Eli Heiple

Eli Elijah Heiple was born in Somerset County, Pennsylvania, in 1830, the son of Henry Heiple and Harriet Walker Heiple.  In 1857, he came to Washington, and after ten years working around town, he started his grain company on Jefferson Street near the railroad tracks.

Heiple was elected as the first city clerk in 1877, holding either that office or the town assessor for over thirty years.

Eli married Mary Snyder and had two sons, Augustus and Frank, both of whom would become instrumental in the Washington business scene.  After Mary died in 1887, Eli married Charlotte Mahle in 1888.  The family built the home at 200 South High Street, which still stands.  He died in 1913.