John Eberhard Faber facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
John Eberhard Faber
|
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Born | December 6, 1822 |
| Died | March 2, 1879 (aged 56) |
| Occupation | Pencil manufacturer |
| Spouse(s) | Jenny Haag |
| Children | Bertha Sophia John Eberhard Lothar W. Louise Rosie |
| Signature | |
 |
|
John Eberhard Faber (born December 6, 1822 – died March 2, 1879) was a famous American pencil maker. He was born in Germany and later moved to New York. He built one of the biggest pencil factories in the United States.
The Story of John Eberhard Faber
John Eberhard Faber was born on December 6, 1822. His hometown was a village called Stein in Bavaria, Germany. This village was close to the city of Nuremberg.
John's family had a long history of making pencils. His father, George Leonard Faber, came from a well-known family of pencil manufacturers.
John went to a local school called a Volksschule. After that, he started studying law at the University of Heidelberg. But he decided to stop his law studies. He wanted to start a business career in America instead.
Building a Pencil Empire
In 1848, John Eberhard Faber moved to the United States. The next year, in 1849, he opened a store in New York City. It was a stationery store, selling paper and writing supplies. He later moved his store to a bigger location in 1877.
John soon realized something important. The red cedar wood found in America was perfect for making pencils. In 1852, he began sending these red cedar logs back to his family's pencil factories in Germany.
In 1861, John opened his very own pencil factory. It was the first lead pencil factory in the United States. This factory was located in Midtown Manhattan, New York. He named his company Eberhard Faber.
A big fire destroyed the Manhattan factory in 1872. But John didn't give up! He built a brand new factory in Greenpoint, Brooklyn. This new factory was much larger and designed to grow. By the time John Faber passed away, his factory was the biggest of its kind in America. The Faber name became famous all over the world.
John Eberhard Faber died on March 2, 1879, in New York City. He was buried at Green-Wood Cemetery in Brooklyn, New York.
John's Family Life
On July 1, 1854, John Eberhard Faber married Jenny Haag. She was born in Munich, Germany, in 1836. Jenny's parents also came from old Bavarian families.
John and Jenny had six children together:
- Bertha, born in 1856.
- Sophia, born in 1857.
- John Eberhard Jr., born in 1859.
- Lothar W., born in 1861.
- Louise, born in 1866.
- Rosie, born in 1871.
The Faber family had a large home in Port Richmond, Staten Island during the 1870s. After his father's death in 1879, John Eberhard Jr. took over the family business. He continued to run the Eberhard Faber company.
