Ernest Bichan

Ernest Bichan was born February 14, 1904, in the Orkney Islands, Scotland. In March, 1921, after graduating from high school in Kirkwall, he came to the United States. The trip from Liverpool, England, to New York City sailing on an ocean liner took eight days.

Upon arrival in this country he made his home in Napoleon, Ohio, with his brother Bob. He worked a short time for his brother Jack who owned and operated a garage in Napoleon at that time. From December, 1923, until October, 1927, he was employed by Tom Bichan at Liberty Center, Ohio. In October, 1927, he started his own garage business in Hamler, Ohio. He rented a workshop from William Long where the present business is located. In 1929 he was appointed a Chevrolet dealer.

Ernie and Bernice Warner, daughter of Kirby and Della Graner Warner of Liberty Center, Ohio, were married June 18, 1930. The Firemen's Convention was held in Napoleon on this date and Bernice played with the Liberty Ladies Band for this occasion. They were married at 5:00 p.m. in the Methodist Church at Liberty Center. In 1931 Ernie took his bride to the Orkney Islands to meet his family. On May 16, 1940, he became a naturalized citizen in Toledo.

In 1932 the Allis Chalmers farm machinery line was added to the business and the garage property was purchased. In 1933 he sold the first rubber-tired tractor in the state of Ohio to Otto Miller of rural Napoleon. The general opinion at that time was that rubber tires on a tractor were merely a "passing fancy." In 1935 he operated the first "All Crop" Harvester in the state. This demonstration took place on the Carl Westenhausen farm in Flatrock Township. His father-in-law warned against selling too many of this type machine. Kirby had started threshing at a very early age by driving horses for his father's horse-powered threshing machine. He also operated steam threshing machines as a custom thresher for over 30 years. Through the years combines had been tried without success in this part of the country so they were viewed with apprehension, but three years later Kirby was the proud owner of his own "All Crop" Harvester. By 1948 more space was needed and the garage building was enlarged to its present dimensions.

The Bichans have four children all of whom graduated from Hamler High School. Robert, the eldest, also graduated from General Motors Institute of Flint, Michigan, and served two years in the United States Army. Shortly after returning home he became a partner in Bichan Chevrolet Company. In 1958 he and Janet Armbruster of Napoleon were married. They have two daughters, Lynette and Pamela.

Elaine, the eldest daughter, graduated from Toledo Hospital School of Nursing and remained on the nursing staff there after graduation. In 1958 she married Eugene Stevens of Napoleon. They have a son, Scott, and a daughter, Susan.

Margaret Ann (Peg) after graduating from International College in Fort Wayne, Indiana, was employed by Marathon Oil Company in Findlay, Ohio. In 1963 she and Roger Schwiebert of Hamler were married. They are parents of two sons, Matthew and Bruce.

The youngest daughter, Carol Sue, received a B.S. degree from Bowling Green State University and a Master's degree from Ohio State University. She was a guidance counselor at Woodlan School near New Haven, Indiana. In 1966 Carol and Clark Beilharz from Lombard, Illinois, were married. They have one son, Cory.

It took a car dealership to keep this family on the road. Now that they all have cars of their own, Ernie is enjoying semi-retirement. Since Ernie and Bernice have enjoyed traveling, they are looking forward to still more adventure.

Submitted by Ernest Bichan