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PROMINENT MAN IN BUSINESS LIFE OF COUNTY SEAT Paul E. Wirt, inventor of the Wirt fountain pen, and for years a leading Bloomsburg citizen, died Monday morn ing at 1:45 at his home on West Fifth street. Mr. Wirt was in his eighty-sixth year. His death followed an illness of some weeks, during which his con dition was critical. His condition be came such, however ,that he was able to be about for several weeks, but last week suffered a relapse and was nev er again able to leave the home. Surviving are one daughter, Mrs. Pauline Roche, and a daughter-in-law, Mrs. Elizabeth B. Wirt, widow of Karl Wirt. Mr. Wirt was born in Cambra on June 25, 1849, and while a boy moved with his father to Bloomsburg. He prepared himself for legal practice un der Charles G. Barkley, one of the most widely known lawyers in Central Pennsylvania, and was admitted to the bar on September 4, 1877. While engaged in his professional work, he began experimenting with fountain pens because of the frequent necessity of dipping other pens and the occasional annoyance of spilt ink wells. He obtained a patent on the invention, and in 1855 placed the pens on the market. They created something of a sensa tion and won prizes in a number of international expositions. Trouble in keeping the points of the gold pens from wearing was valved when irrid ium was tried and proved successful. The first pens were cumbersome af fairs, but improvement was rapid, and in their development, Mr. Wirt took a leading part for more than thirty years. It was largely he who was re sponsible for their introduction throughout the world. Mr. Wirt opened a factory at Bloom and undertook quality production. At one time he employed more than sixty persons, and prduction of the plant was in excess of half a million pens yearly. In 1922 he retired from the pen manufacturing business. For some years, Mr. Wirt had a vir tual monopoly on the pen business but later many other concerns entered the field. The earlier pens required filling with a filler like a medicine dropper. The advent of self fillers revolutionized the business. Mr. Wirt was married in 1877, his wife dying in 1928. Mr. Wirt’s interests were many. In addition to the pen business, he was for years a director and president of the Bloomsburg Water Company. Likewise did he serve as a director of the Bloomsburg Bank-Columbia Trust Company, and a member of the board of trustees of the Bloomsburg State Teachers College. Some months ago he was honored by the Rotary Club for his outstanding Service to Bloomsburg throughout his long life. He was a member of St. Paul’s Epis copal Church, Rotary Club and Wash ington Lodge Masons and Blooms burg Lodge of Elks. Funeral services were held at 10 o'clock Wednesday morning from the late home. Interment was made in Rosemont cemetery.
Newspaper Details
The Argus
Benton, Pennsylvania, US
Thu, Jan 24, 1935
Page 8
Full Page
Clipped by
Matthew G.
USA 24 May 2026
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