Edward Erswell: Difference between revisions

From Bhamwiki
Jump to navigation Jump to search
No edit summary
No edit summary
Line 5: Line 5:
He then settled on the trade of cabinet and furniture making and went into business in Winchester, Virginia. When his partner left him, Erswell began working with a touring stage magician from Baltimore, Maryland named "Professor Collins". The tour prospered and Erswell received permission from the United States government to "secure a party of Indians" from the west to exhibit at fairs in the south.
He then settled on the trade of cabinet and furniture making and went into business in Winchester, Virginia. When his partner left him, Erswell began working with a touring stage magician from Baltimore, Maryland named "Professor Collins". The tour prospered and Erswell received permission from the United States government to "secure a party of Indians" from the west to exhibit at fairs in the south.


Erswell came to the infant city of [[Birmingham]] in the spring of [[1872]] and married the former [[Catherine Erswell|Catherine E. "Kitty" Smith]] of Elizabethtown, Kentucky that same year. He set up shop as a cabinet builder, taking on the construction of a stage and equipment for [[Frank O'Brien]]'s [[Sublett Hall]] as his first contract. He founded the [[Erswell Company]] and remained in the city through the [[1873 cholera epidemic]], engaged primarily during that time in building coffins as well as providing the services of an undertaker.
Erswell came to the infant city of [[Birmingham]] in the spring of [[1872]] and married the former [[Catherine Erswell|Catherine E. "Kitty" Smith]] of Elizabethtown, Kentucky that same year. He set up shop as a cabinet builder, taking on the construction of a stage and equipment for [[Frank O'Brien]]'s [[Sublett Hall]] as his first contract. He founded the [[Erswell Company]] and remained in the city through the [[1873 cholera epidemic]], engaged primarily during that time in building coffins as well as providing the services of an undertaker. His undertaking business was located on [[2nd Avenue North]]. In [[1878]] he took on [[George Bube]] of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania as an assistant in the business and manufacturing and selling furniture. By [[1883]] his [[Erswell Building|three-story retail store]] at 114 [[19th Street North]] displayed a wide selection of fine furnishings, carpets, and wallcoverings. Its upper floor also served as a meeting hall, and as home of the [[Well-Known Social Club]], which later reorganized as the [[Estelle Social Club]]. Erswell rebuilt it in brick in [[1890]]. The hall hosted wrestling matches in [[1891]].


He continued in that trade through the 1880s, adding furniture, wallpaper, window shades and carpets to his retail offerings. Over the following years, Erswell invested successfully in real estate. He was active in the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He served as Grand Patriarch of the [[Birmingham Encampment No. 21]], and as treasurer of the [[Grand Encampment of Alabama]].
Over the following years, Erswell invested successfully in real estate such as the development of the [[St Nicholas Hotel]]. He was president of the [[Woodlawn Cemetery|Woodlawn Cemetery Company]]. He was also active in [[Mineral City Lodge No. 74]] of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He served as Grand Patriarch of the [[Birmingham Encampment No. 21]], and as treasurer of the [[Grand Encampment of Alabama]]. Erswell sold his undertaking business, then located at 2019 [[3rd Avenue North]], to [[R. G. Green]] in [[1902]]. In [[1904]] Erswell was elected Commissioner of [[Drennen Park]], but resigned from that position in [[1905]]. Police broke up a fight between Erswell and [[Llewellyn Johns]] on the corner of [[20th Street North|20th Street]] and [[3rd Avenue North]] on the afternoon of [[June 29]], 1905. Both were issued bonds to appear at the police court.


Edward and Kitty Erswell had five children: Henry, Edward, George, Nellie and Maude. The couple outlived all five, but did welcome a granddaughter, [[Aileen Kirkman]], daughter of [[Samuel Kirkman|Samuel]] and [[Nellie Kirkman]], in [[1885]].
Edward and Kitty Erswell had five children: Henry, Edward, George, Nellie Gertrude and Maude Estelle. The couple outlived all five, but did welcome two granddaughters, [[Aileen Kirkman|Aileen]] and [[Catherine Kirkman|Catherine]], the daughters of [[Samuel Kirkman|Samuel]] and [[Nellie Kirkman]], both born in [[1895]]. Erswell's great-granddaughter Jane married Standard Oil executive Charles Wrightsman. Their art collection became the basis of the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Wrightsman Galleries.


Erswell died at [[Edward Erswell residence|his home]] on [[21st Street North]] in January [[1910]] in the course of a long illness. and is buried in the [[Erswell vault]] at [[Oak Hill Cemetery]].
Erswell died at [[Edward Erswell residence|his home]] at 909 [[21st Street South]] near [[Quinlin Avenue]] in January [[1910]] in the course of a long illness. His funeral, officiated by [[Willoughby Claybrook]], was held at the [[Cathedral Church of the Advent|Episcopal Church of the Advent]], and he was buried in the [[Erswell vault]] at [[Oak Hill Cemetery]].


{{stub}}
{{stub}}
Line 17: Line 17:
* {{CD-1884}}
* {{CD-1884}}
* {{Dubose-1887}}
* {{Dubose-1887}}
* "[https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-montgomery-advertiser-obituary-for-e/133249095/ E. Erswell Is Dead]" (January 29, 1910) ''Montgomery Advertiser'', p. 7
* "[https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-birmingham-news-a-personal-difficult/133252516/ A Personal Difficulty]" (June 29, 1905) {{BN}}, p. 10
* "[https://www.newspapers.com/article/birmingham-post-herald-obituary-for-e-e/133252722/ E. Erswell Dies After Long Illness]" (January 29, 1910) {{BAH}}, p. 5
* "[https://www.newspapers.com/article/birmingham-post-herald-obituary-for-edwa/133252840/ Erswell Funeral To Be Held Today]" (January 30, 1910) {{BAH}}, p. 8


==External links==
==External links==

Revision as of 22:45, 10 October 2023

Edward E. Erswell (born July 5, 1846 on the Atlantic crossing; died January 28, 1910 in Birmingham) was a cabinet maker and undertaker in early Birmingham.

He was the son of Charles Erswell, a superintending architect who worked for the United States government. His mother, the former Mary Ann Snow, died in 1847. Erswell grew up in Cleveland, Ohio and attended public schools there before going on to Baldwin University in Berea, Ohio. He left school after six months, though, to join a wagon train crossing the plains. He made it as far as Fort Kearney, Nebraska before sickness forced him to return east. He pursued a variety of activities over the next several years, including stock trading, book sales, patent medicines, and some time at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York.

He then settled on the trade of cabinet and furniture making and went into business in Winchester, Virginia. When his partner left him, Erswell began working with a touring stage magician from Baltimore, Maryland named "Professor Collins". The tour prospered and Erswell received permission from the United States government to "secure a party of Indians" from the west to exhibit at fairs in the south.

Erswell came to the infant city of Birmingham in the spring of 1872 and married the former Catherine E. "Kitty" Smith of Elizabethtown, Kentucky that same year. He set up shop as a cabinet builder, taking on the construction of a stage and equipment for Frank O'Brien's Sublett Hall as his first contract. He founded the Erswell Company and remained in the city through the 1873 cholera epidemic, engaged primarily during that time in building coffins as well as providing the services of an undertaker. His undertaking business was located on 2nd Avenue North. In 1878 he took on George Bube of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania as an assistant in the business and manufacturing and selling furniture. By 1883 his three-story retail store at 114 19th Street North displayed a wide selection of fine furnishings, carpets, and wallcoverings. Its upper floor also served as a meeting hall, and as home of the Well-Known Social Club, which later reorganized as the Estelle Social Club. Erswell rebuilt it in brick in 1890. The hall hosted wrestling matches in 1891.

Over the following years, Erswell invested successfully in real estate such as the development of the St Nicholas Hotel. He was president of the Woodlawn Cemetery Company. He was also active in Mineral City Lodge No. 74 of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He served as Grand Patriarch of the Birmingham Encampment No. 21, and as treasurer of the Grand Encampment of Alabama. Erswell sold his undertaking business, then located at 2019 3rd Avenue North, to R. G. Green in 1902. In 1904 Erswell was elected Commissioner of Drennen Park, but resigned from that position in 1905. Police broke up a fight between Erswell and Llewellyn Johns on the corner of 20th Street and 3rd Avenue North on the afternoon of June 29, 1905. Both were issued bonds to appear at the police court.

Edward and Kitty Erswell had five children: Henry, Edward, George, Nellie Gertrude and Maude Estelle. The couple outlived all five, but did welcome two granddaughters, Aileen and Catherine, the daughters of Samuel and Nellie Kirkman, both born in 1895. Erswell's great-granddaughter Jane married Standard Oil executive Charles Wrightsman. Their art collection became the basis of the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Wrightsman Galleries.

Erswell died at his home at 909 21st Street South near Quinlin Avenue in January 1910 in the course of a long illness. His funeral, officiated by Willoughby Claybrook, was held at the Episcopal Church of the Advent, and he was buried in the Erswell vault at Oak Hill Cemetery.

This article is a stub. You can help Bhamwiki by expanding it.

References

External links

Retrieved from "http://bhamwiki.com/w/index.php?title=Edward_Erswell&oldid=207182"