JAMES SATTERFIELD FRUIT, hardware merchant, is a native of Jefferson Township, Mercer Co., Penn., where he was born October 17, 1849. His parents were Thomas and Anna (Campbell) Fruit, the former a native of Eastern Pennsylvania, and the latter of Mercer County, and a member of a pioneer in Clarksville, Penn. At the age of sixteen he attended the Edinboro Normal School, where he spent three terms. He subsequently clerked in Wheatland, and thence removed to Trumbull County, Ohio, where he conducted a general store for about eleven years. In January, 1879, Mr. Fruit formed a partnership with J. J. Spearman, and as J. S. Fruit & Co. purchased the hardware store of A. E. Carter & Co. The following month they bought out Ohl, Vile & Co., and the firm of Fruit, Ohl & Co. was then organized. For the past nine years this firm has conducted one of the leading hardware houses of the Shenango Valley. Mr. Fruit was married December 4, 1884, to Miss Callie Semple, of Hermitage, and a native of Mercer County, of which union one son, Fred, has been born. Mr. Fruit was a delegate to the Republican State Convention in 1884, and was a member of the State Committee in 1885. In 1886 he was elected to the Legislature from Mercer County, and served in the session of 1887. In the spring of 1888 he was renominated at the convention held at Mercer, and re-elected in November. Mr. Fruit is a member of the Masonic and I. 0. 0. F. fraternities, and one of the best known citizens of his native county.