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Date Original
1900 July 4
Description
This item is a postcard from Emil Cornelius Wehrfritz and his wife Elizabeth Wehrfritz, during their tour of Europe in 1900, to their children in Little Rock, Arkansas. They sent the card from Stuttgart, Germany.
Biographical/Historical Note
E.C. (Emil Cornelius) Wehrfritz was born April 14, 1847, at Schwabhausen, Germany, near Bingen-on-the-Rhine. He came to the United States, where he resided in St. Louis, Missouri. Following the death of his brother Charles Edward Wehrfritz, who was naturalized at St. Louis in 1858, E.C. married Charles' wife Elizabeth Berloing on July 4, 1868. In the spring of 1876, Wehrfritz moved to Little Rock with Elizabeth, Elise (Elizabeth's daughter by Charles), and their four children Edward Charles, Emelia Kate, Alexander Ferdinand, and Emil Cornelius Junior.
In July 1885, E.C. opened the Union Machine Works located between Markham and Second Streets. He became a naturalized citizen at Little Rock on September 25, 1906. Wehrfritz served several terms on the city council and ran unsuccessfully for mayor. He was a member of Knights of Pythias, the Knights of Honor, and the Ancient Order of United Workmen. He also was president of the Little Rock Turnverein (German-American gymnastic union) and director of the Mechanics' Loan and Building Association. E.C. Wehrfritz died at Little Rock on April 7, 1910, leaving his business in the hands of his son, Alexander Ferdinand Wehrfritz. A newspaper report indicates his wife contested his will. Elizabeth died at age 76 on August 22, 1917.
Transcription
Gruss aus Stuttgart
To all at Home, we are celebrating the 4th
of july, but the weather is not favorable, it is
raining all morning, there are about 400 Americans
here today and we will have a grand banquet to-
night, we are both real well and go from here to the
Schwriz, with love to all your Father and, Mother
______ Alex Wehrfritz
Little Rock, Arknasas
North America
Wohunug No. 111 Commerce Str.
Physical Description
Postcard, 5.5" x 3.5"
Subjects
Business people; German community; Travel; Postcards
Geographical Area
Stuttgart, Germany; Little Rock, Pulaski County (Ark.)
Language
English and German
Identifier
MS.000173, Box 1, Folder 5
Resource Type
Image
Collection
Rex F. Wehrfritz papers, MS.000173
Publisher
Arkansas State Archives
Contributing Entity
Arkansas State Archives
Recommended Citation
Emil and Elizabeth Wehrfritz Postcard, July 4th, 1900, Rex F. Wehrfritz papers, Arkansas State Archives, Little Rock, Arkansas.
Rights
Use and reproduction of images held by the Arkansas State Archives without prior written permission is prohibited. For information on reproducing images held by the Arkansas State Archives, please call 501-682-6901 or email at state.archives@arkansas.gov.
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