Charles F. Orthwein

Background

Charles F. Orthwein was born on January 28, 1839, near Stuttgart, in Württemberg, Germany. His mother died when he was quite young.

Education

Charles Orthwein's father made provision for his schooling and the boy was given the best education which the state schools of southern Germany could afford.

Career

In 1854 Charles Orthwein came to the United States with his father, brothers, and sisters. After a brief stop in St. Louis the family settled for a time in Logan County, Illinois, but the father soon became dissatisfied with his new home, and with the other children, returned to Germany, leaving young Charles behind. His first business experience was in a store in his Illinois home, but he saw larger opportunities in St. Louis, and accordingly obtained employment in the wholesale grocery and commission house of Ed. Eggers & Company. In a short time this concern was dissolved; whereupon he formed a partnership with Gustave Haenschen, under the name of Haenschen & Orthwein, and established a grain commission business. This venture was launched during the Civil War, and the partners' warehouses became a base of supplies for the Union armies. Since trade with the South was cut off, Orthwein turned his attention to the grain markets of other parts of the country and eventually made St. Louis the dominant grain center of the Mississippi Valley.

After the war Orthwein dispatched the first grain shipment to Europe by way of the Mississippi River, sending a cargo of 12, 000 bushels in 1866. This venture was at first financially unprofitable, but the benefits to St. Louis were important. He frequently addressed business meetings and spoke in private to urge that St. Louis engage in the export trade by way of the Mississippi and the Gulf of Mexico. In furtherance of this project he was instrumental in laying a petition before Congress for river and harbor improvements. He prevailed upon the Illinois Central Railroad and other lines to build more adequate grain terminal facilities in New Orleans and other cities. Making St. Louis the center of his organization, he established branches in many cities in the United States and Europe.

Orthwein also owned the Victoria elevator and mill in St. Louis, several elevators in Kansas City, New Orleans, Galveston, Seneca, Missouri, and New York City. He also owned a large tract of land in St. Claire County, Missouri. He was interested in the Southern Electric Railway Company of which he was president, and at one time held a very large interest in the National Railway Company. He was president of the Merchants Exchange and a director in the German Savings Bank of St. Louis. He early affiliated himself with the Democratic party, and later became what was known as a "Sound Money Democrat. " He died at his home in St. Louis at the close of his sixtieth year.

Achievements

• Charles Orthwein was co-founder of Haenshen & Orthwein and Orthwein & Mersman, grain exchange firms, making St. Louis the dominant grain center of the Mississippi Valley. Orthwein was president of the Southern Electric Railway Company and of the German Savings Bank of St. Louis.

Membership

Charles Orthwein was a founding member of the St. Louis Mining and Stock Exchange and of the St. Louis Merchants Exchange.

Orthwein was a member of the Church of the United Brethren in Christ.

Connections

Charles Orthwein married Caroline Nulsen, daughter of John C. Nulsen, in 1866, and they had six sons and three daughters.

Father:

Frederick Charles Orthwein

Mother:

Louise (Lidle) Orthwein

Wife:

Caroline (Nulsen) Orthwein

Daughter:

Ruth (Orthwein) Feuerbacher

Daughter:

Ottilie C. (Orthwein) Everts

Son:

Charles Clemmens Orthwein

Son:

Ralph Orthwein

Son:

Armin F. Orthwein

Son:

Max R. Orthwein

Son:

William Julius Orthwein

Son:

Lee Orthwein

Brother:

William D. Orthwein