Washington Ervin Wilhelm

Washington Ervin Wilhelm

Children:
Cecil Marshall Wilhelm

2^ndLucy Roland

3^rdIda Memert

Notes:married,05 Feb 1887
Buried: Charles Evans Cemetery, Berks County, Pa.

The Reading Eagle, Monday, June 3, 1945, Page 22
W. I. Wilhelm Dies, Aged 88
Veteran Wheelman Long Identified With Bicycle Industry
W. Irving Wilhelm, 88, former bicycle racer and father of Col. C. Marshall Wilhelm, head of Pennsylvania State Police, died suddenly at 3:30 o'clock yesterday afternoon in his home, 401 West Oley St.

He was born in Easton on July 12, 1859, a son of the late William H. and Katherine (Rupell) Wilhelm. He moved to his city in the 1870's with his father, who became a partner of Aaron Wilhelm in the paint business, which is still operating today in Riverside. Their first plant was located on the last of the present powerhouse of the Luden candy factory.

He was a gradauate of Reading High School, and the Eastman National Business College at Poughkeepsie, N.. After his graduation from the latter in 1875, Wilshlem returned to Reading and became office manager of the machine shop his father started after he dissolved partnership with his brother in the paint business. Late in '80's the bicycle craze attracted the attention of the Wilhelms, and his father decided to manufacture them, starting a factory at Third andBingaman Streets.

Rode High Wheelers
Here the son became office manager and soon was guiding spirit of the business he decided to do some racing and from 1882 to 1887 h e met all comers riding the old high wheel "Columbia" and "Star" machines, then the vouge. He became not only the most famous wheelman in Reading, but a champion of champions. His top speed was 20 miles an hour. He won more than 400 medals, cups and ribbons and prizes totaling thousand of dollars, all of which were lost later when his home was destroyed by fire. In his final year of racing he won 86 races and $2,000 worth of prizes.

His fastest time was made in Cleveland, where he son the mile in 2:40 1-5, beating the English champion Christ. There was no special distance in which he specialized, participating in anything to the mile to 20-mile speical. Meanwhile his father's bicycle business grew to national proporations and son quit the track and took over the managementof the business.

Married in 1881
In 1881, he was married to Mary A. Marshall, daughter of Dr. P. D. Marshall, local physician, and in 1894 the bicyle factory was moved to Hamburg. His father retired in 1895, and W. Irving became the sole proprietor until 1897, when a fire gutted the building and put him out of business. For a number of years he worked in various places as a skilled machinist and in 1913 he returned to Reading to open a machine shop under the name of Wilhelm-Smith Machine Company, at 144 Rose St. He operated this business until about ten years ago when he retired.

During this time his wife, died and in 1920 he married Lucy A. Roland. Upon her death, he married Mrs. Ida Memert Arnold, who surived, besides his son by his first marriage, Col. C. Marshall Wilhelm, of Harrisburg; four grandchildren, William I. Wilhelm, of New Britain Conn.; Marshall Wilhelm, of Indiantown Gap; Robert N. Wilhelm, of Harrisbureg and mrs. Henry A. Wieand, of Harrisburg; eight great-grandchildren, and five nieces and nephews including Ralph W. Kinsey, advertising manager of Pomeroy's Inc.

Wilhelm was on of the charter members of teh Penn Wheelmen and a member of the Veteran Wheelmen of America. T. C. AAman, Inc., Funeral directors, are in charge of arrangements.

Tuesday, June 4, 1946, Page 18, Easton Express
Noted Bicyclist, Easton Native Won Many Races
W. Irving Wilhelm, 96, native of Easton, former noted bicycle racer, and father of Col. C. Marshall Wilhelm, head of the Pennsylvania State Police, died on Sunday at his home at Reading.

Mr. Wilhelm was born July 12, 1859, son of the late William H. and Katherine Rupell Wilhelm. He left here with his parents when a young boy and resided in Reading ever since. He first was engaged in the paint business with his father and later, when the bicycle boom started, he and his father started manufacturing them. As promotional work, he decided to do some racing starting in the riding the old "Columbia" and "Star" high-wheel machines. Later he rode the bicyles of the type now in use, and won more than 400 medals in some of the fastest competition in the country.

His manufacturing was destroyed by fire in 1897. Later he operated the Wilhelm-Smith Machine Shop and retired 10 years ago. In addtion to his widow he is survived by his son Col. Wilhelm, four grandchilden, and a large number of nieces and nephews. Many of his more distant relatives reside in Easton.