George Hechler
GEORGE HECHLER, farmer and oil producer, residing on his farm of fifty acres situated in Brady's Bend township, one mile east of Kaylor, Armstrong county, was born in Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany, Oct. 14, 1837.
In his native land George Hechler had eight full years of schooling. He started for the United States when twenty-seven years of age. At that time crossing the Atlantic ocean meant a long voyage and Mr. Hechler was on the water for forty-three days before he landed at the city of New York. He found work there and for three months was employed in the largest hotel in the city, which was then located at No. 381 Fourth Street. In February, 1865, he came to Brady's Bend, Pa., and on March 29, 1865, began work with pick and shovel for Gust Uhl, his wages being$1.65 per day. He was afterward employed for about three months in unloading coal at the rolling mills, and then went to work in the blast furance, where he remained until that plant closed down in 1873. From there he made his way to Chicora, where he helped to build large oil tanks, his wages being then $2.50 per day. He was a man of business enterprise, as was shown by his renting and operating coal banks in Donegal township, near Chicora. For eight years he followed teaming, and after that for six years was engaged in buying oil wells. He helped to drill eight dry holes in Brady's Bend township. Mr. Hechler continued as an independent dealer in oil until he had to sell for fifty-one cents a barrel, when he retired from the business and bought his present fine farm, which he has enjoyed improving. He erected the present comfortable residence and set out a fruit orchard. He has also one oil well and one gas well on the place. Mr. Hechler has built up his present fortune from a very small beginning, as he had but six dollars in gold and less than two dollars in paper money when he reached Brady's Bend.
On Sept. 5, 1865, Mr. Hechler was married to Elizabeth Lieabac, who was also born in Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany, and they had the following children: Adam, Lizzie, Mary, Annie, Maggie, Louisa, Lizzie (2), George, Henry, Emma, Lewis and Carl, all of whom are living except the first Lizzie and Louisa. They also have an adopted son, William. The family belong to the Lutheran Church. In politics Mr. Hechler is a Republican, and for seven terms, or fourteen years, he served in the office of overseer of the poor.
Source: Page 730 Armstrong County, Pa., Her People, Past and Present, J.H. Beers & Co., 1914
Transcribed October 1998 by Joyce Sherry for the Armstrong County Beers Project
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