LOETSCHER, Christian

Image courtesy: http://www.linwoodlegacies.org/the-loetscher-family.html

LOETSCHER, Christian. (St. Antönien, Kanton Graubünden, Switzerland, Aug. 2, 1850--Dubuque, IA, May 10, 1922). Founder, FARLEY AND LOETSCHER MANUFACTURING COMPANY. Loetscher, settling in Dubuque in 1872, worked for Patch & White, a sash, door, and blind manufacturing company but soon resigned to go into business for himself. He leased space from the Key City Planing Company and began his own millwork company.

In 1878 Loetscher formed a partnership with W. R. Clarke, A. B. Carlin, and J. A. Rickard and purchased the Key City Planing Mill. The partnership was changed in 1879 when Jesse P. FARLEY invested in the business. The name Farley and Loetscher Manufacturing Company was the name under which the company was incorporated in 1881.

The firm manufacturing sash, doors, and blinds, became the nation's largest sash and door manufacturing company. Farley served as president until succeeded by Loetscher in 1894. In 1900 Loetscher pioneered the use of west coast white pine lumber. The company expanded into markets surrounding St. Louis, Chicago, Sioux Falls, and Des Moines.

Loetscher also served as president of the Loetscher and Ryan Manufacturing Company, officer of the DUBUQUE SPECIALTY MACHINE WORKS, organizer of the Dubuque Press Brick Company, and director of the UNIVERSITY OF DUBUQUE. (1)

Christian Loetscher married Miss Mary Loetscher, daughter of Tobias Loetscher, of Dubuque. Their children were: John A., who began as office boy in the establishment of which he is now secretary and treasurer: F. W., educated in the public schools of Dubuque, Princeton University, a seminary and post-graduate course of five years, special courses of one year each at Berlin and Strasburg, professor of church history at Princeton three years, for a like length of time pastor of the Oxford Presbyterian Church at Philadelphia, and beginning in 1910 held a full professorship in Princeton Theological Seminary; E. C, connected with the manufacturing Company, and a graduate of Cornell University, Ithaca, New York; Lydia C, wife of Professor Funk, of McAllister College, St. Paul, Minnesota ; Mary, deceased; Alma A., the wife of M. C. Bardell, a banker at Marion, South Dakota; Elizabeth M. (Mrs. Lachner), whose husband was identified with the Loetscher & Ryan Manufacturing Company; Ernst, deceased; T. B., associated with the firm of which his father was president; Arnold E., a mechanical engineer; and Florence, deceased. (1)

Gravestone in Linwood Cemetery.

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Source:

Dr. Andreas Heege, Im Roetel 3, CH 6300 Zug, Switzerland. E-mail. October 9, 2013

1. Von Grueningen, John Paul. The Swiss in the United States. Clearfield: Genealogical Publishing Company, Jun 1, 2009, p. 126

2. Oldt, Franklin T. History of Dubuque County, Iowa: Chicago: Western Historical Company, 1800, p. 726