1925 Biography - Louis A. Wax

Louis A. Wax, manager of the Standard Box Company of Baton Rouge, has shown marked executive ability in the years of his connection with business interests in the capital city, and claims this city, Baton Rouge, as the place of his nativity, his birth having here occurred on the 22d of June, 1883. In this City his father, the late Anthony Wax, virtually passed ins entire life, his birth having here occurred July 13, 1837, and he having been one of the honored citizens and representative business men of Baton Rouge at the time of his death, November 30, 1913. He was here a prominent merchant many years, besides here having been actively identified with ice manufacturing. His political support was given to the democratic party, he was an earnest communicant of St. Joseph's Catholic Church, as is also his widow, and he was affiliated with Baton Rouge Council No. 969, Knights of Columbus. His father, Nicholas Wax, was born and reared in Alsace-Lorraine, France, and was a young man when he came to the United States and established his residence in Baton Rouge, where he was long engaged in the mercantile business and where also he conducted a hotel for a number of years, besides which he had substantial interests as a sugar planter. His wife, whose family name was Friedman, likewise was born in Alsace-Lorraine, and both were sterling and honored citizens of Baton Rouge at the time of their death.

Anthony Wax wedded Miss Mary Louise Schmidt, who was born in New Orleans, in April, 1859, and who maintains her home in Baton Rouge. Of the children the eldest is Edna, wife of Joseph Berret, who is a merchant at Plaquemine, Iberville Parish; Louis A., immediate subject of this sketch, was the next in order of birth; Miss Ella remains with her widowed mother; and Ernest M., who is now engaged in the draying and trucking business at Monroe, Ouachita Parish, was in the nation's military service during eighteen months of the World war period, his training having been received in an army camp at Louisville, Kentucky.

Louis A. Wax gained his early education in private schools in Baton Rouge, where also he attended St. Vincent Academy. Thereafter he was for one year a student in the University of Louisiana, and he then, in 1899, entered the employ of the Louisiana Ice Company, in the capacity of assistant bookkeeper. In 1920, after having served as assistant manager of this corporation, he took charge of the ice manufacturing plant owned by the Standard Box Company, besides becoming superintendent of the box factory. In January, 1922, he was appointed manager of the Standard Box Company, which has since continued operations under a receivership, W. P. Connell, a representative Baton Rouge banker, being the receiver. The plant and offices of this company are situated one-half mile north of the University of Louisiana, on the line of the Yazoo & Mississippi Valley Railroad.

Mr. Wax is a democrat by heritage and personal conviction, and he is secretary and treasurer of the Wax Realty Company and an active member of the Baton Rouge Chamber of Commerce. He owns his attractive home place at 114 Wistaria Street, and also two other houses and lots on the same street. He and his wife are communicants of St. Joseph's Catholic Church, and he is affiliated with Baton Rouge Lodge No. 490, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, and Live Oak Camp No. 14, Woodmen of the World. His industrial service was Considered of paramount importance in the World war period, and thus he did not enter the nation's military ranks, though he was active and influential in the forwarding of local patriotic work and interests.

On the 7th of October, 1907, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Wax and Miss Mary E. Posey, whose education had included a course in the Baton Rouge High School. Mrs. Wax is a daughter of Frank E. and Josephine (Gueno) Posey, the former of whom died at Jackson, this state, and the latter maintains her home in Baton Rouge. Mr. Posey served as postmaster of Baton Rouge for a number of years, and was also a representative hotel man of Louisiana. Mr. and Mrs. Wax have two children, Doris Eleanor and Louis A., Jr., both of whom are attending the public schools, the daughter being, in 1924, a student in the high school.

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Contributed 2021 Nov 04 by Mike Miller, from A History of Louisiana, by Henry E. Chambers, published in 1925, volume 2, page 200.

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