Irwin T. Ehst, a printer and stationer located on Reading Avenue, Boyertown, PA, is also a man of considerable mechanical genius, and has invented several valuable labor-saving machines which are quite extensively in use. He is a son of Henry and Rachel (Tea) Ehst, and was born in Oley township, Berks County, November 19, 1860.
The Ehst family is of Swiss origin, and among the earliest settlers and pioneer farmers of the lower portion of Berks County, where at least live generations of the family have resided. Samuel Ehst, the great-grandfather of our subject, was a native of Colebrookdale township, where he was engaged in tilling the soil all his life. He was a member of the Mennonite Church. He reared a large family of children, who became scattered over Eastern Pennsylvania and were prominent citizens of the various communities in which they lived.
John Ehst, son of the proceeding was a native of Colebrookdale Township, and was one of the prosperous farmers and respected citizens of that township. Like his father, he was a member of the Mennonite Church. He was united in marriage with Magdalene Gabel, by whom he had five children, namely: William, a farmer of Amity township; Jacob deceased; Leah, who married John Funk of Washington township, Berks County, has resided in Long Island, NY, since her husband's death; Henry the father of our subject; and Levi, a tanner of New Berlinville, PA.
Henry Ehst was born in Colebrookdale township, July 7, 1837, and farming was his main occupation, although he was a tanner by trade and followed tanning for a few years. His life, with the exception of a few years in Montgomery County, was spent in Colebrookdale, Oley, and Washington Townships. Religiously, he was a member of the Mennonite Church. He formed a matrimonial alliance with Rachel Tea, a daughter of the late James Tea, a native of England, who upon coming to this country located in the township of Oley, Berks County, where he engaged in agricultural pursuits. As a result of this union, Mr. and Mrs. Ehst became the parents of nine children, eight of whom now live, namely” Irwin T, the subject of this personal history; Medora; Allen, a butcher of Bechtelsville, PA; Warren a teacher of Washington Township; William who also teaches school in Washington township; Ammon, a farmer in Bechtelsville, Berks County; Annie, wife of Allen Erb of Bechtelsville, PA; Cora, who is living at home; and Eddie, who died in infancy.
Irwin T. Ehst was reared on the farm until he was eighteen years of age, and was educated in the common schools of his native town and the Scientific Academy of Reading. At the age of twenty years, he became an apprentice to the printer's trade in the Franklin Printing House of Boyertown, owned by the Rev. Clinton S. Miller. After serving his apprenticeship, he worked as journeyman fro some four years and then gave up his trade to accept a position as clerk for J. High Stauffer, a music dealer of Boyertown. Two years later he returned to the Franklin Printing House, which was then owned by Stauffer & Ames, and became manager. He continued in that position for two and a half years, and at the end of that time he purchased Mr. Stauffer's interest in the establishment, which was then conducted under the firm name, Ehst & Ames, until 1889. Out subject then disposed of his interest to Mr. Ames, both in the spring of 1890 he bought the entire plant, which he still owns and operates. He has excellent facilities for handling a large trade, and is well patronized by the citizens who need anything in his line of business. He is an inventor of no mean ability, and has invented a machine for the manufacture of paper bags, such as are used in grocery stores. It is pronounced an excellent device by all competent to judge of such matters, and will turn out 325 perfect bags per minute. Another result of his inventive mind was a machine for making commercial envelopes, which was being tested in Philadelphia in 1889, when the plant burned down. He has just completed a machine for printing tickets, which will turn out 8.000 per hour. It has not been put to a thorough test, but Mr. Ehst has perfect confidence in its success. He is also a telegrapher, and has been manager of the local office of the Postal Telegraph Co. for the past eight years. He is an enterprising and progressive man, who possesses the confidence of his fellow citizens, and has been made assignee and administrator of many estates, which have always been satisfactorily settled. He is a public spirited man and supports all new enterprises which he things will be toward the advancement of the interest of the borough. He is financially interested in the Boyertown Casket Co., the Franklin Improvement Co., of which he is secretary, and in other business ventures. He is extensively engaged in the fire insurance and real estate business, being a director of the Manatawny Mutual Fire & Storm Insurance Co., of Reading, PA.
Politically, our subject is an advocate of the principles advocated by the Republican party, and has been a member of the county committee for five years. In 1892, he was elected justice of the peace of Boyertown, PA, and is now a notary public. Socially, he is a member of the Stichter Lodge, No. 254, F. & A. M. of Pottstown, PA; Washington Camp, No. 104, P. O. S. of A, of Boyertown; Salah Castle, No. 46, A. O. K. of M. C., of Boyertown. In connection with the above sketch of his life, Mr. Ehst's portrait is published on the preceding page.
Source: Book of Biographies: This volume contains Biographical Sketches of Leading Citizens of Berks County, Pa. Buffalo: Biographical Publishing Company, 1898, pp. 445, 446.
Submitted by Betty.
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