HENRY HAZEN

    Henry Hazen was a lumber merchant and farmer near Woodland.  William P. Hazen, father of the subject of this sketch, was born in May 1817, in New York State, and when twelve years of age came to Ohio.  He married Maria L. Langdon by whom he had six children, five of whom are now living, viz.: Our subject being the oldest, Edward E., Phoeba A., Philander F., and Martin L.  His wife died in 1853, and he was married in December of the same year to Mrs. Charlotte J. Vincent, a widow.  About the year 1838, at Deerfield, Portage County, he engaged in the foundry business, having learned the trade of a molder in his youth.  He there continued in business until 1840, when he opened a foundry at Rosenna, and carried on the business successfully until 1848, in which year he formed a partnership with his brother, under the firm title of W. P. Hazen & Co.  They carried on the business until 1851. In 1851, he embarked in the lumber trade at Atwater, Portage County, where he continued his business until 1860, in which year he went to Warren, Trumbull County.  He here carried on the lumber business successfully until 1862, when he admitted as a partner our subject.  In 1863, they closed up their business at Warren and came to Jackson Township, this county.  In 1866, they admitted as a partner Edward E. Hazen, and the firm henceforth transacted business under the title of W. P. Hazen & Sons, until 1880, in which year the partnership was dissolved.  William P..Hazen affords to us a striking illustration, of what a poor boy can do if he puts to work his brains and muscle with a determination to succeed.  At the time of his arrival in Ohio he had according to his own statement "a few shillings in his pocket," and today he is the owner of 1,500 acres of land in Union County, 700 acres in Florida and other vast possessions.  He was in his day one of the most active and stirring business men which Union County possessed.  Our subject was born July 11, 1838, in Portage County, Ohio.  In January 1864, he married Miss Alice E. Wells, who was born in February 1842; she was a daughter of John F. and Dorotha Wells, of Portage County.  To them have been born six children - William P., Charles E., Maria L., Benjamin W., Lettie A. and John F.  His business career has been principally in connection with that of his father, as shown in this sketch.  In connection with his forming, at present he is also engaged quite extensively in stock-raising and lumbering.  He has served as Trustee of Jackson Township.  Through his exertions was secured the post office at Woodland, where he officiated as Postmaster several years.  He is a member of the F. & A. M. society and of the I. O. O. F. society.