Emanuel R. Birk

As printed in 1902

EMANUEL R. BIRK.

Emanuel R. Birk is one of the prominent business men of Bucyrus, where he is engaged in the manufacture and sale of harness and saddlery. A country has but one chief ruler, be he king, emperor or president. Comparatively few men can attain to the highest office in civil or military life, but commerce offers a broad and almost limitless field in which one may exercise his powers unrestrained and gain leadership at the head of a chosen calling. Drawing the lessons which we do from the life of Mr. Birk, we learn that the qualifications necessary for success are a high ambition and a resolute, honorable purpose to reach an exalted standard that has been set up.

One of the native sons of Bucyrus, he was born July 25, 1866, unto the marriage of John G. and Johanna B. (Kuhn) Birk. His father was a native of Wurtemberg, Germany, born July 22, 1823. In accordance with the laws of his native country he attended school until fourteen years of age, and then began learning the harnessmaker's trade, which he mastered both in principle and detail. Believing that the new world offered better opportunities for advancement than the older and more thickly settled countries of Europe, he determined to cross the Atlantic, and in 1845 sailed for New York. In 1847 ne came to Bucyrus and three years later established a harness shop on his own account, beginning the business which is now carried on by his son, our subject. In 1851 he married Miss Johanna B. Kuhn, of Whetstone township, Crawford county, though born in Germany, and unto them were born four sons and one daughter, Christian F., who is now mayor of Bucyrus; Lewis C; foreman of the harness shop; Emanuel R., of this review; George M., who is conducting a drug store in Bucyrus; and Elizabeth, wife of F. P. Donnenwirth, of Bucyrus. The father was the treasurer of Crawford county from 1874 to 1876. His death occurred November 10, 1888. Emanuel R. Birk spent his youth in the usual manner of lads in the ordinary walks of life and enjoyed the pleasures of the playground and gave considerable time to the duties of the schoolroom. After putting aside his text-books he began learning the harnessmaker's trade of his father in 1882. He worked with him until the latter's death, in 1888, when he succeeded to the business, which he has since carried on. He now enjoys a large and growing trade, which covers Crawford county and northeastern Ohio. The business has more than doubled under the management of Mr. Birk. He carries on a retail trade and also manufactures harness and saddlery, and the excellent quality of his goods, combined with his honorable business methods, reasonable prices and earnest desire to please, has secured to him gratifying prosperity.

On the 25th of October, 1892, Mr. Birk was joined in wedlock to Miss Melinda L. Vollrath, a daughter of Albert Vollrath, who for a number of years conducted a planing-mill in Bucyrus, but is now living a retired life. He is a native of Stadtilm, Germany, born January 31, 1830, and is a son of Gottlieb R. Vollrath, who was born in the same place September 29, 1804. There the grandfather acquired his education and married Frederike Meissner. After coming to Bucyrus he carried on the cabinet-making business, being one of the leading representatives of industrial concerns in this part of the state. He was highly respected as a reliable business man and public-spirited citizen. His son, Albert Vollrath, acquired his education in the schools of the fatherland, and when twenty-one years of age came to Bucyrus, in company with his parents, his two brothers, Charles and William, and his sisters, Mrs. Christian Renkert and Mrs. Frank Blicke. Mr. Vollrath entered upon his business career in Bucyrus as a contractor and builder, and in 1852 he became a partner in the planing-mill, which he conducted up to me time of his retirement from active business life. Mr. Birk is identified with two fraternities, the Masonic and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. He attends the German Lutheran church, and as a citizen he co-operates in all movements for the general good, withholding his support from no measure which he believes will advance the public welfare.

As printed in A centennial biographical history of Crawford County, Ohio .. (1902). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.