Alfred Hess (1834 - 1914)

Born 21 Feb 1834 in Martinsburg, Lewis, New York, United States

Ancestors

Husband of Jane Mariah Coates — married 13 Dec 1854 in Martinsburg, Lewis, New York, United States

Descendants

Died 21 Dec 1914 at age 80 in Wyoming, Hamilton, Ohio, United States

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Patrick McCurdy [send private message]

Biography

Born 21 February 1834 in Martinsburg, NY. His father was a blacksmith. He married Jane Mariah Coates, also of Martinsburg, December 13th, 1854, in Martinsburg. First child Helen Eliza was also born there, so they must have remained for a time (though some sources have Helen’s birthplace as IL.) The next two children were born in Winona, MN, so they must have lived there from at least 1857-58. He is said to have been in Jackson, MI, after that and his future son-in-law, Wm. H. McCurdy had been in Jackson during the same period so it was perhaps here that Helen Eliza met McCurdy. He was back in Martinsburg working as a blacksmith in the 1860 census, so apparently farming in MN did not work out so well. It’s hard to imagine Martinsburg needing more than one blacksmith, so he was likely working for his father.

The 1865 NY census says son Edwin was born in Otsego County, NY, so they must have lived there briefly. The same census has Alfred again working as as a blacksmith but now in Hamilton, Madison County, NY. His brother Bradford is living with them and also working as a blacksmith.

An article from the Cazenovia Republican May 6th, 1868 say:

"Alfred Hess has exchanged his blacksmith shop in this village with Mr. Eddy, in Lebanon, for the farm known as the Peabody-Mosely place. Mr. H. takes possession this spring. Bradley Hess has rented the shop of Mr. Eddy and will continue the blacksmith business.”

The 1870 U.S. census has him working as a hardware merchant in Hamilton, NY.

An article in the Cazenovia Republican from February 1872 states:

"We learn that Alfred Hess has sold his interest in the hardware establishment which has been conducted by Hess & Royce the past season, to Mr. Grosvener, who has been in the store of Stiles & Wedge. Mr. Grosvener has already taken possession, or will very soon.” It seems he was not in the hardware business long.

A later written tribute states that the family moved to Dayton, OH, in 1872 where he worked as a traveling salesman for the Sheldon Axle Company of Auburn, NY. He moved to Cincinnati in 1879 where he lived until his death in 1914.

In 1880 he formed the Cincinnati Spring Company which he sold to Columbus Spring Company in 1892. The next year he and son Elmer bought the Union Axle Company, or Carthage, OH, enlarged production and named it the Hess Spring & Axle Company. He was quite successful in business and gained both respect and wealth as a result thereof.

In 1904 Alfred purchased controlling interest in the First National Bank of Elmwood from Charles Hirsch, and was it’s president until his death in 1914.

In December of 1914 he was clearing ice from in front of his home and fell, hitting the back of his head on the ice. He died shortly thereafter.

Died 21 DEC 1914. Wyoming, Hamilton, Ohio, United States. ^[1]

FSFTID K16M-HMS.

Note: Was said to have been a rather "gay" character. He liked to drink and to go to the races; his wife did not approve.

Marriage Husband Alfred Hess. Wife Jane Mariah Coates. Marriage 13 DEC 1854. Martinsburg, Lewis, New York, United States.

Sources

1. ↑ Source: #S432

• Source: "United States Census, 1850," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/MCYT-PLG : 9 November 2014), Alfred Hess in household of Frederick Hess, Martinsburg, Lewis, New York, United States; citing family 211, NARA microfilm publication M432 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).

• Source: "United States Census, 1860", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/MCWF-TSY : 30 December 2015), Alfred Hess, 1860.

• Source: "New York State Census, 1865," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/QVNV-7CQK : accessed 29 April 2017), Alfred Hess, District 01, Hamilton, Madison, New York, United States; citing source p. 21, line 37, household ID 182, county clerk, board of supervisors and surrogate court offices from various counties. Utica and East Hampton Public Libraries, New York; FHL microfilm 408,495.

• Source: Cazeniva (N.Y.) Republican, May 6th, 1868, Page 2: "Alfred Hess has exchanged his blacksmith shop in this village with Mr. Eddy, in Lebanon, for the farm known as the Peabody-Mosely place. Mr. H. takes possession this spring. Bradley Hess has rented the shop of Mr. Eddy and will continue the blacksmith business."

• Source: "United States Census, 1870," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/M8J4-CWH : 17 October 2014), Alfred Hess, New York, United States; citing p. 24, family 209, NARA microfilm publication M593 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.); FHL microfilm 552,466.

• Source: Cazenovia (N.Y.) Republican, February 21, 1872, p. 3. "We learn that Alfred Hess has sold his interest in the hardware establishment which has been conducted by Hess & Royce the past season, to Mr. Grosvener, who has been in the store of Stiles & Wedge. Mr. Grosvenor has already taken possession, or will very soon."

• Source: "United States Census, 1880," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/M899-Z31 : 14 July 2016), Alfred Hess, Cincinnati, Hamilton, Ohio, United States; citing enumeration district ED 183, sheet 5B, NARA microfilm publication T9 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 1029; FHL microfilm 1,255,029.

• Source: "United States Census, 1900," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/MM8G-R84 : accessed 29 April 2017), Alford Hess, Springfield Township Wyoming village, Hamilton, Ohio, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 321, sheet 2A, family 29, NARA microfilm publication T623 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1972.); FHL microfilm 1,241,283.

• Source: "United States Census, 1910," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/MLDS-5M3 : accessed 29 April 2017), Alfred Hess, Springfield, Hamilton, Ohio, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 357, sheet 6A, family 106, NARA microfilm publication T624 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1982), roll 1196; FHL microfilm 1,375,209.

• Source: S432 "Ohio, Deaths, 1908-1953," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/X8F4-VFH : accessed 25 Oct 2014), Alfred Hess, 21 Dec 1914; citing Wyoming, Hamilton, Ohio, reference cn 66871; FHL microfilm 1983287.

• Source: "Ohio Deaths, 1908-1953," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/X8PT-JN1 : 8 December 2014), Alfred Hess in entry for Mattie L Raymond, 17 Jul 1929; citing Wyoming, Hamilton, Ohio, reference fn 47302; FHL microfilm 1,991,907.

• Source: S721 "Ohio, Deaths, 1908-1953," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/XXS5-8Z6 : accessed 29 Nov 2014), Alfred Hess in entry for Elmor Jay Hess, 04 Feb 1925; citing Wyoming, Hamilton, Ohio, reference fn 9007; FHL microfilm 1992615.

• Source: The Carriage monthly. January 1915. Philadelphia, Pa: Ware Bros., p. 51.: "Alfred Hess, 79 years old, vice-president of the Hess Spring and Axle Company, Carthage, Ohio, died December 19th from injuries received when he fell on the ice in front of his home, 416 Springfield Avenue, Wyoming. Mr. Hess was repairing a water spout and in falling struck the nail of his head on the frozen ground. Physicians said the fall caused a concussion of the brain, and due to excitement a stroke of apoplexy followed.

Mr. Hess was born in Lewis County, New York He wen to Cincinnati in 1878, and in 1880 established what is now known as the Cincinnati and Hammond Spring Co, on Summer Street. It was then known as the Hess Spring Company. In 1892 he sold that business, and a year later purchased a plant at Carthage now occupied by the Hess Spring and Axle Company. For the past ten years he has been president of the First National Bank of Elmwood. Before going to Cincinnati he was for many years employed as a salesman by the Sheldon Axle Company.

He was a Mason, a member of the Business Men's Club and the Carriage Maker's Club of Cincinnati. Mr. Hess and his wife recently celebrated their sixtieth wedding anniversary at the Wyoming club house, 300 guests being present. He had resided in Wyoming for the past twenty-five years.

Besides his widow he leaves behind a son, E.J. Hess, president of the Hess Spring and Axle Company and of the Western Spring and Axle Company, and two daughters, Mrs. W.H. McCurdy, whose husband is president of Hercules Buggy Company, Evansville, Ind., and Mrs. J. Raymond, Wyoming. A brother, Bradford Hess, Raymond, Ohio, also survives him."

• Source: The Hub, The Automotive Manufacturer, February 1915, page 51.: "The following letter paying tribute to the high esteem in which Mr. Hess was held, was received from P.P. Hunter:

"To the Members of The Cincinnati Carriage Makers' Club:

Our roll of membership and fellowship is one less than it was at our "Christmas Dinner," as we had with us a member who had been quite faithful in his attendance for more than a third of a century. No one was more pleased than I to see Mr. Alfred Hess gather with us, for our "Christmas Meeting"-- Tuesday evening, seventeenth of December passed. No one was more stunned that I, to return to this city December 23rd, to learn that Mr. Alfred Hess has passed away Monday, December 21st, 1914. In company with our president, I attended the funeral of Mr. Hess, at the family home, where so often in years gone by, I had richly enjoyed his cheerful circle. The presentation of his Masonic Ring to his illustrious son, Elmer J. Hess, touched the hearts of the listeners, but it handed down to a younger member of the "Ancient Order," the insignia, the love and the "Royal Mark" of a good father and loving husband, for his pleasure was in his home circle. Born in New York State -- married early in life, we hear of Mr. and Mrs. Hess, as pioneers in the late fifties near Winona, Minn., when settlers lived fifteen to thirty miles apart. The close of the year found Mr. Hess at Jackson, Mich. After 1872 the family moved to Dayton, Ohio. In the meantime Mr. Hess was the traveling representative of the Sheldon Axle Co., of Auburn, N.Y., and spent the greater part of his time in Cincinnati, as this city had developed into the buggy center of this country. In 1879, Mr. Hess moved his family to Price Hall, Cincinnati. In 1880 Mr. Hess and close associates founded the Cincinnati Spring Co., the first industry of its kind in the west. The plant was sold in 1892 to the Columbus Spring Co. In 1893 Mr. Hess and son Elmer J. Hess, bought the Union Axle Co., of Carthage, enlarging the plant wonderfully in the next few years, and this large industry is known as the Hess Spring & Axle Co. In recent years Mr. Hess had withdrawn from active business and was president of the First National Bank of Elmwood Place. Salesmanship was an easy art with him, as he had the confidence and friendship of our craft, and was instrumental in building two large plants in our midst. True to Yankee spirit, he was frugal and thoughtful for the future of those he loved. It was his pleasure to build homes, and in recent years he built eight or ten near his place in Wyoming. In his early life he was a good farmer, in his later years he enjoyed the garden and had abundant flowers. All his life he loved horses, and was their friend, and until recent years was a constant driver of a matched pair. In the ups and downs of the Carthage industry, he had his share of burdens. He was a good traveler and enjoyed his friends. It was my pleasure to spend a month with him in Washington, at the time the Maine was blown up in Havana Harbor. He was a lovable companion, and we have all lost a comrade who reached the four score mile post leaving behind him a well spent life. I am pleased to subscribe myself as one his friends and admirers. Most respectfully, Perrin P. Hunter"