Ella Bentz Smith

Ella Bentz was born to Franklin E. Bentz (1834-1892) and Fianna Frey Bentz (1842-1906). Her father’s career was varied, first as a hotel keeper, schoolteacher and finally as a manager in the steel industry. The family moved many times through Pennsylvania and Michigan. Ella was born in 1874 when her father was manager of a forge in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania. The Bentz’s family also included Flora (1861-1928), J. Geary (1869-1936), Frank (1873-1943) and Freddy (1878-1900).

Franklin moved the family to Coatesville for the opportunity of working as a clerk^[1] in one of the steel companies. They purchased a half of a double house at 61 Pennsylvania Avenue in 1885.^[2] Franklin died at age 57 on January 22, 1892.^[3] Although he died intestate, he left an insurance policy of $2930.31 for his widow.^[4] The family remained together in the house on Pennsylvania Avenue, the sons taking jobs in the mills, Geary as an engineer and Frank as a machinist.

Ella wanted an income to contribute to the household. This is where the home address may have played a significant role in her employment. In the other half of their double house lived photographer John B. Gibson, who owned the most prominent studio in the city of Coatesville. Is it possible that Gibson got Ella Bentz started on this career path with her first jobs?

Ella Bentz is first listed as a crayon artist in Boyd’s Chester County, Pennsylvania Directory for 1896-97.^[5] When Gibson sold his studio to Robert Young, Jr. in 1898 and it should be noted that Young immediately offered crayon portraits and hand-colored photographs as part of his services. Just starting in business would Young have had the skills to offer crayons or was it more expedient for him to subcontract to an experienced artist? Bentz could also have worked for Coatesville photographers Harry Smith or Henry Oakley Mott as well. Since most crayon portraits are unsigned, it is hard to trace Bentz’s productivity or level of skill.

Crayon portraits were a popular form of portraiture, a fixture in parlors and dining rooms from about 1860 to 1905. They were an affordable substitute for a formal oil portrait for the ordinary household. Crayons were made by affixing an enlarged photograph made on a thin piece of drawing paper to a canvas on a stretcher. Typically, these ranged in size from 16 x 20 to 20 x 24 and larger. The photograph was a weak, not fully developed image. Either salted paper (using silver) or the platinum process was used for this application. An artist then enhanced the image using charcoal and chalk or pastels. Crayon portraits have an other worldly appearance because they have the look of a drawn portrait, yet the realism of the photograph shows through. They made suitable tributes to family members who had passed on, since a favorite photograph could be copied, enlarged and enhanced.

A book titled: “Crayon Portraiture: Complete Instructions for Making Crayon Portraits on Crayon Paper and on Platinum, silver and bromide Enlargements” by J. A. Barhydt published in two editions in 1886 and 1892 taught the techniques of crayon portraiture step by step.^[6] This offered people with artistic skills an opportunity to make an income either at home or in a photo studio.

Ella Bentz continued to be listed in county directories as a crayon artist through 1902^[7] and is recorded as an artist in the 1900 Federal Census of Coatesville.^[8]

Ella’s older sister Flora is also listed as an “artist” in 1897 the county directory. But it is not clear what kind of art she was pursuing. To be listed as an artist in the directory implied that this occupation was a source of income. Was she perhaps hand-coloring photographs or selling artistic works? There is no evidence as to what she was creating. Flora only appeared in county directories as an artist twice in 1897 and 1898-99 editions. It is not clear that Flora continued her artistic career thereafter.

Substantial changes came for the family when their mother Fianna died in 1906.^[9] At that time, the two sisters were living at home with their brother Frank. Since Fianna died intestate, her property was to be divided among the four surviving children. Flora, now age 45 and Ella age 32 needed to generate an income. Frank was working as a machinist at a mill, but when he married, he moved out. The 1910 Census revealed that Flora turned the three-bedroom house (with one bath) into a boarding house and had taken in seven steel workers as boarders!^[10] No occupations other than housekeeping are reported on the 1910 census.

On March 19, 1915, Ella, (age 39) married one of the boarders, Frederick C. Smith (age 34) who worked in a foundry.^[11] On April 21, 1915, Frank Bentz sold his share of 61 Pennsylvania Avenue to his two sisters and Ella’s new husband Fred Smith.^[12]

By the time the 1920 Census is taken, Frederick Smith is listed as the head of household at 61 Pennsylvania Ave., he is now a foreman at the foundry and 38 years old.^[13] The household consists of Smith, his wife and sister-in-law, Flora and no boarders! Occupations are not listed for the two sisters.

The family resided at 61 Pennsylvania Ave. until 1941.^[14] Flora died 1928 at age 66,^[15] Ella died suddenly at home on Pennsylvania Avenue on June 27, 1930, from a heart attack.^[16] The sisters were buried in Fairview Cemetery. Frederick Smith died in Lancaster, PA in 1962 and was buried in Greenwood Cemetery.^[17] The couple had no children.

© Pamela C. Powell, 2023.