lorenzo Firmin, and in 1867 graduated from the Cleveland Medical college. Helocated in Findlay, this county, and has been in very creditable professional work here ever since. He married here in 1869 Mary, L. D., daughter of the Rev. John A. Meeks, a pioneer minister of the Presbyterian church. The doctor is a member of the American Medical association, the Ohio State Medical association, and of the Northwestern Ohio Medical association. July 15, 1863. he enlisted in Company E, One Hundred and Twenty-ninth Ohio volunteer infantry, and after serving his country for eight months was honorably discharged. He holds high rank in his profession, is a liberal contributor to all measures tending to the development of the social and industrial life of this locality.
As printed in History of Hancock County, Ohio (1903). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
FRANCIS W. FIRMIN, M. D., senior member of the firm of Francis Wilber and John M. Firm in, physicians and surgeons, at Findlay, O., enjoys the honorable distinction of being the oldest practicing physician in this city. Dr. Firmin was born July 15, 1842, at Richfield, Summit County, O., and is a son of F. B. and Mary C. Firmin.
Dr. Firmin is able to trace his ancestry very far back, reaching even to William the Conqueror, but he takes greater pride in the courageous forefather who came from Ipswich, England, to the inhospitable shores of Massachusetts, in the winter of 1630, founding on American soil a family that now has honorable representatives all over the land. From Summit County, O., the parents of Dr. Firmin moved to Springfield, Mass., in 1844, and from there to South Hadley Falls, and later to South Wilbraham, where Francis Wilber attended school. In May, 1862, he came to Findlay and shortly afterward entered Oberlin College, with the intention of completing the regular course of that institution. The agitation incident to the continuance of the Civil War was the cause of many a young man changing the whole current of his life, and young Firmin, with a number of his classmates, determined to leave their books and enter the army to assist in putting down rebellion. His service, which terminated with his honorable discharge on March io, 1864, was in Co. E, 129th O. Vol. Inf.
The young soldier on his return did not renter college, on the other hand he made the initial step on the path which subsequently led to a foremost place in the field of medicine at Findlay. He became a medical student in the office of his uncle, Dr. Lorenzo Firmin, under whose direction he prepared for the medical department of the Western Reserve College at Cleveland, where he was graduated February 18, 1867. He immediately entered upon professional work in this city, establishing his own office and continuing alone until he subsequently admitted his son, John M., to partnership. The latter is a graduate of the Cleveland College of Physicians and Surgeons, in the class of 1897. The Firmin name has been one of strength in the medical profession in this part of Ohio for many years, representing at all times, skill, ability, education and close adherence to professional ethics. The present firm is located in the Adams Building. Both physicians are valued members of the leading medical organizations of the country, including the American Medical Association, and the older physician was instrumental in founding the Medical Society of Hancock County.
As a citizen, Dr. Firmin has been zealous in his support of all measures promising to be of permanent benefit to Findlay, giving liberally of his time, means, and professional services on many occasions. He served four years as a member of the city council, seven years as a member of the Board of Education, and innumerable times on committees for the betterment of civic conditions. Since 1872 he has served continuously as examining surgeon for pensions, in Hancock County, with the exception of eight years, during a Democratic administration, and for a large part of that period has been president of the examining board. He is identified with the Grand Army of the Republic and has taken an active interest in the post at Findlay. Fraternally he is an Odd Fellow and a Mason, in the latter organization being particularly prominent, being a Knight Templar and Scottish Rite 32nd degree and a member of the Mystic Shrine.
Dr. Firmin was married on May 6, 1869, to Miss Mary L. D. Meeks, a daughter of Rev. John A. Meeks, and they have had six sons and one daughter born to them: Otis, deceased; Scott, John M., George, deceased; Clara, deceased; Frank Bope and Carl Giles. Dr. Firmin’s residence is located at No. 1009 South Main Street, Findlay.
As printed in Twentieth century history of Findlay and Hancock County and representative citizens (1910). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
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