The Selzer Family of Woodbury County, Iowa

Rudolph Selzer, the pioneer brewer of Sioux City and the founder of what is still one of the leading industrial enterprises of the city, long figured in business circles here, and was widely known for his reliability as well as his energy and laudable ambition. He was born in Geissen, Germany, Sunday, September 28, 1828, was reared in that country and in early life became a student in a university there, in which he studied theology, his grandfather intending him for the ministry, but after his grandfather's death he abandoned the idea of entering the church in order to take up a business career.

Mr. Selzer was married in Germany to Miss Theresa Wasser and in 1853 they came to the United States, residing for a brief period in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, after which they removed to Rock Island, Illinois, in the spring of 1854. In early life Mr. Selzer had learned the shoemaker's trade and he followed that pursuit in Pennsylvania, in Illinois and after his removal to Council Bluffs, Iowa, in 1857. In 1858 he became a resident of Omaha, Nebraska, where he was associated with Fred Krug in the establishment of what was known as the Fred Krug Brewery, Mr. Selzer furnishing the capital while Mr. Krug supplied the experience, being a practical brewer. They began operations on a small scale, under the firm style of Krug & Selzer, and the extent of their early operations is indicated by the fact that they delivered their product from a wheelbarrow. This was the first brewery in Omaha. The business, however, rapidly increased and became a profitable investment. In 1860 Mr. Selzer sold his interest to Mr. Krug and came to Sioux City, where the same year he established the first brewery of this place, on Fourth street, between Iowa and Court streets, but. later moved to the corner of Ninth and Douglas streets, his previous experience in Omaha qualifying him for the successful conduct of a similar enterprise.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

( charles Selzer, wd: issfully engaged in stand is, numbered ' those controlling liquor busi-

.'resentatives industries in

Sioux City, was born in Rock Csland, Illinois, Tuesday, August 28, L855, a yon of Rudolph and Theresa Selzer, who are mentioned on another page of this volume. He was about six years of age when his parents removed to Sioux City ami here he was reared, attending the public schools and later becoming a student in St. Benedict's College, at Atchison. Kansas. When his education was completed he returned to Sioux ( !ity and entered upon his business career as an employe in his father's brewery. He afterward secured employment in Kearncourt'a brewery at Cincinnati, Ohio, and subsequently in Lemp's brewer, at Si. Louis, Missouri, thus gaining a thorough knowledge of the business in every department. He the, returned to operation of his father's brewing plain a. fore man and continued in that position until the prohibition law went into effect in Eowa. In 1887 he established a wholesale business in

Covington, Nebraska, juM across the river from

Sioux City, in ( action with his brothers

Otto and Louis, conducting their enterprise there until after the mulct law was passed, when they returned to Sioux city and opened the present wholesale and retail business under the firm name of Selzer Brothers. In the meantime Louis Selzer had died and Otto and Charles Selzer were then partners, this relation being maintained until the death of Otto Selzer on the 16th of March, 1904. Charles Selzer has since been alone in business. He handles all kinds of liquors, doing both a wholesale and retail business, and the wholesale territory covers Xebraska, South Dakota, Minnesota and Iowa. Employment is furnished twelve men and.Mr. Selzer is agent for Christian Moerlein of Cincinnati, William J. Letup of St. Louis, and the Sioux City Brewing Company. The business is located at Nos. 312 and 314 Pierce street, where there is a frontage of fifty feet, while the lot extends back to a depth.if One hundred ami fifty feet. On this ground a three-story brick building has been erected and the business. There is a bowling alley on the second floor and rectifying and wholesale liquors on the third floor.

On the LOth of December, 1878, Mr. Selzer was united in marriage to Miss Anna Josephine Lessenich, whose parents are mentioned elsewhere in this volume. Three children have been born unto Mr. and Mr-. Selzer: J. Rudolph, bom July 16, 1879, is his father's assistant and bookkeeper in the wholesale house.

[This passage is too damaged in the scanned book to reproduce. See the original book.]

In his political affiliation Charles Selzer is a stalwart Democrat and has served as alderman of Sioux City for three years, being elected to succeed his brother Louis upon the latter's death. He is quite prominent in fraternal and social circles of the city, belonging to the Sons of Herman, the Elks Lodge and the Germania Club. He is also a member of the Krieger Verein and the German Maennerchor and in all of these organizations he has won the warm regard and friendship of many with whom he has come in contact. He is a man of business ability and marked enterprise and having a thorough understanding of his business is so conducting it as to make it a profitable investment.

also pursued a course in the commercial college here, being thereby well fitted for the duties that devolved upon him when he entered the employ of his father in the capacity of bookkeeper. Later he became associated with his brothers, Charles and Otto, in the wholesale liquor business and the association remained a most harmonious one up to the time of his death. They developed their enterprise along modern business lines, enlarging their facilities to meet the growing demands of the trade and built up an extensive and profitable business, while in trade circles the house sustained an enviable reputation for straightforward dealing.

In 1894 Louis Selzer was married to Miss Emma Lessenich at Sioux City, and they had one child, Louise, who was born in 1896.

Two months prior to his death Louis Selzer was elected to the position of alderman from the fourth ward. He was a stanch Democrat in his political views, and was recognized as one of the local leaders in his party. His interest in the city was deep and sincere, and he and his brothers ever favored the progressive measures which had for their object the substantial upbuilding of the city of their residence. Louis Selzer, in the midst of an active and successful business career, died in 1896.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

Otto Selzer, whose tragic death on Wednesday evening, March 16, 1904, caused widespread regret among his many friends in Sioux ( 'ity, was well known in business circles of northwestern Iowa and other sections of the west, and in social life had gained warm regard and esteem in the city in which he had long made his home. He was born in Sioux City in July, 1860, and attended the public schools, but when only a boy he went abroad and studied the brewing business in Germany, where are located the best plants of the kind in the world.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

Louis Selzer, the youngest of the three brothers who constituted the well-known firm of Selzer Brothers, brewers and wholesale liquor dealers of Sioux City, was born Sunday, March 1, 1863, his parents being Rudolph and Theresa Selzer, natives of Germany. Emigating to America, the father became the pioneer brewer of Omaha, Nebraska, and of Sioux City and was living here at the time of the birth of his son Louis.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.