BIO: John LAUGHLIN, Beaver County, PA
  
  Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Judy Banja & Joe Patterson
  
  Copyright 2005.  All rights reserved.
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  BOOK OF BIOGRAPHIES.  This Volume Contains Biographical Sketches 
  of Leading Citizens of Beaver County, Pennsylvania.  Buffalo, N.Y., 
  Chicago, Ill.: Biographical Publishing Company, 1899, pp. 276-277.
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  JOHN LAUGHLIN, a prosperous grocery merchant in the little town of Glasgow,
  Beaver county, Pa., is justly regarded as a power in that place. During the
  whole of his active business career in their midst, the citizens of Glasgow
  have felt his enterprising spirit in all movements to advance the welfare of
  the community. Mr. Laughlin is a native of Beaver county, where his birth
  occurred in 1834. He is a son of Robert Laughlin, a native of the same
  county, and grandson of Thomas Laughlin, a worthy pioneer. His
  great-grandfather was Thomas Laughlin, who married Sarah Simpson in 1765, and
  they had five sons, as follows: Thomas; James; Robert; John; and William.
  After receiving a limited education in the public schools, the gentleman
  whose name heads this sketch entered upon his career as cabin boy on the
  river. Shortly afterward, however, he rose to the position of steward, and
  was employed in that capacity with Charles Hurst, the well-known steamboat
  man of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania. In 1856, he resigned his position and went
  west to seek his fortune in California. After locating in Sacramento City, he
  established claims of his own and engaged in gold mining. In this venture, his
  fortune varied, although on the
  
  BEAVER COUNTY  277
  
  whole he was fairly successful. After working his claims diligently for three
  years, Mr. Laughlin returned to the Keystone State, and invested considerable
  money in the Laughlin Steamboat Company. He acted as steward on one of the
  numerous boats owned by that company, and his brother was captain of the same
  boat. Our subject subsequently sold his interest in that company, resigning
  his position at the same time. He then accepted a position with the Brown
  Company, and remained in their employ until 1873. Mr. Laughlin then retired
  from river life, having followed that occupation fully twenty-five years.
  
  In 1887, the subject of our sketch built his present store in Glasgow, and
  started a grocery. Glasgow is located on the C. & P. R. R. near the Ohio
  River, and is the terminus of the C. & P. branch railroad, recently
  constructed to New Lisbon, Ohio. Mr. Laughlin went into business there during
  the oil excitement, and the place at that time boasted of five hundred
  inhabitants. The oil interests of the place were, however, then on the
  decline, and the town has gradually gone back to its present state. It is
  simply another illustration of the rise and decline that has characterized so
  many oil towns. But during all the fluctuating fortunes of the town, our
  subject has remained at the same old stand where he has ever enjoyed a fair
  patronage. In addition to handling a fine line of staple and fancy groceries,
  he has also a choice stock of notions, patent medicines, hardware,
  confectionery, flour and feed; he deals also in tobacco and cigars.
  
  July 19, 1860, Mr. Laughlin was united in marriage with Priscilla Calhoun, a
  charming daughter of James Calhoun, a well-known boat builder. Priscilla was
  born in Beaver county, where she also received her scholastic training.
  
  To the subject of this biography and his esteemed wife, have been born five
  children, all of whom received a practical education in the district schools.
  Their names are: Charles D., a plumber; James O., a gauger in the employ of
  the Standard Oil Co.; Bertha M. (Childs); William, a prominent plumber in
  Rochester, Pa.; and Abner L., who is also an expert plumber. Mr. Laughlin
  takes an active interest in the affairs of his town and is a prominent member
  of the Republican party. He has served as councilman and as school director.
  He resides in a fine residence, beautifully located on the bank of the Ohio
  River. Mr. Laughlin worships at the M. E. church of which he is steward. He
  is exceedingly popular.