An Illustrated History of the State of Washington, by Rev. H.K. Hines, D.D., The Lewis Publishing Co., Chicago, IL., 1893, page 460 LOUIS G. DESOR, proprietor of the Railroad Exchange Club Rooms of Vancouver, was born at Friedrichsdorf, Germany, July 6, 1849, a son of Louis and Catherine (Agombord) Desor, natives also of that country, where they still reside. Louis G., the third of five children, attended school in his native land until fourteen years of age, after which, in 1864, he completed a collegiate course in Paris. After returning home Mr. Desor served an apprenticeship with his uncle at the tanner's trade, and after completing his trade spent one year in travel through the interior of the German empire, Switzerland and other portions of Europe. During the latter part of 1868 he entered the German army, served with distinction through the Franco-Prussian war, and carries honorable scars from wounds received in the battles of that memorable struggle. He participated in the engagement of Weisenburg, August 4, 1870; August 6, of the same year, received a severe bayonet wound in the neck; three days later was in the bombardment of Phalzburg, and September 1 received a saber cut across the face at the battle of Sedan. During that engagement Mr. Desor's command was in the thickest of the battle, and for brave and meritorious service he was presented by his Government with the emblem of the order of the Iron Cross. After recovering from his wounds he joined his command, served through the entire siege of Paris, and at Fort Valerien was wounded by a rifle ball in the left leg and right ribs. He was discharged from service September 15, 1871. March 8, 1872, Mr. Desor took passage from Bremen, on the steamer Rhine, and in due course of time arrived in New York city, he was first engaged in mercantile pursuits for a time, later became connected with a wine house in Cincinnati, Ohio, followed his trade in Indianapolis, filled the position of cutler in a wholesale saddlery house in Mobile, Alabama, several months, had charge of a ward in the Western Pennsylvania Hospital for the Insane at Dixmont nineteen months, and then conducted the Frederick House in Cincinnati until 1878. The latter enterprise proved a decided failure from a financial standpoint. March 4, 1878, Mr. Desor enlisted in Company G, Twenty-first United States Infantry, was assigned to duty at Fort Vancouver, and was in active service during the Bannack and Piute campaigns of 1878-í79. He was afterward assigned as headquarters messenger at Vancouver, and remained in that capacity until the expiration of his term of service, in March, 1883. For the following three years Mr. Desor served as agent and collector for the Star Brewing Company at Portland, Oregon, and in 1887 returned to Vancouver. With the exception of a few months spent in his boyhood home in 1891, he has ever since made his home in this city. He has been prominently identified with the business circles, and is a member of the Vancouver Building and Loan Association, and the Vancouver Driving Park Association. November 12, 1883, in Portland, Mr. Desor was joined in marriage to Miss Mary Huth, a native of Germany. In his social relations our subject affiliates with the F. & A. M., and is prominently identified with the Regular Army and Navy Union, No. 46, of Vancouver. Submitted to the WA. Bios Project in October 2003 by Jeffrey L. Elmer * * * * 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.