William Haslup and his parents came to Sidney from Maryland in 1857, when he was about 10 years old. He was known as a young man looking for the side of right, humanity, and justice. As a boy he was taught by his father to be a machinist, and from him, he learned the best practices of running a business.
His first venture in the business world in 1875 was with his brothers G. G. and Robert Haslup. It was a manufacturing concern in the rear of the old Maxwell’s Mill, which was later the site of Sidney Manufacturing. In 1880, William and his brother-in-law, J.H. Doering started the Sidney Steel Scraper Company. Mr. Haslup became President in 1902, when his partner sold his interest in the company. His business was one of three steel scraper companies in Sidney, which had become the “road steel scraper capital of the world.”
The Sidney Steel Scraper Company expanded rapidly despite the competition. It once had 14 sales offices in foreign countries, from Hong Kong to Rio DeJaneiro to Cape Town, South Africa. These far-flung sites represented not only the business acumen of William Haslup and his partner JH. Doering but also the incredible and revolutionizing effect of this invention on the world.
Interestingly, he was for most of his career in competition with his brother-in-law, W.H.C. Goode, who owned the American Steel Scraper Company.
It was in 1902, also that William and Jennie Haslup built the home that has become known as the Ross Historical Center. Some features of which were designed after Washington’s Mount Vernon home. Mr. Haslup was beloved by his employees and others in the business community as well as having an overall wonderful reputation within the Sidney citizenry. His demeanor was always kindly, cheerful, and sympathetic. This was probably why when the house was completed, and an open house was held here, more than 250 people attended.
William Haslup was a devoted and active member of the United Methodist Church, as were his family. In fact, when his daughter Winifred Haslup Gearhart died in a tragic accident in Washington, D.C., her husband arranged for the chimes at the church here in Sidney to be built in her memory. Haslup also was active in the Masonic Lodge, the Manufacturers Association, and the Commercial Club, which helped bring other industries into Sidney. He was deeply interested in the industrial and civic growth of the city.