PHRAOTES E. BANCROFT, hatter, Springfield. Mr. P. E. Bancroft was born in Springfield on Jan. 28, 1822, and is one of six children — four brothers and two sisters; he has been twice married — first, to Miss Catherine Moody, in 1844, by whom he had no children to live: and he married again in 1859, Lou M. Mayhew, of Warren County, by whom he has had one son, Robert Christie, born Nov. 7, 1866 — an exceptionally good and dutiful boy, and a great source of comfort and pride to his parents. Mr. Bancroft learned his trade with the firm of Cotes, Lathrop & Arden, entering his apprenticeship in 1839: commenced business for himself in his present stand in 1851, where he has grown with Springfield, been quite successful; and is doing now the principal hat and cap trade. His family attends the First Presbyterian Church. Mr. Bancroft, although not drafted, sent voluntarily to the army a substitute, at an expense to himself of about $700. Of his brothers and sisters, Leonidas has a billiard room; La Fayette is a tinner; Oscar F. is a photographer: and his two sisters are Mrs. Amanda Churchill and Mrs. Flavilla G. Kleiman. Mr. Bancroft's father, Louis Bancroft, is entitled to the distinction of being the oldest citizen, and no man knows more of early Springfield than he.

From History of Clark County, Ohio, W.H. Beers & Co. 1881. Page 786

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