Charles F. Erhart
Charles F. Erhart (born in Ludwigsburg as Karl Erhart – 1891) was a German chemist who immigrated to the United States. Erhart co-founded with Charles Pfizer, his cousin and future brother-in-law Charles Pfizer & Company. Like his cousin, Charles Pfizer, was born in Ludwigburg, Germany. Three years older than his cousin, Erhart had mastered the confectioner's trade in his native town, and their skills blended well for the new business they founded together in Brooklyn, New York, in 1849. Chas. Pfizer & Co. produced fine chemicals, specializing in the compounding of chemicals not commonly made in America.
Awards came early to the partners—from the American Institute in 1867 and the Centennial Exposition of 1876 in Philadelphia—whose first product, santonin, neatly combined the skill of Erhart, the confectioner, with that of his cousin, the chemist. The medicine, shaped like a candy cone, blended the bitter santonin with a sugar-cream confection to make it palatable.
Erhart maintained close ties with Germany, returning to his homeland both for social and business reasons. During one trip, Erhart proposed to Fanny Pfizer, the sister of his cousin Charles Pfizer, and then married her in New York in 1856. This union further strengthened the familial ties of the growing business partnership. Erhart's scientific and technical skills were instrumental in bringing about an expanded line of chemicals and a much larger manufacturing plant.
The Company's extensive connections in Europe enabled it to branch out into production of food-processing ingredients. In 1863, Erhart and Pfizer began importing crude argols — the tartar deposits formed in wine casks during the aging process—from France and Italy and set up their own refining operation for the manufacture of tartar and tartaric acid, which was used by bakers, beverage manufacturers, and in cooking. Sales began to climb, and by 1871, revenues of the young company were about $1.4 million.
Erhart died in 1891, at the age of 70. Upon Charles Erhart death, their partnership agreement stipulated that upon the death of one partner, the surviving partner could buy the other’s share of the partnership for half its inventory value. Pfizer promptly exercised this option, paying his partner’s heirs $119,350 for Erhart’s half of the business. However in 1900, Pfizer distributed the stock of the company as follows: Charles Pfizer Jr. (334 shares), Emile Pfizer (333 shares), William Erhart (333 shares).
Family
Charles married Fanny (Frances) Pfizer, Charles Pfizer’s sister. He had at least four children: Clara, Karl, Fanny and William. Clara Wilhelmine Julie Johanna Erhart (27 Dec 1857 Brooklyn - 14 Feb 1926 Wetzhausen, Germany) married Baron Crafft Truchess von Wetzhausen in 1906. William would later join the company as a Vice President and major owner. In 1936, William H. Erhart became and remained chairman of the Company until his death in July 1940.
