Charles Willoughby

Charles Willoughby came to Henry County from Willoughby, Ohio, and settled in Malinta, Ohio. He became head sawer at Burr Sawmill. Jack Frazier was their timber buyer.

He met Eliza Burr of Malinta and they were married in March, 1880.

When the Dan Houser sawmill was put up for sale in 1891, Mr. Willoughby and Jack Frazier decided to buy it. It was located on what is now Route 65 and Cold Water Road just at the south edge of McClure, Ohio. Mr. Willoughby had to build a house before he could move and he built it just south of the sawmill. It is still standing.

In 1901 Mr. Willoughby bought out Jack Frazier and in April, 1902, took John Miller as a partner in the business.

In the spring of 1903 the manufacturing plant located on the Cloverleaf Railroad was up for sale and he bought that for $1800 and opened up the first lumber mill in McClure, Ohio. In the middle of 1903 they sold the sawmill. Mr. Willoughby and Mr. Miller then dissolved the partnership and he owned the lumber mill until his death in 1915. It was sold to Theisen and Hildred Lumber Mill of Napoleon, Ohio.

Charles Willoughby and Eliza Burr had five children. They were Mary Bell, born February, 1882; Edna born May, 1890; Wilder born December, 1896; and two children who died in infancy.

Mary Bell who married James Van Tassell still survives at the age of 93 in McClure, Ohio.

Submitted by Mrs. John Tassel Roberts