Sunday, April 28, 2013

Jacob A. Biehl’s Grocery Store



From 1888 until his death in 1935, Jacob A. Biehl operated a grocery store at the southeast corner of Warren and Reese Streets in Sandusky, Ohio. Hewson Peeke wrote in his book, A Standard History of Erie County, Ohio, that Jacob A. Biehl was “a man of excellent business capacity, intelligence and sterling integrity.” Mr. Biehl was born in Sandusky on April 28, 1855, to Frederick and Barbara Biehl. For several years, Jacob Biehl worked for the L.B. Johnson Company. In 1888, without any previous experience, he started a grocery store, and met with success from the beginning of his business venture. Records from the County Commissioners’ reports in 1911 and 1912 show that Erie County purchased supplies from Jacob Biehl for use in maintenance of county buildings.  A popular product sold by Jacob Biehl’s store was “Biehl’s Killem Quick” rat poison. This product was said to free your premises from rats and mice. The rat poison came in a variety of sizes, ranging in price from twenty five cents to one dollar


In 1878 Jacob A. Biehl married Margaret Faulhaber, and they had a family of four children. Jacob A. Biehl passed away at his home on March 10, 1935. Funeral services for Jacob A. Biehl were held at the family residence, with the Rev. Arthur Von Gruenigen officiating. Mr. Biehl was buried in the family lot at Oakland Cemetery. A lengthy obituary for Jacob A. Biehl is found in the 1935 Obituary Notebook, housed with the genealogical books at the Sandusky Library.

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