Samuel H. Lafferty

As printed in 1902

SAMUEL J. LAFFERTY.

Among the valued representatives of mercantile interests in Springfield is Samuel J. Lafferty, a dealer in stoves, tinware and queensware. In an humble clerkship he entered upon his business career but has since steadily advanced, improving his opportunities, securing promotion through close application to duty, and by conscientious regard for the tasks imposed upon him. From the time he became a member of a mercantile firm he also has continuously progressed and is to-day at the head of one of the leading stores in his line in this city.

Upon a farm in Harmony township on the 28th of November, 1846, he was born, representing one of the old families of that locality. His paternal grandparents, William and Jane Lafferty, became early settlers of Harmony township, removing to that place from Pennsylvania, where had occurred the birth of Samuel H. Lafferty, the father of our subject. The latter was reared to manhood upon the old family homestead in this county, and after arriving at years of maturity he married Catherine Corson. The

THe mother died two weeks after the birth of her son; the father died when he was but a year old, so that at a very tender age Samuel J. Lafferty was left an orphan. He was then taken to the home of his grandfather, Willtam Lafferty, and at the usual age entered school. He was also trained to habits of industry and economy upon the farm, where he remained until his twentieth year, when, desiring to enter mercantile life, he secured a situation in a country store of Plattsburg. Subsequently he was employed in the Capital City Plow & Harrow Works, where he remained for two years, after which he came to Springfield and accepted a position in the hardware store of Baker & Brown. His connection with that house was maintained for three years, at the end of which time the firm sold its stock to Messrs. Coblentz € Myers, Mr. Lafferty remaining with the new firm and afterward purchasing an interest in the business, at which time the firm was changed to Coblentz, Myers € Company. They dealt in hardware, stoves and shelf goods. When three years had gone by, Mr. Lafferty disposed of his interests and then spent two years upon a farm, after which he again became an active factor in mercantile circles, buying out the interest of Mr. Coblentz in the store in which he had formerly been a partner. At that time the firm style of Myers & Lafferty was assumed and it was in 1897 that the partnership was dissolved, Mr. Lafferty taking as his share of the business the stoves and queensware. He has since been actively connected with the hardware trade of Springfield and now has a large and well equipped store, occupying a building forty by one hundred feet. He carries an extensive and well-selected stock of shelf goods, heavy hardware and queensware. Through the many years of his business connection: with Springfield he has gained a wide acquaintance and is well known for his honesty and square dealing that has resulted in bringing to him a growing and profitable trade.

On the 28th of May, 1874, Mr. Lafferty was united in marriage to Miss Belle Mc- Cord, of Springfield, a daughter of Elias and Emeline (Hayward) McCord. They now have four children: Clarence S., the eldest, who is now interested in the store with his father, was married in 1897 to Ella M. Van Cleef, a daughter of George C. Van Cleef, and they have one son, Charles V. Charles, the second member of the father's family, is also in the store. Emeline and Nellie, the daughters, are at home.

When the country was involved in Civil war Mr. Lafferty manifested his loyalty to the Union cause by enlisting in the northern army as a member of the One Hundred and Fifty-third Ohio Infantry, in which he served faithfully until honorably discharged, thus being entitled to membership in the Grand Army of the Republic. At the present time he is identified with Mitchell Post. In the Masonic fraternity he is a member of Clark Lodge, No. 101, F. & A. M.; Springfield Chapter, No. 48, R. A. M.; and Palestine Commandery, No. 33, K. T. His fraternal relations also connect him with another of the oldest and most honored organizations of this character in the country —the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He is identified with Springfield Lodge and has been a representative to the grand lodge, He has served as master of Clark Lodge; high priest of the Springfield Chapter; and eminent commander of the Palestine Commandery, all of which indicates that he is honored by his brethren of these organizations. There has been nothing sensational in his life history, which is the chronicle of a business career marked by steadfastness of purpose and by close adherence to a high standard of commercial principles. _—+

As printed in A Biographical Record of Clark County Ohio (1902). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.