NOBLE COUNTY OHIO - BIO: Henry Large (1887) *********************************************************************** OHGENWEB NOTICE: All distribution rights to this electronic data are reserved by the submitter. Reproduction or re-presentation of copyrighted material will require the permission of the copyright owner. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. http://www.usgwarchives.net/oh/ *********************************************************************** File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Submitter: Tina Hursh Email: ribbit@clubnet.isl.net Date: 14 July 2002 *********************************************************************** From the The Ohio Biographies Project http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~usbios/Ohio/mnpg.html a part of The U.S. Biographies Project http://members.tripod.com/~debmurray/usbios/usbiog.html Transcribed by Deb Murray. --------------- Henry Large, one of the successful financiers and early settlers of Marion Township, was born near the city of Dublin, July 21, 1817. His parents, George and Eliza Large, were farmers, and came to America in 1825. They landed in Quebec, where the elder Large died some three weeks after his arrival, leaving the family in rather destitute circumstances. They removed to Montreal, where they lived about three months. Thence they went to a little village called Beaver Dam, near Niagra Falls, where Mrs. Large bought a piece of land and where Henry found employment as a boy-of-all-work in a store. A sister of Mrs. Large, Mrs. Dr. Craig, had settled near Summerfield some time in 1818, and by her advice Mrs. Large disposed of her little property and came to the new country in February of 1828, with her little family of six children. She entered from government eighty acres of land near the village of Freedom, which she improved and on which she resided until 1839, when Henry became the owner. The early life of Mr. Large was one of toil and hardship. At the age of sixteen he made his initial effort in business by taking a job of splitting rails at thirty-one cents per hundred. At eighteen he began life as a farm laborer at $8 per month. These facts, although seemingly trivial, show what can be done from small beginnings. By dint of industry and close economy he accummulated a sum nearly sufficient for the purchase of the homestead farm, which he still owns, he laid the foundation of his fortune.. Never at one time has he owned more than 155 acres. The life of Mr. Large has been a busy and successful one, in fact it may be said that, considering his opportunities, no resident of Noble County has been more so. He has devoted his time to farming, tobacco raising and loaning his net earnings, and is thought to be the wealthiest man in the county. Many are curious to know how it was possible for him to acquire so fine a competency under such adverse circumstances. His answer to the question is, "By the r the avoidance of debt," and we might add, shrewd management and a desire to excel. Mr. Large is quiet and reserved in manner, and possessed of no distinguishing characteristics, excepting his financial ability and his extraordinary mathematical acquirements; his gift in this respect is wonderful, and like that of Pascal and Colburn, is a God given faculty, and his education was almost wholly confined to that school in which the teachers are observation and experience. In politics he is a Republican; in religion a Methodist, although not a member of any church. He is classed among the foremost men of the county in wealth, brains and intelligence. Mr. Large was married early in life to Miss Maria, daughter of Edward Cleary. She was born in King's County, Ireland, in 1823. She has been to Mr. Large a helpmeet in all that the word implies. They have had nine children: Mary A. (McClintock), John, Sarah H. and Emma (died infancy), Eliza H., Clara I. (Guiler), George E., Emma J. and Joseph H. History of Noble County, Ohio Published by L.H. Watkins & Co. of Chicago 1887 Marion