Earl Sloan

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Doctor Earl Sawyer Sloan (born September 8, 1848, Zanesfield, Ohio, died September 13, 1923, Boston, Massachusetts) was an American entrepreneur and philanthropist. His parents were Andrew Sloan and Susan Bass Clark Sloan.

[edit] Early life and family

The Sloan family emigrated from Northern Ireland in the early seventeenth century following the American Revolution; Earl's father settled in Venango County, Pennsylvania.

The family home was a small log house on Sandusky Street in Zanesfield. Earl's father was a harness maker, who served as a pioneer veterinary surgeon for Central Ohio, and he bought and sold horses for the army during the Civil War. He had a certain ability with horses and spent as much time caring for animals as he did in mending saddles. From a formula reportedly given to him by the Indians (though this is uncertain), Andrew made a strong-smelling brown concoction that was applied to horses' shoulders when they stiffened from the spring ploughing. The formula grew to be in great demand in the area.

Andrew Sloan pursued his skill with healing animals until he was a self-taught veterinarian, becoming known as the "Village Vet" and "Doc Sloan." A notice that appeared in the Logan County Gazette on September 6, 1856 advertised:

Dr. Andrew Sloan takes this method of informing his old friends, who have so liberally patronized him for many years, that he is now prepared to practice as a Veterinary Surgeon, and will attend to any call in his profession in Logan and adjoining counties. Dr. S. professes to cure Poll Evil, Spavin, Splint, Curb, Callous, Sweney, Shoulder-jam, or any other disease, external or internal. So bring on your cripples. Residence at Zanesfield.
ANDREW SLOAN.

N.B. Dr Sloan is prepared to furnish stable or pasture for horses from s distance. Medicines of all sorts furnished, and prescriptions given. - Charges reasonable.

Earl attended school in Zanesfield's old school building, directly across the street from his home. He did not attend more than the elementary grades, but did learn to read and developed a great appreciation for books.

Townspeople recalled that Earl was mischievous as a youth and objected to the nickname "Spider" that was attached to him for reasons unknown.

Under the tutelage of Frank Pope, Earl also became a harness-maker, beginning his apprenticeship at the age of fifteen.

[edit] Entrance into the market

In 1871, a twenty-three-year old Earl, armed with several bottles of his father's horse liniment, joined with his brother Foreman in St. Louis, Missouri, where Foreman was engaged in the buying and shipping of horses. This time period immediately following the Civil War marked the heyday of the horse in American life. Consequently, the Sloan liniment formula was in great demand. For about twenty-five years, Earl and his brother peddled their remedy from farm to farm, and also worked the horse fairs and carnivals.

At some point in the brothers' venture, someone applied the liniment to his back, discovering that it relieved his own discomfort, as well. Thereafter, the Sloan brothers began selling even more of the liniment advertising it as "good for man and beast".

Earl risked the money necessary for advertisements in Chicago's streetcars, and in time, the orders for the liniment multiplied.

On February 8, 1899, at the age of fifty, Earl Sloan married Bertha Woolaver (occasionally spelled "Wolaver"), a Newport native, who had gone to Boston to pursue a nursing career. Just prior to their engagement, Earl had been having dinner at Bertha's father's house in Nova Scotia, and had asked for an introduction. What followed was a whirlwind courtship, followed soon after by Earl's proposal to her, giving her two weeks to prepare for their wedding and a trip to Europe afterward, which would serve as both a honeymoon and a business trip.

[edit] References

• Bertha Baird, letters dated June 11, 1990 and June 25, 1990
• Donald W. Beckett, Advertising Manager for Standard Laboratories, September 21, 1950 narrative
• Cleveland Plain Dealer Pictorial Magazine, October 8, 1950 Craven-Pamilco-Carteret Regional Library; Emily J. Miles, Assistant Reference Librarian
• The Daily Examiner, various issues
• John B. Green III, A New Bern Album
• Grace Goulder Izant, This is Ohio
• Risse McDuffee, "My Findings on Dr. Earl Sloan," 1974
• Randall D. Myers, Executive Director of Administrative Services, Bellefontaine City Schools, October 2001
• The National Cyclopaedia of American Biography, (New York, James T. White & Co., 1929; reprinted in 1967 in Ann Arbor, Michigan by University Microfilms), Volume 20, pg. 406
• O.K. Reames, History of Zanesfield; reprinted in 1976 by Zanesfield Area Bicentennial Committee
• Lillian Slade Zook
• Sloan Trust files and records
• Donna R. Spencer, Huntsville Ohio