E.C. (Emil Cornelius) Wehrfritz was born April 14, 1847, at Schwabhausen, Germany, near Bingen-on-the-Rhine. He came to the United States where he resided in St. Louis, Missouri. Following the death of his brother Charles Edward Wehrfritz, who was naturalized at St. Louis in 1858, E.C. married Charles’ wife Elizabeth Berloing on July 4, 1868. In the spring of 1876, Wehrfritz moved to Little Rock with Elizabeth, Elise (Elizabeth's daughter by Charles), and their four children Edward Charles (born circa 1867), Emelia Kate (born circa 1869), Alexander Ferdinand (1871 January 12-1913 May 1), and Emil Cornelius Junior (1873-1954 January 6).
In July 1885, E.C. opened the Union Machine Works located between Markham and Second Streets. He became a naturalized citizen at Little Rock on September 25, 1906. Wehrfritz served several terms on the city council and ran unsuccessfully for mayor. He was a member of Knights of Pythias, the Knights of Honor, and the Ancient Order of United Workmen. He also was president of the Little Rock Turn-Verein and director of the Mechanics' Loan and Building Association. E.C. Wehrfritz died at Little Rock on April 7, 1910, leaving his business in the hands of his son, Alexander Ferdinand Wehrfritz. A newspaper report indicates his wife contested his will. Elizabeth died at age 76 on August 22, 1917.
Alexander Ferdinand Wehrfritz married Mattie Viola Graves (1875 April 29-1930 September 17) of Gurdon, Arkansas. The couple had three children who lived to adulthood: Ray Alexander Wehrfritz (1897 March 4-1981 March), Rex Ferdinand Wehrfritz (1898 November 27-1970 July 28), and Julius Graves Wehrfritz (1902 April 11-1992 March 31). After Alexander's death, Mattie Viola married D.O. Kirkland on August 6, 1914. Following his death, she married Charles Edwin Forrest, a native of Connecticut at San Diego, California, on May 24, 1923. A notice in the Arkansas Gazette December 5, 1924, records that a divorce had been granted.
Rex Ferdinand Wehrfritz (1898 November 27-1970 July 28) graduated from Little Rock High School in 1917. His mother presented him with a scholarship to Draughon's Business College in Little Rock. He owned Rex Clothing Store. He married Edith Elroy Cortrecht (1905 January 14-1974 August 26) on May 7, 1925. The couple had two children: Evelyn Wehrfritz and Rex Ferdinand Wehrfritz Junior (1929 July 4-2000 June 5).
This collection contains correspondence, business and financial papers, printed ephemera, photographs, scrapbooks, and information related to the Wehrfritz family of Little Rock, Arkansas, and the E.C. Wehrfritz Machinery and Supply Company. A series of postcards is from a tour of Little Rock citizens who visited Europe and the 1900 Paris Exposition.
- I. Correspondence (Box 1)
- A. Postcards from E.C. (Emil Cornelius) and Elizabeth Wehrfritz on their trip to Europe and the Paris Exposition to Alex and Ola Wehrfritz, 1900
- 1. 1900 May 20: Hamburg, Germany
- 2. 1900 June 13
- 3. 1900 June 24
- 4. 1900 June 27: Germany
- 5. 1900 July 4: Stuttgart, Germany
- 6. 1900 July 10: Switzerland
- 7. 1900 August 5: Cologne, Germany
- 8. 1900 August 12: Paris, France
- 9. 1900 August 19: Southampton, England
- 10. 1900 September 5: New York
- 11. 1901 September 17
- B. General
- 12. 1920 May 12: Karl Wehrfritz, Durtsch Wagram, to [E. C. Wehrfritz], Little Rock, Arkansas
- 13. 1920 July 12: Unidentified, to E. C. Wehrfritz, Little Rock, Arkansas
- 14. 1920 November 22: Anna [U] Boetticher, to E.C. Wehrfritz, Little Rock, Arkansas
- 15. 1920 December 13: Karl jun Wehrfritz, Deutsch Wagram, Austria, b. Wien Deutsch Oster, Austria, to “Cousin”
- 16. 1921 February 21: Karl Wehrfritz, Deutsche Wagram, Wien D. O.” [Austria], to Rex Wehrfritz, Little Rock, Arkansas
- 17. 1921 December 14: Karl Wehrfritz, Deutsch Wagram, Austria, b. Wien, D. O. Bockfluntr. N. 294 Austria, to Rex Wehrfritz
- 18. 1922 July 2: Karl Wehrfritz, Deutsch Wagram, Austria, b. Wien Bockfluisstr 294 [Austria], to Rex Wehrfritz
- 19. 1922 November 9: Postcard, Karl Wehrfritz, Deutsch Wagram, Austria, b. Wien D. O. Bockfluisstr N. 4, to Rex F. Wehrfritz
- 20. 1925 January 21: Rex F. Wehrfritz, Little Rock, Arkansas, to Edith Cortrecht, Abiline, Texas
- 21. 1927 December 7: Karl Wehrfritz, Deutsch Wagram, Austria, b. Wien Ost. Bockfuisstr N. 4., to Rex F. Wehrfritz
- 22. 1929 December 1: Karl Wehrfritz , Cacilia Wehrfritz, Karl Wehrfritz [Lohn], Rudolfini Wehrfritz Tochter, Deutsch Wagram b. Wien D. O. Bockfluisstr 294 Austria, to Rex F. Wehrfritz
- 23. 1940 August: Ray [Wehrfritz], Los Angeles, California, to “Bro”
- 24. Undated: Rex F. Wehrfritz, to Carl Wehrfritz
- 25. Undated: Postcard, Karl [Wehrfritz], Deutsch Wagram, Austria, b. Wien D. O. Bockfluisstr 294, [Austria], to Rex F. Wehrfritz
- 26. Undated: Postcard, Karl Wehrfritz Deutsch Wagram, Austria, b. Wien D.O. Bockfliesstr 294, [Austria], to Rex F. Wehrfritz
- 27. Undated: [Karl Wehrfritz] to Rex F. Wehrfritz
- II. Business and financial papers
- A. 1917 February 6: Stock: International Gradolph Electric Company
- 1. 15 shares common-Mrs. M.V. Kirkland
- 2. 15 shares preferred-Mrs. M.V. Kirkland
- B. 1922 August 26: Letter of recommendation of R.F. Wehrfritz by B.N. Perry, Chief Accountant, Arrowhead Lake Company
- C. 1925 December 2: Surety note, Mattie V. Wehrfritz
- D. 1926 July 26: Statement of account, Dr. S.B. Hinkle
- E. 1926 September 18: Cancelled check
- F. 1926 September 23: Cancelled check
- G. 1926 September 23: Statement of account, St. Vincent’s Infirmary
- H. 1926 September 26: Statement of account, Dr. S.B. Hinkle
- I. 1927 March 9: L.J. Rienhardt, San Pedro, California, to R.F. Wehrfritz, Little Rock, Arkansas
- J. 1930 December 26: New York American Investors' Service, to Rex F. Wehrfritz
- K. 1931 October 5: Articles of incorporation of Rex Clothing Company
- L. 1931 October 5: First meeting of incorporation of Rex Clothing Company
- M. 1931 October 5: Stock, one share, Rex Clothing Company; owner, Edith Wehrfritz
- N. 1939 August 28: List, meat market prices
- O. 1941 November 7: Invoice, Pencil Supply Company, Incorporated
- P. 1941 November 19: Eugene W. Sloan, Treasury Department, Washington, District of Columbia, to Rex Wehrfritz, Little Rock, Arkansas
- Q. 1942 September 15: M. Desenberg, Flint, Michigan, to Rex F. Wehrfritz, Little Rock, Arkansas
- R. 1942 September 21: List, meat market prices
- S. Undated: List, meat market prices
- T. Undated: Telegram, L.J. Rienhardt, San Pablo, Colorado, to R.F. Wehrfritz
- III. Legal papers
- A. 1910 April 30: Letters testamentary appointing Alexander F. Wehrfritz Executor in and by the said Last will and testament of Emil Cornelius Wehrfritz (includes a copy of last will and testament)
- B. 1913 May 5: Letters testamentary appointing Mattie Viola Wehrfritz Executrix in and by the said last will and testament of Alexander Ferdinand Wehrfritz (includes a copy of last will and testament)
- C. 1917 April 24: Last will and testament of Elisabeth Wehrfritz. Also included are proof of will, probate record, and clerk's certificate of transcript.
- IV. Miscellaneous
- A. Bulletin, First Baptist Church, Little Rock, Arkansas, 1902 September 27
- B. Announcement (Invitation), Little Rock High School commencement exercises, 1917 May 31
- C. Diploma, Rex F. Wehrfritz, Little Rock High School, 1917 June 1
- D. Certificate of appointment and commission as notary public of Rex F. Wehrfritz, 1920 April 1
- E. Certificate of appointment and commission as notary public of Rex F. Wehrfritz, 1926 June 18
- F. Room ticket, William Sloan House, Young Men's Christian Association of New York, 1931 February 9
- G. E.C. Wehrfritz Machinery and Supply Company Little Rock, Arkansas, undated
- H. Pamphlet, Pound, Ira C. ,“A very sick world--a very sure remedy” and “the sure remedy for the world's ills,” undated
- I. Announcement, International Committee for the Conservation of Manpower In War Industries... Announcing defense, training courses in safety engineering, undated
- J. Birthday card, Teacher to Rex, undated
- K. Two miscellaneous papers, undated
- L. Postcard, Weissenburg in 1850, undated
- M. Clipping: Arkansas Democrat, “Around the city” birth notice of Evelyn Inez Wehrfritz, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. R.F. Wehrfritz, 1926 September 20
- N. Clipping, Brings law suit against her son--Mrs. E. C. Wehrfritz alleges husband's estate was larger than supposed-makes charges against son, undated
- V. Scrapbooks (Box 2)
- A. Scrapbook containing photos, clippings, citizenship certificate, letters, death announcement, obituary of Harvey Shofner, poem, report card, broadside, postcards, ribbon, church bulletin, bonds, financial papers (voucher, statement of account), marriage licenses, temporary identification card for traveling across Mexico border, cards, receipts, incorporation papers for the Rex Clothing Company, church related material, blood donor certificate, Little Rock commencement programs, birth certificate, marriage announcement, checks, list of flowers from funeral of Mattie Viola Wehrfritz, scholarship to Draughon's Practical Business College.
- B. Baby book, Evelyn Inez Wehrfritz
- C. Baby book, Evelyn Inez Wehrfritz
