From the "The Village of Harlem: Its People, Homes and Business – 50th
Anniversary Souvenir 1856 to 1906"
"One of Harlem's young and energetic merchants is Mr. Ernest Fichtler, who was born in Germany in 1869, where he learned the shoemaking trade, working entirely on hand-made shoes. This makes him a practical workman, and gives him a thorough knowledge of the general shoe business. He came to Chicago in 1891, where he worked at his trade. In 1892 he came to Harlem and was employed for a time at Forest Home Cemetery. Desiring to return to his trade, he opened a boot and shoe store in 1904 at 65 Madison St., his present location, where he carries a fine line of boots, shoes, rubbers, et., and does a large business in repairing.
"Mr. Fichtler has a good and fast increasing trade, and is counted as one of the responsible merchants of the village. He was married in 1891 in Chicago to Miss Margaret Mahkorn. They have four children -- Anna, Hilda, Lizzie and Frederick."