Background
William David Orthwein was born on February 9, 1841 in Stuttgart, Wurtemberg, Germany. His father was Frederick Charles Orthwein and his mother, Louise Lidle.
William David Orthwein was born on February 9, 1841 in Stuttgart, Wurtemberg, Germany. His father was Frederick Charles Orthwein and his mother, Louise Lidle.
He had a brother, Charles F. Orthwein. Orthwein emigrated to the United States in 1860, arriving in Lincoln, Illinois to work as a salesman. Meanwhile, he served in the Union Army during the American Civil War of 1861-1865.
After the war, Orthwein resumed work for Haenshen & Orthwein.
By 1870, he worked for his brother"s grain shipping firm, Orthwein & Mersman (co-founded by Charles F Orthwein and Joseph J Mersman), up until 1879. The firm shipped grains to Europe from Saint Louis, via New Orleans, Louisiana and Galveston, Texas.
In 1879, it became known as Orthwein Brothers, and it was in business until 1893. Orthwein founded the William Doctorate. Orthwein Grain Company in 1893.
Furthermore, Orthwein served as the President of the Saint Louis Victoria Flour Mills.
He also served as the Vice President of the Manufacturers Railway Company, while Adolphus Busch served as its President. He served on the Boards of Directors of the Mississippi Valley Trust Company and the Kinloch Telephone Company. Orthwein died in 1925.
He was worth United States$2 million upon his death.
He also served on the Board of Directors of the Saint Louis Merchants Exchange, and he was a member of the Saint Louis Chamber of Commerce.