Johann George Pfaltzgraff
Encyclopedia
Johann George Pfaltzgraff or Pfaltzgraf (May 5, 1808 – January 7, 1873) was a German-American potter
and businessman. He is recognized as the first potter in the Pfaltzgraff family of potters in the United States
. Pfaltzgraff Pottery Co.
is known as the oldest pottery company in the USA. Lifetime Brands purchased the business in 2005.
Born in Frielendorf
, Germany
, he moved to Foustown
in York County
, Pennsylvania
, United States
in 1833. He arrived with his wife Hedwig Eleonore (Elenora) Bramer right after they were married on May 27, 1833 in Frielendorf. Elenora was a commoner by German standards while Johann came from a family of great distinction and the upper class
, as his family owned a pottery company. The marriage was frowned upon by his family in Germany, so Johann decided that a move to the United States was in the best interests of himself and Elenora. Johann and Elenora had ten children: John Bramer, George Bramer, Elizabeth, Emma, Annie, Sarah, Lydia, Cornelius, Henry, and Isaac.
After they settled in to the Foustown community, Johann began his new life as a farmer
. He also started his trade that he mastered while in Germany by designing and creating his own pottery. He almost immediately began making stoneware
from clay
that he would purchase from Ohio
. He also used the local lands in the Foustown area to gather his own clays as this region of Pennsylvania is rich in clays. Later, at least three of his sons learned the trade from him. There were: John Bramer, George Bramer, and Cornelius. The oldest pieces known to exist from the family are from John Bramer Pfaltzgraff. And every one of his pieces were unique, in that he never created a duplicate piece of pottery.1
Johann George died January 7, 1873. He is buried in a private cemetery across the street from the West Manchester Mall at 1881 Loucks Rd, York, Pennsylvania. Elenora died on January 8, 1896 and is buried in the same cemetery. Other Pfaltzgraff family members are buried in Prospect Hill Cemetery in York.
Pottery
Pottery is the material from which the potteryware is made, of which major types include earthenware, stoneware and porcelain. The place where such wares are made is also called a pottery . Pottery also refers to the art or craft of the potter or the manufacture of pottery...
and businessman. He is recognized as the first potter in the Pfaltzgraff family of potters in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Pfaltzgraff Pottery Co.
Pfaltzgraff
Pfaltzgraff is an American kitchenware company that has been in business for almost 200 years; it is part of the Susquehanna Pfaltzgraff Company.- History :...
is known as the oldest pottery company in the USA. Lifetime Brands purchased the business in 2005.
Born in Frielendorf
Frielendorf
-Location:The state-recognized climatic spa of Frielendorf lies 9 km southwest of Homberg on the edge of the Knüllgebirge .-Constituent communities:...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, he moved to Foustown
Foustown, Pennsylvania
Foustown is an unincorporated community in West Manchester Township, York County, Pennsylvania,United States.Foustown is located at . It lies 502 feet above sea level....
in York County
York County, Pennsylvania
York County is a county in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. As of 2010, the population was 434,972. It is in the Susquehanna Valley, a large fertile agricultural region in South Central Pennsylvania....
, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in 1833. He arrived with his wife Hedwig Eleonore (Elenora) Bramer right after they were married on May 27, 1833 in Frielendorf. Elenora was a commoner by German standards while Johann came from a family of great distinction and the upper class
Upper class
In social science, the "upper class" is the group of people at the top of a social hierarchy. Members of an upper class may have great power over the allocation of resources and governmental policy in their area.- Historical meaning :...
, as his family owned a pottery company. The marriage was frowned upon by his family in Germany, so Johann decided that a move to the United States was in the best interests of himself and Elenora. Johann and Elenora had ten children: John Bramer, George Bramer, Elizabeth, Emma, Annie, Sarah, Lydia, Cornelius, Henry, and Isaac.
After they settled in to the Foustown community, Johann began his new life as a farmer
Farmer
A farmer is a person engaged in agriculture, who raises living organisms for food or raw materials, generally including livestock husbandry and growing crops, such as produce and grain...
. He also started his trade that he mastered while in Germany by designing and creating his own pottery. He almost immediately began making stoneware
Stoneware
Stoneware is a vitreous or semi-vitreous ceramic ware with a fine texture. Stoneware is made from clay that is then fired in a kiln, whether by an artisan to make homeware, or in an industrial kiln for mass-produced or specialty products...
from clay
Clay
Clay is a general term including many combinations of one or more clay minerals with traces of metal oxides and organic matter. Geologic clay deposits are mostly composed of phyllosilicate minerals containing variable amounts of water trapped in the mineral structure.- Formation :Clay minerals...
that he would purchase from Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
. He also used the local lands in the Foustown area to gather his own clays as this region of Pennsylvania is rich in clays. Later, at least three of his sons learned the trade from him. There were: John Bramer, George Bramer, and Cornelius. The oldest pieces known to exist from the family are from John Bramer Pfaltzgraff. And every one of his pieces were unique, in that he never created a duplicate piece of pottery.1
Johann George died January 7, 1873. He is buried in a private cemetery across the street from the West Manchester Mall at 1881 Loucks Rd, York, Pennsylvania. Elenora died on January 8, 1896 and is buried in the same cemetery. Other Pfaltzgraff family members are buried in Prospect Hill Cemetery in York.