Bibliography

All of the sources for this research. 

A.W. Goff. “Butter, Eggs, and Poultry.” Press of Atlantic City [Atlantic City, NJ], 29 Apr. 1899, pp. 3–3. 

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Anderson, Bart. The Sharples-Sharpless Family. 3rd ed., The Maple Presents, 1966. 

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“Awarded Government Contract.” The Midland Journal, 9 Oct. 1914, pp. 1–1. "The P.E. Sharpless Co., has been awarded by the Navy Bureau of supplies and accounts to furnish 390,000 pounds of evaporated milk, at $23,972."

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Baltimore Grocery House, Inc. “Save $1.93 On This Grocery Order.” Denton Journal [Denton, MD], 21 June 1913, pp. 3–3. 

“Big Philadelphia Firms Consolidate.” The Milk Dealer: The National Journal for the City Milk Trade, vol. 11, 1921. "A $500,000 corporation to be known as the Breyer-Sharpless Milk Association has been formed in Philadelphia by the consolidation of the Breyer Ice Cream Company and the P.E. Sharpless Co., both of that city. The Breyer Ice Cream Co. is one of the largest firms in the ice cream business in Philadelphia, and the P.E. Sharpless Co. has been known for many years as a producer of fancy print butter and package cheese, as well as condensed milk. Both of the firms have plants in the country."

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Breyer-Sharpless Milk Association. “Begin Tuesday! Breyer-Sharpless Milk.” The Philadelphia Inquirer [Philadelphia, PA], 2 Sept. 1923, pp. 3–3. 

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“Building Agreement Filed.” Delaware County Daily Times, 10 Nov. 1910, pp. 8–8. "A building agreement was filed yesterday in the office of the Prothonorary  between Pomeroy Construction Company, contractor, and P.E. Sharpless Co., for the erection of a cheese and storage building at Concordville."

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“Bull Moosers for Sproul.” Delaware County Daily Times, 24 Oct. 1912, pp. 5–5. "Mr. P.E. Sharpless, head of the firm, is the Roosevelt elector in the Congressional district, and he is also vigorously supporting the Republican Congressional, Senatorial, and Legislative ticket."

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Case, Robert P. Prosperity and Progress: Concord Township, Pennsylvania, 1683-1983. Concord Township Historical Society, 1983. 

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Case, Robert P., and Virginia M. DeNenno. Concord Township: Progress and Prosperity in the Nineteenth Century. Concord Township Historical Society, 1983. 

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The Charter National Bank of Media. “Officers and Directors.” Delaware County Daily Times [Chester, PA], 17 Oct. 1908, pp. 2–2. "P.E. Sharpless, Concord"

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“Clover Dairy Sold to Sharpless Co.” The Evening Journal, 23 Feb. 1920, pp. 1–1. "it was learned today that C.M. Bates, president of the Clover Dairy Company, hassled his holdings, constituting a majority of the stock to the P.E. Sharpless Company...The P.E. Sharpless Company as already extensively engaged in the ice cream business in this city and is about to construct a large modern plant or its manufacture."

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Cope, Gilbert. The Sharpless Family in North America. Dando Printing and Publishing Co., 1887.

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“Dairymen Organize: State Association Formed at Harrisburg for Protection.” The Philadelphia Inquirer, 1 Apr. 1898, pp. 6–6. "Vice Presidents, P.E. Sharpless, Delaware;

Downing, Andrew Jackson. The Architecture of Country Houses. Da Capo Press, 1968. "The vila should indeed by a private house, where beauty, taste, and moral culture are at home. In the fine outlines of the whole edifice, either dignified, graceful, picturesque, in the spacious or varied verandas, arcades, and windows, in the select forms of windows, chimney tops, cornices, the artistic knowledge and feeling has full play... The villa, indeed, may be as simple and chaste as a cottage, and often, with a more satisfactory effect than if inlay with sculpture; but its larger size, and the greater means devoted to its creation, will justify an embellishment that would be out of keeping, in all respects, with the cottage... The villa -- the country house, should above all things, manifest individuality. It should say something of the character of the family within -- as mush as possible of their life and history, their tastes and associations, should mold and fashion themselves upon its walls.

“Dr. Swallow Nominated.” Washington Times, 21 May 1898, pp. 5–5. "The Prohibition State convention nominated today the following ticket: ...Congress at large:  P.E. Sharpless, of Delaware County"

The Evening Journal, 3 Sept. 1910, pp. 10–10. " The P.E. Sharpless Company, of Philadelphia, has bought the creamery of S.G. England, at Zion."

“Famed Cream Cheese.” The Philadelphia Inquirer, 21 Nov. 1922, pp. 14–14. "The booth of the P.E. Sharpless Company, a Philadelphia concern, whose area cheese has carried the fame of the Sharpless dairies over all the land, is another centre of interest for those who seek dainty novelties in the way of salads."

“The Famous ‘Sharpless’ Cream Cheese.” Asbury Park Press [Asburh Park, NJ], 17 Mar. 1916, pp. 8–8. 

Federal Reporter. Lawrence et. al. v. P.E. Sharpless Co. 17 Mar. 1913, pp. 762–769, https://cite.case.law/f/203/762/. Accessed 24 Apr. 2023. 

“Firebugs Burn $15,000 Creamery.” The Philadelphia Inquirer, 26 June 1900, pp. 4–4. "The mammoth structure of the Sharpless Creamery Company, near Concord Station, this county, caught fire early yesterday morning, and was completely destroyed. The blaze is supposed to have been of incendiary origin. The pace had a capacity of about fifteen thousand pounds of butter weekly, about fifty hands being employed. The loss is estimated at about $15,000."

G.V. Harcourt. “Facts! H.P. Butter Is the Best in the City.” Atlantic City Gazette Review [Atlantic City, New Jersey], 24 July 1885, p. 4. 

Garner, Winfield Scott, editor. Biographical and Portrait Cyclopedia of Chester County, Pennsylvania, Comprising a Historical Sketch of the County., Gresham Publishing Company, Philadelphia, PA, 1893, pp. 713–714. "He [William Sharpless] married Sarah A. Yarnall, and they were the parents of five children: Enos, Emma, wife of Edwin Scott, who is engaged in the creamery business; William, Pennock, and Sarah."

Geo. m. Oyster, Jr. “The P.E. Sharpless Gilt-Edge Butter.” Evening Star [Washington, DC], 14 Dec. 1888, pp. 8–8. 

“Government Seizes Condensed Milk.” The Baltimore Sun, 17 Jan. 1911, pp. 9–9. "fifty five barrels of condensed milk shipped by P.E. Sharpless Company, of Philadelphia, to T.S. DeKalb, on West Lexington street, were seized by Government inspectors at Camden Station yesterday under the Pure Food and Drug act. It was alleged that the milk had been skimmed and all the butterfat removed from it and that this fact was not disclosed by the label."

“Grangers in Convention.” The Danville Morning News, 15 Dec. 1898, pp. 3–3. "A committee composed of P.E. Sharpless, J.S. Lavern, and H. Corwell was appointed to act in conjunction with the State Grange in enforcing the oleomargarine laws."

“Groceries: P.E. Sharpless Gilt Edge Philadelphia Butter.” Newport Daily News [Newport, RI], 11 June 1890, pp. 3–3. 

James F. Oyster. “Fresh, Delicious Table Butter.” Evening Star [Washington, DC], 6 Dec. 1915, pp. 8–8. 

James F. Oyster. “You Are Sure Of Getting Quality Butter.” Evening Star [Washington, DC], 10 Dec. 1915, pp. 8–8. 

Jas. F. Oyster. “Butter for Christmas Dinner.” Evening Star [Washington, DC], 23 Dec. 1902, pp. 7–7. 

John E. Weaver’s Sons. “Sharpless Cream Cheese and Spinach Pimentos.” Lancaster New Era [Lancaster PA], 12 Feb. 1912, pp. 9–9. 

Jordan, John Woolf. A History of Delaware County, Pennsylvania, and Its People, vol. 3, Lewis Historical Publishing Company, 1914, pp. 974–974. "In 1973 he [Pennock E. Sharpless] began dairying, making a specialty high grade butter, his production of fifty pounds weekly being taken by private customers in Philadelphia. His success in this small way induced him to go into the business more extensively, and in 1876 he erected and placed in operation the first creamery known in the state of Pennsylvania. When he began business at the creamery, the milk was placed in pans and the cream removed by hand skimming, but this practice Mr. Sharpless soon relegated to the rear, installing at the creamery the "Danish Western" the first imported separator that is known to have been used in the United States. in 1882 he moved his business to the village of Concordville, where he purchased the creamery plant of the Farmer's Association. His business grew to such proportions that in 1902 he organized a corporation. This company has seven branch creameries in Delaware and Chester counties...So far as known this is the only creamery plant in the state making fancy soft cheese. The product of the Sharpless creameries is of high grade and it is known throughout the trade that their trade-mark is above suspicion."

“Kraft Removal Blow to Concord.” Delaware County Historic & Preservation Network, https://delcohpn.wixsite.com/dchpn/post/kraft-removal-blow-to-concord. Accessed 24 Apr. 2023. "The Concordville plant is said to represent an investment of about $25000. For many years Pennock E. Sharpless conducted a creamery there, and in the year 1924 the Sharpless interests were sold to the Kraft Cheese Company, which about that time merged with the Phoenix Cheese Company. It is said that the sum of $75,000 was invested in an automatic sprinkler system as a preventive of fire, this including a reservoir and a piping system."

The Lancaster Examiner, 5 Mar. 1902, pp. 6–6. "The Sharpless butter is in great demand in Philadelphia, New York, Baltimore, and Washington. Butter used at the White House is made by Sharpless."

“Legal Notices.” The Philadelphia Inquirer, 21 Dec. 1923, pp. 31–31. "In the court of common pleas no. 1. For the county of Philadelphia. December Term, 1923. No. 2356. In re-petition of BREYER-SHARPLESS MILK ASSOCIATION, a corporation for decree of dissolution of said corporation."

“List of Items With Every Cabinet.” Harrisburg Telegraph [Harrisburg, PA], 26 May 1916, pp. 6–6. 

Lukens Wester. “Sharpless Butter.” The Philadelphia Times [Philadelphia, PA], 10 Jan. 1889, pp. 3–3. 

Lynch & Leary. “Sharpless Creamery Butter.” Daily Republican [Wilmington, DE], 17 Sept. 1888, pp. 4–4. 

The Midland Journal, 24 July 1914, pp. 1–1. "The firm of P.E. Sharpless & Co., the famous creamery men, are devoting their energies to the condensing of milk. They are now operating five plants: Rising Sun, Md.,Concordville, Toughkenamon, Bradford, and Troy, Pa. They are turning out a carload of 700 cases every other day and about 700 forty-quart cans in bulk daily. The heaviest consumer is the U.S. Government."

The Midland Journal, 27 Apr. 1917, pp. 1–1. "The P.E. Sharpless Co. has received a large order from the U.S. Government and shipped this week to the Brooklyn Navy Yard from their plant in this town a carload of evaporated milk. A similar shipment will follow later. The milk is in small cans and is for use in the U.S. Navy."

The Midland Journal, 29 Mar. 1907, pp. 5–5. "P.E. Sharpless, the proprietor of the condenser at Rising Sun, was invited to give a talk and responded with an interesting account of efforts along dairy lines. He had spent many years learning what he now knew. Had started as a school teacher and had tried to save his father's home for his mother. The family always had a reputation for making good butter. His father disposed of 60 lbs. of butter per week."

The Midland Journal, 8 Sept. 1911, pp. 1–1. "Pennsylvania State Pure Food Inspector Jenkins, of Philadelphia, visited the P.E. Sharpless Co. condensery plant here this week, and was highly pleased with the hygienic conditions and the splendid and uniform high test of the milk...Mr. Jenkins reports that the Sharpless plants are the leaders of those under his inspection in regard to cleanliness and other hygienic conditions, and that the one here is in the lead of all others coming under his notice."

“Milk Prices Here Remain Unchanged.” The Morning News, 31 Oct. 1923, pp. 1–1. "Philadelphia Cut Will Not Affect Local Market, Say Dairymen...The action was led by the Breyer-Sharpless Company, and other companies followed its lead in the evert to prevent a "milk war."

“Milk War Looms in South Jersey.” Atlantic City Gazette-Review, 26 Nov. 1923, pp. 2–2. "According to the dairymen, the recent consolidation of the Breyer Ice Cream Company with the Sharpless Milk Company, to form a concern dealing in milk by retail, has caused the difficulty...With the combine formed by the Breyer-Sharpless companies, their rival milk dealers were forced to lower the retail price of milk one cent to meet the reduction made by the concern."

New York Produce Review and American Creamery, vol. 23, 1907, pp. 621–621. "Wanted Position --Would like to correspond with anyone wanting a first class Camembert, Brie, and Cream cheesemaker; 10 years experience; was manager cheesemaker (teacher) in Switzerland; have best references; open to engagement February 15 or March 1. Address John B. Fassler, Box 218, Cooperstown, N.Y."

New York Produce Review and American Creamery, vol. 29, 1910. "John B. Fassler, head cheesemaker of the P.E. Sharpless Company plant at Ward, Delaware County reports daily receipts of 16,000 lbs. of milk. Of this over Half is made up into Neufchatel and Philadelphia cream cheese, and the remained goes into condensed milk."

New York Produce Review and American Creamery, vol. 31, 1910, pp. 492–492. "Ward, Pa. -- John B. Fassler, formerly of Vermont, has completed his first year in charge of the P.E. Sharpless Company's plant at this place. A new brick building is being erected to be used in the manufacture of fancy cheese. It will be 75 x 25 feet. The space now devoted to cheesemaking will be used as a cold storage for condensed milk. A Total of 10,000 to 11,000 lbs. of milk is being used daily at the plant for cheese purposes, against only 1,500 to 2,000 lbs. when Mr. Fassler first took charge. A chemical fire engine has been added to the plant's equipment."

Nusbaum, Joseph, and P.E. Sharpless Company. Method of Packaging and Sealing Perishable Articles and the Product Thereof, Patent 1,399,270. 1921. 

Nusbaum, Joseph, and P.E. Sharpless Company. Process of Making Soft Cheese and the Product Thereof, Patent 1,258,438. 1918. 

Nusbaum, Joseph, et al. Process of Coating Metal Foil with Paraffin, and the Product Thereof, Patent 1,466,380. 1923. 

“Obituaries: P.E. Sharpless Dies, Founded Dairy Firm.” Courier-Post, 23 July 1935, pp. 2–2. "Pennock E. Sharpless, retired dairy farm head who supplied butter to the White House for President McKinley and Theodore Roosevelt, died yesterday at his home at Concordville, Pa. He was 84. Mr. Sharpless founded the firm bearing his name. He headed the company for 55 years, but sold his interests several years ago. He was a direct descendant of John Sharpless, who landed with William Penn. In 1898, he was a Prohibition Party nominee for Congress."

Osterdahl, Andy. Pennock Edwards Sharpless (1852-1935), 22 Oct. 2016, politicalstrangenames.blogspot.com/2016/10/pennock-edwards-sharpless-1852-1935.html.

P.E. Sharpess Company.

“Your Most Important Food...Don’t Buy It Blindly!” The Philadelphia Inquirer [Philadelphia, PA], 3 May 1929, pp. 16–16. 

P.E. Sharpless & Co. “The Original, The Best.” Delaware County Daily Times [Chester, PA], 6 June 1900, pp. 13–13. 

P.E. Sharpless Co. “Ask Your Grocer for Sharpless Pimento Cheese.” Delaware County Daily Times [Chester, PA], 3 May 1911, pp. 9–9. 

P.E. Sharpless Co. “For Tempting the Appetite: Sharpless Cream Cheese.” Press of Atlantic City [Atlantic City, NJ], 16 May 1911, pp. 2–2. 

“The P.E. Sharpless Co. Purchases Condensary At Toughkenamon.” The Midland Journal, 4 Feb. 1910, pp. 1–1. "Announcement is made of purchase by the P.E. Sharpless Co, of Concordville, Pa., and Rising Sun, of the milk condensary for several years past operated at Toughkenamon, Pa., by W.W. Sharpless & Co., the price being $25,000...The West Crove Independent says: "The new owners, P.E. Sharpless & Co., is headed by P.E. Sharpless, the 'dollar a pound' butter king, of Concordville, whose name sets all the dairy and creamery associations kowtowing from Oneida county, N.Y., to the District of Columbia.'"

P.E. Sharpless Co. “Sharpless.” Press of Atlantic City [Atlantic City, NJ], 2 May 1911, pp. 2–2. 

“P.E. Sharpless Co. Sold to N.Y. Firm.” The Evening Journal, 13 Nov. 1928, pp. 35–35. "The June Dairy Products Company, Inc., of New York City, announces the purchase of the business of the P.E. Sharpless Company, of Philadelphia, Pa., which it will continue to operate under the Sharpless name and brands. The P.E. Sharpless Company, established in 1838, is one o the largest and oldest manufacturers and distributors of butter, eggs, and cheese in Philadelphia, in addition maintains branch warehouses at Atlantic City, Harrisburg, Pa., and York, Pa."

P.E. Sharpless Co. “Try a Sandwich.” Delaware County Daily Times [Chester, PA], 12 July 1914, pp. 1–1. 

P.E. Sharpless Co. “‘On Every Tongue’ Sharpless Cream Cheese.” Evening Star [Washington, DC], 10 Dec. 1915, pp. 23–23. 

“P.E. Sharpless Cream Cheese.” Lancaster New Era [Lancaster, PA], 5 Mar. 1909, pp. 5–5. 

“P.E. Sharpless Philadelphia Cream Cheese -- 2 for 25c.” The Virginian-Pilot [Norfolk, VA], 6 Apr. 1922, pp. 4–4. 

P.E. Sharpless. “A Wintertime Dainty: P.E. Sharpless’ Cream Cheese.” Delaware County Daily Times [Chester, PA], 22 Jan. 1909, pp. 2–2. 

P.E. Sharpless. “The Correct Finish to a Dainty Luncheon: P.E. Sharpless Cream Cheese.” Delaware County Daily Times[Chester, PA], 29 Jan. 1909, pp. 2–2. 

The Philadelphia Inquirer, 17 May 1906, pp. 15–15. "Williamstown R. Doughtery is estimating on plans for a creamery at Rising Sun, MD for P.E. Sharpless."

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The Philadelphia Inquirer, 20 Sept. 1922, pp. 15–15. "The Breyer-Sharpless Milk Association will build a two-story manufacturing building at 3325 York Road, at a cost of $70,000."

“Philadelphia Manufacturer Consolidates With Local Milk Dealer.” Ice Cream Review, vol. 6, 1922. "The Breyer Ice Cream Company, one of the largest ice cream manufacturers in Philadelphia, has joined the P.E. Sharpless Company in forming the Breyer-Sharpless Milk Association. The Breyer Company confined itself to the manufacture of ice cream previous to the consolidation, while the Sharpless firm have long been known as manufacturers of fancy print butter and package cheese, as well as condensed milk. Both of the firms had country plants which are now maintained by the association."

The Philadelphia Times, 14 Sept. 1900. "Plans have been taken for extensive alterations to be made to the residence of P.E. Sharpless at Concordville, PA."

The Philadelphia Times, 30 May 1886, pp. 12–12. "They have everything at hand that city people are accustomed to having, even to Darlington and Sharpless butter."

The Philadelphia Times, 5 Feb. 1888, pp. 2–2. "At a caucus of his friends held in the Philadelphia Club, it was decided that he had best startle Tuxedo with a few bounds of the Sharpless gilt-edge butter. he did. He won. Those who tasted the golden morsel said that they had never put tongue to anything more toothsome, and it was resolved that Major Townsend had made not only the most novel, but the most delicious addition to the feast of good things."

“Pure Butter Workers: A Sate Organization Formed to Fight the Oleo Makers.” The Philadelphia Inquirer, 27 Apr. 1899, pp. 9–9. "About 125 tradesmen from Philadelphia and surrounding counties were present at the meeting and the following officers were chosen...executive committee: P.E. Sharpless."

“Sale Is Expected Before Monday of Camden Brewery .” Courier-Post, 9 Sept. 1933, pp. 3–3. "'There is no money in the milk business now. We can see that, according to the present controversy between the farmers and the distributors. We disposed of our dairy business in Wilmington. We also sold out our interests in P.E. Sharpless, Philadelphia, to the Kraft cheese firm, which is now distributors of Anheuser-Busch Company.'"

“Sharpless Cream Cheese.” Evening Star [Washington, DC], 2 Mar. 1914, pp. 13–13. 

“Sharpless Phila. Cream Cheese.” The Washington Post [Washington, DC], 7 Mar. 1916, pp. 3–3. 

Sharpless, Joseph. Family Record: Containing the Settlement and Genealogy to the Present Time of the Sharples Family in North America. Published and Sold by the Author, 1978. 

“State Dairymen: First Annual Convention Begins at Williamsport.” The Philadelphia Inquirer, 13 Dec. 1898, pp. 6–6. "This evening's sessions held at the Court House. The speakers were P.E. Sharpless, of West Chester,Pa., who had for his subject, "A Talk to the Man who Makes the Butter."

“Table and Cooking Butter.” Newport Daily News [Newport, RI], 3 June 1890, pp. 4–4. 

Tax Court of the United States. Kraft Foods Co. v. Comm’r of Internal Revenue. 25 Jan. 1954. Caselaw Access Project, https://cite.case.law/tc/21/513/. Accessed 24 Apr. 2023. "During the early 1920s, cream cheese was made and sold commercially in the United States by Phenix, Kraft, F.X. Baumert Company in the East, P.E. Sharpless Company in the Philadelphia area, and Blue Label Cream Cheese Company in Illinois. No other concerns, with the possible exception of one or two small ones, made and sold cream cheese commercially in the United States at that time...In acquiring the business and assets of the Sharpless Company, Kraft's purpose was the acquisition of the distribution facilities of that company in Philadelphia."

“Thirteen Charters Were Granted To-Day.” Wilkes-Barre Times Leader, 7 Jan. 1904, pp. 2–2. "Charters were issued by the State department to-day to the following corporations: ... P.E. Sharpless Company, Philadelphia, capital $52,000."

“U.S. District Court.” The Philadelphia Inquirer, 19 Mar. 2010, pp. 4–4. "P.E. Sharpless Co. pleaded guilty to a violation of the Food and Drug act and was fined $10."

“Use of Casein Spreading.” Ranche and Range, 15 Nov. 1900, pp. 7–7. "P.E. Sharpless of Philadelphia, present of the Quaker City Chemical Co."

“Why Not Have The Finest Table Butter?” Newport Daily News [Newport, RI], 11 Aug. 1899, pp. 7–7. 

“Will See the Governor.” The Philadelphia Times, 6 Mar. 1900, pp. 13–13. "In order to give effect to he resolutions passed two weeks ago, which demanded the resignation of State Dairy Commissioner Levi Wells, a committee of five members was nominated to call on Governor Stone on some date after May 21 to present the ultimatum. An executive committee, comprising...P.E. Sharpless... was elected without opposition."

Wyoming Democrat, 11 Nov. 1898, pp. 2–2. "Mr. P. E. Sharpless, whose butter has the greatest reputation perhaps of any made in the United States, and other practical successful dairymen will be present as speakers."

“‘Sharpless’ Famous Philadelphia Cream Cheese.” Asbury Park Press [Asbury Park, NJ], 20 Mar. 1914, pp. 10–10.