George Ehrsam, who has been actively engaged in business as a merchant tailor of Utica for about four decades, is a native son of the city, who has always remained within its confines, for here he has found both prosperity and contentment. He was born on the 10th of October, 1858, his parents being John and Catherine Ehrsam, natives of Germany. The father was successfully identified with the business interests of Utica as a furniture dealer for a period of forty years.
George Ehrsam attended Utica's public schools in the acquirement of an education, and after putting aside his textbooks learned the tailoring business, which has claimed his time and energies through the intervening years to the present. That he has won well merited recognition in his chosen field of endeavor is evidenced in the following excerpt from a local publication:
"'The apparel oft proclaims the man' is an old adage, the truth of which is self-evident. In every community there is usually found one merchant tailoring establishment which caters to the class of male trade that desires to appear well dressed and up-to-date in the matter of outer clothing. Such an establishment is found in Utica, under the direction and sole proprietorship of George Ehrsam, who has a handsome shop and convenient workrooms at No. 250 Genesee street. Mr. Ehrsam started in the merchant tailoring business in this city in 1886, and during all the years down to the present time his establishment has had the very highest reputation for satisfactory service. The prosperity and popularity of the concern grew with the years, for Mr. Ehrsam has ever insisted that no garment be permitted to leave his place unless it is perfect in fit and in every other detail. No material except the very best is used in the clothing he makes and he has constantly in his employ the very best workmen it is possible to procure. Mr. Ehrsam takes a particular pride in the reputation for high-grade goods and first-class workmanship which has always characterized his business. By reason of the large amount of custom tailoring his employes turn out, he has the benefit of the most exclusive designs in cloth and other material and carries in stock continually the largest assortment possible to obtain, from which selections may be made. Many of his fabrics are imported and bear the stamp of the best manufacturers. It is a pleasure, therefore, to select here the most appropriate materials which can enter into a gentleman's attire. The proprietor of this establishment gives to the business his personal attention at all times and supervises every detail of turning the raw material into a finished product. His long experience in the business and the fact that during all these years his clientele has been drawn from the very best circles in the community has provided for him that perfect knowledge of what is appropriate, which his splendid success so well attests."
In 1880 Mr. Ehrsam was united in marriage to Miss Florence Ophelia Pfeiffer, daughter of John and Margaret Pfeiffer of Utica.