My Genealogy Hound

CHARLES EHLERS, one of the largest and leading furniture dealers and upholsterers of Dunkirk, was born in Mecklenburg Schwerin, now one of the northern provinces of the German empire, January 22, 1839, and is a son of John and Mary (Penn) Ehlers. His parents were born in Mecklenburg Schwerin, where his father, who was a Lutheran and a tailor by trade, died in 1878, at the age of seventy-eight years. John Ehlers married Mary Penn, who was born in the closing year of the last century and is a member of the Lutheran church. She came in 1871, to Dunkirk, where she has resided ever since with the subject of this sketch and is now well up in the ninety-second year of her age.

Charles Ehlers was reared and educated in his native province where he learned the trade of an upholsterer. Seeking a wider business field with more favorable opportunities than those presented in Germany, he came to the United States, in 1865, and settled in Dunkirk where he worked at his trade until 1872, when he established himself in the furniture business to which he added undertaking in 1879. In that year he associated George E. Philipbar, a German and native of Virginia, with him in the furniture business under the firm name of Charles Ehlers & Co. They are manufacturers and dealers in cabinet ware and upholstering, besides paying particular attention to undertaking and making a specialty of pictures and picture-frames. They are experienced mechanics, who are thoroughly acquainted with every detail of their business from the factory to the salesrooms. They not only have a splendid stock of furniture but manufacture all ordered work. Their stock embraces all kinds, styles and qualities of furniture from the practical and useful to the artistic and ornamental. Their large furniture establishment on East Third street is a double fronted building 22x60 feet in dimensions and its second floor is devoted to one of the finest and most fashionable selections of upholstery to be found in the western part of the State. The success obtained by the establishment is due to the energy, perseverance and ability of Mr. Ehlers, who commenced life with no capital but his trade, yet has achieved good commercial standing and ranks among the representative business men of his city. He founded his business upon the eve of the greatest panic that has ever occurred in the history of this country, yet by judicious management became safely through that distressing period which brought ruin and downfall to so many old and substantial business firms. Year by year since 1872, he has steadily increased his stock and his patrons until the former is of ample proportions while the latter are spread over a wide area of surrounding territory.

Charles Ehlers has been twice married. His first wife, whom he married in 1866, was Caroline, daughter of George Philipbar, of Dunkirk. She died in 1875, leaving four children: Ferdinand, Emma, Flora and Herman. After her death Mr. Ehlers, in 1876, united in marriage with her sister, Mary Philipbar. By his second marriage he has one child, a daughter named Mildred.

In politics Mr. Ehlers is a democrat. He attends regularly and contributes liberally to the Baptist church of Dunkirk. He is a member of Ancient Order of United Workmen, Chautauqua Castle, No. 188, Knights of Pythias and Point Gratiot Lodge, Independent Order of Odd Fellows.