FENSTERMACHER, Percival S.

FENSTERMACHER, Percival S. (Dubuque, IA, July 9, 1857--Cetronia, PA, Feb. 20, 1941). The son of Phaon and Anna Maria (Seider) Fenstermacher, Percival was only two years old his parents when his parents moved to Allentown, Pennsylvania. He was educated in the public schools and the Allentown Business College, after which he kept books for three years for Fenstermacher Brothers, wholesale produce dealers, in Philadelphia. He then clerked for four years for Milton J. Kramer, in the “old corner store,” Seventh and Hamilton Streets, and also served as bookkeeper for Ruhe Brothers, also of Allentown.

Due to poor health and the need of outdoor employment, Fenstermacher moved to the Solder farm, in Upper Saucon Township which was owned by his mother. He studied and practically applied scientific methods in farming, winning state-wide recognition. He also served as school director and later as justice of the peace of the district until 1903, when he removed to Allentown. (1)

For years he was the general manager of the famous Trexler farms and orchards of more than 20,000 fruit trees. His success gave him a national reputation as a promologist and scientific agriculturist. He became a member for Lehigh County of the State Board of Agriculture by appointment of Governor Pennypacker and continued in that post until that body was discontinued. He also was delegated by the State Department of Agriculture to organize and direct Farmers' Institutes which were conducted annually throughout the country. (2) He was one of the organizers and a director of the Merchants National Bank, until he joined in the organization and became a director of the Allentown Trust Company. He served for forty years on the board of managers and since 1929 was the vice president of the Goshenhoppen Mutual Fire Insurance Co. of Pennsburg. (3)

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Source:

1. "Pennsylvania Biographies." HistoricPA.net. Online: http://www.historicpa.net/bios/2p/percival-s-fenstermacher.html

2. "Percival S. Fenstermacher," Online: http://familytreemaker.genealogy.com/users/f/e/n/David-K-Fenstermacher/WEBSITE-0001/UHP-0003.html

3. Ibid.