USA > Ohio > Hancock County > A centennial biographical history of Hancock County, Ohio > Part 52
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William Alspach was born in Amanda township April 13, 1840, and his early life was spent in the healthy environments of the farm. He had arrived at man's estate when the Civil war broke out, and he entered the service as a member of Company E, One Hundred and Ninety-seventh Regi- ment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry; he enlisted for three years, but at the close of the war was discharged. On his return from the army he entered the mercantile business and has continued this with gratifying success up to the present time. He confines his stock to groceries and keeps only those of the highest quality and fresh from the market; by his thorough business methods he has gained and kept a large and satisfied patronage.
Mr. Alspach has also been prominent in the public affairs of his town. During President Cleveland's administration he held the office of postmas- ter, and he was also mayor of Vanlue for two years; he is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and is past noble grand and past chief patriarch. On November 24, 1859, he was married to a daughter of George and Mary M. Cross, Miss Elizabeth J., who was born in Hancock county on February 24, 1841, and died February 21, 1877. Four of their five children are now living: P. D. L., James A., W. P. and Lucy J.
WILLIAM C. NEIBLING.
This urbane and highly esteemed representative of the medical fraternity of Hancock county is a native of the city of Findlay, where he was born April II, 1851. He passed the period of adolescence in this city, receiv- ing an excellent foundation for the further literary course which he added to his equipment before he began the study of medicine. He took up the study of medicine in Findlay with Dr. J. C. Tritch, and after a year or two reading in his office, matriculated with the Pulte Medical College at Cincin- nati, Ohio. Here he continued his studies continuously until 1889, when he received the diploma of that institution. He returned immediately to his home town and took up active practice, in which he has been engaged since. Dr. Neibling is a deep student in the medical profession. He takes a keen interest in everything that pertains to it, and is never satisfied to allow him-
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Peraibling Mich
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self to become rusty. He has taken several post-graduate courses in the New York Polyclinic School, and has also attended post-graduate schools at the Chicago Homeopathic College. He takes an active interest in the different medical organizations in his section of the state, the Ohio Medical Society, the Northwestern Ohio Medical Association, and the Orificial Society of Sur- geons. He is an active member of the Knights of Pythias organization, is a member of the Elks fraternity, and by virtue of his father's military record, a member of the Loyal Legion. Dr. Neibling never married.
Looking somewhat into the earlier history of the Neibling family, Dr .. Neibling was a son of James M. Neibling, a gentleman wlio was a native of Fairfield, Ohio, where he was born in 1827. In young manhood he re- moved to Hancock county, where he engaged in merchandising for several years in Findlay. He was a gentleman who took an active part in the public life of the community, and displaying qualities that made him peculiarly fit for the office of sheriff, lie was in 1856 elected to that office and in 1858 received re-election. When the dark days of the rebellion broke over the country, he was one of the very first to offer his services, in 1861 being made lieutenant colonel of the Thirty-first Ohio Volunteer Infantry, in which posi- tion he served until 1863, when in January of that year he was promoted for meritorious conduct on the field to a full colonelcy. He served until January of 1865, when, having lost his right arm at the battle of Resaca, he resigned and returned home, having made a splendid record as a most gallant defender of the Union, and having been breveted brigadier general. After the war he was a merchant in Findlay until the time of his death, which occurred in 1869. In 1866 he received the appointment of postmaster of Findlay from the hands of President Johnson, and it was while filling this office that his death occurred. Previous to his record as a soldier in the Civil war, Colonel Neibling had been connected with the military affairs of his country, having served during the whole period of the Mexican war, serving as a private soldier. Dr. Neibling's grandfather was Christian Neibling, who was a gallant soldier in the war of 1812. The Neiblings are of German descent, the great-great-grandfather of our subject, the first American ancestor, emigrating to America from Saxony.
CHARLES MALLEN.
In a notable speech made at New Orleans in 1846 in aid of the sufferers. by the Irish famine of that period, Sergeant S. Prentiss, the celebrated Mississippi orator, thus opened his address: "Far away to the eastward
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lies an island famous in story and in song ; she has contributed to the world more than her due share of wit and eloquence, and her sons have fought suc- cessfully on all fields save their own." One naturally recalls this glorious tribute to a remarkable race when dealing with any of its members in a biographical way, and it is not too much to say that the Emerald Isle has sent no worthier sons to America than the Mallen family. Like most other emigrants that crossed over from that inhappy land, they came with little means and were compelled to face the labor problem in its severest forms to obtain a means of livelihood. James Mallen was born in Dublin in 1837, embarked for America in 1866 and after his arrival located in New York state, where he secured employment. He is still residing at James- town, New York. He was married at Dublin, Ireland, in 1866 to Mary Daily, by whom he had six children.
Charles Mallen, one of the children, was born at DeBruce, New York, April 4, 1873, and remained there during the early years of his childhood, but later accompanied his parents to Jamestown, New York. As he grew up he became familiar with the insurance business, for which he exhibited an early aptitude, and when he came to Findlay in 1895 he was made agent of the Prudential Insurance Company at that point, which position he has continued to hold up to the present time. Mr. Mallen possesses the suave and easy ad- dress peculiar to his race, and during his career at Findlay has done well, both for himself and his company.
In 1899 Mr. Mallen was united in marriage with Miss Katherine Dun- ford, a most estimable young lady of Findlay, whose untimely death threw a gloom over more than one household where her name was cherished. Mrs. Mallen's death occurred on the 6th of August, 1900, leaving an infant son who was christened Charles J. Mr. Mallen, like his ancestors for genera- tions back, is a devout member of the Roman Catholic church, and holds fra- ternal connections with the Knights of Columbus.
W. A. WISE.
When, about the middle of the last century, it was found that crude petroleum could be refined so as to make a most valuable product for com- mercial purposes and completely do away with the old tallow candles for lighting, there was a rush for the oil fields of western Pennsylvania, and in a few years the oil produced from that region made a large percentage of the total exports of the United States. This industry has not been con- fined in recent years to this one favored spot of the Union, but has spread and
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has become one of the sources of wealth in various parts of the country. When the oil business was at its height in Pennsylvania, about the year 1874, there was born in the vicinity of the oil belt, in Mckean county, a young man who was to make good use of the knowledge gained from observation and experience in the business, when he took up his home in the neighboring state of Ohio. This was W. A. Wise, whose boyhood was spent in the busy scenes about the Allegheny river, where he became familiar with the production of oil from the time it was taken in the crude state from the wells until the refined product was barreled and shipped to the marts of trade. His father, John B. Wise, assisted him and encouraged him in this branch of business until his death, four years after which sad event, and when he was seven- teen years old, he came with his mother, in 1891, to Hancock county, where he set to work to develop the oil fields of this region. By close saving he soon had money enough to drill for himself. He has done a great deal to make the business here profitable and is now considered indispensable to its success. On the fifty-five acres of land which he owns in Liberty town- ship he has fifteen producing oil wells, which return a handsome revenue every month. In addition to this he farms his land, and his place is one of the models of the county.
In 1894 Mr. Wise married the only daughter of one of the old and re- spected citizens of this county. Miss Nella, the daughter of W. C. and Susan Watson. She was born March 12, 1876, on the farm in Liberty township adjoining the one which she inherited from her father and now lives on with her husband. The first child to come into their happy home was born in 1894 and was given the name of Ruth by her grandfather; in 1899 a son was born, who now bears the name of his mother's father. William C. Watson.
CHARLES A. BOND.
One of the enterprising and successful young business men of Findlay, Ohio, is Charles A. Bond, the popular manager of the National Clothing and Shoe House, of this city. Mr. Bond is a son of Findlay, born here in 1873. and was reared and educated in his native city.
The successful career of Mr. Bond shows what may be accomplished by the application of energy and industry, combined with honesty and a pleasant and courteous demeanor. In 1887 he entered the clothing store of Samuel Lippman in the humble position of cash boy, and his close applica- tion and faithful service were rewarded seven years later by an excellent position as salesman. When the business changed hands in 1894 he went as
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a clerk, with Mr. Lippman's successor, A. Weiss, and soon was made head salesman in this large establishment. When another change came in the business, and the National company was formed, Mr. Bond still was con- tinued in his position, and in 1900 he was made general manager. His long connection with the business renders him almost invaluable, but he has made his own career by his individual efforts.
In October, 1899, our subject was married to Miss Blanche Hull, who is a daughter of J. G. Hull, of Findlay, and one son, Girard D., was born to this union. In politics Mr. Bond adheres to the principles of the Repub- lican party, while in fraternal life he is a member of the Elks, the Knights of Pythias and Uniform Rank, and. the Knights of Khorassan.
DAVID BECK.
Andrew and Catherine Beck were natives of the state of Pennsylvania over a century ago and after growing up to maturity there removed, in the early history of the future state of Ohio, to what is now Fairfield county. and from there came, in 1838, to Hancock county, where Andrew entered eighty acres of land and during the remainder of his life cleared and im- proved the larger part of this. He was not only one of the earliest pioneers of Hancock county, but also of Fairfield county. He had served in the war of 1812. After coming to Hancock county he lost his wife and he then broke up his home and for the rest of his life lived with his daughter, Mrs. Bachar, of Wyandot. There were seven children in his family, but they have all now passed away.
Of this number there was a son, also called Andrew, who was born in Fairfield county, October 20, 1807; in 1834 he came with his family to Han- cock county and in Amanda township took up one hundred and sixty acres of land, which in the course of hard, earnest labor he brought under a fine state of cultivation. He was a man of much strength of character, large hearted and hospitable in the extreme. He was a Democrat and a mem- ber of the Lutheran church. His wife was Lydia Fenstmacher, who was born in Fairfield county in 1814: she died in 1868, and he passed away in 1882. Seven of the ten children born to them are now living, and two, Mrs. R. Alspach and David, are in this county.
David Beck, the life of whom it is the purpose of this sketch to briefly outline, claims Amanda township as the place of his birth, his natal day be- ing April 10, 1845. After he had passed his boyhood days on his fa- ther's farm and. like the other boys of his neighborhood, had attended the
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district school, he chose as his permanent occupation the independent life of a farmer, and in connection with this he engaged in threshing for fifteen years. He embarked on his own agricultural course in 1869 and began to accumulate real estate until he now owns a fine farm of one hundred and thirteen acres, which he devotes to general farming and stock raising. In 1901, having gained a considerable competence through his careful and well directed labor he retired from his farm and now resides in Vanlue.
Mr. Beck was twice married. His first wife was Mrs. Mary B. Akam, and their marriage took place in 1869; she bore one son, Lawrence A., and her death occurred in 1890. For his second wife he took on September 3, 1891, Mrs. Cynthia McClelland; to them were born Clyde, May 21, 1892. For six years Mr. Beck has held the position of trustee of Amanda township. In fraternal relations he is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fel- lows, in which he is past grand.
CLAYTON W. FORD.
Clayton W. Ford is one of the leading dairy farmers in Marion town- ship, Hancock county, and owns one hundred and twenty acres of fertile and valuable land there, a part of which is situated within the city limits.
The birth of Mr. Ford took place in Liberty township, Hancock county, on June 15, 1852, and he is a son of Jesse and Mary (Powell) Ford, the. former of whom was born in Fairfield county, Ohio, December 2, 1822, and the latter in Hancock county September 16, 1831. Jesse Ford was a man of education, for a considerable time taught school and through life was re- garded by his neighbors as possessed of excellent judgment as well as a farmer of more than usual ability. He began life on a farm of eighty acres. and at the time of his death, August 16, 1888, he owned three hundred acres. His fellow citizens regarded him with so much confidence that he was elected to a number of the local offices within their gift, and for a long time he was one of the township supervisors and school directors. His widow still survives.
Clayton W. Ford began life for himself in the possession of an excellent education, having taken a full course in the Findlay high school, with the intention of following a teacher's profession, which plan he put into opera- tion, and for five years was one of the popular and successful educators of this county. In 1876 he began his acquirement of land, purchasing at that time a tract of ten acres, as a nucleus. To this he gradually added as fortune favored him, until he is now the owner of one hundred and twenty acres of
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the finest dairy land in the county. His stock has been well selected both for productiveness and quality of milk and cream, and thus he is enabled to secure very satisfying prices for his output. Mr. Ford keeps fifty head of cattle through the whole year, his dairy stock numbering forty head.
Mr. Ford has put his knowledge of the dairy business, in its relation to the care and protection of his stock, to a very practical use, by an invention which should be in the hands of every dairy farmer and cattle raiser. This is a very ingenious arrangement which its inventor has named the Anti- Cattle fighter, and which consists of a kind of cap worn on the head of the animal, and which is so controlled by a halter as to make fighting among ani- mals an impossibility. It is an invention remarkable for its practicability, its durability and its cheapness. Mr. Ford secured a patent in the United States January 28, 1902, and in Canada February 4, of the same year. Since oc- cupying his present quarters our subject has been continually engaged in im- proving every part of his domain, and, as we have noted, owns one of the most complete dairy farms and dairy outfits in Hancock county.
September 1, 1886, Mr. Ford was united in marriage with Miss Harriet C. Hagerman, who was born in Montour county, Pennsylvania, January 12, 1853, a daughter of Mahlon and Catherine Hagerman. No children have been born to this marriage. Mr. Ford enjoys the reputation of being one of the most reliable as well as substantial citizens of his township. With credit he has served as school director, and takes a deep interest in all meas- ures which promise to be of benefit to his locality. In dairy matters he is justly considered an excellent authority.
WILLIAM HARROP.
A man who early sought his fortunes in America and who has believed in his adopted country ever since landing in it is Mr. William Harrop, a prominent oil producer in Findlay. Mr. Harrop was born in Birmingham, England, in 1837, and came to America in 1855. He went directly to New- ark, New Jersey, where he resided for two years. The metropolis of the United States attracted him, and during the time he lived in New York he was the foreman for F. Stephens on Pearl street, a well known dealer in mili- tary equipment. An Englishman takes naturally to the implements of war. which probably led to his choice of an occupation. His adaptability in this class of work led to his employment in the United States ordnance depart- ment at Watervliet arsenal, where he remained nearly four years.
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The oil excitement in the Pennsylvania oil fields attracted him to that part of the country, to which he went in 1865, where he learned practically the entire business of oil producing. He was afterward identified in com- mercial enterprises, among which was a wholesale and retail crockery busi- ness in Jamestown, New York, in which he was interested for some eight years. In 1886 he moved to Findlay, Ohio, where he has lived ever since, again going into the oil producing business, and in which he is widely known.
In 1871 Mr. Harrop was united in marriage to Sarah J. Fellers, and there have been four children to bless this union, as follows: Clara L., wife of J. A. Skillen; Mabel, wife of C. A. Earl; Arthur H. and Alice. Mr. Harrop is a member of the Masonis order of Troy, New York, and he and his family are connected with the Presbyterian church of Findlay. In po- litical faith Mr. Harrop is Republican, giving his hearty support to the meas- ures of that party.
CLINTON S. CORTHELL. 1
This gentleman, at present one of the prosperous and prominent capi- talist of Findlay, illustrates by his experience the ups and downs of the oil industry,-its fascinating promises of fortune, as well as its equally abundant opportunities for failure. He has had his full measure of failures and suc- cesses, disappointments and "lucky strikes," coming out of it all at last on the top wave and achieving a standing among the successful business men of his adopted state. At the present time he holds high official positions in connec- tion with various manufacturing plants, in which also he is a principal owner, and enjoys high consideration in the financial circles of Findlay. Clin- ton S. Corthell was born on a farm in Cattaraugus county, New York, in IS44, received his education in the schools at Franklinville and retained his home there until 1872. In 1864 he concluded to "try his luck" in the Penn- sylvania oil fields, where he started at the bottom, but in three years man- aged to make some six or eight thousand dollars. With this capital he re- turned to the county of his nativity and engaged in farming four or five years. His next venture was the purchase of a stage line between Franklinville and Arcadia, New York, which he operated six years, and made some money out of the business. The old fascination and success, however, drew him back to the eastern Pennsylvania oil fields. where, to use Mr. Corthell's own ex- pressive language, he eventually "went broke." After a struggle with vary- ing fortunes in this field for fifteen years and in the end seeing his previous accumulations vanish, he determined to transfer his scene of operations to
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Ohio. Locating at Findlay, fortune again smiled upon him, and at the end of a very active business career he has an abundance of this world's goods to attest to his good management and financial ability. His first in- vestiment was in the livery business, which he conducted with profit for seven years. As side lines he bought farms in partnership with C. L. Cas- terline, and was in the glycerine business until 1898. In 1886 the Genesee Oil Company was organized and Mr. Corthell was elected its president and general manager, a position which he has since continuously held. The Bradford Oil Company, consisting of Clinton S. Corthell and C. L. Caster- line, was organized in 1898 as successor of the Bradford Glycerine Com- pany, and of this Mr. Corthell is half owner and general manager.
In 1887, while living ir Pennsylvania, Mr. Corthell was wedded to Miss Mary Boyington, by whom he has one daughter, named Celia J. For eight years he has been a member of the city council of Findlay, elected on the Democratic ticket, and he has been influential in shaping the legislation and finances of the city. He is a popular and prominent member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, being a charter member of that organization at Findlay. Mr. Corthell may be described as a strong man, both physically and mentally, an incessant worker and resourceful man- ager, whose most noticeable peculiarity is the possession of what in common parlance is called "good common sense."
ANDERSON C. HECK.
Many of the foremost people of Findlay have been born, have lived and received their education in the town, electing to make it their permanent abid- ing place, thereby showing their faith in its future, and having their inter- ests centered in its interests. Of such is Anderson C. Heck, who was born in Findlay on October 11, 18544. He has lived in Findlay all his life, with the exception of the years from 1893 to 1901, during which time he was engaged in the glass business in Delaware county, Indiana.
Mr. Heck's father was George Heck, who moved from Pennsylvania some years previous to his birth. With his father he started a hardware store in Findlay in 1873, and continued in the business for eight years. After leaving the hardware business he became a lumber merchant until. 1887. In 1888, realizing the opportunities for the glass business, he organized the Model Flint Glass Company, of which he was made president, and in which capacity he served until 1901, exercising an active supervision over its affairs. This company was absorbed by the National Glass Company of Pittsburg,
. Click
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Pennsylvania, in which corporation Mr. Heck now holds stock. In 1901, he went into the foundry in Findlay, which is known as the Heck & Marvin Company.
He was married in 1879 in Findlay to Jennie E. Livingston; they have one daughter, Bird M. Mrs. Heck, who died June 24, 1901, was a daughter of Pierce Livingston, a native of Scotland, and her mother, Nancy ( Schren- cost ) Livingston, now resides at Carey, Ohio. His record in public positions of trust has been long and useful. In politics he is a firm Republican, and served the city of Findlay as councilman from the second ward for one year, overcoming a Democratic majority of ninety. While living in Delaware county, Indiana, he served for four years as a school trustee. He was one of the incorporators of Findlay College, and held the office of secretary of the board of trustees for two years when he resigned. He donated liberally to- ward the erection of the college, as did his father and his brother John Heck. He is a Royal Arch Mason, an Odd Fellow and a member of the B. P. O. Elks, in all of which organizations he is a highly respected and worthy member.
LOUIS KARG.
The subject of this sketch has long been known in Findlay, in three dif- ferent capacities ; first as a butcher, next as as an ice and coal dealer, and later as a producer of oil. He is a typical German, with all the peculiarities of his race, prominent among which are industry, economy and a rare talent for getting on in the world. They easily adapt themselves to surroundings and conditions, have the faculty of making friends and are almost invariably ex- cellent citizens.
Louis Karg was the first of the name to locate at Findlay. His birth oc- curred in Germany in 1827, and after marrying there he came to America. Having lost his first wife by death he again married, in Chicago, and by this union there were three children: Louis; Lena, wife of Jacob Baker; and Charles E. Louis Karg engaged in the butcher's business at Findlay, and car- ried it on for many years and his second wife died in that city in 1877. Their eldest son, Louis Karg, was born at Findlay, November 15, 1860, and was reared as well as educated in his native city. In boyhood he was taken into his father's shop, taught the business and worked at it for twenty years. In 1890, however, he abandoned butchering to embark in the ice and coal trade, which occupied his time for nine years, when he made another change to the business of producing oil. This has constituted his employment for
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