Biography of Louis Hemrich
(1872-1941)
The following is from:
"A Volume of Memoirs and Genealogy of
Representative Citizens of the City of Seattle and County of King, Washington"
Lewis Publishing Co.; New York & Chicago; 1903
"A Biographical
record of the representative men of Seattle and King county would be
incomplete and unsatisfactory without a personal and somewhat detailed mention
of those whose lives are interwoven so closely with the industrial activities
of this section. In the subject of this review, who is secretary and
treasurer of the Hemrich Brothers Brewing Company, we find a young man of that
progressive, alert and discriminating type through which has been brought
about the magnificent commercial and material development of the Pacific
northwest, and it is with satisfaction that we here note the more salient
points in his honorable and useful career.
Louis Hemrich was born in the town of Alma,
Buffalo county, Wisconsin, on the 20th of May, 1872, a son of John and
Catherine (Koeppel) Hemrich, the former of whom was born in Baden, Germany,
and the latter in Bavaria. They came to America and resided in Wisconsin for
a number of years, removing thence to Seattle when the subject of this sketch
was a lad of about fourteen years, his rudimentary educational training having
been secured in the public schools of his native state, while he continued his
studies thereafter in the public schools of Seattle, where he prepared himself
for college. At the age of eighteen years he matriculated in the University
of Washington, where he completed a commercial course. After leaving school
Mr. Hemrich took a position as bookkeeper for the Seattle Brewing & Malting
Company, where he remained for a period of three years and was then elected
secretary and treasurer of the company, in which capacity he rendered most
effective service for the ensuing two years. He then resigned this office and
forthwith became associated with his brothers in the organization of the
Hemrich Brothers Brewing Company, which was duly incorporated under the laws
of the state. They erected a fine plant, where is produced a lager of the
most excellent order, the purity, fine flavor and general attractiveness of
the product giving it a high reputation, while the business is conducted upon
the highest principles of honor and fidelity, so that its rapid expansion in
scope and importance came as a natural sequel.
As a business man Mr. Hemrich has shown
marked acumen and mature judgment, and his progressive ideas and his
confidence in the future of his home city have been signalized by the
investments which he has made in local realty and by the enterprise he has
shown in the improving of his various properties. In 1901 he erected in the
village of Ballard, a suburb of Seattle, a fine brick business block, located
at the corner of First Avenue and Charles Street, and he has also erected a
number of substantial business buildings in the city of Seattle, together with
a number of dwellings. He is the owner of valuable timber lands in the state
and has well selected realty in other towns and cities aside from those
already mentioned. He has recently accumulated a tract of land on Beacon
Hill, and this will be platted for residence purposed and is destined to
become one of the most desirable sections of the city. Mr. Hemrich erected
his own beautiful residence, one of the finest in the city, in 1901, the same
being located on the southwest corner of Belmont Avenue and Republican
Street. It is substantial and commodious, of effective architectural design,
having the most modern equipments and accessories and is a home which would do
credit to any metropolitan community.
While Mr. Hemrich takes an abiding interest
in all that concerns the advancement and material upbuilding of his home city
and state, he has never taken an active part in political affairs, maintaining
an independent attitude in this regard and giving his support to men and
measures. Fraternally he is a popular member of the Ancient Order of United
Workmen and the Fraternal Order of Eagles, and he is most highly esteemed in
both business and social circles. On the 20th of May, 1897, in the city of
Seattle, Mr. Hemrich was united in marriage to Miss Eliza Hanna, daughter of
Nicholas and Mary Hanna, who were numbered among the early settlers of this
city, where Mrs. Hemrich was born and reared and where she has been prominent
in the best social life."
This image first appeared in a monthly magazine and was
later included in "Men Behind the Seattle Spirit - The Argus Cartoons",
published 15 July 1906 by H. A. Chadwick, editor Argus Monthly.
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