| William D. Orthwein | |
| Birth Date: | February 9, 1841 |
| Birth Place: | Stuttgart, Wurtemberg, Germany |
| Occupation: | Businessman |
| Spouse: | Emily H. Thuemmler |
| Children: | Frederick C. Orthwein Percy Orthwein William R. Orthwein |
| Parents: | Frederick Charles Orthwein Louise Lidle |
| Relatives: | Charles F. Orthwein (brother) William R. Orthwein Jr. (grandson) |
William David Orthwein (February 9, 1841 - 1925) was a German-born American Civil War veteran and grain merchant in St. Louis, Missouri.
William David Orthwein was born on February 9, 1841, in Stuttgart, Wurtemberg, Germany.[1] [2] His father was Frederick Charles Orthwein and his mother, Louise Lidle. He had a brother, Charles F. Orthwein.[1] [3]
Orthwein emigrated to the United States in 1860, arriving in Lincoln, Illinois, to work as a salesman.[1] In 1862, he joined his brother in St. Louis, Missouri, to work for his grain commission business, Haenshen & Orthwein.[1] Meanwhile, he served in the Union Army during the American Civil War of 1861–1865.[1]
After the war, Orthwein resumed work for Haenshen & Orthwein.[1] By 1870, he worked for his brother's grain shipping firm, Orthwein & Mersman (co-founded by Charles F. Orthwein and Joseph J. Mersman),[3] up until 1879.[1] The firm shipped grains to Europe from St. Louis, via New Orleans, Louisiana, and Galveston, Texas.[1] In 1879, it became known as Orthwein Brothers,[3] and it was in business until 1893.[1]
Orthwein founded the William D. Orthwein Grain Company in 1893.[1] It was "the oldest grain firm in St. Louis."[1] He hired his son Frederick to work with him until 1900, when he retired.[1]
Orthwein also served as the president of the St. Louis Victoria Flour Mills.[1] He served as the Vice President of the Manufacturers Railway Company, while Adolphus Busch served as its president.[4] He served on the Boards of Directors of the Mississippi Valley Trust Company, the Kinloch Telephone Company,[1] and the St. Louis Merchants Exchange. He was a member of the St. Louis Chamber of Commerce.[1]
Orthwein married Emily H. Thuemmler on June 9, 1870.[1] Around 1900, they built the Orthwein Mansion at 15 Portland Place in St. Louis and lived there for a quarter-century.[5] Orthwein was a member of the Log Cabin Club and the Union Club, two private members' clubs in St. Louis, Missouri.[1] He donated to the Mullanphy Emigrant Relief Fund.[1]
Orthwein died in 1925,[6] leaving an estate of about US$2 million(about $ today).[6]