Biographical Profile: Nathan, James and Thomas P. Offutt, Company K, Pennsylvania Volunteers, 100th Regiment
Transcribed by Tami McConahy, 2nd great-grandniece of Corp. Thomas John Martin, Co. F. from "Book of Biographies, Lawrence County", 1897.
Book of Biographies, Lawrence County, Pennsylvania 1897
Page 440
John C. Offutt, president of the firm of Offutt, White & Co., the leading furniture dealers of the city of New Castle, was born Oct. 15, 1847, in Plain Grove township, Lawrence Co., Pa. Our subject spent his boyhood days at home with his parents, and at the age of eighteen went to Youngstown, Ohio, where he clerked for a year, and acquired needful experience in business methods. He then went into business for himself at Volant, this county, handling general merchandise, and was burned out only about a year after he opened the store. He was next in business in Sharon, Pa., where he remained until 1873, disposing of his interests then, and as times were slack did not again engage in business until 1882. In that year he launched a mercantile venture in Clarksville, and continued it until 1887, when he sold out his interests to White and McKinney. In the spring of 1887, Mr. Offut became associated with the firm of Dunn & Co. of New Castle, which firm did an extensive business in furniture; after a year and a half's connection with the firm, he bought out Mr. Dunn, and the firm name was changed to Offut & Co., and remained so until 1893, when Mr. White was taken into the firm, and it now stands as Offutt, White & Co., funeral directors and furniture dealers.
Mr. Offutt is a son of John Offutt, and a grandson of John Offut, Sr., who was a Quaker, and the first representative of the Offutt family in America; he settled in the State of Maryland. His wife was a daughter of Captain Cook, the commander of the sailing vessel which brought him over. Four children were born to them as follows: Nathan; James; George; and John. Our subject's father was born in Maryland, and came to Lawrence some little time previous to his marriage; he located in Plain Grove township, and engaged in farming. His wife, Margaret Patterson, died July 20, 1878, aged seventy-six years. He followed her to the land beyond the river just two months later, dying Sept. 20, 1878, aged seventy-eight years. Their children were: Nancy (Lowrey); Mary J. (Streeter); Susan (Hamilton); Elizabeth (Brown); James; Martha (Martin); Caroline (Rice); Thomas P.; and John C., our subject.
John C. Offut married Louisa E. Bovard, daughter of Hutchinson Bovard of Plain Grove township. They have two children, Martha H. and Frank B.