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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
Contributed for use by the Armstrong County Genealogy Project (http://www.pa-roots.com/armstrong/)Armstrong County Genealogy Project Notice:
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