Jacob Fromer, one of the most successful business men in Tannersville, N. Y., was born in Wittenberg, Germany, October 14, 1849, son of Daniel and Mary (Liepold) Fromer. His father, who also was a native of Wittenberg, emigrated to the United States in 1853. After his arrival in this country Daniel Fromer followed the trade of a chair-maker for a time, and then turned his attention to farming, first in Jewett and later in Tannersville, where he died at seventy-two. His wife, Mary, who was a native of Germany, was the mother of six children, namely: Mary; Rosa; John, first (deceased); Daniel, Jr.; Jacob; and John. Mary married Leonard L. Woodard. Rosa became the wife of Clarence Willsey. John keeps a boarding-house. Daniel, Jr., is proprietor of a hotel. Mrs. Mary L. Fromer died at the age of seventy-one. The parents were members of the Presbyterian church.
Jacob Fromer acquired his education in the schools of Jewett, and worked on the home farm until he was nineteen years old, when he went to the oil regions of Pennsylvania, going thence to West Virginia, and later entering mercantile business in Parkersburg, Va. Disposing of his establishment there at the end of eighteen months, he came to Hunter, where he engaged in the express business and also ran a stage to the Catskill. He abandoned this enterprise at the expiration of a year and a half, and again entered mercantile business, carrying on a general store under the Cascade House for the same length of time. He next erected a building sixty by sixty feet, and three stories high, adjoining his present office, and, putting in a stock of general merchandise, carried on business until 1892, when he sold out. He started in a small way, but as his trade increased he was forced to enlarge both his stock and floor space in order to meet the demands, of his patrons. He transacted a business amounting to over one hundred and twenty-five thousand dollars annually, and employed twelve assistants. In 1893 he made a trip to Florida, and upon his return in 1894 opened a sale and livery stable here and another at Elka Park, Hunter, both of which he has since conducted successfully, also doing quite an extensive business in the selling of carriages, sleighs, robes, and harnesses. He keeps twenty horses, and at times has as many as thirty for livery purposes. In connection with this he is engaged in the real estate and insurance business, and besides his stable and office he has erected several dwelling-houses.
In 1875 Mr. Fromer was united in marriage with Susan Showers, a native of Hunter, daughter of Michael Showers, a farmer of that town. Her parents had a family of six children, four daughters and two sons. Mrs. Fromer's sisters are all married.
Mr. Fromer is a Republican in politics. He was Supervisor continuously from 1893 to 1899, having with a few exceptions served longer than any other member of the board; and during his term of office he succeeded in reducing the taxes. He was largely instrumental in securing the incorporation of the village, and was trustee a number of years. He and Mrs. Fromer are attendants of the Methodist Episcopal church, and contribute to the support of other denominations.