Noble County, Ohio - Biographical sketches (2 of 2 so headed), 1887

Biographical sketches

Edward P. Sullivan, one of the representative business men of the county, was born near Clarksburg, Harrison County, Ya., September 22, 1829. His father, Straw ther Sullivan, was an industrious mechanic. By two marriages he had a family of ten children, whom he supported by daily labor. At the age of eleven years Edward met with that irreparable loss, the death of his mother. After her death he was apprenticed to a shoemaker. His master was exacting and severe, and the apprenticeship of the boy was attended with many hardships and struggles. At the age of sixteen, having acquired his trade, he began life as a journeyman shoemaker in his native town. About 1848 his father died, and the support of the family devolved upon him, and for four yeai^s he was their entire support. His stepmother marrying again, he was relieved from his position as head of the family. Up to this time his life had been replete with poverty and privation, without education, except what he received in the school of observation and experience, and with little prospect of either social or business preferment, life seemed to be shorn of its pleasures, but despite the obstacles which beset his way, he was determined to better his condition in life and to conquer success at any cost. Soon an opportunity was offered to engage in business. A gentleman by the name of Joseph L. Robinson, an uncle of John W. Robinson, of Louisville, Ky., proposed to furnish the capital ($100) for the establishment of a shoe store, Edward to take charge of the business. The offer was eagerly accepted, and from this time he began to prosper. The co-partnership existed for about three years, in which time he accumulated $750, a sum that seemed to him a competency. With his little fortune he came to Middleburg, where a brother, Dexter W., had already settled. Deeming it a good location he returned to Virginia, closed up his business and returned to Middleburg, where he remained for seventeen years. By industry and close attention to business he soon became forehanded, and he began to take a conspicuous position among the business men of the county. In 1872 he came to Dexter City, where he engaged in merchandising, in which he has since been successfully engaged. The life of Mr. Sullivan can justly be termed a successful one. Reared in poverty, without education, his way was so obstructed that one less resolute would have given up in despair. His career evidences the inevitable result of perseverance, industry and integrity. While Mr. Sullivan has obtained a well-won competency he has also been successful in the building of an enviable reputation, and it is but just to say that but few, if any, stand higher in the public esteem. He has been called at different times to the occupancy of positions of trust and responsibility. In

History Ok Noblb Oountt, Ohio

1861 he was elected county commissioner and upon the expiration of his term was re-elected. For over twenty years he has been the village magistrate. In his political convictions he is a Republican ; originally, however, he was a Democrat, but the issues involved in the war placed him in the Republican ranks. He is a Methodist in religious belief, and a patron of all charitable and religious enterprises. During the war he took an active part in forwarding any war measures, and his time and mone}'^ were always at command. Four of his brothers, Dexter W., Isaac, Ebenezer and William A., were Union soldiers. The last three gave up their lives in defense of the cause. Mr. Sullivan has been twice married. His first wife. Miss Martha Ogle, whom he married m 1858, died m 1871. In 1873 he was again married, to Miss Amanda Humiston, of Washington County, Ohio. By the first union there was one child, Cora M. (Mugrage); by the second, two: Mattie C. and Ernest E.