Fharman Trust
Fharman Trust,the village blacksmith at Allentown, was born in Paris, France, and is a son of William and Katrina (Schwertman) Trust.
When our subject was 12 years old his parents moved to Saxony, Germany, where he completed his education. When 14 years of age he was apprenticed to learn the blacksmith's trade, his father making a contract by which he paid $100 and provided his son with clothes for three years, the youth to have no wages during this period. He was thoroughly instructed and after his training was finished he went out as a journeyman, according to the German usage, and worked his necessary three years at different points, being then considered capable of starting into business for himself. When 20 years old he entered the army, according to German law, and served as a cavalryman for three years in the flying artillery. He took part in the Franco- Prussian War, and was on the battlefield at Sedan, when Napoleon was captured.
In 1875 Mr. Trust came to America and reached a strange country without any capital. He was not discouraged, however, and walked the distance between New York and Cincinnati, and from there to Chicago. Subsequently he returned to Dayton, Ohio, and soon opened a shop at Seven Mile, Butler County, Ohio. After one year at that point, he removed to Champaign County, remaining there a year, and then to New Bremen, Auglaize County, for 18 months, and then to Shelby County, Mr. Trust operated his own shop there for nine years and then went back to Germany for a visit. Upon his return to America, he worked for six months in a sawmill in Washington, and then came east to Mercer County, Ohio, where he rented a shop, during all this time having had his Shelby County shop rented. One year later he went back to Shelby County, in a few months closed up his business there, and then came to Allentown, buying his present shop in 1888. He is a fine workman and has a large repair business.
Mr. Trust was 32 years old when he was married, April 21, 1881, to Katie Wolff, of New Bremen, Ohio, who is a daughter of Philip and Margaret Wolff. They have had seven children, the two survivors being: William Philip Frederic, who was born March 15, 1885, and assists his father in the shop; and Margaret Augusta Theresa, who was born April 27, 1888, and lives with her parents. The family belongs to the Lutheran Church at Elida. Mr. Trust is not only a capable, reliable workman, but a well- informed, intelligent man and good citizen.