Charles H. Foit
The value of a useful vocation and a thorough training, of concentrating one's energy upon one line of endeavor, of forging steadily ahead regardless of obstacles and difficulties, has found emphatic expression in the career of Charles H. Foit, proprietor of the Iron City Baking Company, of Ironton, Ohio, and a citizen who has taken an active part in those affairs which have contributed to the betterment of his community. Mr. Foit was born at Pine Grove, Lawrence County, Ohio, November 22, 1878, and is a son of John and Lena (Meyers) Foit, natives of that place, where the father was born in 1849 and the mother in 1851. John Foit, who has been engaged in coal mining during the greater part of his life, still makes his home at Pine Grove, and is a well known and substantial citizen. There were six children in the family: Charles H, Amelia, John, Jr., Annie, William and Barney.
Charles H. Foit was given but meagre educational advantages, as he attended the public schools of Pine Grove only until the age of eleven years, but made the most of his opportunities and was an industrious and receptive student. On leaving school he entered upon his responsibilities as a worker in the coal mines, remaining four years and then coming to Ironton, where he became an apprentice under Andy Able, who was at that time proprietor of the old Iron City Bakery. Mr. Foit worked for Mr. Able for one year at wages of $1.50 per week, remaining with him until he thoroughly learned the trade of baker, and when the bakery was incorporated into a stock company he had so demonstrated his business and executive ability that he was given the position of manager, which he held until 1910, in the meantime acquiring an interest in the business. In that year he became sole owner by buying the stock of the other stock holders, and at this time is at the head of this enterprise, which is valued at about fifteen thousand dollars, and owns the plant at Third and Lawrence streets. Mr. Foit has gained a full measure of success by his strict attention to business, his unswerving integrity in all transactions and his fidelity to every engagement. He is widely known in the trade, and the high confidence and esteem in which he is held by his associates has been evidenced by his election to the office of treasurer of the Ohio State Master Bakers' Association. He is a stockholder of the National Pretzel Company, and in addition to his baking plant is owner of his own comfortable residence at Fourth and Vernon streets. Mr. Foit is a republican in his political views, and at this time is a candidate for the office of county commissioner. He takes an active and sincere interest in the welfare of his city, as evidence by his membership in the Chamber of Commerce, where he is chairman of the house committee. Fraternally he holds membership in the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, the Knights of Columbus and the Modern Woodmen of America, and his religious affiliation is with St. Joseph's Catholic Church. An enthusiastic sportsman, he is popular with his fellow members in the Symes Creck Fishing Club.
Mr. Foit was married at Ironton, June 6, 1900, to Miss Amelia Hoffman, daughter of Charles Hoffman, a pioneer settler of West Ironton, and four children have been born to this union: Alma, Charlotte, Ruth and Walter.
From "A Standing History of the Hanging Rock Iron Region of Ohio" by Eugene B. Willard, Daniel W. Williams, George O. Newman and Charles B. Taylor. Published by Lewis Publishing Company, 1916