My Genealogy Hound

CHARLES TEMPLETON., a leading manufacturer and organizer of industries, was born in Bridgeport, Pennsylvania, February 24, 1859, and resided there until 1865, when his parents removed to Norristown. His opportunities for education were confined to the public schools of Bridgeport and Norristown. In 1876 he started out on his own account, going to Philadelphia and obtaining employment on the Centennial Exposition grounds as a clerk. He remained there until December of that year, and in March following entered the Wanamaker store in the invoice department. He was thus engaged for a year, and during that time, and the two years he was with Benjamin Israel, he attended night school at the Spring Garden Institute.

In 1879 Mr. Templeton became connected with the Thomas Potter Sons & Co.’s oil cloth works as a general utility man. He remained with this firm until 1891 and by strict attention to his duties was in 1883 made superintendent of the light weight oil cloth department. By strict economy, during the years he was with the Potter firm, he managed to save the means which enabled him to join with other capitalists in organizing the Western Linoleum Company, whose works are located at Akron, Ohio. Mr. Templeton was general superintendent of the company, and the inventor of the new methods which the company introduced in the manufacture of light weight oil cloths of all kinds. Patents were applied for, but all were not granted, and the failure to secure them proved a benefit to manufacturers of other kinds of articles. Mr. Templeton remained in the company until 1896, in full charge of the works which, under his supervision, have become the most extensive and successful of the kind in the United States, or in the world.

In 1896 Mr. Templeton severed his connection with the business, and came to Norristown and opened the Keystone Oil Cloth Works, the business being incorporated in 1898, with Mr. Templeton as president. The establishment did a large and very successful business until July 1, 1901, when the plant was turned over to the Standard Table Oil Cloth Company of New Jersey, which had absorbed ninety per cent of the production of light weight, oil cloth made in America. In March, 1901, Mr. Templeton was called upon by a majority of the manufacturers in the United States to labor to bring about harmony of interest among the producers of that line of goods. The result of this was the organization of the Standard Table Oil Cloth Company of New Jersey, and the consolidation as above mentioned. At the formation of this company Mr. Templeton was elected one of the general superintendents. He at once made a personal inspection of the different plants which had been consolidated. This was a work not at all to his liking but was completed satisfactorily. The company’s interests in Pennsylvania are looked after by Mr. Templeton, who is now one of the board of directors. The company is doing a successful and remunerative business and ships goods not only to all parts of the United States but to all foreign countries where such goods are used.

In politics Mr. Templeton is a Republican. While in Philadelphia he took an active interest in politics, and was a worker but not an office seeker. He is a member of Shekinah Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons, No. 246, of Philadelphia, and also of Oriental Chapter, No. 183, R. A. M.; Hutchinson Commandery, No. 32, Knights Templar, of Norristown. He is a member of the Odd Fellows, Red Men and the Elks.

Mr. Templeton married Miss Mary Hodgkinson, daughter of John S. and Elizabeth (Hooley) Hodgkinson, of Philadelphia. She was born November 19, 1864, Their children are Elizabeth, Sara C., Harry, Marie, Nelson G. and John S.

Mrs. Templeton is of English extraction, all her people having emigrated from Manchester, England, to this country. Her grandfather, A. Hooley, started in the silk manufacturing business, and was very successful. The firm he established is still in business, being carried on by his grandchildren. Their father was also a manufacturer and was very successful, but died in the prime of life.

Mr. Templeton’s father was John H. Templeton, who was a Chester county man and learned the carpenter trade in Norristown, becoming a large contractor, the firm being Raysor & Templeton. He built the DeKalb street bridge and did the wood work on the courthouse, when it was erected more than a half century ago.

Mr. Templeton is a striking example of what energy and perseverance will accomplish when rightly directed. Mr. Templeton’s whole life has been a magnificent success. He enjoys the confidence and respect of the business community, illustrating as he does the truth of the maxim, “that every man is the architect of his own fortune.”