Oliver Laflin Sr.

Oliver Laflin Sr. was born in Southwick, Mass. He worked in sales at his family's namesake powder company in his hometown (Laflin Powder Co., owned by his father and uncle). He traveled his sales territory by wagon in which he made his sales.

As a young man, he moved to New York City, where he became a police sergeant, a position he held for many years.

During his career, riots were frequent there. Laflin was injured several times. One time a rioter stabbed him with an ice pick. The pick went through his stomach and came out near his spine. He made a surprising recovery.

He moved to Pennsylvania sometime around 1864-65.

Laflin was the superintendent of the Moosic Powder Co. He was also a station agent for the Central Railroad of New Jersey at Ashley, Penn. He eventually went into the mercantile business. He retired from business and became postmaster at Moosic, Penn., a capacity he served for nine years.

Sadly, a stroke of paralysis took its toll and left him invalid sometime around 1897. About two years passed when he suffered a second stroke and passed away a few days later.

Oliver Dewey Laflin: Feb. 27, 1816 - Jan. 3, 1899.