T. A. McLaughlin
T. A. McLaughlin, oil purchasing agent, representing Joseph Seep, and one of the thoroughly experienced oil men of the country, has been a resident of Lima since 1886. He was born in 1840 , in Pittsburg Pennsylvania.
Mr. McLaughlin was reared in Pittsburg and attended the schools of that city. Before he had acquired business experience, he enlisted in the service of his country, in August, 1861, entering Company I, 13th Reg. U. S. Vol. Inf., in which he served one year. The Governor of Pennsylvania then claimed the regiment as a part of the Pennsylvania contingent and consequently it was transformed into the 12nd Regiment, Pennsylvania Vol. Inf. His regiment participated in all the great battles of the Army of the Potomac and at the battle of Williamsburg, Mr. McLaughlin had the experience of being struck by five bullets without being seriously wounded. He was not always so fortunate, however, for at the battle of the Wilderness he was shot through the thigh. From the field hospital he was conveyed to the hospital at Fredericksburg and later to the one at Georgetown, and while still under treatment his term of enlistment expired. Entering the army as sergeant, his personal bravery rapidly won him promotion and at the time of his honorable discharge he was wearing a captain's epaulets.
After his return from the army, Captain McLaughlin became first a clerk on a steamer on the Allegheny River, running between Oil City and Warren, Pennsylvania, for a few months and then he embarked in a hotel business at Oil City. He soon became interested in oil himself, and after running his hotel for three years he engaged in the oil business as a broker with Owston & Sowers, and continued with that firm from 1867 until 1873. He next became agent for the Devoe Manufacturing Company and later was buyer for J. A. Bostwick & Company from 1878 to 1882. From the latter year until 1886 Mr. McLaughlin again was an oil broker at Oil City until 1886. Since then he has been oil purchasing agent at Lima for Joseph Seep.
Mr. McLaughlin helped to organize the first oil exchanges in the oil country at Titusville, Oil City and Parker, Pennsylvania. He was president of the Parker Oil Exchange, and afterward president of the Oil City Oil Exchange when it was the leading one in the United States. He was elected to the Select Council of Oil City and was president of that body for three years; by virtue of his office he was the presiding officer of the select and common councils when in joint session.
In 1878 Mr. McLaughlin was married to Ella Gray, then of Philadelphia, formerly of New York City, and they have three children, viz: Warren J., Thomas D. and Laura G. The eldest son is a graduate of Columbia Law School of New York City and is now in the practice of his profession at Lima. Thomas D. is also a graduate of Columbia College and is an architect. The only daughter is a student at Rye Seminary, New York. The family belongs to the Catholic Church.
Mr. McLaughlin is a Mason of high degree, belonging to the Blue Lodge, Council, Chapter and Commandery at Lima and to the Shrine and Consistory at Pittsburg.