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MILTON KLINE ERDMAN

MILTON KLINE ERDMAN.   Prominent among the business men of Quakertown is Milton Kline ERDMAN, grandson of John ERDMAN, whose son George was born February 15, 1818, in Milford township, where he attended the common schools and learned the carpenter’s trade.  For many years he followed this trade in conjunction with the building business.  He was also at one time an undertaker, and during the latter part of his life was engaged in business as a manufacturer of cigar boxes.  He was thrice married his second wife being Mary, daughter of George and Susan (HAUSTACH) KLINE, and a native of Bucks county.  Mr. and Mrs. ERDMAN were the parents of a son and daughter; Milton K. mentioned at length hereinafter; and Anna Maria, married Dr. E. K. BLANK, of Hatfield, Montgomery county, and was the mother of two daughters-Jeanetta, who married and lives at Vinemont, Lancaster country, and Elisa.  The death of Mrs. BLANK, the mother, occurred in 1897.

Milton Kline ERDMAN, son of George and Mary (KLINE) ERDMAN, was born January 14, 1850, on a farm in Milford township.  When he was but a year old the family moved to Trumbauersville, where they remained until 1864, in which year they took up their abode in Sellersville.  While in Trumbauersville he attended a boarding school, and in 1867 went to Quakertown having in that year graduated.  In Quakertown he entered the store of James Cressman & Company, dealers in general merchandise.  After remaining there, one year he worked for a time with his father in the manufacture of cigar boxes, and in 1876 went to Pennsburg, where he engaged in mercantile business under the firm name of Hillegas & Erdman.  The following year he sold his interest and returned to Quakertown, where he became a hardware merchant,  his place of business until 1895 being the store now occupied by Howard STONEBACK.  In the above mentioned year he retired from that field of endeavor, having reaped its reward.  His business had been from the first a thriving one, and he stood at the head of an extensive and flourishing trade.  Since 1896 he has been engaged in the coal, feed and hay business.  He is a member of the board of directors of the building and Loan Association.  Mr. ERDMAN is a good citizen, and has served the community as assessor, judge of election, inspector and delegate to the county convention.  He is a member and past master of Quakertown Lodge, No. 512, F. and A., M., and also belongs to the Knights of Malta, of which order he is a charter member.  His political affiliations are with the Democrats.  He and his wife are members of the Lutheran church, in which for thirty-three years he has held the position of organist.

Mr. ERDMAN married, November 14, 1873, Mary Elizabeth SPRINGER, and they are the parents of one son, George Frederick, who was born December 26, 1876, and received his preparatory education in Quakertown, subsequently entering Muhlenberg College, from which he graduated in 1898.  He is now engaged in the printing business in Allentown, and married, July 30, 1899, Mame, Daughter of James CRADER.  Mrs. ERDMAN is a great-granddaughter of John SPRINGER, a farmer, whose son George was born January 18, 1786, and was a resident of Bucks county, where he was engaged in general milling and building.  He married Katherine, daughter of George TROLLINGER who was the proprietor of a hotel in Trollinger’s lane, now Carpenter Street, Germantown, Philadelphia.  The marriage took place October 11, 1807, and the following children were born to Mr. and Mrs. SPRINGER: 1. Enos, born July 29, 1809, died unmarried. 2. Sophia, born November 3, 1812, married Amos JACOBY, of Sellersville, where their son, Enos JACOBY, now lives.  3. John, mentioned at length hereinafter.  4. One who died in infancy. 5. Simon, born June 12, 1817, died.  6. Maria, born April 29, 1819, married Daniel ALTHOUSE.  Mr. SPRINGER, the father, died June 3, 18--.

John SPRINGER, son of George and Katherine (TROLLINGER) SPRINGER, was born October 9, 1815, a few miles from Sellersville.  He attended the subscription school, and then learned the wheelwright’s trade.  He was a resident of Rockhill township, where he was much respected. He married, October 18, 1846, Hannah, daughter of Henry and Elizabeth (HARWICK) SNYDER, and they were the parents of the following children:  1, Elenora, born September 5, 1847, married William SMITH, of Philadelphia.  2. Mary Elizabeth, born August 27, 1849, attended the common schools, and remained at home until her marriage to Milton Kline ERDMAN, mentioned above.  3. Alfred, born September 27, 1851, married Kate EILENBERGER, of Stroudsburg.  4. Anna Catherine, born February 14, 1853, married Milton G. ERNEY, a cigar manufacturer.  5. Died in infancy.  6. Sallie Amelia, born December 8, 1866, married Orlando Bach SELLERS, then of Sellersville, now railroad agent at Perkasie.

Text taken from page 686 to 687 of: 

Davis, William W. H., A.M., History of Bucks County, Pennsylvania [New York-Chicago: The Lewis Publishing Company, 1905] Volume III

Transcribed December 2006 by Joan Lollis as part of the Bucks Co., Pa., Early Family Project, www.rootsweb.com/~pabucks/bucksindex.html

Published December 2006 on the Bucks County, Pa., USGenWeb