Biographies
LOUIS BANCROFT, retired merchant, Springfield. Mr. Bancroft is perhaps the oldest man who has lived continuously in the city; he came to Springfield in 1816, and established himself as one of the leading dry goods merchants during his business life; he also engaged in other ventures, all of which proved successful; at one time, he was a wholesale dealer in liquors, but, through the remonstrance of friends, relinquished the very profitable business; for ten years he was County Gauger and Government Inspector, and he handled annually 10,000 barrels of liquor He was born in Massachusetts in 1792, came West in 1816, and was married to Miss Mary Christie in 1819; she was born in 1800, in New Boston, N. H.; they are the parents of six children — Leonidas, Phraotes E., La Fayette, Oscar Fitz, Amanda M., and Flavilla G. Another son, Louis Waters, died in infancy. Leonidas married Miss Mary Hartwell; Phraotes wedded Miss Lou Mayhew; Oscar is the husband of Miss Jennie Myers; Amanda is the wife of Benjamin P. Churchill; and Flavilla, married Mr. William Kleiman. All were wedded before except one, and, with the exception of Mrs. Churchill, live in the city. Mr. Bancroft was a resident of this county two years before the organization of Clark County, and has until the past few years been actively connected with its business interests. In October he will be 89 years of age. There is only one house now standing in the city that stood when he came here. He was a soldier in the war of 1812, and while Deputy Sheriff during the early settlement of the county, achieved quite a reputation as an efficient officer, the men in some parts of the county being a very lawless set. He and his wife now live at their ease in a tasty cottage on West Washington street, and enjoy the respect of every one in the city.
From History of Clark County, Ohio, W.H. Beers & Co. 1881. Page 785