Darsam, Jacob, Sr.

Submitted by Mike Miller

Darsam, Jacob, Sr., was born in Hesse, Darmstadt, Germany, in 1840, and was one of a large family. When 4 years old he came to America with his father and settled in New Orleans. Owing to reverses and death in the family, he had small opportunity for an education and was thrown upon his own resources when quite young. When still a young nian he took up cotton sampling and weighing, which he followed until he amassed a competency. He retired in 1901, since which time he has done no business, but is now living as a retired capitalist. Mary Eickle was born in Stuttgart, Germany, in 1843, and in 1861 was married to Jacob Darsam, Sr. This couple were the parents of 10 children, as follow: Jacob, Jr., Amelia, Christopher, John Valentine, Louise Helena, Josephine Elizabeth, Joseph, Mary Georgiana, Frederick Emiel, and Frances Viola Virginia. Of these 10 children 2 attended a German-American school, the others went to public school and graduated from the high school. Frederick E. and Frances Viola V. took a commercial course in Soul college. The 5 brothers first began business in the cotton trade, but in Jan., 1907, they started as coal dealers, and from the start to the present time they have done well, and are now considered one of the largest coal firms in New Orleans. They have a large trade in Alabama soft coal for the city domestic use, a large anthracite trade, which reaches New Orleans via the Mississippi river, and a large trade in gas coke, which comes from Mobile. Christopher was married to Lula Huseman, in New Orleans, about 1890, and they have 1 daughter, Ruth. John Valentine is single. Joseph was married in 1906, to Caroline, daughter of Joseph W. Hirn, who has been called the governor-maker, and Mary S. Conley. They have 1 daughter, Mary Sophia. Frederick was married in 1909 to Edna, daughter of Ralph E. Dadey. They have one son, Frederick Emiel, Jr. Amelia married John Fred Muller, president of the Muller Furniture Mannfacturing Co. They have 7 children: Louise, Frederick, William Cornelius, Amelia, Leah, Lillian, Pauline. Louise Darsam married Charles Muller, secretary and treasurer of the Muller Furniture Manufacturing Co., and they have the following children: Charles, Morris, and John W. Mary Georgiana married George N. Templeman, secretary of the Consolidated Realty Manufacturing Co., of New Orleans. They have 2 children, Marion and Edwin. Mr. Eickle, the father of Mrs. Jacob Darsam, Sr., was a sculptor of some note in Germany.

Source: Louisiana: Comprising Sketches of Parishes, Towns, Events, Institutions, and Persons, Arranged in Cyclopedic Form (volume 3), p. 117. Edited by Alcee Fortier, Lit.D. Published in 1914, by Century Historical Association.