[p. 888] who conducts the leading store in the jewelry line at Ellwood City, has fine quarters in the First National Bank Building, on Seventh Street, and he is numbered with the enterprising, progressive and popular young business men of the place. He was born at Gettysburg, Adams County, Pennsylvania, September 1, 1875, and is a son of J. Oliver and Ella (Weirman) Blocher.
The parents of Mr. Blocher were born in Adams County, where the father died in 1902, aged fifty-three years. He had a prosperous business as a coal and lumber dealer, which has been successfully conducted by his widow since his death. There were nine children in their family.
Paul W. Blocher was educated at Gettysburg and Juniata College, at Huntingdon, Pa., graduating from the High School in the former city and subsequently from college. He then learned the jewelry business with an uncle who was a jeweler at Gettysburg, and later spent one year in the Ezra F. Bowman Technical School, where he perfected his knowledge of the trade, and from there went to Wilmington, Del. For some time he was employed there, in the jewelry store of Millard F. Davis, and then went to Philadelphia, where he had charge of the silver department of the George B. Evans drug store, and remained for two years. In November, 1903, Mr. Blocher came to New Castle, in Lawrence County, where he was employed as a jeweler, until he came to Ellwood City, in April, 1907, going into business for himself at that time.
On October 17, 1900, Mr. Blocher was married to Miss Eva G. Hartman, who is a daughter of J. F. and Mary Hartman, of Mummasburg, and they have two children: Mary and Ruth. Politically, Mr. Blocher is a zealous Republican. He is a leading Mason of this section, belonging to New Castle Lodge, No. 642, and to Pittsburg Consistory, having reached the thirty-second degree. He belongs also to Chambersburg Lodge, No. 600, Elks, and to Refuge Lodge, Odd Fellows, of Ellwood City. He has membership on the city Board of Trade, and is active and public spirited. Mr. Blocher is an enthusiastic automobilist.
20th Century History of New Castle and Lawrence County Pennsylvania and Representative Citizens Hon. Aaron L. Hazen Richmond-Arnold Publishing Company, Chicago, Ill., 1908
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