Читать книгу Memoirs of Milwaukee County, Volume 5 - Josiah Seymour Currey - Страница 20

The history of a progressive city is not the record of a single individual nor usually of a single corporation but is the result of the upbuilding and concerted efforts of many men who in the field of legitimate trade have not only developed their own fortunes but have contributed in large measure to the progress and prosperity of the community. In this connection Oscar Loewenbach deserves mention, his position being that of secretary and treasurer of the B. Loewenbach & Sons Company, conducting business at Nos. 2005 to 2009 Clybourn street. He is a native son of the city where he makes his home, his birth having occurred May 29, 1874. His father, Bernhard Loewenbach, who departed this life December 4, 1884, was born in Germany and came to the United States alone in 1851, settling at once in Milwaukee. He was educated in the Gymnasium and also in one of the universities of his native land and spoke and wrote seven languages fluently, being a man of very liberal culture and education. He became prominently known both as an author and publisher. He published the Herman Sohn in Milwaukee in the decade covering part of the '70s and '80s in the nineteenth century. This paper was the organ of several lodges and in connection he published the United Workmen and the Unser Blatt. He likewise published the Wisconsin Advocate and the Erholungs Stunden, all these papers except the Wisconsin Advocate being published in the German language. He was a man of most studious nature and disposition, retiring in manner, and the sterling worth of his character and of his ability was recognized by all and won him the respect and high regard of those with whom he was brought into contact. One of his brothers, Karl Loewenbach, was an influential banker in Germany and another brother conducted a successful business as a lamp manufacturer. Indeed, the family was one of prominence in that country and Bernhard Loewenbach became a worthy representative of the family in the new world, contributing much to the intellectual progress of the German-speaking people through the columns of the papers with which he was connected. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Julia Erdmann, was also born in Germany and came to Milwaukee with her parents when sixteen years of age. She became the wife of Bernhard Loewenbach in the old Republican House in 1852 and she survived her husband for a period of thirteen years, departing this life in 1897.

Oscar Loewenbach pursued a public school education and later became a student in Rhuede's College at Milwaukee, where he pursued a business course. He afterward worked for six months as a bookkeeper for the Detweiler interests, manufacturers of Perfection Gas Stoves and on the expiration of that period became associated with the business of his father conducted under the style of B. Loewenbach & Son, the junior partner being Hugo Loewenbach. He entered the business in a minor capacity and thoroughly learned the trades of pressman, typesetting and bookbinding. Steadily through his own ability and efficiency he has worked his way upward and has continuously been with this concern. The business was incorporated in 1910 under the style of the B. Loewenbach & Sons Company, with Hugo Loewenbach as the first president, while Oscar Loewenbach became secretary and treasurer. Each continues in the office to the present time. Their business includes manifold forms, loose leaf forms and devices and their trade covers the United States, the house doing a mail order business. The father, Bernhard Loewenbach, took out the first patent on a combined letter sheet and envelope in 1883. Before being in the publishing business he had been proprietor of the Milwaukee Tobacco Works at 78 East Water street, but turned from this to the printing and bookbinding business. The original plant of the present company was at 612 Chestnut street, at which time the father was alone as proprietor of the enterprise. From that place he removed to 316 Chestnut street and afterward to No 259 Third street. His next location was at No. 345 East Water street and later he occupied the entire building at Nos. 314 and 316 East Water street, where the business remained for twenty-six years. In 1915 Oscar Loewenbach erected the present fine business block of the company at Nos. 2005-9 Clybourn street. They have about ten thousand square feet of floor space and the building is one of the most modern steel and concrete structures of the city and one of the lightest, practically all work being done by daylight. The company occupies the entire building with press and composing-rooms in the basement, while the offices, bindery and experimental rooms are on the first floor. The firm has developed a plant of splendid proportions and one that is thoroughly equipped with the latest improved machinery to carry on work of this character. Its success has been assured from the beginning by reason of the thoroughness, the enterprise and the determined purpose of father and sons who have controlled the undertaking since its establishment.

On the 25th of September, 1895, Mr. Loewenbach was united in marriage to Miss Minnie Schutz, a daughter of August Schutz, a professor of music in Milwaukee, who was born in Germany and still makes his home in this city, being yet active at the age of seventy-four years.

Mr. Loewenbach has never been a political candidate but has worked untiringly for the success of his many friends in the republican party who have been candidates for office. In religious faith he is a Christian Scientist, having membership in the Second church of Milwaukee. Fraternally he is an Elk, belonging to Milwaukee Lodge and is also a member of the Independent Order of Foresters connected with Court Sycamore of this city. His name is likewise on the membership rolls of the Equitable Fraternal Union, the Milwaukee Accountant and Bookkeepers Association and the Milwaukee Typothetae, of which he has been a director. He is likewise a loyal member of the Milwaukee Association of Commerce and is greatly interested in everything that pertains to the city's progress and improvement. He possesses natural mechanical ability and his talent in this direction has contributed in large measure to the success of the enterprise, of which he is now one of the officials. He has taken out numerous patents along the lines of paper inventions and in 1909 he patented a mechanical manifold apparatus, while in 1910 his inventive genius brought forth a detachable cover and in 1915 a one-piece triplicating manifold book. In 1918 he produced a one-piece combined window envelope and message sheet and he has recently secured a patent on a new detachable cover. The company manufactures under all of these various patents and markets the articles. The one-piece combined window envelope and message sheet is a most original design and is most ingenious as well as useful. Mr. Loewenbach's brother, Hugo, is also an inventor and brought out the first perforating attachment for printing presses, which is now used in all the latest presses. He invented the first sheet straighteners that are now in universal use and he also invented a manifold book, a receipt and record book, the first carbon paper holder, the tablet and the file holder. Thus the family has made marked contribution to labor and business interests through the invention of many labor-saving devices and office conveniences and the value of their contributions is manifest in their universal use.

While Oscar Loewenbach is widely known as a most successful business man he also has a wide acquaintance in other connections, especially in musical circles. He plays the violin and has always been a lover of music and in former years appeared frequently in public as a violinist. He is also a lover of art and literature and has ever been a student and reader. He possesses a fine library of histories of great men and other most interesting volumes with the contents of which he is largely familiar. His hobby is dogs and he owns some fine ones, including Tomahawk, a Cocker spaniel from the Black Hawk kennels, which was a blue ribbon dog at six months. He is a motorist, enjoying long tours in his car and is a lover of outdoor life. He makes his home at No. 4606 Blue Mound road in the town of Wauwatosa and wherever he is known he is recognized as a forceful and resourceful man, ready for any emergency and any opportunity in the business world, ready for any call of duty in connection with citizenship or in his relations to his fellowmen.