Laban W. Haughey

As printed in 1881

LABAN W. HAUGHEY, dealer in real estate; South Charleston. Among the solid, substantial business men of Clark Co., L. W. Haughey stands deservedly high; a man of enterprising character, whose integrity and honesty in all the relations of life have never been questioned, we are pleased to be able to represent him in the pages of this work. His grandfather, Thomas Haughey, a native of Ireland, came to the Amercan Colonies before the Revolutionary war; settlingin Virginia, where he was married, of which union were eleven children—John, the father of Laban W., being the eldest. He was born in Grayson Co., Va., Jan. 2, 1787, and was there married to Patience Sturdyven, a native of the same county, born in 1792, and in 1810, came to Clinton Co., Ohio, the town of Wilmington, being now partly built upon the land which he owned. Thomas Haughey was a Revolutionary soldier, and helped to humiliate the hereditary foe of his native land; and soon after John came to Ohio, he also came, settled in Clinton Co., removing thence to Greene Co., where he resided until his death. In 1818, John and family also removed to Greene Co., settling south of Jamestown, in Silver Creek Township, he and wife spending the balance of their days in that county, she dying in November, 1872, and her husband in April, 1876. The subject of this sketch was born in Clinton Co., Ohio, Oct. 13, 1811. and was the second in a family of twelve children, as follows: James N., Laban W., Sarah J., Ann, Lourenna, Churchwell M.. Elizabeth, Nancy, John Q. A., Thomas J., Calvin A. and an infant unnamed;

Sarah J. and six brothers are the survivors. Laban W. grew to manhood in Greene Co.. receiving a limited education in the log schoolhouse of the pioneer days, and following farming as his general occupation. He was married in that county Nov. 17, 1841, to Cynthia Larkin, a native of the county, born April 2, 1819, and the third in a family of seven children. She is the daughter of David and Nancy (Harper) Larkin, natives of Maryland where he was born Dec. 5, 1787, and she Oct. 7, 1792, both being old families of that State, “ Harper's Ferry " receiving its name from her family. They were married in Maryland Feb. 14, 1819, and soon afterward moved to Ohio; settling finally in Greene Co., coming in 1849 to South Charleston, where he is now residing, with his daughter Mrs. Haughey, his wife having died Jan. 28, 1881, a sincere member of the M. E. Church. after a union of seventy years, eleven months and fourteen days, an event almost unparalleled in the annals of married life. Mr. Haughey began life on his individual resources, and made a success from the first, owning a nice farm before his marriage, which he made by his own industry. In January, 1850, he came to South Charleston, and began dealing in grain and produce, in partnership with his father-in-law, this lasting four years, after which he followed stock-trading and money-loaning. In 1863, he was instrumental in establishing the First National Bank of South Charleston, upon the organization of which he was elected its President, occupying this position until its charter was surrendered, March 24, 1877, the bank continuing as a private institution. For about fourteen years he has been a member of the M. E. Church, of which his wife has been a life-long adherent, and he has taken an active interest in the prosperity of Methodism throughout the county; has been in official position the whole period, and helped all churches regardless of creed. Every public movement found in him an active and hearty supporter, and he is recognized as one of the public benefactors of South Charleston. Politically, a Republican, he was an earnest opholder of the Union cause, giving his time and money to support the Government in that crisis, and to take care of the families of the soldiers in the field. He is a member of the I. O. O. F., and was a Director in the Sehool Board for about fifteen years; he is one of the Directors of the Mad River National Bank of Springfield; is the owner of 242 acres of land in Fayette Co., Ohio. and 900 in Indiana, beside property in South Charleston and Springfield, and is one of the wealthy men of this portion of Ohio. Mr. Haughey is a quiet, courteous gentleman, of retiring habits, whose character commands the confidence and respect of all with whom he comes in contact.

As printed in The History of Clark County Ohio, (1881). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.