Odenheimer, Sigmund

Submitted by Mike Miller

Odenheimer, Sigmund, is one of the best known and most highly esteemed citizens in New Orleans, having taken a position of prominence in the development of cotton manufacturing, as well as the civic and industrial interests of his state and community. He was born in Odenheim, Baden, Germany, in 1862, a son of Seligman and Mina (Reinach) Odenheimer, the former having been engaged in a mercantile business in Baden, which he conducted very profitably until his death in 1885. Mina Reinach, his wife, was a native of Sinsheim. The subject of this sketch, after availing himself of the educational advantages afforded by the town of his nativity, entered the Polytechnicum, at Karlsruhe, Germany, where he devoted 2 years to the study of engineering, and where he graduated with signal honors. After completing his scholastic work, Mr. Odenheimer sailed for America, landing in New York, where he resided for 1 year. From New York he came to Tuscaloosa, Ala., and became associated with the cotton mills of that city, where his remarkable talent soon accentuated itself, and he became manager of the plant, in which capacity he served for five years. He later moved to Natchez, Miss., where he assumed the management of the cotton mills of that place, and where he remained until he accepted the position of manager of the Lane Cotton mills in New Orleans, which incumbency he has filled most admirably ever since. In addition to this responsible position, Mr. Odenheimer has conducted the affairs of the Maginnis mills, of New Orleans, and the mills at Wesson, Miss. He is well known as a man of splendid business qualifications and indefatigable energy. He is the original inventor of the "Odenheimer" cotton bagging, which is manufactured from cotton instead of jute, as is the case with other coverings for cotton bales. Mr. Odenheimer is a member of the New England and American Cotton Manufacturers associations. He has also served on the state board of health of Louisiana, and the association of commerce, of New Orleans, being on the committee on manufacturing, and has always identified himself with every effort for the betterment of his commonwealth. He is a member of Temple Sinai, of New Orleans. In 1898 Mr. Odenheimer led to the altar a daughter of Julius Freyhan, a wealthy and prominent citizen of the "Crescent" city. To Mr. and Mrs. Odenheimer have been born 3 children, as follows: Marian, Alice, and Freyhan, who reside with their parents in their palatial home.

Source: Louisiana: Comprising Sketches of Parishes, Towns, Events, Institutions, and Persons, Arranged in Cyclopedic Form (volume 3), pp. 334-335. Edited by Alcée Fortier, Lit.D. Published in 1914, by Century Historical Association.

Note: Original source includes a photo of Mr. Odenheimer.