[p. 682] senior member of the firm of Marburger & Twentier, proprietors of the Central Hotel, at Ellwood City, which is one of the finest and most elaborately furnished hostelries in this section, is one of the city's successful self-made men. He was born in Forward Township, Butler County, Pennsylvania, March 6, 1863, and is a son of Henry and Margaret (Burr) Marburger.
Mr. Marburger comes from German ancestry on both sides. His father, Henry Marburger, was born in Hesse Darmstadt, Germany, and was seventeen years when he accompanied his father, George Marburger, to America. The latter settled in Butler County, Pennsylvania, where he survived until the unusual age of 103 years. His longevity was remarkable, but no less so was his strength and activity, and when 101 years old he still cut his own timber and busied himself in manufacturing splint baskets. He had two sons and one daughter, namely: Henry, George, who has reached his ninety-sixth year, resides on his father's old home place; and Barbara, who died in 1906, aged eighty-seven years. She was twice married.
The late Henry Marburger acquired a farm in Forward Township, and followed farming all his life. He died July 12, 1907, his age being ninety-two years, nine months and nineteen days. He married Margaret Burr, who was born in Germany, near the French line, and was brought to America by her parents in her childhood. They settled also in Butler County. She died July 4, 1878, at the age of forty-eight years. They had a family of five sons and six daughters, namely: Caroline, married James Cooper, a carpenter and farmer, and they live in Forward Township, Butler County; Catherine, married George Young, and they live on a farm in Forward Township; Charlotta, married Henry Freshcom, a farmer of Jackson Township, Butler County; Phillip, married Emma Kauffman, and they live on a farm in Forward Township; Henry, married a Miss Winters, and they live at Titusville; Christian, married Nellie Georing, and is a farmer in Jackson Township; Susan, unmarried, resides with her sister, Mrs. Freshcom; George, a farmer in Forward Township, married Vina Richardson; Lewis, of Ellwood City; and Mary, unmarried, resides with her sister, Mrs. Young.
Lewis Marburger enjoyed no school advantages after he was twelve years old, and on March 22, 1876, he left home and has been entirely dependent on his own resources ever since. Active, industrious, pleasant of manner and obliging and willing in disposition, he found employment, and was never idle. In 1902 he went to work in a restaurant, and there, through close attention to all the details, he learned much that has proved valuable since he has been in business for himself. On May 18, 1896, he opened a confectionery store, which he conducted for one year and seven months, and then embarked in the restaurant business at Ellwood City, where he continued at one location for five years. In a number of his enterprises he has been associated with Mr. Twentier, and in April, 1905, they built the Central Hotel, at Nos. 708-710 Lawrence Avenue, Ellwood City, and furnished the same with an expenditure of over $30,000. The house enjoys a large patronage from exclusive people.
Mr. Marburger is unmarried. He was reared in the Lutheran Church. In his political views he is a moderate Democrat.
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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