Biographies from Historical and Biographical Annals by Morton Montgomery

p. 1090

Surnames: ENSSLEN, KIRSCHMANN

Rudolph Ensslen, who died Nov. 25, 1906, at his home No. 306 Elm
street, Reading, was engaged in an extensive delicatessen business.
He was a native of Germany, born in Kircheim, Wurtemberg. Jan. 25,
1859, son of Ferdinand Ensslen, and was educated in that country,
where at the age of eighteen years he was traveling salesman for a
wholesale cheese house.

In 1880 Mr. Ensslen came to America, landing at
New York, from which city he came directly to Reading, being first
employed at the Lauer Brewery Company, where he remained until Jan.
1, 1900. At this time Mr. Ensslen embarked in the cheese and
delicatessen business, for which he was so well qualified. He
always carried the best quality of goods and his customers realized
this fact. He catered to hotels, stores, etc., as well as to
private residences, and his delivery wagons were to be seen at any
time on the streets of Reading. Mr. Ensslen carried the best lines
of cheese, both domestic and foreign, sausages, meats, canned goods
and condiments. His cheese and meats were imported principally from
Switzerland and Germany.

Mr. Ensslen was married in 1881 to Mary
Kirschmann, and they had two children: Carl F. and Augustus
Rudolph. The family are members of St. John’s Lutheran Church, to
which Mr. Ensslen also belonged. He was a member of Mt. Penn Lodge,
I. O. O. F.; Aerie No. 66, F. O. E.; Reading Turn Verein;
Maennerchor; and Bavarians. He was recognized as a man of much
business ability. Besides his wife and children he was survived by
a brother Albert and three sisters, Emma, Louisa and Pauline, all
in Germany.

EPLER,
HARRISON R.

p. 1358

Surnames: EPLER, ROTHERMEL, ALTHOUSE, VAN REED

Harrison R. Epler, a well-known business man of Riverside, North
Reading, Pa., where he is engaged in the manufacture of hosiery,
was born in the Hotel Penn, Reading, in 1838, son of Jared and
Deborah (Rothermel) Epler, and a grandson of Jacob Epler, a farmer
of Bern township.

Jared Epler, father of Harrison R., was born in
Bern township, where he followed farming until 1837, and in that
year removed to Reading and purchased the old Hotel Penn property,
which he conducted for a period of two and one-half years. This he
sold and in 1840 purchased the farm at Leinbachs, now known as the
Harrison Epler farm. There he died in 1865, aged fifty-three years.
He and his wife had four children, of whom two are now living:
Deborah R., who married John Z. Althouse, deceased, and Harrison R.

Harrison R. Epler was educated in the schools of
Bern township, and was reared on the farm, on which he worked until
1902, when he engaged in the manufacture of hosiery, in order that
his son, the only living child, Jared V. R., could have a business
in which to engage. In religious belief Mr. Epler is connected with
the Reformed Church. He held several township offices during his
residence on his farm, among them the office of member of the
school board. During the Civil war Mr. Epler was a member of the
State Militia.

Mr. Harrison Epler was united in marriage with
Emma Van Reed, daughter of Henry Z. Van Reed, and the only
surviving member of their family is Jared V. R. Epler.

p. 723

Surnames: EPLER, STRUBBLE, MOYER, MAHLA, HOFFNER, BIDDEN, KOCH,
WONDERLE

John Peter Epler was born in Bern township, Berks county, Jan. 22,
1836, and died at Reading Dec. 29, 1905, aged sixty- nine years,
eleven months and seven days. During the earlier part of his life
he was a farmer, but in 1865 he removed to Reading and worked for
the Schuylkill Navigation Company as a member of the repair gang,
and continued with them for three years. He then was employed at
Bushong’s furnace for more than a quarter of a century. Later he
became watchman for the Excelsior Brass Company, but in less than a
year he was burned to death while at the post of duty. He is
interred in the Charles Evans cemetery.

On Aug. 30, 1861, Mr. Epler was married to
Rebecca Strubble, daughter of Jacob and Annie ( Moyer ) Strubble,
and they had one son, George B. The late Mr. Epler was a consistent
member of St. John’s Lutheran church, to which congregation his
family belong. Mrs. Epler resides at No. 474 Schuylkill avenue,
where she conducts a small stationery, confectionery, cigar and
tobacco store, and she is well respected in the community.

George B. Epler, son of Mr. and Mrs. John Peter
Epler, was born Dec. 28, 1861, in Muhlenberg township, where he
resides with his mother. He is a stationery engineer, and is
employed at the Tragle Cordage Company’s works. He married Kate
Mahla, daughter of Frederick Mahla, of Germany, who married Louisa
Hoffner. Mr. and Mrs. Epler have two children: Stella M., m. to
John J. Bidden, now of Providence, R. I.; and George L., living in
Reading.

The late John P. Epler was a grandson of Jacob
Epler who married an Epler, but nothing definite is known of him
further than that, and that among his children was John Peter
Epler, Sr., father of the late John Peter Epler. The father was
born in Bern township. in September, 1804, and died Sept. 2, 1877,
being buried in the Charles Evans cemetery. He was a farmer, and
later a shoemaker, and worked at his trade until his death which
occurred on Jefferson street in Reading. His wife was Mary Koch,
who died in 1847. There children were: Annie and Catherine died
young; Mary m. Michael Wonderle; Louisa m. Irwin Moyer; Aaron was
killed in the Civil War; John Peter.

p. 1480

Surnames: ERB, YERGER, DERR, STELTZ, CHRISTMAN, GEIST,
UNDERKOFFLER, WALT, HARTLINE, EHST, NOLL

Nathaniel G. Erb, baker at Bechtelsville borough, Berks county, was
born April 15, 1844, in District township, this county. He is a
great-grandson of the emigrant ancestor, Johan Casper Erb, who was
a German, and who is buried at the Swamp Church. Among his sons
were Johan Georg and Heinrich. The former was the ancestor of
Nathaniel G. Erb, and is mentioned further on. Heinrich Erb was a
farmer in Douglass township, Montgomery County. He is buried at the
Swamp Church, where many Erbs have been interred. His family
consisted of four sons and three daughters, viz.: David; Daniel;
Henry; John, who died young; Catharine, who married Peter Yerger;
Hannah, who married Henry Derr; and a daughter whose name is not
remembered. Of this family: David Erb was born in 1809 in Douglass
township, Montgomery county, and died in 1885 at the age of
seventy-six years; he is buried in the Fairview cemetery at
Boyertown, at which place he died. He had moved to Boyertown in
1872, and was engaged in business as a shoe merchant. He married
Julia Steltz, and their children were as follows: Mary, Hettie,
Fayette, Solomon, Susan, Charles, David S. (a leading cigar
manufacturer of Boyertown), Rev. Isaac (of Orwigsburg, Pa.) and
Rev. Jesse (of Slatington, Pennsylvania).

Johan Georg (John George) Erb, son of Johan
Casper and grandfather of Nathaniel G. Erb, was born at the Swamp,
not far from Pottstown, where he had a large farm, which he sold in
time to his son Jacob. Later he owned the mill and farm property
known as the “Roof Bridge” place, from the fact that it was
situated near a large covered bridge spanning the Perkiomen creek,
in Upper Hanover township. He is buried at the Six Corner Church,
in Montgomery county. John George Erb was married either two or
three times, and by the mother of his son Jonas had children as
follows: Jonas, Simon, Amos, Aaron and Lydia. His other children
were: Philip, Jacob, John, William (whose death was caused by his
accidentally cutting himself with a cradle, in the harvest field)
and Mrs. John Christman.

Jonas Erb, son of John George Erb, was born in
1816 in Upper Hanover township, Montgomery Co., Pa., and died in
July, 1898, at the home of his son Nathaniel at Bechtelsville, aged
eighty-two years, two months, two days. In his earlier life he
followed blacksmithing, but he was engaged in farming most of his
active life. He lived for a time in District township, Berks
county, moving thence in 1850 to Frederick township, Montgomery
county, and after various removals returned to Frederick township.
Coming to Dale, Berks county, in his young manhood, he married
Elizabeth Geist, daughter of John Geist, of District township, and
they rest from their labors at Keeler’s Church, in Montgomery
county. They were the parents of nine children: Nathaniel G., John,
William (who died young), Milton, Louisa, Elizabeth, George,
Solomon and Amos.

Nathaniel G. Erb, son of Jonas, attended the pay
schools then in vogue, at Huff’s Church, leaving school when he was
fourteen years old. In 1861 he commenced to learn the carpenter’s
trade, and he also followed farming for some years, in Frederick
township, Montgomery county, and engaged in making cigars, first at
Douglassville and later at Clayton, both places in Berks county,
employing from five to seven people. He peddled his cigars himself.
After one years experience as proprietor of the “Clayton House” he
moved to Boyertown and took the Union House, which he conducted for
five years. Following that he assisted his brother in the bottle
business, at Pottstown, Pa., for some time. In the fall of 1886 Mr.
Erb came to Bechtelsville, where the baking business has since
engaged his attention. He employs nine hands and keeps three teams
busy, his patronage covering an area which extends ten miles from
the borough in every direction. His shop is equipped with the most
improved machinery for baking and the manufacture of ice cream,
which latter he carries on during the summer months. By hard work
and careful management he has become very prosperous.

Mr. Erb was married in April, 1870, to Sophia
Underkoffler, daughter of Henry and Sarah (Walt) Underkoffler, of
Frederick township, Montgomery county, and granddaughter of John
Underkoffler. Four children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Erb: (1)
J. Warren, of Bechtelsville, married Bessie Hartline, and they have
one daughter, Florence. (2) Allen M., born Aug. 24, 1874, lives in
Bechtelsville, where he is at present acting school director and
serving as secretary of the school board. He married Annie T. Ehst,
and they have had six children, Leon F., Miriam, Naomi, Edith, Alma
and Curtis. (3) Cora is unmarried . (4) Sallie married Charles
Noll, of Bechtelsville, and they have one daughter, Erma.

Mr. Erb and his family are members of Keeler’s
Lutheran Church, in Montgomery county. He is a Democrat and at one
time was quite active in the workings of his party. At present he
is serving as a member of the town council.

,
p. 1722

Surnames: ERMOLD, REIFF, MUNTZ, DE VAULT, LEWIS, KREWSON, GARRETT,
SPOHN, TAYLOR, HENRY, EDELMAN, HOFF, NAGEL, BREEN

William Spohn Ermold, foreman blacksmith in the employ of the
Southwark Foundry & Machine Company at Philadelphia since 1887,
was born Dec. 7, 1834, at Reading, Berks county, where he attended
public schools until he was sixteen years old. He was then
apprenticed to the trade of blacksmith with the P. & R. R. Co.,
and after learning his trade remained with the company until 1857.
He then worked at different places in Tennessee, Pennsylvania,
Washington, D. C., Iowa, and Idaho until 1881, when he returned to
Reading and there followed his trade until 1887, when he accepted
the position of foreman blacksmith with the Southwark Foundry &
Machine Company of Philadelphia, and this position he has filled in
a most satisfactory manner until the present time.

In 1860 Mr. Ermold was married to Rosa Regina
Reiff, daughter of Ludwig F. E. Reiff and Anna Mary Muntz, his
wife, by whom he had seven children: Emma Louise (married to Robert
Cavis De Vault), Millie Reiff (married to George Lentner Lewis),
Elmer Atwood (married to Lillian Krewson), Mark Atlee (married to
Edna Smith Garrett), and three who died, Anna Mary in 1862, William
Reiff in 1866, and Herbert K. in 1891. His wife died in 1881.

His father was Daniel Ermold, a blacksmith at
Reading for forty years. He was born at Reading in 1789, and after
learning his trade carried on business for upward of thirty years,
at the corner of Third and Franklin streets, when he entered the
employ of the P. & R. R. Co., and continued with the company
until his decease in 1848. He was married to Sarah Spohn, a
daughter of John Spohn of Reading (who was a captain in the
Revolution), and by her he had twelve children: Daniel (married to
Catharine Taylor), Peter (who married Sarah Henry and after her
decease Clara Edelman), Obediah (married to Ann E. Hoff), William
S., Harriet (married to William Nagel), Maria (married to Peter A.
Breen, and living at Philadelphia at the advanced age of eighty-six
years), and six who died in infancy.

Mr. Ermold’s father-in-law, Ludwig F. E. Reiff,
was born at Heilbron in Wurtemberg, Germany, in 1793, and when a
young man emigrated to Pennsylvania, landing at Philadelphia, and
after following his trade of butcher there for several years
removed to Reading, where he carried on farming and also butchering
until his decease in 1861. His home and farm were situated on North
Fifth street, beyond Buttonwood. While at Philadelphia he met his
wife, who was also born in Wurtemberg.

p. 1519

Surnames: ERNST, BERRINGER, BLESSING, HAUSSER, BUSSARD

George Ernst, a highly esteemed retired citizen of Reading, Pa.,
who through his own energy and enterprise became a successful man,
is a native of Wurtemberg, Germany, son of John and Augusta
(Berringer) Ernst and grandson of George Ernst.

George Ernst was an extensive land owner in
Germany, building a large castle upon his immense estate, and was
the father of eight children, of whom John was the eldest. John
Ernst spent his entire life in his native country, engaged in
farming during the summer months and in tailoring in the winter
time. He and his wife were the parents of these children: Michael,
who lives in Germany; Conrad, a resident of Reading, and George.

George Ernst received his education in the
schools of his native country, and when yet a youth, in 1852, came
to America, and located in Reading, where he was first employed by
Paul Blessing, who owned a farm within the city limits. There he
remained for a short time and was next employed on a truck farm
belonging to Michael Hausser, with whom he continued for about one
year when he secured employment at the old Eckert Furnace as a
stone mason, a trade which he had learned in his native country.
Mr. Ernst helped to build the foundation and stack of the furnace,
and while employed on the latter fell a distance of forty feet,
breaking both arms, an accident which confined him to his bed for
nine weeks. Upon recovering he assisted in building the Reading
Company’s depot at Seventh and Chestnut streets. In 1860 Mr. Ernst
turned his attention to street paving and asphalt work, being the
pioneer of this class of work in the city of Reading, and from the
start was very successful. Through hard work and close application
to business he accumulated a competency, and in 1891 retired from
active life. On coming to America Mr. Ernst had hardly enough money
with which to reach Reading, but he is now in very comfortable
circumstances, and is the owner of nine valuable properties. He is
much esteemed in his community, where his neighbors and
acquaintances know him as a good, steady citizen, with a reputation
for honesty and integrity.

Mr. Ernst was married in 1854 to Christianna
Bussard, born in Germany, and to this union were born children as
follows: George and Gotleib, twins, deceased; Annie, deceased;
Barbara, deceased; Rosa, a teacher in the public schools of
Reading; and Ella, who married a Mr. Bussard, of Philadelphia. Mr.
Ernst is a member of the Lutheran Church. In politics he is a
Democrat.

p. 983

Surnames: BUZZARD, BESSER, MILLER, MADEIRA, WEIDNER

J. George Ernst, the popular proprietor of the “Hotel Brunswick,”
situated at No. 700 Eighth street, one of Reading’s well patronized
hostelries, was born in Reading, July 21, 1856, son of George and
Christina (Buzzard) Ernst.

Johannes Ernst, his grandfather, lived at Omden,
Oberamt Kirchheim-unter-Teck, Germany. He was a tailor by trade,
and owned a farm of thirty-six acres. He died about 1875, when past
seventy years of age. His children were: John located in Irishtown,
where his children now live; George; Conrad came to America in
1845, with John, and lives in Reading; Catharine and Michael.

George Ernst was born Aug. 18, 1830, in Omden,
Germany, and came to America in 1842, landing at Castle Garden, N.
Y., whence he came to Reading, in which city he died July 26, 1907.
He was a stone and brick mason by trade, but later made tar
pavements, and became a contractor of some reputation as well as a
large property owner. From 1866 until his death George Ernst
resided at No. 502 South Sixth street. He was a Democrat in
political matters, and a consistent member of the German Lutheran
Church, to the charities of which he contributed liberally Mr.
Ernst was buried at the Lutheran cemetery. He was married to
Christina Buzzard, who was born at Stuttgart, Germany, Aug. 18.
1830, the same date as her husband’s birth, and she died at
Reading, July 13, 1904. Mr. and Mrs. Ernst had the following seven
children: J. George; Barbara died unmarried; Ellen, deceased, m. D.
V. Besser, of Philadelphia; Rosa is single; and three died in
infancy. Mr. Ernst’s large estate was settled up by his son, J.
George.

J. George Ernst spent his boyhood days at
Reading, his education being secured in the city’s public schools,
which he left at the age of fifteen years to learn the hatting
trade at John R. Miller’s hat factory. He continued there for a
period of four years, and then he engaged at various occupations
for several years. In 1895 he took up the hotel business at
Eleventh and Spruce streets. He has been a hotel proprietor ever
since, and since 1904 has been conducting the well-known “Hotel
Brunswick.” Mr. Ernst is popular fraternally, and is connected with
Reading Castle No. 49, K. G. E. With his family he attends the
German Lutheran Church of Reading, and the family burial ground is
at Aulenbach cemetery.

In 1893 Mr. Ernst married Mary Weidner, daughter
of James W. And Margaret (Madeira) Weidner. They have no children.

p. 1524

Surnames: ERNST, KLEFFER, TROOP, DEIBERT, DERRY

Martin Ernst, founder of the grocery business situated at the
corner of Front and Buttonwood streets, and later conducted by
Ernst & Troop, was one of Reading’s prominent citizens who
passed away May 16, 1902.

Martin Ernst was born in Alsace, Germany, in
1835, and served seven years in the French army. He learned the
tanner’s trade in his native country, and on coming to America in
1864, engaged therein, first at a large tannery in Elizabeth, N.
J., as a finisher, and in 1872 at Reading, in Platz & Winter’s
tannery. Later, when Mr. Platz retired from the firm, it became
Winter & Getz, and Mr. Ernst was employed for a time by this
firm, but in 1884 started in the grocery business on North River
street, between Washington and Jefferson streets. There he remained
until 1892, and in that year removed to Front and Elm streets, and
was there doing business at the time of his death. In religious
belief Mr. Ernst was Roman Catholic, being connected with St.
Paul’s German Church of Reading. In politics he was a Democrat. He
was one of Reading’s honored and respected business men, and his
loss was felt not only by his family and immediate friends, but by
the entire community.

Mr. Ernst was married to Mary Ann Kleffer, a
native of Germany, who was reared in the same village as her
husband, and to them were born: Matilda, who died April 18, 1908,
aged forty-five years; Magdalena, who married Isaac Troop, and has
two children ? Annie and Mary; Ida, who married Allison Deibert,
and has two children ? Leroy and Martin; and Frank, who married
Sophia Derry.

After the death of Mr. Ernst, Mrs. Ernst and her
daughter, Matilda, took up the business together, and conducted it
for one year, when Mrs. Ernst retired, Mrs. Troop being admitted as
a partner. Under the able management of the sisters, the business
thrived, and they had a large and lucrative trade. After the death
of Matilda in 1908, her sister Mrs. Troop and her two daughters ?
Annie and Mary, conducted the business until April, 1909 when they
retired to private life, and are now living in their own home at
No. 374 Schuylkill Avenue.