Alfred J. Slack

As printed in 1902

ALFRED SLACK,

Alfred J. Slack is now proprietor of the P. Slack Sons” gun and sporting goods store, the third oldest commercial enterprise of Springfield. The establishment was founded by his father, with whom he was associated in the years of his early manhood and now he is sole proprietor, carrying on a business of considerable magnitude and maintaining a reputation which the house has ever sustained.

Mr. Slack is a native of Cincinnati, where he was born January 10, 1852. His father, Peter Slack, was born in Peterboro, Lincolnshire, England, in June, 1820, and died in September, 1892, at the age of seventy-one years. He was educated in England and learned the gunsmith's trade there, serving a seven years’ apprenticeship for his board and clothes. After working there for a few years as a journeyman he crossed the Atlantic to America in the fall of 1831, making his way direct to Cincinnati, Ohio. Ere leaving his native land he was married to Maria Manton, who was born in Spalding, England, and died in this city in 1873, at the age of fifty-one years. They became the parents of six children: A. J., who is the only. one born in ‚Cincinnati; Lucy, the wife of M. Johnston, of Springfield; Laura, the wife of John J. Rowthan, of Springfield; Charles M., who was in business with his brother Alfred and died in March, 1898, at the age of thirty-eight years; and two who died in early childhood. Charles M. Stack was married and had two children, Charles and Helen. His widow was a daughter of Dr. Leonard and now resides in Brooklyn, New York.

In the fall of 1851 Peter Slack arrived in Cincinnati and at once found employment there. He remained in that city for two and one-half years, working as a journeyman gunmaker and then came to Springfield, where he embarked in business for himself, establishing a gun store and repair business. He received credit for four hundred dollars from the man by whom he had been employed in Cincinnati and thus he was enabled to begin business on his own account. He manufactured guns and did much work along that line. The building was located where the Leuty meat market now stands. He gave close attention to his business, enlarging its scope from time to time in order to meet the growing demands of the trade and removed from his first location to East Main street below Spring street. There he remained for six years, after which he rented a store east of the present site of the store conducted by our subject. There the father carried on business until his death. He not only manufactured guns, but carried a large line of sporting goods of all kinds. He also began buying raw furs during the war, which he shipped to market, finding this a profitable source of income, and in 1872 he began dealing in wool, the firm soon becoming known as extensive wool dealers in Ohio. Gradually Mr. Slack attained success in his business as a result of his enterprise, careful management and determination. He purchased and erected several houses in the city and built his home at No. 279 South Fountain avenue, there residing for twenty-nine years. Both he and his wife died in that home and were then laid to rest in Ferncliff cemetery. Mr. Slack was a Republican and took an active part in civic affairs. He served as a member of the city council for several years and kept well informed on the issues and questions of the day, reading extensively on all general matters. Both he and his wife held membership ın the Center Street Methodist Episcopal church, in which he long served as an officer, and were charitable and benevolent people who gave freely of their means to promote the cause of Christianity and to aid the poor and needy.

In the public schools of Springfield Alfred J. Slack, of this review, pursued his education and he first received practical knowledge of business affairs through association with his father. In his boyhood days he worked in the store at intervals and at the age of seventeen entered the store permanently.. After he had been in business for some time the father admitted his sons to partnership and together they conducted the business until a few years prior to the father’s death, when he retired from the active management. When the business came into the hands of the sons they extended it greatly and built up a large trade, the enterprise proving a very profitable one. The relations between the brothers was maintained continuously until the death of Charles Slack, when Alfred J. Slack purchased his brother’s interest and has since carried on the business alone under the old firm name of P. Slack Sons. From the time when he became a partner at the age of twenty-one years until the present he has been an active factor in its successful conduct. He not only deals in guns, but other sporting goods, and is also extensively engaged in buying fur and wool, his business in that direction amounting to a considerable sum each year.

In May, 1875, in Springfield, occurred the marriage of Mr. Slack and Miss Lydia Sparks, who was born in Bellbrook, Ohio, in 1849 and was a daughter of Ephraim Sparks, who at one time owned a farm and blacksmith shop in Clark county, Ohio, afterward living a retired life. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Slack have been born five children: Leona, who is now pursuing a special course in music and painting; Bertha; John Edward, who assists his father in business and is a graduate of the high school and of Nelson’s Business College, and has also been a student in Wittenberg College; and Glena and Alvia, both in school. The family home is at No. 313 South Fountain avenue. Mr.

Slack purchased the property here and erected his residence in 1877. Both he and his wife hold membership in the Center. street Methodist Episcopal church and take an active interest in its growth and upbuilding. He is a member of Red Star Lodge, K. of P., and in politics is an active Republican. While never an aspirant for office himself, he has served as a delegate to county and state conventions and does all in his power to promote Republican successes. Hie is justly accounted one of the reliable business men of the city, honored and esteemed by all for his reliability, his trustworthiness in trade circles and his genuine worth.

As printed in A Biographical Record of Clark County Ohio (1902). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.