William H. Marple, the well known city clerk of Gloversville, is a native of Fulton county, his birth having occurred in Johnstown, on the 4th of May, 1894. His parents are both natives of New York. The father, John Marple, was born in Rensselaer county, and the mother, who bore the maiden name of Dora Shaffer, was born in Montgomery county. John Marple is now connected with the Argersinger Company of Gloversville.
William H. Marple was reared and educated in Amsterdam, New York, where he attended the public and high schools and completed his education by taking a commercial course in the Reynolds Business College of that city. The young man's first experience in the work-a-day world was with a contractor, whose work was on the barge canal, and he was thus associated for ten years in various capacities, ranging from stenographer to paymaster. In 1918 he went into the military service of the United States as a corporal and was stationed at Fort Slocum until after the signing of the armistice, obtaining his honorable discharge on January 24, 1919. Upon his return to civilian life Mr. Marple resumed his position with the construction company on the barge canal and remained there until 1921, when he resigned to accept a position in the postoffice department in Washington, under the fourth assistant postmaster general. In July, 1922, Mr. Marple entered the employ of the city of Gloversville as deputy city chamberlain, which office he was holding when he was appointed city clerk on July 17, 1923. The young man has filled this last office with the ability one would expect of a person possessed of his training and experience and proved himself a capable and efficient public servant in every respect.
On the 4th of February, 1920, Mr. Marple and Miss Katherine Roberts, daughter of Wallace L. and Mary (Elmer) Roberts, were united in marriage. Mr. Roberts was born in Wales but came to the United States as a young man and here married a native daughter of New York state. Both he and his wife are deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Marple had two children, but they both died in infancy. Mr. and Mrs. Marple are identified with the Lutheran church, of which Mr. Marple is a member. In politics Mr. Marple is a republican and he takes an interest in party affairs.