Louis Hirshfeld, the oldest
wholesale and retail dealer in gents' furnishing goods,
hats, caps, boots and shoes, trucks, etc., McGregor,
established his present business here in 1862. He
occupies a building eighty- five feet deep, twenty-four
wide, one story and a basement, and carries a stock of
$15,000. He was born in Schneidermuhl, near Berlin,
Prussia, Germany, Sept. 19, 1833. His parents, Henry and
Dorothy (Neuman) Hirshfeld, had a family of seven
children, of whom Louis was the oldest. He attended
school until thirteen, when he learned the tailor's
trade, and followed that in the old country until 1854,
when he came alone to America. He was ninety days at sea,
and landed in New York City with only 15 cents in his
pocket, and could not speak a word of English. He was not
a boy to give up. He pawned a suit of clothes and
purchased a small stock of "Yankee notions,"
and peddled with his pack in New York City for four
months, then went to Gainesville, Ala., where his uncle
gave him a stock of goods and a mule. He peddled in
Alabama from 1854 to 1857, then went to New York City,
thence to Chicago, Ill., where he married Rosalia
Sommerfield on July 12, 1857. She was born in the town of
Schneidermuhl, Germany, and was a daughter of Joachim and
Hattie Sommerfield, who had a family of twelve children.
After Mr. and Mrs. Hirshfeld were married he opened a
merchant tailoring establishment in Chicago, which he
operated until 1862, when he came to McGregor, Ia., and
opened the old Clayton County store of clothing and
merchant tailoring, which burned down soon after, and he
established his present store. He and wife are members of
the B'nai Sholen Synagogue, of Chicago, Ill., and have
had a family of ten children, seven living, viz.: Henry,
born Sept. 18, 1858, and engaged in business with his
father; he married Lena Frank, of Chicago, Ill., June 6,
1882. She was born in New York City, and was a daughter
of Moses and Yette (Kahn) Frank. Henry Hirshfeld is a
member of Itasca Lodge, No. 111, I.O.O. F., of McGregor,
and has held various offices in this lodge; is also a
member of I. O.B.B., Daniel Lodge, No. 128, having been
Secretary of this lodge three years, and is a member of
the Young Men's Republican Association, of McGregor.
Hattie Hirshfeld is the wife of Max Heidenrich, of
McGregor; they were married May 8, 1881. Julius, Carrie,
Rachel, Samuel and Frank, who reside with their parents.
Mr. Louis Hirshfeld, subject of this sketch, is a Mason
and a member of Bezer Lodge, No. 135, A. F. & A. M.,
and I.O.O.F., Itasca Lodge, No. 111; has been Secretary
of this lodge eleven years, and Past Noble Grand Master
twelve years; is a member of Encampment No. 28, and D. T.
P. for McGregor Lodge two years; is also a member of I.O.
B. B., Daniel Lodge, No 128, McGregor, and has passed all
the chairs in this lodge; is a member of Garden City
Lodge, No. 49, O.K.S.B., of Chicago, Ill.; Sons of
Benjamin and Druids, of Chicago. In politics he is
independent. He is one of the old and representative
business men of McGregor, where he has been identified
for the past twenty years. source: History of Clayton
County, Iowa, 1882, p.987-988 |