Schliep, William H.

SCHLIEP, MESSMAN, EICHE

Posted By: Pat Ryan White (email)
Date: 7/9/2011 at 19:12:30

WILLIAM H. SCHLIEP

William H. Schliep is the pioneer cigar manufacturer of Henry County, having done business in 1855 at Mt. Pleasant, and with the exception of the years from 1858 to 1865, has been continuously engaged in that business. He is a native of Hanover, Germany, born near Lemforde, June 9, 1835, and is a son of Gerhardt H. and Wilhelmina Schliep. In 1847 he came to America in company with his parents, the family landing in New Orleans and going from thence to Cincinnati, Ohio, where he learned his trade of cigar-making. After completing his trade he engaged with the Cigar-Maker's Co-operative Union in manufacturing, but that venture proved a failure after a six-months trial. In 1854 he went to Keokuk, Iowa, and worked as a "jour"; then in 1855, to Davenport, where he remained a short time; then returned to Keokuk and soon afterward to Mt. Pleasant, where he opened a store in company with Fred Eiche. This partnership continued two years, when Mr. Schliep sold out , and in the summer of 1858 went to Kansas, and there engaged in a queensware business and cigar trade. His next move was to St. Louis in 1859, where he worked nine months, and then went to Belleville, Ill. On the 30th of October, 1860, at Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, he was united in marriage with Miss Katie Messman, a native of Lee County, Iowa, and daughter of Michael Messman. Nine children have been born unto them, six of whom are now living--Louis C., William, Ida, Emma, Frank H. and Charles.

From Belleville, Ill., Mr. Schliep returned to Mt. Pleasant in 1865, re-opened in his former line and has built up an excellent trade, amounting annually to about $25,000. His father and mother died at Cincinnati, Ohio, of cholera, July 4, 1849. His brother, Henry and Frederick A., are living in Ohio. The youngest, Louis, died at Vincennes, Ind., in 1884. Henry lives at Newtown, Ohio, engaged in farming, while Frederick is a merchant at Hamilton, in the same State. While a man who attends strictly to his own private business, Mr. Schliep has yet given some attention to public affairs, and for two years was a member of the City Council from the First Ward. Politically he is independent, voting as he thinks best, regardless of party lines. For President of the United States, he voted for Fremont, Lincoln, Greeley, Tilden, Garfield and Cleveland. Fraternally Mr. Schliep is a member of the I.O.O.F., and of the Turners. In the former body he has passed all the chairs. As a business man and citizen he is universally respected. Honest and upright in his dealing, by close attention to his business he has accumulated a competency, and is among the best business men of Henry County.
[Portrait and Biographical Album of Henry County, Iowa. Chicago: Acme Publishing Company, 1888.]