Christian Mardorf
This gentleman, one of the prominent manufacturers of
Freeport, was born in the city of Melsungen, province of Hesse-Cassel,
Germany, January 23, 1847. In 1852 the family came to this country and located
in Butler borough, Butler county, Pennsylvania, where the father followed his
trade, that of a tanner. His son Christian was brought up to this trade, and
at the age of fifteen began to work at it regularly, having before that time
engaged in it at intervals. After completing his term of apprenticeship he
followed his calling in Pittsburgh, where he remained until the war broke out.
He went into the army, and was at Richmond and Petersburg. After the close of
the war he went to East Liverpool, Ohio, where he engaged in the manufacture
of leather in company with his brother Augustus. After the expiration of two
years they came to Freeport, where they established the business of which
Christian Mardorf is now the sole proprietor. At first the business was
conducted on the most rigorously economical principles, and in a comparatively
small way. Having been reared in the business and thus securing a thorough,
practical acquaintance with all of its details, and having also a sincere
desire to produce only the best goods, it was not long before his leather
obtained the reputation which it deserved abroad, and his business increased
to such an extent that he was obliged to improve his facilities. Since the
date of establishing the tannery in Freeport, 1867, the business has grown
steadily from its small beginning, until at the present Mr. Mardorf’s sales
amount to fully $75,000 per annum. It is still increasing although no
traveling salesmen are employed, and additional facilities for manufacturing
must soon be provided, a fact which affords positive evidence of the
superiority of the goods. His patronage comes from all parts of the great
region between Maine and Missouri. Mr. Mardorf was married in 1869 to Miss
Wilhelmina, daughter of Andrew Zimmerman, of Jefferson township, Butler
county. Both are consistent members of the Lutheran church of Freeport.
Source: Page(s)
615-616,
History of Armstrong County, Pennsylvania by Robert Walker Smith, Esq.
Chicago: Waterman, Watkins & Co., 1883.
Transcribed December 2000
by Jeffrey Bish for the Armstrong County Smith Project.
Contributed by Jeffrey Bish for use by the Armstrong County Genealogy Project
(http://www.pa-roots.com/armstrong/)Armstrong County Genealogy Project Notice:
These electronic pages cannot be reproduced in any format, for any
presentation, without prior written permission.
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