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JOHN FRANCY, deceased, one of the most prominent names connected with the fire-brick industry of Eastern Ohio is that which appears at the head of this sketch. Mr. Francy, who was born in County Antrim, Ireland, came to the United States with practically no capital but, by the exercise of remarkable business talent, which has been inherited by his sons, he rose from the humble position of a day laborer to that of an industrial magnate. His birth took place April 11, 1830 and he was twenty years old when he reached the port of New York. Going directly to West Virginia, he there secured employment in the brickyard of Stewart & Muney, and from there, a few months later, went to Freeman's Landing and was in the employ of G. S. Porter until 1858. He then removed to New Cumberland and from there, a year later, crossed the river and took charge of the Myer's brickyard on Croxton's Run, which he operated for two years, thus managing the first brickyard in the country. Returning to New Cumberland he there leased the Stewart works and operated them for five years. Mr. Francy then returned to Ohio and purchased a half interest in the sawmill of J. R. M. Stewart, and, in partnership with Alexander Stewart, established the Enterprise Fire-brick Works, which had a capacity of 1,000,000 bricks per annum. Francy & Stewart operated this plant four years and then sold out to Porter, Minor & Co. Mr. Francy then operated the works at Elliottsville for a short time, after which he established the Forest City yeards at Toronto, which he managed until 1886, when he removed to Washington City. Mr. Francy was married in Ireland, March 26, 1850, to Jane Wilson and to them were born two daughters and five sons. Robert M. Francy, the eldest son of the late John and Jane (Wilson) Francy, succeeded his father as a leading firebrick and sewer pipe manufacturer and stands foremost in the industry in Eastern Ohio, at the present time. He was born August 30, 1851. His early business life was spent at Cleveland, Ohio, where he was engaged one year as a salesman for firebrick and sewer pipe. He then came to Jefferson County, where he was bookkeeper for the Calumet Fire Clay Company for four years. Then in association with T. M. Daniels he leased the works and operated them three years, after which he came to Toronto, where the firm established the Great Western Fire Clay Company, which is one of the most extensive manufacturing plants of its kind in the country. In 1881 Mr. W. F. Dunspaugh became a partner, and when Mr. Daniels retired in 1883 the firm became Francy & Dunspaugh. In 1876 Robert M. Francy was married to Miss Lizzie L. Saltsman, and they have had six children: Macy J., Wilmot J., Annie E., Clark W., Elmer and Ralph H. Wilmot and Annie are now deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Francy are members of the Presbyterian Church. He is identified with the Knights of Pythias and the Masons. William B. Francy, son of the late John and Jane (Wilson) Francy, was born at New Cumberland, West Virginia, October 26, 1857. He was given an excellent education in the Toronto schools and as soon as qualified became bookkeeper in his father's works. Later he was admitted to a partnership and in 1880 the firm of John Francy & Sons was established. In 1883, the father, the late John Francy, another son of the founder, with J. W. Roller, of Cleveland. Mr. Francy is identified with the Knights of Pythias and the Odd Fellows. In politics he is a Democrat and has served in the city council and in other capacities. He was one of the organizers of the Toronto Electric Light Company. On February 5, 1880, Mr. Francy was married to Miss Jennie G. McFerren, a daughter of F. A. McFerren, and they have had five children: William B., who died June 20, 1889, and Louise T., Jay G., John B., and Dora M. Elmer E. Francy, a son of the late John and Jane (Wilson) Francy, was born April 12,1862. He was educated at Toronto and Pittsburg and then accepted a position with the sewer-pipe works at Utica, Illinois, where he remained two years. In 1883 he returned to Toronto and entered the firm, in which he has continued ever since. He has always been an active citizen and has served in the city council and other civic boards. Mr. Francy was married to Miss M. Louise Taylor, a daughter of Everett and Kate Taylor, formerly of Utica, Illinois, but later of Toronto, on October 21, 1886. The development of the sewer pipe and fire-brick business under the direction and management of the Francy family has been remarkable in the history of the growth of great industries and it is largely to their enterprise that the Ohio Valley is indebted to its industrial prosperity along this line.  Return to Family Tales
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