William Elmer Alspaugh

This is the history of a very large man, who brought his family to Henry County in 1908. He was over 6 foot tall and weighed 350 pounds.

William Elmer Alspaugh was born near Findlay, Ohio on March 22, 1870, and died in McClure June 8, 1924.

He was the son of John J. Alspaugh of Fairfield County, and Elizabeth (Fox) Alspaugh, who died September 28, 1880. On November 27, 1892, he was married in Wood County to Myrtle Ann Fuller who was born September 1, 1872, near Wingston and died February 13, 1944 in McClure.

William and Myrtle's first home was near Wingston, Wood County, Ohio. He farmed and engaged in buying and baling hay and straw. Four of their seven children were born there. Ethel, Mabel, Roy, and Elmer. In 1900, they moved to a farm 4 miles south of Grand Rapids, where John was born January 23, 1902 and died in McClure November 2, 1972. The children attended the Pottertown Country School. They moved to their 160 acre farm in Richfield Twp. in 1908 where Frances was born November 7, 1910. The children attended the Ballmer School on Deshler road, east of their home, and Bethany Christian Union Church, southeast of McClure.

In 1916, they moved to McClure where (William) or Bill, as he was better known, bought the house now owned by Mrs. Dwight Stamm. With the help of his sons, he continued to buy and bale hay and straw. Later, he operated the livery barn until it burned in 1919. They rented the Seek- amp building across from the elevator for a grocery and bakery. Henry Seek- amp, a neighbor and retired baker, agreed to teach John the bakery trade as he had learned, as an apprentice to a baker in New York City.

Myrtle Alspaugh was a fine christian mother and grandmother. She had a lovely voice and enjoyed singing with groups for special occasions. She was an active member of the United Brethren Church, and was president of the Ladies Aid for 16 years.

ETHEL (ALSPAUGH) ERVEN was born near Wingston, Wood County, Ohio, on September 1, 1893 and died near Convoy, Ohio July 18, 1969. She worked at housework in several homes before she married Othor Erven who was born October 2, 1887 and died in Bowling Green on December 12, 1955. He was a farmer all of his life. Their first home was in Wood Co., 31/4 miles southeast of McClure, next door to his parents' home place. His sister Ruth Erven and brother John, still live on the home place. Ethel and Othor purchased a farm near Cygnet where they spent their last years together. They had 3 children, Helen, Robert, and Marilyn Jean.

Helen (Erven) Rhoads was born on June 12, 1913. She graduated from McClure High School and served in the WAVE's in World War II. She married James Rhoads and they had 3 children, Rebecca, James, and Vicki. They were divorced.

Robert Erven was born on June 15, 1915. He graduated from McClure High School and is a farmer. He married Evelyn Ballmer in 1937 and they had 4 children. Bernard, Carol, Janet, and Jerry. To update their family history on page 82 of Volume I, this should be added. Jerry is now Lucas County Landmark Manager and Robert and Evelyn have 4 more grandchildren.

Marilyn Jean (Erven) LaRue was born on July 20, 1925. She graduated from McClure High School and from Ft. Wayne International Business College. She worked as a secretary until she married Richard LaRue. They have 6 children. Peggy, Stephen, Susan, and twins Jean and Jill, and Chris.

MABEL V. (ALSPAUGH) MILLER was born on June 25, 1895. She worked as a clerk in stores in McClure, and later had their own grocery and meat market in Bellville, Ohio. She married John O. Miller, who was born on August 18, 1893 and died July 19, 1956 in Willard. They farmed in Richfield Twp. for a number of years, later near Greenwich, John's failing health forced them to quit farming. They operated the store in Bellville, then moved back to Greenwich. They had two children. Russel and Alice Marie — four grandchildren and 7 great grandchildren.

Russell Miller was born on March 28, 1918. He graduated from High School and served in World War II. He married Helen (Freeman) Miller, who was born on May 18, 1926. Russel is a meat cutter and they live in Galion, Ohio. They have 3 children, Doris, Mary, and John, — and 3 grandchildren.

Alice Marie (Miller) Robson was born on January 23, 1920. She graduated from High School, and has been employed in Greenwich as clerk or secretary. She married George Robson, I, and they had one daughter, Dixie Robson. They were divorced and Alice Marie married Carl Otterbacker, who died on January 5, 1975.

Dixie Lee (Robson) Pettit was born on March 31, 1939. She graduated from High School, and married Thomas Pettit, who was born April 23, 1939. He is a service fnan and they live in California. They have 4 children, Tina, John, Michael, and William.

ROY ALSPAUGH was born near Wingston, Wood County, Ohio on January 13, 1897, and died at Bowling Green on September 29, 1971. He served in the Navy in World War I, and was a member of McClure American Legion. He was a former superintendent of a Toledo construction firm, and an active state and county Republican party official. He married Esther Brown who was born May 26, 1899. They purchased the "Corner Store" from Mel Wilson in 1950 and sold it to Jimmie Morrison in 1957. Esther (Peg) was employed by the Telephone Company and retired with the other switchboard operators when the new telephone system was installed in the McClure area.

Roy and Peg had 7 children, — Norman, Pauline, Herman, Lois, William, Martha Jane, and Caroline Ann.

Norman Alspaugh was born January 15, 1922 and died August 29, 1977. He graduated from McClure High School and served in World War II. He married Ethel Wood who was born February 27, 1922, and they have 3 children, — Tom, Richard, and Peggy. Peggy married Richard Jones in an impressive outdoor wedding at Side Cut Park, with reception at Valleywood Golf Club. The family was never more happy. Three days later, Norman died suddenly at work. Ethel and her sons, Rick and Tom, live in Waterville.

Pauline (Alspaugh) Mason was born on September 24, 1924. She graduated from McClure High School and is very active in community affairs and local and district meetings of the Auxiliary. She married Everett Mason who served in the Airforce in World War II. He is employed by Champion Spark Plug Co., of Toledo, and travels extensively in his work. They had 2 children, — Marilyn and James.

Marilyn is a nurse at Toledo Hospital.

James is employed at Champion Spark Plug.

Herman Alspaugh was born April 22, 1927. He graduated from McClure High School and served in World War II. He has a mobile home in State Line, Nevada, and is employed in Carson City.

Lois Alspaugh was born July 8, 1929 and died August 26, 1930.

William E. Alspaugh was born on December 2, 1930 in McClure. He graduated from McClure High School and served in the Korean War. He has been a heavy equipment operator and is now Fire Chief of McClure.

Martha Jane Alspaugh was born August 12, 1932. She graduated from McClure High School, and from Bowling Green State University. She teaches in the Willard school system and is very active in church work and community affairs.

Carol Ann Alspaugh was born on May 16, 1940. She graduated from McClure High School and prepared to be a secretary. She spent 13 years in Minneapolis, Minn. in office work. She now lives in McClure and is employed in Napoleon.

ELMER ALSPAUGH was born near Wingston, Ohio on November 15, 1899, and died in Battle Creek, Michigan, January 15, 1929. At the age of 17, he went to Battle Creek and became a locomotive engineer for Grand Trunk Railroad. In 1920, he married Celia G. Hill of Kendalville, Indiana, who died December 12, 1976. They had 3 sons. Elmer, Jr., William, and Richard.

Elmer Alspaugh, Jr. was born on October 26, 1922 and died December 14, 1976. He was employed by the Railroad while in Battle Creek. He served in World War II. He married Kathryn, and they had 2 sons and a stepdaughter. Tom, Jerry, and Karen. After Kathryn retired, they moved to Jackson, Michigan.

William Alspaugh was born on August 14, 1924. He served in World War II before his marriage to Kathleen Ward of Battle Creek. They have 2 sons, Tim and Pat, also 1 grandchild.

Richard Alspaugh was born December 8, 1925. He served in the Navy during World War II, then enlisted in the Army for a career. He married Juanita Dott of Battle Creek and they had 4 children. He has now retired and they make their home in Lansing, Kansas.

JOHN C ALSPAUGH was born on January 23, 1902 and died November 2, 1972. His first job was helping on the family hay and straw baler. Later in the depression, he rented a baler from Gale Conn, and hired jobless men or boys, who sometimes made 3.00-$10.00 per week.

When his parents rented the Seek- amp building across from the elevator for a grocery and bakery, he learned the bakers trade from a valued friend, Henry Seekamp.

On September 2, 1924, John married Eessie Rudolph, who was born November 19, 1902.

After his father's death, he purchased the business from his mother. She and his sister Frances continued to help in the bake shop and store. A Steubenville baker sold John his complete bake shop equipment for $900.00. It was shipped by railroad and moved into the K. of P. building. Verden Moore and Eva (Reed) Stant also worked with him as they delivered bread to Grelton, Westhope, Malinta, Custar, and Milton. When the price of bread went to 6( per loaf, and 5 bread trucks delivered bread it McClure, the bakery closed.

In 1936, John prepared for anc passed the examination for license to fire a high-pressure boiler. He was hired as custodian of McClure School, where Margaret and Eldon helped with the cleaning. The State Highway Garage was in need of another fireman in 1948. He was hired, and retired from there in 1967.

John and Bessie had 3 children, — Margaret, Eldon, and Joanne.

Margaret (Alspaugh) Krukemyer was born on August 17, 1925. She graduated from McClure High School, and worked at Rossford Ordinance plant before she married Warren Krukemyer of Pemberville. He is a farmer and school bus driver. Margaret cooks at Webster School. They had 3 children, — Janis, Kenny, and John. Janis married Jack Heller, and they have twin daughters, Michele and Jennifer, and a son, Scotty. They live in Phoenix, Arizona.

Kenneth Krukemyer was born April 24, 1949 and died May 23, 1969. He graduated from Eastwood High School in Wood County, and worked with a carpenter until he volunteered for service in Viet Nam. He was killed in action 6 weeks after arriving there.

John Krukemyer was born on April 24, 1958. He graduated from Eastwood High School and is attending Owens Technical College in Toledo.

Eldon Alspaugh was born February 17, 1927 in McClure. He graduated from McClure High School and enlisted in the Navy before graduation. He served in Okinawa. He married Joan Koder who was born on January 9, 1926. She graduated in nursing from Toledo Hospital and works as an RN there. They had 3 children, — Todd, Curtis, and Jolyn.

Todd was born on July 23, 1951 in Toledo. He graduated from Springfield High School and attended Toledo University. He married Barbara Brahier and they have 3 children, Jeffrey John, Amy Jane, and Sara Elizabeth.

Curtis Alspaugh was born on September 17, 1953. He graduated from Springfield High School, and is attending Toledo University.

Jolyn Alspaugh was born on July

18, 1961 in Toledo. She is attending Springfield High School in Holland. Joanne Alspaugh was born July

19, 1933 in McClure and died September 11, 1934.

FRANCES (ALSPAUGH) GOOD was born on November 7, 1910 in Richfield Twp. She graduated from McClure High School in 1929. She was active in sports, played drums in the band, and sang many duets with Frances Van Tassel. She worked in the bake shop for her brother; John, before and after it was moved to the K of P building. In 1930, Frances married Doyle Good, son of James and Metta Good. He has now retired from Kuhlman Construction Company. They have 3 children - Lou Ann, Sharon Lee, and David Scott.

Lou Ann (Good) McKelvey was born in McClure and graduated from the same school as her parents. She lives in Nashville, Tennessee, and has 4 boys ranging in ages 18-24 years.

Sharon Lee (Good) Ford was born in McClure, and graduated from Metamora High School. She is married to Richard Ford, and lives on a farm near Berkey, Ohio. They have 5 children ranging in ages 6-18 years.

David Scott Good was born in McClure. He graduated from Metamora High School and married Barbara Grabaraczyk. They have 4 children, ages 6 to 14 years. They live on Sylvania Avenue, Berkey, Ohio. He is a dispatcher for Nicholson Company.

Submitted by: Mrs. John Alspaugh and Mrs. Doyle Good