My Genealogy Hound

WILLIAM GEIST KEHL, a leading tailor of Pottstown, was born January 18, 1860. He is the son of John and Catharine (Geist) Kehl, the father being a tailor in Pottstown all his life. In politics he was a Democrat; he was a member of town council, and otherwise participated in public affairs. He was a director in several local enterprises of the town, including the Gas Company, Fire Insurance Companies, etc. He died January 18, 1899, aged sixty-eight years. Mrs. Kehl died before him, being buried in the family vault on Charlotte street, in Pottstown cemetery. They were both members of the Trinity Reformed church, Pottstown. The couple had five children, of whom two sons survive. One of these is William Geist Kehl, the subject of this sketch; the other is Albert G. Kehl, who married Miss Binder, of Boyertown, they living in Pottstown. Albert is also a tailor. Henry Geist was the maternal grandfather.

William Geist Kehl attended school until he was seventeen years of age. He then learned the tailoring trade with his father, being thus employed for four years. He then went into business as his father’s successor, continuing in the tailoring line until 1899. Mr. Kehl then traveled for five years, at the end of which time he resumed business at his present place, July 11, 1903, having one of the finest establishments of the kind in the country.

Mr. Kehl married in May, 1880, Miss Carrie, daughter of Franklin B. and Caroline (Coller) Fichthorn, of Reading, who was a grocer and a very prosperous business man. Mr. Fichthorn was an independent voter. Mr. and Mrs. Kehl have two children: Daisy May, born in 1883; she is a graduate of Reading High School, and Katherine, born in 1888, who resides with her parents.

As a business man, Mr. Kehl stands high. He is a member of the Masonic Lodge of Pottstown, and of the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks, Royal Arcanum and the Heptasophs. Mr. Kehl is the owner of several properties in Pottstown.