Channing Vlerebome
Channing Vlerebome is one of the most successful and most extensive grain-dealers in Perry Township, Pickaway County. He was born on the 9th of August, 1865, in New Holland, this township, and is a son of George and Marinda (Challhi) Vlerebome. The father was a native of New York, and came to Cincinnati, Ohio, when fourteen years of age, where he remained and worked four or five years as a clerk in a clothing store. He then went on the road as a traveling salesman for a firm, which position he held a number of years, and was one of the most successful, receiving a salary of $2,500 per year, which was at that time the highest paid. The father of our subject was married at New Holland, in 1859, and engaged in the grocery business at New Holland until the spring of 1886, when, his health failing somewhat, he retired from business. In 1876, he started in the elevator business, and in the year 1883 his elevator and grocery store were entirely destroyed by fire, which resulted in a net loss of over $20,000. He was a stanch member of the Republican party, and belonged to the Masonic order.
Of the five children born to the worthy parents of our subject, he is the youngest, and received his early education in the common schools, which was supplemented by a course in the business college at Delaware, Ohio. In July, 1888, Mr. Vlerebome engaged in the elevator business at New Holland, and soon afterward associated with him Mr. George McCrea, the firm now being known as McCrea & Vlerebome. They handle annually over two hundred thousand bushels of wheat, and about the same amount of corn, and receive most all the custom of the township. Our subject is a member of the Knights of Pythias Lodge, and is one of the most highly respected young men in the community, admired by all for his sagacious judgment and square dealings.
From PORTRAIT & BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD OF FAYETTE, PICKAWAY AND MADISON COUNTIES, OHIO - Chapman Bros. [Chicago, 1892]