Background
Charles F. Orthwein was born on January 28, 1839. His father was Frederick Charles Orthwein and his mother, Louise Lidle.
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Charles Orthwein
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Career
Orthwein was a grain merchant and "steel car magnate". Orthwein co-founded Haenshen & Orthwein, a grain exchange firm in Saint Louis in the 1860s. In 1870, Orthwein co-founded Orthwein & Mersman, a grain commission firm, with Joseph J. Mersman.
The firm shipped grains to Europe from Saint Louis, via New Orleans, Louisiana and Galveston, Texas.
As a result, the firm became known as Orthwein Brothers, and it was in business until 1893. With Corwin H. Spencer, Orthwein acquired the streetcar system in Saint Louis.
He became a multi-millionaire. Orthwein died of liver cancer on December 28, 1898.
He was buried at the Bellefontaine Cemetery.
Membership
Orthwein was a member of the Saint Louis Merchants Exchange.
