"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. 686.
 
LOUIS HEMRICH

     A Biographical record of the representative men of Seattle and King county
would be incomplete and unsatisfactory without a personal and somewhat detailed
mention of those whose lives are interwoven so closely with the industrial
activities of this section.  In the subject of this review, who is secretary and
treasurer of the Hemrich Brothers Brewing Company, we find a young man of that
progressive, alert and discriminating type through which has been brought about
the magnificent commercial and material development of the Pacific northwest,
and it is with satisfaction that we here note the more salient points in his
honorable and useful career.
     Louis Hemrich was born in the town of Alma, Buffalo county, Wisconsin, on
the 20th of May, 1872, a son of John and Catherine (Koeppel) Hemrich, the former
of whom was born in Baden, Germany, and the latter in Bavaria.  They came to
America and resided in Wisconsin for a number of years, removing thence to
Seattle when the subject of this sketch was a lad of about fourteen years, his
rudimentary educational training having been secured in the public schools of
his native state, while he continued his studies thereafter in the public
schools of Seattle, where he prepared himself for college.  At the age of
eighteen years he matriculated in the University of Washington, where he
completed a commercial course.  After leaving school Mr. Hemrich took a position
as bookkeeper for the Seattle Brewing & Malting Company, where he remained for a
period of three years and was then elected secretary and treasurer of the
company, in which capacity he rendered most effective service for the ensuing
two years.  He then resigned this office and forthwith became associated with
his brothers in the organization of the Hemrich Brothers Brewing Company, which
was duly incorporated under the laws of the state.  They erected a fine plant,
where is produced a lager of the most excellent order, the purity, fine flavor
and general attractiveness of the product giving it a high reputation, while the
business is conducted upon the highest principles of honor and fidelity, so that
its rapid expansion in scope and importance came as a natural sequel.
     As a business man Mr. Hemrich has shown marked acumen and mature judgment,
and his progressive ideas and his confidence in the future of his home city have
been signalized by the investments which he has made in local realty and by the
enterprise he has shown in the improving of his various properties.  In 1901 he
erected in the village of Ballard, a suburb of Seattle, a fine brick business
block, located at the corner of First avenue and Charles street, and he has also
erected a number of substantial business buildings in the city of Seattle,
together with a number of dwellings.  He is the owner of valuable timber lands
in the state and has well selected realty in other towns and cities aside from
those already mentioned.  He has recently accumulated a tract of land on Beacon
Hill, and this will be platted for residence purposed and is destined to become
one of the most desirable sections of the city.  Mr. Hemrich erected his own
beautiful residence, one of the finest in the city, in 1901, the same being
located on the southwest corner of Belmont avenue and Republican street.  It is
substantial and commodious, of effective architectural design, having the most
modern equipments and accessories and is a home which would do credit to any
metropolitan community. 
     While Mr. Hemrich takes an abiding interest in all that concerns the
advancement and material upbuilding of his home city and state, he has never
taken an active part in political affairs, maintaining an independent attitude
in this regard and giving his support to men and measures.  Fraternally he is a
popular member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen and the Fraternal Order of
Eagles, and he is most highly esteemed in both business and social circles.  On
the 20th of May, 1897, in the city of Seattle, Mr. Hemrich was united in
marriage to Miss Eliza Hanna, daughter of Nicholas and Mary Hanna, who were
numbered among the early settlers of this city, where Mrs. Hemrich was born and
reared and where she has been prominent in the best social life.

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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.