USA > Pennsylvania > Montgomery County > Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, a history, Volume III > Part 12
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He married, June 14, 1914, Hattie Rothermel, of Reading, Pennsyl- vania, and they are the parents of a son, Daniel R., born September 3, . 1915. The family home is at No. 237 Main street, Royersford.
WILLIAM J. EHRNFELDT, owner and manager of the Keystone Pretzel Company, located at No. 147 West Lafayette street, Norristown, Pennsylvania, is one of the successful and well-established business men of the county. For more than thirty years he has been engaged in the manufacture and sale of high-grade pretzels, and he is well known throughout the county, being the only manufacturer of pretzels in the borough of Norristown.
Mr. Ehrnfeldt was born in Strausstown, Berks county, Pennsylvania, January 18, 1874, son of Daniel and Elizabeth (Gassert) Ehrnfeldt, and grandson of Daniel Ehrnfeldt, who came to this country from Germany and settled at Taylor's Forge, Berks county, where his family were born. Eight days after the birth of Daniel Ehrnfeldt, the mother died and Dan- iel (father of William J.) was given to David Straus, an uncle of the child, with whom he remained until he grew to manhood, when he mar- ried and removed to Lebanon county, where he and his wife, Elizabeth (Gassert) Ehrnfeldt, became the parents of four children: Albert, a resident of Rehrersburg, Berks county, Pennsylvania; Annetta, mar- ried Milton D. Reich, of Richland, Lebanon county, Pennsylvania ; Wil- liam J., of further mention ; and Adeline, deceased.
William J. Ehrnfeldt received his education in the public schools of Myerstown, and was engaged in farm work until about seventeen years of age. He then learned the bakery business in Myerstown, and worked at that trade in the employ of others until 1906. In that year he engaged in business for himself, at his present location. The concern was estab- lished in 1890 by George Ault, who for sixteen years conducted a gen- eral bakery in a small way, and from whom Mr. Ehrnfeldt purchased
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the plant and the good will of patrons. Mr. Ehrnfeldt devoted his ener- gies and the full facilities of the plant to the making of pretzels and was successful from the beginning. He has rebuilt the whole plant, put in up-to-date machinery, and operates the entire establishment according to the most modern and progressive plans. He makes from 25,000 to 30,000 pretzels a day and disposes of his product throughout Montgomery county, giving employment to nine people. He makes only high-grade pretzels, and his trade-mark is a guarantee of quality through- out the county.
Mr. Ehrnfeldt is well known in fraternal circles, being a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks; Loyal Order of Moose; Knights of Pythias; and a contributing member of the Grand Army of the Republic. He is a member of Christ Reformed Church, of Norris- town.
William J. Ehrnfeldt married, on March 15, 1901, Mary A. (Stutz- man) Uhrich, daughter of Andrew and Susan B. Stutzman, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, and they became the parents of one child, William John Ehrnfeldt, born November 13, 1904, died February 14, 1905.
ELMER E. OBERHOLTZER-Among the practical industries of Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, Mr. Oberholtzer stands as a veteran blacksmith and distributor of harvesters and farm implements. Reared in the activities of the farm, he has built his success upon his thorough knowledge of the needs of the farmer, and for more than forty years has conducted business at his present location. He is a son of Joseph H. and Sarah Oberholtzer, long residents of Towamencin township, his father for many years a leading farmer of that section and also a promi- nent and successful cattle dealer. These parents had five children : Josiah ; Elmer E., of further mention; Lincoln; and two that died, Syl- vester C. and William C.
Elmer E. Oberholtzer was born in Towamencin township, Pennsyl- vania, May 1I, 1862. His education was acquired in the local public schools, and as a boy he assisted his father on the farm, then, at the age of seventeen years, began to learn the trade of blacksmith. He served an apprenticeship of three years with John Appel, at Kulpsville, then remained with him for one year thereafter as a smith. Coming to Main- land in 1880, Mr. Oberholtzer opened a blacksmith shop here, securing the sales agency at the same time for one of the early makes of har- vesters, and for a variety of other farm implements. He has followed this line of business endeavor continuously since, now being active in his fortieth year of commercial experience in the same location. He has been largely successful, and is counted among the substantial and pro- gressive business men of the community. The long period of his resi- dence in Mainland and the confidence of the people in his discretion brought him forward into the public service many years ago as judge of elections, in which capacity he served for fifteen years. He was also road supervisor for two years. His political convictions align with the principles of the Republican party, but he endorses every forward move-
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ment. Fraternally Mr. Oberholtzer holds membership in Shiloh Lodge, No. 558, Free and Accepted Masons, and also in Kulpsville Lodge, No. 345, Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He is a member of Christ Lutheran Church, which he has served as deacon for the past six years.
Mr. Oberholtzer married, at Mainland, Pennsylvania, on January 9, 1882, Ida H. Brunner, daughter of James B. and Madelina (Hendricks) Brunner. Mr. and Mrs. Oberholtzer are the parents of three children : I. Linford B., born October 13, 1886, at Lansdale, Pennsylvania; he married Mabel Clemens, daughter of Henry B. Clemens, and they are the parents of the following children : Ellsworth, James, and Elizabeth. 2. One who died in infancy. 3. Wilbur B., born at Mainland, November 6, 1892.
GEORGE BENJAMIN STONER-Formerly a public accountant and now associated with Percy A. Flavell in the automobile business, Mr. Stoner is widely known as a progressive man of affairs. He was born at Philadelphia, January 25, 1879, son of the Rev. H. Y. Stoner and his wife, Mary (Fritz) Stoner.
His grandfather, George Stoner, was the proprietor of a hotel and general store at Stonersville, Pennsylvania, which takes its name from an ancestor of Mr. Stoner's who settled there in the early days. George Stoner was a zealous and devoted member of the Reformed church and exhibited his devotion to the cause of militant religion in many ways; among other things, he used to send his own teams out on Sundays and special occasions to drive families, which lived at a distance, to the church and back in order that they might not be deprived of the opportunity to attend the services.
It was natural, therefore, that his son, Mr. Stoner's father, being brought up in such an atmosphere of old fashioned piety and reverence, should decide to become a minister. He was carefully trained for an ecclesiastical career and has become widely known for his active and self- sacrificing work on behalf of his church. He was for many years actively engaged in pastoral work as a minister of the Reformed church, and during that period organized and established two churches in different localities. At the present time, he is the owner and director of the Inter- State Commercial College at Reading, Pennsylvania. The Rev. Stoner is a Mason of the thirty-third degree and has been through all the chairs of the Masonic Lodge. Greatly interested in public affairs and every- where recognized as a public-spirited citizen, he has been active in many welfare and social service movements and held the position of chairman of the Near East Relief work in Berks county during the World War and the period just following it. The Rev. Stoner and his wife have four children : George Benjamin, the subject of this review; Ella, who mar- ried Arthur D. Willard ; Caroline ; Katherine.
George Benjamin Stoner received his education, first, in the public schools of Reading, where his parents live, and, later, completed his pre- liminary studies at various private schools. When his grammar school studies were completed, he proceeded to a private academic school for
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the purpose of finishing his education. While at school, he had decided to enter the field of business and, having a marked ability for mathe- matics, chose the field of public accounting. He took a thorough course in this branch of business after his graduation from the academy, and began his business career as a public accountant, forming an advan- tageous business connection at Reading. He spent twenty-two years in this work, and during that period acquired a wide experience of business methods and trade conditions, coming into contact with many different types of business men. In 1916 he moved to Philadelphia in order to accept an offer of a position as office manager for a well-known firm of contractors. He found this work very agreeable and met with great success in it, his instinctively precise and orderly methods combined with a remarkable administrative ability enabling him to secure the maximum efficiency in the conduct of the work of his employers, who rank among the largest firms of contractors at Philadelphia.
But during the course of his career, Mr. Stoner had been attracted by the possibilities offered by the automobile business and, on April 8, 1922, having resigned his position at Philadelphia to the regret of his asso- ciates, he formed a partnership with Percy A. Flavell and established the Glenside Motors, with offices and showrooms at Glenside. The partners have already achieved a substantial success and their business has increased to a gratifying extent. They are sales agents for the Ford Motor Car and the Fordson Tractor, and maintain a service station for these motors. They are also the exclusive agents for the Lincoln Motor and the latest models of this superb car may be seen to advantage in their commodious and attractive show rooms. Drivers of the Lincoln car will also find their premises conveniently located for service and repairs of all descriptions and their stock of spare parts and accessories is unusually complete. Mr. Stoner's success is based upon energy and ability and he is generally regarded as a progressive and vigorous member of the busi- ness community.
Keenly interested in all civic and social service movements, and proud of the progress made by Glenside, Mr. Stoner takes a firm stand on the side of constructive, legislative and business policies. He holds office as secretary of the Glenside Business Men's Association, and is an active worker for the aims of the association. His favorite recreations are auto- mobiling and inland fishing. As an automobilist, he naturally supports the movement for better roads and uniformity of license laws through- out the country. As a fisherman, he is interested in the conservation of fish and game and the efforts made by various organizations to prevent the pollution of streams and lakes and the taking of fish in illegal and prohibited manners. In religious faith, Mr. Stoner follows his father's and belongs to the Reformed church, lending his support to all the con- gregational activities.
On April 23, 1898, he married, at Reading, Susie A. Krick, daughter of Adam A. and Ellen (Adams) Krick. Mrs. Stoner is one of a family of five children, her brother and sisters being: Margaret, who married
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Archibald Dysart ; Mary ; Sallie, who married John Young, now deceased ; and Adam R. Mr. and Mrs. Stoner have two children: G. Bertram, who was born February 22, 1899; Dorothy C., who was born October 2, 1903.
JOHN BURTON-One of the pioneers in the florist business in Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, is John Burton, who began business in this section of the State more than forty years ago. He was the first to sell American Beauty roses in the cut flower trade in this country, and was long known as an expert in the horticultural field.
Mr. Burton was born in England, January 27, 1852, on the old home- stead, one of the four children of John and Ann (Hand) Burton, both of whom are deceased. He received his education in the public schools of his native country, and then engaged in gardening, making a careful study of that branch of the business in which he later specialized, horti- culture. He was employed in the gardens of the Earl of Stamford, in England, for a time, but in 1872 decided to come to the United States. He sailed on the steamship "Atlantic" and after landing at New York City, went to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where he secured employment as a gardener. He helped in the preparations for the Centennial Exhibi- tion held in Philadelphia, in 1876, and then removed to New Orleans, Louisiana, where he remained for two years. At the end of that time he returned North and settled in Springfield township, Montgomery county, where he at once purchased twenty-one acres of land and engaged in the florist business. His thorough knowledge of the business and his per- sonal qualities rapidly won success and he became one of the leading rose growers in the country. He was the first to see and to develop the possibilities of the American Beauty rose in the cut flower trade in this country, and in Montgomery county was one of the pioneers of his field. By 1904, he was growing plants under more than 2,000 feet of glass, and had made a name for himself as one of the most expert and enterprising growers of plants and flowers in this section of the State. In 1893, his son, Alfred Burton, became his assistant, retaining the association until 1905, when the son engaged in business for himself. The business con- tinued to grow and prosper under the management of John Burton until 1918, when he retired.
Mr. Burton has always taken an active interest in local public affairs. He gives his support to the principles and the candidates of the Demo- cratic party and is a leader in the political activities of that part in Springfield township. In 1891 he was elected to represent his district in the State legislature, and during his term of office discharged his duties with distinction and credit, giving entire satisfaction to his constituents. For ten consecutive years he served the township as school director, and as an earnest advocate of the best posibilities for educational progress, rendered valuable service. He is a member of the Florist Association of America, and his religious affiliation is with the Grace Episcopal Church, of Mt. Airy, Pennsylvania.
On January 24, 1875, John Burton married Elizabeth Ann Lees, daugh- ยท
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ter of George Lees, a superintendent of carpet works in Philadelphia, and they are the parents of : Alfred, a sketch of whom follows; George; Alice, who married Joseph Finley; Elizabeth, who married Dr. Frank McCracken Ramsey, of Wyndmoor.
ALFRED BURTON-For more than fifty years the Burton family, father and son, have been identified with the horticultural industry of this section of the country, Alfred Burton having been engaged therein throughout his life. He is a native of Germantown, where he was born May 9, 1877, his parents being John and Elizabeth Ann (Lees) Burton, a sketch of whom precedes this.
After completing his studies in the public schools, Mr. Burton took a two-year business course at Pierce's School in Philadelphia, then attended the West Chester Normal for a year, after which, in preparation for his special work, he studied a year at the Pennsylvania State Horti- cultural College. In 1893 he became his father's active assistant in his florist business, and continued to be associated with him until 1904. The following year, in 1905, he started operations on his own responsibility beginning his enterprise with 3,000 square feet of space under glass, which he has since increased to 7,000 feet. His establishment comprises eleven green houses, enabling him to maintain a very large output of flowers and plants, and conduct an exceedingly thriving business.
Mr. Burton enjoys a high reputation in horticultural circles and main- tains membership in a number of well-known organizations devoted to promoting the interests of this field of endeavor. Among these are the Pennsylvania Horticultural Association; the Society of American Florists, the American Rose Society; the Philadelphia Florist's Club. In addition to this he also belongs to the Philadelphia Rotary Club.
On October 2, 1900, Edith May Harper became the wife of Mr. Bur- ton. She is a daughter of Henry Clay Harper, now deceased, and Mary (Hammer) Harper, and has two brothers and two sisters, their names being Henry C. Harper, Charles Harper, Emily Harper and Sarah Harper. Mr. and Mrs. Burton have three children: Mary Hammer, born January 24, 1903, who studied industrial art in Philadelphia for three years, who married Ramsey Mckinsey, Jr., of Philadelphia, May 23, 1923; they will reside at Wyndmoor; Elizabeth Lees, born June 4, 1905, is a student at Swarthmore College; Ann, born July 22, 1908, attends the Friends' High School at Philadelphia. The family are mem- bers of the Mt. Airy Grace Episcopal Church.
EDWIN H. FAUST-From 1851 until his death in 1884, Alvin D. Faust was engaged as a tanner in Ambler, Pennsylvania, owning and conducting his own tannery very successfully. He married Catherine Kuhns, and three sons of that marriage, Edwin H., Samuel A., and Mil- ton D., succeeded their father in business at his death, having been instructed in the art of leather tanning by their father, an expert tanner. The business, founded over a century ago and developed by Alvin D. Faust, claimed Edwin H. Faust when he was but a lad of fifteen, and as
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his father's assistant he spent sixteen years of his life before becoming with his brothers, an owner and responsible head of this, one of Ambler's oldest industries. Alvin D. Faust not only developed a business that yet endures but during his life time he did much for the public school system, serving for many years as school director.
Edwin H. Faust, son of Alvin D. and Catherine (Kuhns) Faust, was born in Ambler, Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, December 20, 1853, and began his education in the public school. He continued study in Allentown Military Academy and in the academic department of Muhlen- berg College, but school years ended in 1868, and his connection with the tannery of which he now is an owner began. As he grew in years and experience greater responsibilities were laid upon him, the father fitting his sons during his own life time to succeed him in the management of the tannery. In 1884 the three sons of Alvin D. Faust came into the management and ownership of the Faust tannery and with that owner- ship and management Edwin H. Faust has been continuously connected until the present year 1923. He is also a director of the First National Bank of Ambler, his son, William H. Faust, being cashier of that insti- tution.
In his political faith Mr. Faust is a Democrat and for thirty-five years has served Ambler school board as treasurer. He was the first treasurer elected after the incorporation and as yet has had no successor. He had previously served as a school director and virtually his service in behalf of his public schools has been lifelong. He is a member of Fort Wash- ington Lodge, No. 308, and of Fort Washington Chapter, Royal Arch Masons having held the office of treasurer of his lodge thirty-five years, 1888-1923. In religious faith, he is a Lutheran.
Edwin H. Faust married, in Allentown, Pennsylvania, November II, 1876, Eliza Rauch, daughter of Jonas and Maria (Kuhns) Rauch. Her mother is a cousin of Catherine (Kuhns) Faust, mother of Edwin H. Faust. Jonas Rauch was a farmer of Lehigh county, Pennsylvania. To Mr. and Mrs. Edwin H. Faust two children have been born: William H., now cashier of the First National Bank of Ambler; Blanche, married Charles Stout, a grocer of Ambler, and has a daughter Catherine.
As a native son, Mr. Faust's record is a proud one, for his years. seventy, have been spent in Ambler, the place of his birth, and during fifty-five of those years he has been connected with the same business that claimed his father, and that an Ambler industry. His service to the schools is also most remarkable.
OSCAR H. STILLWAGON-In one of those branches of mercantile activity most vital to the welfare of the people Mr. Stillwagon has for more than eighteen years been actively engaged in Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, for fifteen years being at the head of his own business, in the borough of Ambler. Mr. Stillwagon comes of a family long resident in Pennsylvania, both his parents being natives of this State. He is a son of A. B. Stillwagon, who was born in Lansdale, Pennsylvania, on January 30, 1849. He conducted a bakery and ice cream business in
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Ambler for twenty years and was the first man in this section to make Vienna bread. He also had a restaurant, which he carried on for twenty years, and was postmaster of Ambler from 1884 to 1888, under President Grover Cleveland. He married Mary E. Hulett, who was born in Phil- adelphia, on May 14, 1848, and they had four children : Oscar H .; Milton, who died at the age of thirteen; Jennie T., wife of William H. Oliver, who is sales representative for the Republican Iron and Steel Company, of New York; and Ross, who died in infancy.
Oscar H. Stillwagon was born in Ambler, Pennsylvania, on October 31, 1875. Educated in the public and high schools of his native place and Sunnyside Boarding School of Ambler, he then attended the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy. He passed the State examination and received the degree of Pharmacist in 1904. He was then employed by Joseph S. Angeny and R. C. Roberts at Ambler until 1907, when he started in busi- ness for himself in a small way, and to-day (1923) has just completed the erection of a new three-story building-20 x 90-and apartments on second floor, where he lives, in the center of the business section of the city, at No. 317 Butler avenue.
Fraternally Mr. Stillwagon is a member of Fort Washington Lodge, No. 308, Free and Accepted Masons; of Fort Washington Chapter, No. 220, Royal Arch Masons; of the Philadelphia Consistory, Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite; and of Lu Lu Temple, Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. He is a Democrat by political affiliation. His church connection is as a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Ambler.
Mr. Stillwagon married, in November, 1912, at Madison, Maine, May- halie A. Bray, of Madison, daughter of Charles E. and Vyrtline (Kersh- ner) Bray, the father being a native of Maine, and retired from business before his death, which occurred in 1892. Her mother is still living and resides in Maine. Mr. and Mrs. Stillwagon have two children: Oscar H., Jr., born October 2, 1913 ; and Mary Jane, born December 11, 1914.
CHARLES W. LEWIS, proprietor of the Lewis undertaking and funeral parlors at Harmonville, Pennsylvania, is a prominent member of the Cold Point Baptist Church. He was born in Whitepain township, May 20, 1854, son of Isaac and Elizabeth (Deaves) Lewis. His father, who was engaged in the cultivation of the soil throughout his active career, was born in Plymouth township, son of Nathan and Rebecca Lewis. Mr. Lewis is one of a family of three, his two brothers being William ; John, who died October 22, 1863, aged nine years.
Mr. Lewis received his education in the Sandy Hill School. When he was four years old his father died, and he lived with his widowed mother. During his boyhood and early youth he worked on various farms in the neighborhood, but at the age of eighteen he decided to seek his fortune in an independent venture, and accordingly accepted a posi- tion in the undertaking establishment of William H. Ruddach. Spending three years in this connection, he acquired a thorough knowledge of an undertaker's work and duties. When this period came to an end, Mr.
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Lewis accepted a position with Crankshaw and Broadhurst, of Consho- hocken, and learned the painting and decorating business. After careful consideration of various possibilities, he rented a suitable building and established a general store at Harmonville, Pennsylvania.' In connection with this enterprise, he conducted an undertaking business and took entire charge of funeral arrangements. His business met with success, his instinctive business ability enabling him to conduct the store with great profit, especially in as much as he was a practical interior decorator and received many commissions for the decoration of houses and apart- ments. As an undertaker, his skill and high sense of the dignity and importance of his work brought him many friends, who appreciated his sympathy and devotion at a time of bereavement. In 1889, Mr. Lewis decided to give up the store and to devote all his time to the undertaking and funeral directing. Accordingly, he sold his interest in the store to good advantage, and has since been engaged in business solely as a fun- eral director and decorator. In 1888 he built his present home and mortuary parlor, sparing no pains to make it convenient in arrangement and harmonious and dignified in appearance. He is widely known and greatly admired throughout the vicinity and has a host of friends and acquaintances who regard his opinions with the highest respect.
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