Complex sentence: During Ottoman times they were the only household that ever came close to centralizing all of the District of Nablus under their rule, and their members held the post of district chief longer than did any other local family in the 18th and 19th centuries, albeit inconsistently.
Split into simpler sentences: During Ottoman times they were the only household that came close to centralizing the entire District of Nablus under their rule. Their members held the position of District Chief longer any other local family in the 18th and 19th centuries, albeit inconsistently.