"A Volume of Memoirs and Genealogy of Representative Citizens of the City of
Seattle and County of King, Washington." New York and Chicago: Lewis Publishing
Co., 1903.  p. 419.
 
ANDREW HEMRICH

     With a deep and abiding interest in the city of Seattle, in its progress
and improvement, Andrew Hemrich has done much for its advancement, laboring
earnestly along lines that have contributed to its material upbuilding.  He is
therefore known as one of its valued citizens.  He is furthermore prominent in
business affairs and a recognized leader in the ranks of the Republican party,
on whose ticket he was elected to the office of state senator in 1898, so that
he is now serving.
     Mr. Hemrich was born in Alma, Wisconsin, October 31, 1856, and is a son of
John and Catherine (Koeppel) Hemrich, both of whom were natives of Germany, the
father having been born in Baden, while the mother's birth occurred in Bavaria.
In youth they came to American and the father traveled across the country in a
covered wagon from Rochester, New York, to Iowa, stopping for a while at Mount
Vernon, Indiana, thus making his way to Keokuk, Iowa, where he engaged in the
brewing business.  He followed that pursuit until 1852, when he loaded his
brewery appliances and fixtures upon a barge which was towed to Alma, Wisconsin.
There he again established a brewery, which he successfully conducted for thirty
years.  In 1884 he came to Seattle, where his son Andrew had previously located,
and joined him in the organization and incorporation of the Bay View Brewing
Company, which was conducted under the firm name until 1893, when it became the
Bay View branch of the Seattle Brewing and Malting Company.  About 1891 John
Hemrich retired from active business life, enjoying a well merited rest until
called to his final home in 1897.  His wife still survives him and resides at
the old home in Bay View.  He was a very active and energetic business man,
reliable in all his trade transactions and his industry and capable management
brought to him splendid success.  In politics he was a Democrat and during the
war of the rebellion served as sheriff of Buffalo county, Wisconsin.  To him and
his wife were born ten children:  Edwin, who died at the age of six years;
George, who passed away at the age of eighteen; Louise, who became the wife of
John Lick, and died at the age of twenty-four; Matilda, who married John Lick,
and died at the age of twenty-nine years; Andrew, whose name introduces this
review; John, who is living retired; Emma, the widow of Frederick Kirschner;
William, who is connected with the Bay View Brewery; Alvin and Louis, who are
members of the firm of Hemrich Brothers.
     During his boyhood days Andrew Hemrich pursued his education in the common
schools, which he attended until fourteen years of age.  He then left home and
went to the wild mining regions of the west, spending about ten or twelve years
on the prairies of Colorado, Nevada, Idaho and Montana.  He was there engaged in
mining and was also connected with brewing interests, establishing a brewery at
Glendale, Montana, which he conducted for several years.  He then sold his plant
there and accepted a position as manager superintendent of the Bozeman Brewing
Company of Bozeman, Montana.  He occupied that position for two years and upon
resigning he came to Seattle in accordance with plans perfected to establish a
brewery business in company with John Kopp.
     Mr. Hemrich arrived in this city February 18, 1883, and has since been one
of its residents, active in its business affairs and a recognized leader in
political circles.  The same year he established a business at Bay View under
the firm name of Kopp & Hemrich, which business was conducted for two years, at
the end of which time he was joined by his father, John Hemrich, and his
brother-in-law, Frederick Kirschner, in the organization and incorporation of
the Bay View Brewing Company, which was conducted under that style until 1893.
The business was then merged into the Seattle Brewing and Malting Company, whose
trade has grown from a modest beginning to mammoth proportions, and it is now
the largest establishment of the kind on the coast.  In addition to the plant at
Bay View, there has been a colossal new brick structure erected at Georgetown.
It required three years in its construction and has just been completed.  It now
has a capacity of three hundred thousand barrels per year.  The brand "Rainier"
is as famous on the coast as the Pabst and Schlitz brews are in the middle and
eastern section of the country.  Mr. Hemrich was chosen president on the
organization of the new company and still serves in that capacity.  He has
excellent business ability and executive force, his plans are readily and
substantially formed and he is determined in their execution and carries forth
to a successful conclusion whatever he commences, brooking no obstacles that can
be overcome by persistent, honorable and earnest effort.
     Mr. Hemrich has long been deeply interested in important measures for the
improvement and upbuilding of Seattle.  He was one of the organizers and is
vice-president of the Seattle and Lake Washington Water-way Company, and many
other interests of importance owe their successful existence to his wise counsel
and active co-operation.  No movement or measure calculated to prove of benefit
to the city solicits his aid in vain, for he had ever been a generous
contributor to every interest for the general good.  In political affairs, too,
he is well known, and has labored earnestly and effectively for the improvement
and growth of the Republican party, of which he has long been a stalwart and
earnest supporter.  He was elected in 1898 on that ticket to the office of state
senator and is still occupying this position.  He has given due consideration to
all matters which have come up for action and has left the impress of his
individuality upon the legislation enacted during his term.
     In November, 1884, Mr. Hemrich was united in marriage to Miss Maria Hucke,
a native of Germany, and to them have been born five children:  John, Alvin,
Ernest, Katie G. and Charles.  The family have a fine residence at Bay View,
which was erected by Mr. Hemrich in 1892.  He has been and is distinctively a
man of affairs and one who has wielded wide influence.  A strong mentality, an
invincible courage and a most determined individuality have so entered into his
makeup as to render him a natural leader of men and director of things.

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Submitted to the WA. Bios Project in August 2005 by Diana Smith.

Notice: These biographies were transcribed for the Washington Biographies
Project. Unless otherwise stated, no further information is available on the
individual featured in the biographies.